David Michaels

Michaels earned his first stripes as a personal assistant to Samuel Goldwyn, Jr. supervising the productions of various iconic cult films such as "Sid and Nancy". After experiencing first-hand the rewards associated with quality filmmaking, he sought more personal creative freedom and set out to create his own identity. This led to a position as the Senior Vice President for Lancit Media Entertainment where he focused on development for its motion-picture division, recommending children's picture books and young adult novels for large and small screen development and packaging, before he went out on his own. During this time, he effectively packaged projects with Robin Williams, Cameron Diaz, Jeff Bridges, Whoopi Goldberg, Danny DeVito, Cathy Schulman, Rick Yorn, Michael Menchel, Pamela Abdy, David Lynch, Howard Rosenman, Stacey Sher, Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski. These projects include "The Giver" (Walden Media, Weinstein Company), "The Watsons Go to Birmingham" (CBS, Sony, Hallmark, Walden Media), "Taxi Dog" (Warner Brothers, Radar Pictures), "The Marx Brothers" (Universal Pictures, Jersey Films), "Fenwick's Suit" (Fox 2000, John August), "Dry Fire" (HBO, Penny Marshall), "Sleepless Beauty" (Warner Brothers, Larry Wilson), "The Guardian Angels" (MGM, John Avildsen), "Surveillance" (Magnolia Pictures, Mark Cuban, Warner Brothers), "Shelter Island" (Showtime Networks), and "Murder at the Cannes Film Festival" (Merv Griffin, E! Entertainment). "Surveillance" premiered to critical acclaim at the Cannes Film Festival in 2008. Ultimately finding his foothold, Michaels took the leap as an independent producer and screenwriter. Since this pivotal moment, he has acquired, developed, and packaged films in partnership with David Lynch (Twin Peaks, Mulholland Drive) and Sandy Stern (Being John Malkovich). Additional projects include "Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story" (w/Ken Kwapis), "Seasons of Dust" (w/Chloe Grace Moretz, James Franco, Robert Redford), "Last Summer" (w/Finn Wittrock, Abby Cornish), and "A Fall From Grace" (w/Forest Whitaker, Vincent D'Onofrio). Michaels often credits his wisdom and wherewithal to powwows with close friend and mentor Cassian Elwes (United States vs Billie Holiday, Mudbound, Dallas Buyers Club). Michaels has also partnered with producer Laila Nabulsi to launch a multimedia stage adaptation of Hunter S. Thompson's "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas", and he's executive produced the award-winning documentary "Despite the Gods" which follows filmmaker Jennifer Lynch attempting to film a movie in Bollywood (India). His interest in documentaries continues with a definitive look into the secrecy behind Fidel Castro's infamous Cuban Boxing Federation. As a screenwriter, Michaels' penned "M" which has inspired a number of high-profile actors to passionately join the project. Those thespians have included Woody Harrelson, Anjelica Huston, Ryan Gosling, Giovanni Ribisi, Juno Temple, Tim Roth, Lili Taylor, and Jim Broadbent. George Parra (United States vs. Billie Holiday, American Hustle, Silver Linings Playbook) and Jory Weitz (Napoleon Dynamite) are producing while Butch Vig (Foo Fighters, Green Day) handles the soundtrack. Michaels' screenplay "Sold" is being packaged for production, too. Award-winning filmmaker Olivier Dahan (La Vie En Rose, Grace of Monaco) will direct. Isaac Sherry is producing while Paris-based studios Gaumont and Orange have been considering a shoot in New York, Israel, and Thailand. Michaels has also created and written the pilot and series bible for "The Eleventh". George Parra and Steve Blankenship serve as executive producers. The series is loosely based on Blankenship and his covert work as the first point of drug interdiction against Columbian and Mexican cartels. The United States Coast Guard is in full support of the project. Most recently, Michaels and Parra produced the independent film "Puppy Love". Written and directed by Michael Maxxis, it stars Hopper Penn, Paz De La Huerta, Rosanna Arquette, Michael Madsen, Mickey Avalon, Wayne Newton, Colleen Camp, and Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone". Larry Smith (Only God Forgives, Eyes Wide Shut) served as cinematographer, Wayne Wahrman (I Am Legend, Constantine) as editor, Lon Bender (Nocturnal Animals, The Revenant) as sound designer, and Kim Ayers (American Horror Story) as key make-up artist. The movie also features a soundtrack album produced by Butch Vig which includes original music from Portugal The Man, Kurt Vile, LP, Mickey Avalon, Josh Carter (Phantogram), and Wayne Newton. Inspired by "Get Out" and "American Psycho", Michaels has written "Tommy Taffy" and it will also mark his feature film directorial debut. The film is being produced by Spencer Young, Gabrielle Almagor, and George Parra. The project is angling to begin filming in the second half of 2021. Clarence Fuller produced Michaels' short film "Chinatown". Michaels wrote and directed the short which stars his former wife, Margaret Peppey-Michaels. It premiered to favorable reviews at the Cannes Film Festival in 2010. In a flipping of duties, Michaels produced "Aramingo Avenue", which is Fuller's feature-film writing and directing debut. The movie stars siblings Hopper and Dylan Penn (Flag Day), Zoë Bleu (Arquette), Rosanna Arquette, Wass Stevens, and Cree Kawa. Michaels is also producing Rosanna Arquette's writing and feature film directorial debut "Co-Pilot". Cassian Elwes is serving as the project's executive producer. Kerry Barden and Paul Schnee are the film's casting directors. As a committed philanthropist, Michaels continues to mentor the exceptional pool of talent emerging from Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design in London. Michaels also curates art-driven charitable events which directly benefit the David Lynch Foundation. His legal team consists of Phillip Rosen (Rosen Law Group) and Craig Emanuel (Paul Hastings).