Hasta La Motion!

Michael has been involved with visual effects since he was a young boy, when he created his first miniature shot – a still of a rocket to the moon – in the hallway of his parents’ home. He continued experimenting with photography and effects of all sorts until his college years – building projectors, remote camera systems, and experimenting with pyrotechnics (until his ability was outstripped by the explosive power of his concoctions and he wisely left further research to others).

Michael received a Bachelor’s degree in Business from California State University, Northridge, in 1966, and was promptly drafted into the Army. Following the Army, he worked as an investment manager in San Francisco. Michael then took a leave of absence to attend the Art Institute of San Francisco, receiving a B.A. in 1973. In 1975, after moving to Los Angeles, he received an M.F.A. from the California Institute of the Arts.

Michael began working in film on "China Syndrome" in 1977 to support his fine arts career. He was seduced by the film business in short order, finding in it a perfect environment for his creative side. He "cut his eye teeth" on films such as "Star Trek the Motion Picture" and "Bladerunner" before becoming a Visual Effects Supervisor.


INTERVIEW