Biography

In addition to studying design, painting, and photography, Mike also found time to pursue an interest in radio. In his senior year, Mike had a regular weekend shift on WGSU, the college radio station. Following graduation, Mike interned at WCMF-FM in Rochester. Soon, he was acting as call screener and producer to the BJ and the Bull and Beth Donahue shows. Mike learned the ins and outs of professional broadcasting on the job, becoming proficient with analog and digital editing. A capable board operator, Mike rose in rank to producer of the station's headline show, Radio Free Wease.

In this role, Mike was responsible for scheduling interviews and keeping the show running as smoothly as possible. That included taking phone calls and running the board periodically. Produced "bits" for the show were divided between Mike and the technical producer. Mike acted as producer from 1999 until 2000.

After leaving WCMF, Mike devoted more time to animation and video production. Since 1998, Mike had split his time between working at the radio station and at Animatus Studio, Rochester's premiere animation house. When he first came on board, the crew at Animatus was in the midst of production on their first Derf the Viking short, "The Scent of Valhalla." Mike started as an inker, but soon he was animating scenes and learning to use animation programs like AXA and Macromedia Flash. Mike also became webmaster to www.AnimatusStudio.com, creating original Flash content for the internet.

During his time with Animatus, Mike has taken part in two additional "Derf" pieces, the Su and Mo series, a music video for The Dinner Dogs, and many commercial projects. Mike developed marketing and promotional materials for each of these projects, as well as the Rochester produced feature When Football Was Bigger Than Life. He also acts as teacher to students of all ages at The Animation Workshop, which holds classes in cooperation with Animatus.

For the last several years, Animatus has had a role in the High Falls Film Festival, which honors women in film. Animatus president Fred Armstrong oversees the animation arm of the festival, which has so far honored Faith Hubley, Nancy Cartwright, and Vicky Jenson. Mike acts in a promotional capacity for this aspect of the festival: designing webpages, writing press releases, and distributing materials.