Faculty
Michael A. Nickles is an award-winning writer/director/producer. He has been an active part of the independent film scene for over twenty-five years. His latest feature film, MELINA’S DREAM, which he directed and produced, was shot in Sparta and Athens, Greece and is currently in post-production. His holiday film, HOLLY STAR, which he wrote, directed, and produced in Maine, streamed on Netflix and around the world. He is an Executive Producer of Heather Graham’s directorial debut, HALF MAGIC (Hulu), and he is producing her upcoming dramedy, CHOSEN FAMILY, starring Julia Stiles.
His other films include the coming-of-age comedy JUST PECK (starring Brie Larson), supernatural thriller PLAYBACK (starring Christian Slater), the animated feature BUNYAN AND BABE (starring John Goodman), the award-winning XII, festival favorite THIS IS NOT A FILM, and the international golf comedy SWING AWAY. Upcoming feature film projects include writing, directing, and producing the international drama, ABOUT TIME.
His work has premiered at South by Southwest, Los Angeles Film Festival, Gottenberg Film Festival, Cyprus International Film Festival, Palm Springs International Film Festival, among many others.
As a cinematographer, he has worked on numerous documentaries, including the cult classic HANDS ON A HARDBODY, which Quentin Tarantino labeled as “one of the greatest documentaries ever made” and which went on to become a Broadway musical.
He is a proud and active member of both the Screen Actors Guild and the Writers Guild of America. He began his career at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts and later went on to study with legendary acting teacher Sanford Meisner.