Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Williams.
Hi Michael, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Apart from my obsession with cats, gardening, and aspirations to become a hobbit, I am a writer, director, cinematographer, and producer known for “OzLand” (2015) and “The Atoning” (2017). I began creating short films in 2004 while in high school, and later graduated from The University of Southern Mississippi with a Bachelor of Arts in Film. When I was offered my first job in the film industry in 2007, I was hired as a PA. However, upon arriving to prep, I was informed that I’d now be the 1st AC; over a few days of prep, I learned the definition of an assistant camera and how to pull focus for a feature with many handhelds. This sparked a 9-year career as a 1st AC that rack focused into a career as a cinematographer starting in 2010. During this time, I wrote, directed, and produced over 20 short films while waiting for an idea worthy enough to attempt the terrifying task of making a feature. That film became “OzLand,” an award-winning feature that premiered and screened theatrically in Hollywood, CA, before gaining distribution throughout the U.S. and U.K.
My second feature film, “The Atoning,” was released in September of 2017 via Redbox, Hulu, Best Buy, and all major VOD and Cable on Demand outlets before releasing in various international markets, including Brazil, Germany, South East Asia, Mexico, Russia, Vietnam, and South Korea.
My desire to tell unique and meaningful stories visually fuels my career as a visual storyteller. I write, direct, and work as a cinematographer to bring this passion for visual storytelling to every production giving the story a unique voice. Since coming out of the closet in 2016, my voice as a storyteller has evolved. It continues to develop with each new project. My passion for storytelling has always been present in my scripts and cinematography. However, discovering and living openly as myself continues to bring authenticity to my work that continues to surprise me. My latest scripts, “Rosemary” and “Out in the Open,” reflect the personal and creative growth I’ve experienced since coming out. These in-development projects are just the beginning of a new era of cinematic expression with stories that I am thrilled to share with the world.
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has not! I’ve worked extremely hard to make a living as a filmmaker over the last 13 years since graduating college. There is never any absolute security, and you always work toward the next goal. However, because I do make a living doing what I love and can afford the time to garden and work on my journey at the same time, I’m successful in that regard. It would not be very ethical to say that I always feel successful. Most of the time, I do not because my dreams and goals are never-ending, and I’m always working toward those goals, which often feel far from being obtained. My career was moving fairly fast after I released my first feature film. I began working a lot as a cinematographer and swiftly moved into my second feature. However, I have been working on developing new feature films since 2017 while working a ton as a cinematographer for indie films and a director/shooter for commercial projects across the country. That long hiatus from my second feature to what will become my third has been due to the ups and downs of navigating this industry, the pandemic, and life itself. Over those 5 years, I’ve experienced a lot of personal, professional, and creative growth necessary to enter the next phase of my career. I know it will never get more accessible, but as long as I can tell my stories and express myself creatively, it’ll be worth it. Currently, I’m working through the obstacles of pitching and financing my next feature film, “Out in the Open.” It’s a story worth all the effort to ensure we can make it with enough resources to make a great film and create a comfortable and rewarding experience for all those involved.
Thanks for sharing that. So, you could tell us a bit more about your work.
I am a filmmaker; my specialties are writing, directing, and cinematography. I’m a visual storyteller, so I like to use every tool as a filmmaker to tell a story. For my projects, I focus on multi-layered, genre-blending stories that explore characters and themes that are important to me. Every creative decision you see (or hear) on screen is an opportunity to tell your story. I live by that when creating a film and working with my team in front of and behind the camera. I’m most proud of my first feature film, “OzLand.” It was a fantastic accomplishment for the small team involved in making it, even though it is far from perfect and a bit rough around the edges. It was a creative experience that I long to achieve on every project. Everyone involved was passionate about the story, and adding their storytelling abilities made the film richer. We were motivated by the story and our passion for it. We were also too naive to know how hard and seemingly impossible this film should’ve been to make. We were dreamers, and our passion is reflected in the movie. I’ve learned much since making that film, and I’ve changed so much. The person who made that film no longer exists in many ways. I’ve grown up, come out of the closet. And truly evolved as a person and storyteller since 2015, when the film was released; however, I am still able to look back at that film fondly. It was a life-changing experience with so many beautiful memories.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
Growing up, I was very introverted, creative, quirky, and quiet. I had a very active imagination, was obsessed with legos, and loved everything Britney Spears/Backstreet Boys/*NSync, movies like Beetlejuice, Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, Titanic, and Indiana Jones. I was a Boy Scout and became an Eagle Scout and Vigil Honor Member around 13. I played trumpet and was the drum major for my high school band, and I wanted to be an archeologist or computer animator/VFX artist before I realized I wanted to be a filmmaker. I was also pretty sad and depressed for the majority of my teenage and early adult years due to being in the closet and enduring what I now know was religious trauma.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.shendopen.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/shendopen
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/shendopenproductions
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/shendopen
- Youtube: YouTube.com/shendopen
