Michael received degrees in Film, Radio, and TV production back in the 80s and worked on several TV series, a feature film, and made a few videos for his "day job." In the 90s he ventured in front of the camera and did printwork, commercials, and voice overs. He then went into simulation engineering developing models, media, and training material used within flight simulators and continues to this. As the engineering industry is prone to periods of time off known as layoffs, he decided to begin his journey back into film during one of those periods, first modeling, then acting and now works behind the camera again as well. He is one of the organizers for the Orlando group "Let's Make a Movie" whose production of "Zombros" was nominated for 3 awards in the 2014 Zombie Film Challenge, of which Michael was one of the lead actors. In 2015 they won Best Dramatic Short for "Protection" at the Orlando Urban Film Festival, where he played a small role, did some minor editing, and made the trailer for. In 2016 the film "Cassandra" won Best Innovative Film at the same festival. Michael played the lead, and did all editing and special effects for this ghost story. Many of the other films with them that he's worked on has received recognition at other film festivals around the world. He has either been in or edited most of these productions and has created all the trailers and most of the film posters.
In June 2015 they had their first public screening outside of a festival at the Enzian Theater in Orlando, with media, cast and crew, and fans all present to see the premiere of three of their original productions. Michael acted in two of them and did most of the editing for one. In May 2017 the group celebrated their Fifth Anniversary with showinds of several films at Rock & Brews in Oviedo, Florida. His latest edit at that time, "The Anniversary," was premiered along with other filmmakers films he worked and acted in.
But he also has several stories of is own in various stages of writing and pre-production. As of June 2017 he is chooting his own short film called "The Proteus Logs." This is a Western Steampunk film he created and starting writing three years ago that will be submitted to a local film contest and publicly screened in August. From here the film will enter the festival circuit and see if it builds a following. He has much more planned for this concept than just the short in production now.
He well known in the Orlando area as a promoter of local independent film, and is equally involved in the community both on and off the camera.
Links of interest:
IMDb:
Facebook Fan Page:
YouTube:
Unique traits: Co-organizer for Let's Make a Movie - Orlando
The Proteus Logs
(
Film (short)
by Michael Richartz
Writer, Director, Actor: William Armada "The Proteus Logs" is a Western Steampunk proof of concept for a television series. It follows the adventures of four unlikely teammates in the Florida 1800s tracking down threats to destroy a shaky union after the Civil War. They travel in a stolen Navy dirigible prototype, the USS Proteus II, and are wanted for various personal reasons. Will they save the country while avoiding capture themselves? Will they find out who is behind the threat? Is it factions in the north not wanting peace? Someone from the south trying to regain control? Or the Western Alliance that remained neutral during the war? Follow Union Navy Captain William Armada with Forin, the Confederate explosives expert, Rodrick, the former slave now engineer, and Gage, who has secrets of her own, as they track the clues to find out.
I created this series concept and wrote the story, an excerpt from the first episode. I also acted in, and Directed the production.
Robo-Dog: Airborne
(
Film
(Family)
Actor After an accident causes Robo-Dog to get lost and lose his memory, he is taken in by a new family. Tyler enlists the help of Barry as they scour the town in search of their missing robotic best friend.
Not So Perfect Opportunity
(
Film
(Short and Comedy)
Actor Add a Plot »
Just One Text
(
Video
(Short)
Editor Add a Plot »
The Last Goodbye
(
Film
(Short and Drama)
Editor Add a Plot »
Transcend
(
Film
by Ranelle Golden (Action)
Actor: Clifford
When the Night Falls
(
Television
(Horror)
Actor: Cylde Norris A new collection of short films by Kelly D. Weaver. When The Night Falls is a mix of 30 Days of Night, Skin Walkers and Supernatural. It is a series filled with horror, drama and suspense.Produced by Terminal 52 Films
Cassandra
(
Film (short)
by Let's Make a Movie Orlando / Joe Costa (Comedy and Short)
Actor: Mark When Mark and Linda moved into the old house of their dreams, they never expected it already had a tenant. Cassandra, a very precious young woman, already walked the hallways and was excited to make new friends. But sometimes the house gets a little too small for Mark with both women under the same roof. Can they all survive the taunting and haunting?
