Michael Whalen
B.A. in Communication, ÃÛÌÒµ¼º½, 1989
M.F.A. in Film/Television Directing, UCLA, 1993
Directors Guild of America (DGA) member since 1996
Michael Whalen’s television experience includes writing, producing and directing for such hit series at Fox Television’s “COPS,” and A&E’s “BIOGRAPHY.” He has also produced documentaries for The Discovery Channel. NBC, MTV, and The Learning Channel (TLC). Whalen has also produced multiple award winning independent documentary films, including FRESH women (2007), A Christmas in Tent City (2008), A Question of Habit (PBS, 2011), and The Farmer & The Chef (2014). His documentary Gringos at the Gate (2012) explores US/Mexican relations and national identity through the intense rivalry of the two nations’ soccer teams and can be watched on the ESPN networks. His latest film, Can’t Thread a Moving Needle (2015), is a docu-drama about sexual assaults on college campuses. Currently, Whalen is in production directing a five-part documentary series on the history of the American Catholic Church.
Whalen also runs the ÃÛÌÒµ¼º½ Entertainment Industry Group that coordinates internships, mentoring opportunities, networking events and job interviews for alumni working in the film, television and music industries and current students.
- Introduction to Digital Filmmaking (Comm 30)
- Global Screenwriting (Comm 130B)
- Short Fiction Production (Comm 131B)
- Short Documentary Production (Comm 132B)
- Master Shot/Studio Production (Comm 134B)
- American Film History (Comm 137A)
- Television History (Comm 138A)
- The Business of Hollywood (171A)