Michael Baumgarten, a native of Key West, Florida, began his career in the film industry as a production assistant on various projects, including commercials, indie films, and studio movies such as "Oscar," "Honey I Blew Up The Kid," and "Problem Child 2."
He later moved to Los Angeles in 1995, where he worked as an assistant director and executive assistant for a film finance company, before taking on assistant to the producer roles on films like "Wedding Bell Blues" and "Kiss Toledo Goodbye."
In the late 1990s, Baumgarten spent over three years as the Director of Acquisitions at the theatrical distribution company Legacy Releasing, where he attended the Sundance Film Festival three times and oversaw the release of over 30 motion pictures.
With a decade of experience under his belt, Baumgarten began writing and producing his own projects, including the comedy-drama feature film "Hollywood Roomies" and the hit TV show "MTV Taildaters."
He has also worked as a line producer on award-winning films like "Exodus Fall" and moonlighted as a segment producer on the TV show "MTV Taildaters."
Baumgarten wrote and produced the award-winning feature film "Smitty," which starred Peter Fonda, Mira Sorvino, and Louis Gossett Jr.
As a screenwriter, director, and producer, Baumgarten has directed nine features from his own screenplays, including the award-winning anti-bullying comedy-drama "The Martial Arts Kid" and the action-comedy "Paying Mr. McGetty."
He is set to direct his 10th film, the family suspense film "Beyond the Crashing Waves," in 2025.
Baumgarten has also written screenplays for hire, including the LionsGate sci-fi/family film "The Adventures of Ari: My Robot Friend," which was released in 2020.
He has a range of ready-to-produce screenplays available, including the western "The Key to the West," the teen crime drama "Suburban Gangstas," the sequel "The Martial Arts Kid 2: Payback," the buddy comedy "Man Campers," the female in danger drama "Star of the Show," the teen romantic comedy "My Social Media Nightmare," the drama and romance story "The Ingenue Palace," and the action-packed vampire trilogy "Blood Walkers."
