PRODUCER | DIRECTOR | WRITER - Today our guest is Michael Akers. Michael started out with
the usual on-set jobs of Set Dresser, Production Assistant, Assistant Director, Production Manager. Shifted
his focus to development and spent nearly three years with Turner Feature Animation (“Cats Don’t
Dance”) helping to research and develop animated features. The Warner Brothers buyout of Turner moved Michael
onto the staff of Grand Productions, an independent movie development company headquartered at the HBO
offices in Century City. He helped land the Ripley's “Believe It or Not” franchise and worked in
developing features for the likes of: David Bowie, Nicolas Cage and the estate of Andy Warhol. He also helped
produce the Lifetime series show “Intimate Portraits” of Heather Locklear and Jane Seymour.
Thereafter, Michael moved into television production as the Executive Assistant to Martin Short on
“The Martin Short Show.” This high profile position enabled him to take positions as Story/Research
Assistant to Ryan Seacrest’s “NBC’s Saturday Night at the Movies” and Anne Robinson’s “The
Weakest Link.”
DISCUSSION TOPICS: What are the 1-2-3 steps you should take when producing a movie? What is the best way to
raise money to fund your film project? How do you select the film festivals to enter that are best for your
film? What is the best way to get distribution? How long do you continue to extract notoriety out of your
individual projects?
MICHAEL AKERS WEBSITE: michaelakers.info
