Michael Whitton started out as a self-taught musician/songwriter and transitioned to a writer/director for stage. He studied theater at the University of Nevada-Reno, acting at The American Academy of Dramatic Arts, and filmmaking at The Los Angeles Film School.
His first feature film Exit Strategy (2012) earned a 12-city theatrical release with AMC, Rave Cinemas and Bow Tie Cinemas. The DVD released via every major retailer including Wal-Mart, Best Buy, Target, iTunes, Redbox and Blockbuster, among others.
As the film's producer, production company and distributor will attest to, Michael took the film from development through post and DCP, and even marketing—with a young crew and minimal resources—to deliver, per IMDb's MOVIEmeter™ (June 17th week) the #26 Most Popular Comedy Feature of 2012, the only micro-budget and independent film listed among all studio-released product.
Producer Kellie Maltagliati, former marketing VP for Village Roadshow Pictures (The Matrix Trilogy, Ocean's Eleven franchise, Training Day) says Michael is ''not like a normal first-time director..., he comes at it like I think any director would with 100 million dollars.''
Prior to Exit Strategy, Michael wrote and directed Trumped, a short film inspired by a gang-related incident in his play-adapted script ''At Gunpoint'', which was shortlisted for the esteemed Academy Nicholl Fellowship in Screenwriting. Film festival accolades include: Best Drama (Ivy), Best Short (FirstGlance Online).
Mr. Whitton lives in Los Angeles, California, and currently divides his spare time up between screenwriting, film editing, movie- and music-related design, and taking pictures for his international travel-book series: From This Angle: Photographs.
