ABOUT
Get to Know Me
I’m Michael, a filmmaker based in Santa Cruz, California, right where I grew up. I guess I love this place too much to leave, which is why planted my creative roots here.
I’ve been obsessed with making videos for as long as I can remember. I love telling real stories about real people and creating films that make people feel something.
I work with brands, artists, and organizations to create films that feel human and intentional.
My Mission
At the core of my work is a belief in the power of storytelling to shape how people connect, understand, and take action. I’m drawn to working with forward-thinking brands, artists, and organizations, helping translate their ideas and values into films that feel intentional and true to who they are.
I care deeply about supporting artists and change-makers, using filmmaking as a way to elevate creative voices and highlight work that has a positive impact.
My Filmmaking Journey
My path into filmmaking started early. I got my first camera for my 12th birthday and immediately began making homemade films and skate videos with friends.
Although I studied marketing at San José State University, it wasn’t until after graduating in 2010 that I committed to filmmaking full time. In 2011, I founded Ocean House Wedding Films, where I spent several years immersed in real, unscripted storytelling. Filming weddings sharpened my sense of pacing, emotion, and anticipation, while also teaching me how to plan efficiently, communicate clearly, and adapt in fast-moving environments.
Alongside that work, I began documenting music festivals and creating social content for events, expanding my experience into larger productions and audience-focused storytelling.
Documentary Filmmaking
In 2017, I partnered with my good friend Joel Hersch to form Swan Dive Media, combining my visual approach with his strength in narrative development. Together, we worked across documentaries, branded content, commercials, and communications, focusing on stories that felt honest and resonant. One of our branded content pieces for Thor Industries, Why We RV With Kids, reached over 4 million views and reinforced the impact thoughtful storytelling can have at scale. In 2022, Swan Dive Media was named Best Media Company in Santa Cruz by the Santa Cruz Wave Swellies.
Around this time, I began leaning more deeply into documentary filmmaking. I focused on refining my cinematography and editing in tandem, treating them as inseparable parts of my filmmaking journey.
Beyond The Lens
Outside of filmmaking, I live a pretty full life. I’m drawn to travel, long road trips, and being outdoors. Camping and spending time in nature is one of my favorite ways to reset. This year I’m looking forward to doing more backpacking.
I’ve gotten really into gardening lately. My goal is to grow as much of my own food as I can, within reason. I’ve also fallen in love with cooking over the years. On a warm day, you might find me parked along the coast cooking on a camp stove and playing chess with my partner Emily.
Emily is also a photographer, and we sometimes get to work together, which has been a really fun and creative part of life. We’re also guilty of taking some pretty great photos of each other.
Music is a big part of my life too. I love going to concerts and festivals and dancing with friends. I’m especially into electronic and reggae, and I’m always chasing that feeling of being fully present.
Traveling and meeting people from different backgrounds is something I really value. Hearing different perspectives and sharing stories continues to shape how I see the world.
Snowboarding is my favorite adrenaline rush. There’s something about moving fast through the mountains that makes me feel completely alive. At the same time, I’ve been drawn more and more to stillness, mindfulness, spirituality, and the bigger questions about life and death.
That balance between movement and reflection shapes how I live, and how I tell stories.
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