Thomas Michael has already spent more than half his life writing, producing and starring in various projects leading up to the feature comedy Hank and Mike, due to hit North American screens this summer.
"I feel like I've just entered through a new door into a vastly bigger and more exciting world," says Michael.
Hank and Mike, which shot in Toronto in February 2007, follows the story of two unemployed Easter Bunny holiday mascots. Michael produces with Nicholas Tabarrok of Toronto's Darius Films and Pierre Even of Montreal's Cirrus Communications. He also wrote and stars with longtime writing partner Paolo Mancini. Matthiew Klinck directs.
Michael, Mancini and Klinck have been working together since they were teenagers, producing sketch comedy for cable access in Ottawa. At 17, they created Y B Normal, a comedy series that aired on Comedy Network for two seasons. Michael, who grew up in Aylmer, QC, now splits his time between Toronto and L.A.
"I'm entering a phase in my life now where I'll go wherever the project takes me," he says. "I love Canada and always want to maintain a presence here. It's just easier to get somebody to sign a cheque in the States."
As an actor, Michael appeared in Canadian series such as The Eleventh Hour, Kevin Hill and Naturally, Sadie before moving on to produce his first feature, Greg & Gentillon, in 2005. Michael and Mancini wrote and starred, with Klinck directing.
The mockumentary — about two French-Canadian lounge act entertainers who leave Quebec for Toronto to make it big — was self-financed for less than $20,000. It went on to win the Discovery Award at the Calgary International Film Festival and was picked up for U.S. distribution by L.A.-based Anthem Pictures before being sold to Odeon Films and Alliance Vivafilm.
The budget on Hank and Mike was $2 million, and the film features Hollywood actors Chris Klein (American Pie) and Joe Mantegna (The House That Jack Built). It is being distributed by Magnolia Pictures in the U.S. and by Equinoxe Films in Canada.
Michael recently directed Gil Bellows (Ally McBeal) in Happenstance, a short film for Bravo!. Darius has optioned his next feature, which he plans to direct.
—Laura Bracken
