Michael Wiese was a multifaceted individual, encompassing the roles of producer, director, author, and publisher, leaving an indelible mark on the entertainment industry.
As a producer, he made significant contributions by creating the highly acclaimed "Hardware Wars", a Star Wars parody that garnered immense popularity. Subsequently, he held various executive positions, including serving as an entertainment executive at Showtime and later as the Vice President of Vestron Video, where he launched comedy lines featuring notable talents such as Robin Williams, Whoopi Goldberg, and Billy Crystal, as well as over 300 other videos.
Wiese's impressive portfolio extended to creating video lines for prominent organizations like National Geographic, Smithsonian, NOVA, and PBS, solidifying his reputation as a visionary in the industry.
Moreover, he was the driving force behind Michael Wiese Productions (mwp.com),which published a comprehensive library of over 140 professional filmmaking books, including influential titles like "The Writer's Journey", "Shot by Shot", "Directing Actors", "Save the Cat", and "Cinematic Storytelling". These books were widely adopted by major motion picture studios and film courses globally.
Throughout his career, Wiese presented filmmaking seminars for esteemed organizations such as Kodak at the Cannes Film Festival, The AFI, The International Film & TV Workshops, and many others worldwide, sharing his expertise with aspiring filmmakers.
In the later years of his life, Wiese's search for healing led him to explore unconventional methods, including stem cell therapy and Amazonian plant medicine. His spiritual quests were documented in his films "The Sacred Sites of the Dalai Lamas" (Tibet),"The Shaman & Ayahuasca" (Peru),and "Talking with Spirits" (Bali).
In his final years, Wiese resided in Cornwall, England, with his family, and penned his memoir "Onward & Upward - Reflections of a Joyful Life", which was published in 2013. Tragically, he passed away in March 2023, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire and influence the entertainment industry.
