Meet Mark Allen Michaels | Writer/Director/Producer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Mark Allen Michaels and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Mark Allen, how has your background shaped the person you are today?
FADE IN…My first 5 years of youth were spent in India – Thus I follow a spiritual leaning toward all things Buddha – And maybe I absorbed some of that countries’ love of movies… To be in a dark theatre, waiting with apt anticipation for the screen to light up with dreams or nightmares…Pure magic!… JUMP CUT…I started acting on stage at five – When I was seventeen, I hitchhiked to California to become a Star…Yeah right! I became a ‘star’ waiter and waited on some of the big names in the biz (those brutal but amusing anecdotes will be in one of my future films) – CUT TO an abrupt move to Boston to be ‘star’ waiter there but…surprise! My limited acting talent did allow me to act on stage when I was not serving a blow-torch-crusted creme brulee – CUT TO stage directing – CUT TO writing and directing my own plays – CUT TO writing and directing my own movies – Do you see a pattern here?

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
The challenge as I see it, is doing what I want when I want and how I want..Yeah, right! Since that’s not gonna happen I take my little victories where i can get them; such as a couple of dry dirty vodka martinis at a fine bar – I then feel like I am channeling my inner Bogie … Speaking of Bogie, I plan to shoot my film noir ‘222 Dirty Reasons’ this summer – Ahhh…to be on set again, but what dreams may come must give me pause – You see, I may be a procrastinator but I am quick to rally to a good fight – And make no mistake, filmmaking is a good fight – one that I enjoy immensely –

Let’s see… The lockdowns have been very good to me – Very good indeed! I was my most prolific; 4 movies! Let me count them for you…

‘Vampryz on a Boat’ – Kinda explains the movie if you know what I mean – This baby will be released in 2022 –

‘The Big T’ – About ‘you know who’!…Satire because what else could it be?!…Just completed – Now goin’ on the hunt for that rare white woolly mammoth…er, i mean goin’ on the hunt for that rare distributor who gets ‘it’!

‘Bando’ – An eccentric Hollywood actor being eccentric – Locking the final edit –

‘Prior’ – A mixed race comic lets his hair down – Rough edit finished –

While I am rolling please allow me to roll right along…

‘CowboyZ and ZombieZ’ – Will start shooting in February or March –

‘222 Dirty Reasons’ – Will start shooting in late summer –

Wow! Maybe I am doing something right! I love my talented casts and crews (I tend to use the same people – It limits lawsuits) – I laugh when I am supposed to when I read my scripts that I’ve written – I cry when I am supposed to when I read my scripts that I’ve written…Yeah, right!…After my 3rd martini; Cohen Bros eat your heart out!…After my 4th martini; The Oscar is mine and you don’t even have to nominate me!…After my 5th martini; I wake up in a cold sweat and wonder, with amazement, where’s my blow torch?!

I have a few rules I go by…Well, not actually rules but guideposts…

I don’t look behind because you never know what is gaining on you!

I don’t look for trouble because I am sure I will easily find it!

I DO LOOK for investors because I need them like a dyin’ man needs water in the desert! And make no mistake, without money in the movie biz, you are stark naked wandering alone in the hot, dry, dusty, deserted, desert!

My spirituality allows me to rise up from the depressing times when I am not on set or having major writers block… I believe all roads lead to the same destination in one’s life but how we get there is the almighty ongoing struggle… Once more unto the breach!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I am a bar junkie…I love the darkness…Kinda reminds me of a movie theatre but without the popcorn! But let’s go with the more civilized establishments for a visiting friend;

Vitello’s Restaurant in Studio City – Great bar and the Supper Club upstairs is a treat!

Smokehouse Restaurant in Burbank – Great history! Across from Warner Bros so you can feel like you are close to the stars even if you aren’t!

Le Petite Restaurant in Sherman Oaks – Fine french dining and the palm frites are to die for!

The Sunset Restaurant in Malibu – Great ocean views, drinks and food! What more could you ask for!

Casa Vega Restaurant in Sherman Oaks – Very cool – Retro feel – Gimme a margarita please!

Anywhere in Santa Monica as that used to be my old haunt and I love the vibe –

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Doctor Edward Strother – My mentor in theatre and the arts –

Doctor Gary Gardner – One whose talent and humor I carry with me today –

Website: http://firebreathingfilms.com

Other: firebreathingfilms@verizon.net