Justin Pierre, vocalist for Minneapolis-grown band Motion City Soundtrack, is a self-described “movie freak.” Although music consumes him for the time being, Pierre says screenwriting is his true calling.

“I’d like to stumble upon it,” he says. “Right now, I’m trying to do a short for January.”

Motion City Soundtrack is embarking on a tour with Tsunami Bomb, Limbeck and The Academy Is; the bands will hit the Maintenance Shop on Tuesday night.

Before the band was actualized, Pierre found himself in the Minneapolis Community Tech College trying to achieve a degree in screenwriting.

But, he says, his lack of student skills led him to drop out before he got his degree.

“I went for almost five years to a two-year community college,” Pierre says.

Every movie buff has a favorite movie — or at least a top-five list — but, for Pierre, the choice is easy.

“‘Strangers in Paradise’ has to be my favorite movie,” he says. “I’ve seen it, like, 38 times. It’s so amazing. I love the shit out of that movie.”

Pierre says his personal favorite has been the model for everything he has written. Pierre says he is well on his way, and he has all the tools he needs.

“I used to write on a typewriter,” he says. “But I finally got a computer. I’m moving up in the world.”

Pierre says before the tour began, his poor memory had him singing along to his own creation, the band’s first full-length EP, “I Am The Movie.”

“I have a shitty memory,” he says.

“So, after two months, I have to listen to the record and learn my part again.”

Pierre then turns to his morning cup o’ joe.

“‘The best part of waking up is Folger’s in your cup,'” he says. “I can’t remember my own lyrics, but I can remember commercials from 1984.”

“I Am The Movie” was the group’s first attempt at a full-length record, and Pierre says the success surrounding it surprised the entire band.

“I was amazed,” he says.

The group finished recording a new album in Los Angeles last October and may debut a few songs on this tour. Until then, it’s making a moose-hunting stop during a break on tour.

“We went moose hunting,” Pierre says.

“But we are fans of catch and release. What many people don’t know, though, is moose are fans of Diet Coke.”

Who: Motion City Soundtrack

Where: M-Shop

When: 8 p.m. Tuesday

Cost: SOLD OUT