Michael, a native of Manhattan, hails from a rich cinematic heritage. His grandfather, Sidney Buchman, was a renowned screenwriter and producer who left an indelible mark on the film industry. Buchman's impressive credits include the Oscar-winning screenplay for "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" (1939),as well as the critically acclaimed films "Here Comes Mr. Jordan" (1941),"The Talk of the Town" (1942),"The Awful Truth" (1937),"Sahara" (1943),"A Song to Remember" (1945),"Holiday" (1938),"Lost Horizon" (1937),"The Jolson Story" (1946),"Cleopatra" (1934),"Theodora Goes Wild" (1936),and many more.
Buchman's remarkable career was marked by his collaboration with the legendary Harry Cohn, as he ran Columbia Pictures throughout the 1930s and 1940s. Despite facing challenges, including being blacklisted in 1951, Buchman continued to write until his passing in 1975.
Michael's family ties to the film industry are strong, with his sister, Amanda Silver, also making a name for herself in the industry. She wrote the screenplay for "The Hand That Rocks the Cradle" (1992) and, along with her husband, Rick Jaffa, has co-written and produced several successful films, including "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" and "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes." The couple is currently working on the screenplay for "Avatar 2," set for release in 2016.