Jump to content

Michael W. King

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Michael W. King
Born(1952-04-29)April 29, 1952
NationalityAmerican
EducationConnecticut College (BA)
University of Amsterdam (MA)
Occupation(s)Filmmaker, Producer, Director and Writer
Years active1990–present
Children1

Michael W. King is an Emmy Award-winning American filmmaker, producer, director, and writer of music videos, documentaries, and narrative films. King is the founder of Michael W. King Productions, LLC., and lives with his son, Mathias, in Amsterdam, Netherlands. He is a current member of the Directors Guild of America (DGA) and a former board member of the International Documentary Association (IDA).

Career

[edit]

In 1991, Michael W. King produced an MTV music video based on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s speech "I Have A Dream". In 1995, King produced, directed, and wrote a PBS documentary titled Making A Living, the African-American Experience, which featured American actor Joe Morton. In 1997, he directed and wrote his first feature film in the Czech Republic, entitled Vanity Kills. In 1999, King created an Emmy award-winning PBS documentary entitled Bangin’, featuring Chuck D from Public Enemy, which explored youth violence in America.

In 2007, he completed a feature documentary called Rapping with Shakespeare (2008), which followed the story of an English teacher who used hip hop and rap to help his students better access Shakespeare's works, while making parallels between the lives of five South Central Los Angeles teenagers and Shakespeare's characters.

Michael King also executive produced Crenshaw Nights, starring Vondie Curtis-Hall and Judd Nelson in 2008 for the American Film Institute.

In 2010 King produced, directed, and wrote a documentary called The Rescuers, which tells the story of 13 heroic World War II diplomats who helped save the lives of tens of thousands of Jews during the Holocaust. The Rescuers stars historian and Holocaust expert Sir Martin Gilbert and Rwandan anti-genocide activist Stephanie Nyombayire, and features Prince Charles, Prince of Wales.

Filmography

[edit]
Year Production Role
1990 Arts and Entertainment Revue TV Series Producer
1995 Making a Living: the African-American Experience Director, Producer and Writer
1997 Vanity Kills Writer and Director
1999 Bangin Writer, Producer and Director
2002 Breaking the Silence, Sex is Not a Four Letter Word Director
2007 Rapping With Shakespeare Director and Producer
2008 Crenshaw Nights Executive Producer
2010 The Rescuers Director, Producer and Writer

Awards and nominations

[edit]
Year Award Organization Work Category Result
1999 Best Documentary Emmy Bangin' PBS documentary feature Won
1999 Best Documentary and Best Editing International Television and Video Association Bangin' PBS documentary feature Won
2008 A&E Indie Filmmaker Award A&E IndieFilms Rapping with Shakespeare Documentary Nominated
2002 Carl Lutz Medal of Freedom Switzerland The Rescuers Documentary Feature Awarded
2010 Harriet Buescher Lawrence ’34 Prize Connecticut College Lifetime achievement outstanding contributions to society Awarded
2012 Outstanding Documentary The NAACP Image Awards The Rescuers Documentary Nominated

References

[edit]
  • GHERMEZIAN, SHIRYN (5 August 2022). "New Project Spotlights World War II-Era Diplomats Who Saved Thousands of Jews During Holocaust". the algemeiner. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  • "HARTFORD COURANT". HARTFORD COURANT. 2 August 2021. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  • "Remastered Version of 'The Rescuers' Film Screening Coming to Mandell JCC". we-ha. We Ha. 15 September 2022. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  • Pohoryles, Yaniv (4 August 2022). "New film sheds light on stories of diplomats who saved Jews from Nazis". Ynetnews. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  • GHERMEZIAN, SHIRYN (5 August 2022). "New Project Spotlights World War II-Era Diplomats Who Saved Thousands of Jews During Holocaust". Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  • THR STAFF (7 May 2014). "Michael King's documentary recounts the inspirational stories of diplomats who risked their lives and careers to save Jews during the Holocaust". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
[edit]