After winning several filmmaking awards in high school and college,
Michael was referred to the American Film Institute's Directors Fellows
program on a recommendation from Jaws editor and Universal Pictures VP
Verna Fields. Accepted into the program by director Robert Wise,
Michael instead opted for a film editing career, while also working as
a screenwriter. Represented by the William Morris Agency and later Paul
Kohner Inc, Michael optioned a number of screenplays and, as a
playwright, had an original three act comedy produced.
As an editor of motion picture theatrical trailers and television
spots, Michael has won a Clio (for the Toys teaser), a number of Key
Art Awards (Seabiscuit trailer; Philadelphia trailer, Forrest Gump
trailer and others) and received an Emmy nomination for cutting the
2002 Academy Awards 'In Memoriam' segment produced by director Gary
Ross.
Today Michael is a producer and co-owner of Gas Station Zebra, a motion
picture advertising company located in Studio City, California.