FILM & TELEVISION
Michael January is a writer-producer whose films have premiered on HBO, Showtime and TNT in the United States, BSKY in the UK, SAT1 and PRO7 in Germany, theaters in Mexico, Brasil and worldwide.
After starting as a story analyst for studios and development executive for a small independent film company, a spec script brought him to the attention of prolific martial arts action studio PM Entertainment where where he wrote four action-thrillers. His first film for the company TO BE THE BEST debuted TNT Network’s “Monday Nitro” action block. This was followed by the sci-fi actioner FIREPOWER, CIA II: TARGET ALEXA, and DEADLY TARGET for HBO and Showtime.
Gaining international attention, his kinetic female hero action-drama spec script THE HEIST for HBO, Saban Films and Germany’s Pro7, and the romantic cop drama-thriller DER TOD IN DEINEN AUGEN (SILIENCED) starring Aglaia Szyzykowitz and international star Thomas Kretchsmann (King Kong, The Pianist) for SAT1, topped ratings charts of Germany’s commercial networks; the Native-American themed thriller-drama WARPATH followed for SKY TV; family action-comedy crime caper WIE TAUSCHT MAN SEINE ELTERN UM? (HOW TO CHANGE YOUR PARENTS?) with Stacy Keach for Beta Film; and the genre-bending rock’n’roll werewolf teen horror film NEOWOLF from Lionsgate with sci-fi horror film legend Veronica Cartwright (Ridley Scott’s “Alien” and Alfred Hitchcock’s “The Birds”).
Michael has produced and directed short films, directed, produced and edited promotional trailers for feature film and television and has served in production capacities as 2nd Unit Director, 1st Assistant Director, Associate Producer, and Unit Production Manager.
In non-scripted serial television, he served as Head Writer and Segment Producer for the nationally syndicated music entertainment series HOLLYWOOD TRAX and co-created and co-produced the game show pilot for legendary comedian Norm Crosby, NORM CROSBY’S CELEBRITY GOLF CHALLENGE, featuring “Criminal Mind’s” Joe Mantegna and Academy Award nominated actor Seymour Cassel.
Michael January is one of the Hollywood screenwriters profiled in the screenwriting documentary and companion book from Harper-Collins “TALES FROM THE SCRIPT: 50 HOLLYWOOD SCREENWRITERS TELL THEIR STORIES”, alongside William Goldman, Shane Black, Billy Ray, John August, Zak Penn, David Hayter, Alison Anders,Paul Schrader, Steven E. de Souza. Frank Darabont, and John Carpenter.
He is currently developing television series and limited series projects for domestic television, cable and international co-production. His development projects encompass the range of high-concept procedural, period drama, sci-fi fantasy, and political thriller.
As a novelist, his first ground-breaking acclaimed genre-twisting novel, the speculative autobiography, SECRET MEMOIRS OF MARY SHELLEY is being released in summer as an Audiobook, and his second novel, a thrilling WWII adventure-romance ACES is due out in late 2018. He is also a travel journalist with multiple books published.