Q: What have you been up to since we wrapped Believe Me last summer?

A: A month after Believe Me wrapped, I went to a small town in Saugatuck, MI to shoot a movie called Saugatuck Cures. After that, I joined the cast of Switched at Birth for Season three. Then I shot a movie called The Midnight Man in Los Angeles where I play the right hand man to Vinnie Jones, the big, scary British actor who most know from Snatch. I play a brute enforcer with neck tattoos and a goatee and go around beating the hell out of people for money and information; I’ve never had a role like that but really enjoyed it. I’m also returning to Glee for their final season starting next week, Season 6.

Q: Can you tell me more about Saugatuck Cures and your role as Drew Callaghan?

A: Sure, the film is basically a buddy road trip comedy that looks at sexuality from a religious viewpoint. Similar to Believe Me, what the film does really well is that it uses comedy to open the doors into hot issues without polarizing or offending others. I play Drew, a gay firefighter in small town Saugatuck, I have a bed in breakfast with my mom (Judith Chapman; big soap opera star) who is struggling with cancer. My buddy and I come up with this kooky idea to go around and advertise to people that we can turn homosexuals into heterosexuals if they pay the right money; and we scam people doing just that. The movie looks at how religious families view a gay family member; it’s about acceptance and tolerance. The film uses comedy and crazy hijinks to tell the story.

Q: Congratulations on returning to Glee. What is it like to be on set with such an enthusiastic/high energy cast?

A: Thanks, it’s a high energy set for sure. Music and singing constantly surround the set making for a great atmosphere. Whether singing in front of the camera or dance parties in the trailers, everyone’s in a good mood. It’s exciting because most projects actors work on don’t have a built in fan base. With Glee, we know how many people the show will reach and it gives us the energy we need to perform at a high level.

Q: Tell me about getting started as an actor and what influenced you to move to LA and make it a career?

A: I had always wanted to act. In high school I was in musicals, plays, show choir, jazz choir and enjoyed everything all of it. It was on those stages my junior and senior year of high school, during the curtain calls, that I knew that I never wanted the feeling of performing to end. I knew I wanted to act, but didn’t think it was very realistic. I planned on going to go to ASU to study broadcast journalism at the Walter Cronkite School. I was going to settle and be a news anchor since I would still be on TV with a script, hair, makeup, and wardrobe.

Two things happened that changed my perspective: first of all, a buddy of mine from high school (Garrett Hedlund) graduated early, headed to LA, and suddenly was in Troy playing Brad Pitt’s little cousin. That was the first person I had seen come from where I was, go to Hollywood, and succeed, which made my dream more realistic. Secondly, my mom passed away unexpectedly my senior year which shook me up and forced me to live for the moment rather than play things safe. Those two things were the impetus to move to LA and make something happen. After I graduated, I worked valet for the summer, then we drove out to LA and I moved in, then my dad and brother drove away; I was all alone at 18.

Q: Talk about your memories from the days of being an aspiring actor and grinding to make it happen?

A: It’s definitely a frustrating time and a struggle getting started, but my memories before any good breaks are fun. You don’t know when or if anything will ever happen, or how long you’ll  tolerate living paycheck to paycheck eating noodles. That time of my life was fun because I had friendships with others that were struggling to make something happen in the industry as well, we would all get together at the beach or play games at the house and bond over similar struggles. It’s definitely sweeter now that I have steady work; I still have those friendships, but now I can pay my bills and do what I enjoy most.

Q: How did you become exposed and involved in muscular dystrophy philanthropy?

A: My mom and grandmother both suffered from the disease. I’ve known about it my whole life, but my peers didn’t seem to have an understanding of what it was or what it can do to those who suffer from it. As soon as Glee started taking off, I realized I had a chance to do more on social media than self promotion. I wanted to use the social platform for something greater than my own success. I called up the Muscular Dystrophy Association and introduced myself; I explained my desire to raise awareness and money for this cause in hopes of finding a cure. I went to their headquarters in Tucson and met with their team and learned more about the research needs and today we are closer than ever to isolating the gene and altering it so nobody has to battle with muscular dystrophy moving forward.

Q: What drew you to your character, Baker, and how would you compare yourself to him?

A: I was thrilled to play Baker, he’s the character I most identify with. The script is so good and original; it’s a brave script and I had never seen one like it before. The story alone was something I wanted to be a part of, and once I started reading Baker, I knew I wanted the role.

I’m similar to Baker in the sense that he’s a fun loving guy who looks to enjoy life to the fullest. His fierce loyalty to his friends is something I definitely relate to; I’m actually road tripping back to Arizona next week for our ten year reunion with my best buddies from high school. The difference between Baker and would have to be how over the top and kooky he is; he goes above and beyond with a zest that’s similar to John Belushi (Animal House), making the role real fun for me.

Q: Is God going to rain down lightning bolts on the filmmakers for pushing the line with their satirical approach to modern day Christian culture?

A: I think at the end of the day, the filmmakers were honest with their message and I don’t think anyone can get upset or offended by honesty and truth. To me, this film is so potent and impactful because the filmmakers are indeed Christians; they’re merely poking fun and turning the mirror on their own religious culture rather than attacking others and pointing fingers; its palatable and refreshing. The thing I take away most from the film is the entertainment value, it’s about friendship and morals being tested, religion is only the backdrop. Believe Me takes a look at the power of platforms, it looks at how people choose to use their power. This film doesn’t tell anyone how to feel or what to believe in.

Q: What are your favorite memories from last summer working on Believe Me?

A: Man, it’s too hard to narrow it down, the whole experience was pretty magical and amazing; it was definitely one of the best experiences of my life. The cast got along so well, we hung out and talked together on and off set and rarely retreated to the trailers. Between enjoying Barton Springs, eating Texas bbq, devouring Torchy’s queso, and tubing on the lake while losing my bathing suit, it was too much fun. I remember the late nights at the bar discussing life, religion, and priorities. Everyone listened with an open heart and open mind; I feel like most discussions on politics and religion aren’t productive, but this was honest, fascinating, and healthy. The atmosphere created on set invited everyone to share their thoughts. Something special was definitely in the air last summer during the making of Believe Me. I’m so proud to be a part of this film; it’s high quality, everyone should be proud of their work, and I will always cherish that experience and relationships created on set last summer in Austin.

To learn more about Max, you can follow him on Twitter, @Mr_Max_Adler , and to see all the news about his role in Believe Me, follow @believemefilm.