Michael Akers
Encyclopedia
Michael D. Akers is an American film director, producer, screenwriter and editor. In 2000, he founded United Gay Network (UGN) in partnership with Sandon Berg. Most of his films are LGBT
-related.
before moving to Los Angeles
to begin a career in the entertainment industry as production assistant and assistant director working on the cable movie Jurassic Women. For three years, he worked with Turner Feature Animation in Cats Don't Dance helping to research and develop animated features. Then he moved to Grand Productions, and later produced Lifetime series show Intimate Portraits. Moving to television, he became executive assistant to Martin Short
on The Martin Short Show
and a story and research assistant to Ryan Seacrest
's NBC's Saturday Night at the Movies
and Anne Robinson
's The Weakest Link
.
Establishing United Gay Network, he moved to independent filming. In March 2002, Michael D. Akers directing his short B&W w/Splash of Clown in partnership with Sandon Berg. His debut long feature film Gone But Not Forgotten
premiered at the 9th Annual Philadelphia International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival. It was followed by Matrimonium, an improv film about a reality show trying to marry two men for ratings. Phoenix is a symbolic and lyrical filmexamined why relationships end the way that they do. It focuses around a young man who goes to Phoenix, Arizona to surprise his lover, only to discover his lover's secret other life. Morgan is about a paraplegic man putting his life back together after an accident leaves his paralyzed.
In Gone, But Not Forgotten he was credited as Michael D. Akers. But in all later movies, he used Micaehl Akers (dropping the middle "D").
LGBT
LGBT is an initialism that collectively refers to "lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender" people. In use since the 1990s, the term "LGBT" is an adaptation of the initialism "LGB", which itself started replacing the phrase "gay community" beginning in the mid-to-late 1980s, which many within the...
-related.
Career
Michael D. Akers studied at Indiana University of PennsylvaniaIndiana University of Pennsylvania
Indiana University of Pennsylvania is a public university in Indiana County, Pennsylvania, USA. The university is northeast of Pittsburgh. It is the largest university in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education and is the commonwealth's fifth largest university...
before moving to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
to begin a career in the entertainment industry as production assistant and assistant director working on the cable movie Jurassic Women. For three years, he worked with Turner Feature Animation in Cats Don't Dance helping to research and develop animated features. Then he moved to Grand Productions, and later produced Lifetime series show Intimate Portraits. Moving to television, he became executive assistant to Martin Short
Martin Short
Martin Hayter Short, CM is a Canadian actor, comedian, writer, singer and producer. He is best-known for his comedy work, particularly on the TV programs SCTV and Saturday Night Live...
on The Martin Short Show
The Martin Short Show
The Martin Short Show was a syndicated talk show, based on the late night model, hosted by actor Martin Short with announcer/sidekick Michael McGrath. The talk show aired for one season in . It was produced by King World Productions...
and a story and research assistant to Ryan Seacrest
Ryan Seacrest
Ryan John Seacrest is an American radio personality, television host, network producer and voice actor. He is the host of On Air with Ryan Seacrest, a nationally syndicated Top 40 radio show that airs on KIIS-FM in Los Angeles and throughout the United States and Canada on Premiere Radio Networks,...
's NBC's Saturday Night at the Movies
Saturday Night at the Movies
Saturday Night at the Movies is a weekly television series on TVOntario, the public educational television network in Ontario, Canada. The series presents classic movies, followed by interview and feature segments with directors, actors and other people involved in making the films presented...
and Anne Robinson
Anne Robinson
Anne Josephine Robinson is an English journalist and television presenter, known for her assertive views and acerbic style of presenting. She was one of the presenters on the long-running British consumer affairs series, Watchdog, from 1993 to 2001 before returning in 2009...
's The Weakest Link
The Weakest Link
The Weakest Link is a television game show which first appeared in the United Kingdom on BBC Two on 14 August 2000 and will end its run in 2012 when its host Anne Robinson ends her contract. The original British version of the show airs around the world on BBC Entertainment...
.
Establishing United Gay Network, he moved to independent filming. In March 2002, Michael D. Akers directing his short B&W w/Splash of Clown in partnership with Sandon Berg. His debut long feature film Gone But Not Forgotten
Gone, But Not Forgotten (film)
Gone, But Not Forgotten is a 2003 film directed by Michael D. Akers. The critically acclaimed film showed at more than 30 film festivals.-Synopsis:...
premiered at the 9th Annual Philadelphia International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival. It was followed by Matrimonium, an improv film about a reality show trying to marry two men for ratings. Phoenix is a symbolic and lyrical filmexamined why relationships end the way that they do. It focuses around a young man who goes to Phoenix, Arizona to surprise his lover, only to discover his lover's secret other life. Morgan is about a paraplegic man putting his life back together after an accident leaves his paralyzed.
In Gone, But Not Forgotten he was credited as Michael D. Akers. But in all later movies, he used Micaehl Akers (dropping the middle "D").
United Gay Network
United gay Network is a production house founded by Michael D. Akers and Sandon Berg Akers has released his films through the company.Director
- 2003: Gone, But Not ForgottenGone, But Not Forgotten (film)Gone, But Not Forgotten is a 2003 film directed by Michael D. Akers. The critically acclaimed film showed at more than 30 film festivals.-Synopsis:...
- 2005: Matrimonium
- 2006: Phoenix
- 2012: Morgan
Writer
- 2003: Gone, But Not Forgotten
- 2005: Matrimonium
- 2006: Phoenix
- 2012: Morgan
Editor
- 2003: Gone, But Not Forgotten
- 2005: Matrimonium
- 2005: Flirting with Anthony
- 2006: Phoenix
- 2006: Love Life
- 2010: Going Maverick: The Sarah Palin Story (video short)
- 2012: Morgan