Mj Gardner

MJ Gardner started making movies in 1990 with his family's video camera when he was 8 years old, using his friends and actions figures for the roles. He always had a strong interest in drama and in his junior year won the award for "best supporting actor" in the state of Utah's acting competition. With a strong desire to learn more about story structure, MJ decided to pursue a degree in English literature. In 2004, he graduated from Westminster College in Salt Lake City with a Bachelor's Degree and in March of 2005, he was chosen for an internship position at the Walt Disney Company in Burbank, CA. During this time he continued to direct and produce his own short films and write feature length scripts. Concurrently, he worked as a camera intern on music videos that included Obie Trice's "Jamaican Girl" and the Cold War Kid's "Hang Me Up to Dry." In the spring 2007, MJ decided to obtain his Master's degree in film. He attended the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, CA and studied directing and screen-writing. During this time he wrote and directed commercials, shorts and music videos. In addition, he finished three feature length scripts. MJ graduated in May 2009, from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco with Cum Laude honors (3.8 GPA). For his graduate thesis film, "Collapse," MJ crafted a story that focused on an estranged father and son that become trapped after a coal mine disaster. In 2009 MJ moved to West Hollywood where he continued to write and direct.