Episode 79 - Michael Givens (Cinematography, Filmmaking, Method Acting and Hypnosis)

Nov 15, 2022

This week, I'm chatting with Michael Givens, a noted director and cinematographer, who started his career as a photographer in the fasion and music industries before progressing into film.  Michael has worked with such luminaries as Sir Ridley Scott, Stephen Frears, and Sean McNamara, among others.  Michael also runs the Michael Givens & Associates Acting and Film Institute, where he teaches the Lee Strasburg method with a touch of hypnosis.

We discuss the following topics:

• Michael's recent work on an upcoming documentary called "Our Happy Land," a story of Jewish emigration to the US;
• How Michael prepares himself before shooting a film by intense research, which includes voraciously reading as many as 60 books;
• Michael's aversion to keeping up with trends and how that tendency can distract from focusing on good storytelling;
• The benefits of hypnosis for actors and non-actors; and
• Michael's worldwide travels shooting films and commercials, with a story on how he narrowly avoided going to jail while shooting a commercial in Vietnam.

Don't miss this week's episode!

Learn more about Michael: www.michaelgivens.com

Check out Dan's voice over demos: www.danvoice.com