Director, Director of Photography
Michael brings a highly creative and diverse background to his role as a director and cinematographer. Twenty years of stage experience as both an actor and director throughout the Southeast and the Midwest have provided Michael with a broad range of creative experiences; his background includes work as Artistic Director for two critically acclaimed theater companies, The Open Door Theatre and The Midwest Renaissance Theatre Company. He directed over ten productions and acted in over thirty productions. From concept through casting, negotiations with venues and consultations with set designers, costumers and stage managers, Michael was ultimately responsible for productions from start to finish. With an average of six weeks from read-through to live performance, Michael’s leadership and creative skills consistently took each cast and crew from blank canvas to a finished production, ready for the curtain on opening night. Michael’s many years of live theatre work honed his ability to coordinate and integrate the activities of groups of people first experienced in his armed services tenure.
Michael was stationed at Fort Campbell Kentucky in the 101st Airborne and at Fort Bragg, North Carolina with the 82nd Airborne. While in active service he was also stationed in Italy, with missions in Germany, Belgium and Panama. He was honorably discharged with the rank of E-5 (Sergeant) in 1987. Michael was a team leader and squad leader in the last year of his active duty tour. He also served two years in the active reserve with a Basic Training Drill Sergeant Unit in Washington, Missouri. Discipline garnered in these years of service has served Michael well during all phases of film production.
Michael’s other experience includes working in several non-film marketing and web-design positions. This experience has provided him with an inside look at industries which play a key role in modern movie distribution.
Michael’s education includes an MFA in Theatre Performance from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a BA in Theatre from the University of Missouri at Columbia with a minor in Women’s Studies and English. Since an actor’s instrument is his body, and Michael developed a love for triathlons, he added an in depth study of how to develop that all important tool by getting an MA in Exercise Physiology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Michael has wanted to be a filmmaker since he was twelve years old, writing scripts and shooting on Super 8 to make small productions with friends. In his undergrad days he worked on and off with aspiring filmmakers until starting BombShell Studios in 2008 to focus solely on the video medium as his creative focus, coming full circle to his true passion. To date, his music video and narrative shorts include seven productions.
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