Alexander Michaels

About Alexander

Originally as a career, I wanted to be a concept artist for films and video games. Having undertaken both art and graphic design for GCSE and A Level respectively, I developed my creativity both through making and planning. As my projects progressed, I began to realise I was better suited to the written tasks associated with my work, particularly my critical analyses of either my own work or other artists’ work. Drawing and artmaking, in general, gradually became tedious to me, enjoying it less and less as I went on as I found it too repetitive in nature, making me want to pursue an alternative creative process. As a result, I decided to explore a different area within the creative industries through my A Level film studies course, incorporating my analytical work from art into my film essays. Here I was introduced to screenwriting, learning plot structure, character design and written communication via action descriptions. Continuing with film studies at university, I completed a few practical projects that allowed me to develop these creative writing skills, helping me choose my desired career route as a screenwriter. In these practical projects, me and other students completed short films that introduced me to the various roles available in a production. Cinematography, in particular, caught my attention, examining what details to display to the audience and how to encourage emotional responses through camera angles, lighting, etc. Having graduated from university, I currently work as a food and beverage assistant at Wrest Park, providing high quality food and drink for customers and communicating clearly with them to ensure they receive what they need. Wrest Park has been the setting for many media productions, such as Bridgerton and, most recently, Citadel. I helped out with ensuring production crew did not damage the property and properly followed health and safety procedures. In addition, I volunteer with Lift-Off Global Network as a film and screenplay reviewer, providing constructive feedback to independent filmmakers and recommend particular projects to be shown at festivals. In my spare time, I am working on a couple of screenplays to add to my portfolio and, hopefully, make into a reality in the future as anything I write I would love to direct into a visual piece. Ultimately, I enjoy telling stories, getting audiences to both be entertained and learn from fictional characters and situations, hoping to inspire people to fulfil their ambitions.

Skills & Experience

Education