Michael has worked internationally as a production designer for 25 years, based in Toronto, Buenos Aires and Malta, and working primarily in commercial production. Educated at UVIC and the University of Western Ontario, he was a participant in the pilot year program for music theatre at the Banff School. He first began working in Toronto in theatre and opera, at the Stratford Festival and the Canadian Opera Company prior to moving into film, where over the years he has worked with film directors including Tony Kaye, Noam Murro, and Antoine Fuqua. Among other projects, he has been charged with rebuilding parts of the Lucasfilm ‘Star Wars’ sets in Buenos Aires and recreating WWII in the Czech Republic.

As a member of both the Directors’ Guild of Canada and IATSE 891, Michael has been active for decades in working to improve aspects of the film industry, and while resident in Malta, contributed significantly to the organization of the Malta Film Commission. Born in Comox, Michael returned to Vancouver Island nine years ago, and has since been working towards building infrastructure in the Greater Victoria region to better local industry. Michael remains grateful for past assistance from the Canada Council.