Michael Mandaville

MICHAEL MANDAVILLE

             

            Michael Mandaville has worked for 25 years as a line producer, production manager and production supervisor. These films include “Taken”,  "Taken 2" and “Taken 3” written and produced by Luc Besson, “Havoc” with Anne Hathaway, “The Kiss” with Terence Stamp and Billy Zane, ("American History X" (New Line Cinema) with Edward Norton and Edward Furlong, "Friends of Friends" with Bruce Davison and Sherilynn Fenn, "Blood and Wine" (Jack Nicholson, Director: Bob Rafelson), "Millenium's Child" (Disney/Miramax) with William Windom and Karen Black, "Sensation" with Eric Roberts, Ed Begley Jr., Paul Le Mat and Ron Perlman. "Hail Caesar" with Anthony Michael Hall, Robert Downey, Jr. and Judd Nelson. "Pumpkin Head II" (MPCA) with Ami Dolenz and Steve Kanaly.  Michael also produced  “The Almighty Fred”, an independent film. He has directed commercials, shorts, a documentary and industrial films.  He has also worked on “Manahi” an Arabic language comedy which was the first film shown in Saudi Arabia in 35 years.  

            Michael also worked on numerous TV pilots including "Chunks of Life" (ABC), "Criminal Obsession with Telly Savalas and "Wet" with Arliss Howard, Cynda Williams (Directed by Bob Rafelson).  "The Double O-Kid" with Corey Haim, Brigitte Nielsen. "Girlfriend from Hell" and "Spirit of the Eagle" with Dan Haggerty and Bill Smith.  Michael worked on a CD-ROM Project, "Monty Python's Holy Grail CD-ROM" with Eric Idle and Terry Gilliam.  As an executive with Queens Cross Productions, he worked on "Keys to Freedom" with Jane Seymour and Omar Sharif, "The Tunnel"  with Jane Seymour and Peter Weller and "Tapeheads" with Tim Robbins and John Cusack.

            Michael is a bondable line producer with Film Finance, etc., . He also worked as a Risk Manager at the Motion Picture Bond Company.  Through Transcom Productions, Michael has done Scheduling and Budgeting for clients including Relativity, Intl. Sales Organization, Paramount Pictures, Viacom, Bob Rafelson, Kushner-Locke Company, Mark Damon Worldwide, Europacorp, etc., . 

            Michael follows in the film industry in the steps of his aunt, Molly Mandaville, who worked as legendary film mogul Darryl Zanuck's assistant for 35 years.   He has written many scripts with options and scripts for hire to his credit.   Michael finished his first Tom Clancy like technothriller novel, “Stealing Thunder” which won the Thrillspy Award for best novel and a mystery novel, “A Cold Death" both available on Amazon.   He has three more novels and several plays in process which usually keeps him out of trouble.  He wrote the non-fiction book, “Ciizen Soldier Handbook: 101 Ways For Every American To Fight Terrorism” and speaks on this subject.  Michael received a Master's Degree from USC in their prestigious Professional Writing Program.  He attended the BA program for Columbia College, received a BA from UCSB in Philosophy. 

 

 

Book(s) By Michael Mandaville

Interview

1. Could you tell us a little bit about yourself?
I am a Producer, Line Producer (Producers Guild of America) and a Unit Production Manager (Directors Guild of America) where I work on motion pictures.  I was recently the American line producer on ”Taken 3” with Liam Neeson.  I also worked on Taken 1, 2 and many more films, etc.,  I also write (novels and scripts) and do some directing.  

2. Describe your book A Cold Death: An Aristotle Witzer Mystery in 30 words or less. 
Set in Paris, a State Department employee goes to the crime scene: the murder of an American girl.  He meets drug dealers, explores underground passages and discovers a crime against humanity. 

3. What was the hardest part of writing your book?
The most difficult part of writing the book was finding French vernacular in the languages, understanding the geography from afar.  While I have been to Paris many times, it’s about ’counting the steps’ in front of a building - the real details - to make the scene come off the page.    I also used Google Earth and other tools to search for realistic places and descriptions.  And then made it up where I had to. 

4. What books have had the greatest influence on you?
I have always read and loved books from my earliest days.  I read the adventures of DeFoe and Dumas.  These books fueled my imagination and interest in adventure.  Reading history also compels me to weave stories together with imagined events.  You discover unusual facts in history.  The United States is older than the modern iterations of Italy, Belgium and Germany for example.  I also had a phase in my teens when I read all the Science Fiction like Zelasny, Philip K. Dick, Asimov, Ursula K. LeGuin, Heinlein, Arthur C. Clark, Ellison.  And then there was the phase of Chandler and Hammet, with a sprinkling of Jim Thompson.  In the last decade, I’ve enjoyed Tom Clancy, Vince Flynn and other contemporary writers. 


5. Briefly share with us what you do to market your book?
While working on ”Taken 3”, I did not have a lot of time.  I’ve been seeking out smart marketing services like Freado and BookBuzzer.  Trying to find people who still loves books and mysteries.  The book and publishing industries, much like the film industry, is working in niche markets to reach into a deeper audience.  I’m trying engage people about the topics of the book that I enjoy - Paris, mysteries, World War II and film.  When an author has common interests with his audience, then one can establish a good rapport and dialogue with one’s readers.   More and more, in all media, it’s the artist-viewer connection that doesn’t have to through the middlemen of networks, publishers, film studios and more.  It’s a great time to turn the crises of corporate hierarchies into personal artistic networks.

6. How do you spend your time when you are not writing?
I think that I’m always writing!  Brainstorming, productive daydreaming, connecting the dots between ideas that are just popping out at me.  But I’m doing this while I’m working on film projects, scripts, media.  I’m also learning software programming - particularly good as video streaming for smartphones, tablets, etc., is expected to surge over the next few years.  I teach martial arts in Kenpo Karate to kids and adults.  I’m learning to fly a quadcopter for aerial photography - but my son - no surprise here - is much better than I am at the controls.   I am a bit of a DIY guy working on my house.  I’m also learning Spanish because I think that there is going to be more opportunity overseas in many wears. 

7. What are you working on next?
I have about a dozen film projects that I’m attached too.  I’m finishing up a sitcom called ”Got Karma”  and working on some TV show projects.  I am in discussions to do films right now in British Columbia, Dubai, Malta, Malaysia and more.   For ”A Cold Death”, I am working on extending the story lines to a series of the books.  I so enjoyed the characters, particularly Aristotle Witzer and his assistant is just a gem.  She would not stop talking in my head.  I’m looking forward to revisiting these old friends.

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