Cassandra (post production)
(
Film (short)
by Let's Make a Movie Orlando / Joe Costa (Comedy and Short)
Crew: Editor, Visual Effects When Mark and Linda moved into the old house of their dreams, they never expected it already had a tenant. Cassandra, a very precious young woman, already walked the hallways and was excited to make new friends. But sometimes the house gets a little too small for Mark with both women under the same roof. Can they all survive the taunting and haunting?
Room 236
(
Film
by Frank Films (Drama and Thriller)
Actor: David Add a Plot »
Possessed
(
Film (short)
by Let's Make a Movie Orlando / Bryan Hughes (Horror and Short)
Actor: Leonard / Exorcist There's a dark room in all of us. Sometimes something moves in!
Protection
(
Film (short)
by Let's Make a Movie Orlando / Joe Costa (Action, Drama, Thriller and Short)
Actor: Frank Is there a price too high for protection?
One Good Turn
(
Film (short)
by Let's Make a Movie Orlando / Joe Costa (Comedy, Crime and Short)
Actor: Dave Two friends are sitting on a gold mine at their computer gaming company, and they try to steal the company from each other.
One Good Turn
(
Film (short)
by Let's Make a Movie Orlando / Joe Costa (Comedy, Crime and Short)
Crew: Editor Two friends are sitting on a gold mine at their computer gaming company, and they try to steal the company from each other.
SOG: Salvation (in production)
(
Film (short)
by Subic Bay Films
Actor: Casper
"Run" Music Video
(
Video
by Janani Band
Actor: Bad Cowboy
Family Flavors with Kid Kulinaire
(
TV Movie
(Family)
Actor, Producer Add a Plot »
Zombros
(
Film (short)
by Let's Make a Movie Orlando / Luke Chrusciel (Horror and Short)
Actor: Tommy Two friends look forward to the zombie plague so their lives can have meaning. When it comes, they are willing warriors fighting back, and may hold the key to a cure.
Spaceship Florida
(
Television
by Paul Ratner
Actor: Police Officer
Unfiltered
(
Industrial
by Nathan Weatherford
Actor: Older Business Man
3:14
(
Film (short)
by Alexander Mierisch
Actor: The Ripper
My Neighbor
(
Film (short)
by StandAlone Pictures
Actor: Driver
Ghostly Encounter
(
Voice-over
by Digital Thunder Film
Actor: Seahorse, Turtle, Wolf
Restaurant: Impossible
(
Television
(Reality-TV)
Actor Turning around a failing restaurant is a daunting challenge under the best of circumstances. Attempting to do it in just two days with only $10,000 may be impossible, but that's exactly what Chef Robert Irvine sets out to do in his new Food Network show, Restaurant Impossible. Robert will use a little MacGyver and a lot of muscle to rescue these desperate places from complete collapse. Can one man, in two days, with $10,000, turn the tide of a failing restaurant and give hope to the owners and their employees? Find out as Robert Irvine takes on Restaurant: Impossible. Written by Anonymous
The Hollow Cypress
(
Film (short)
by A Wolf! Productions
Actor: Stan Winston
Almost Failures
(
Film
by C. Stephen Mitchell
Actor: Stage Director
Look
(
Film (short)
by Let's Make a Movie
Actor: Phil
Marked Hands
(
Voice-over
by Aster Banani Productions
Actor: Hade
First Man
(
Video
by Murder City Photography
Actor: Abusive Husband
Standing Up
(
Film
by Thirteenth Floor Pictures
Actor: Rick Morris
Crocs: Terror In America
(
Film (short)
by StandAlone Pictures
Actor: Dad
Murder City Project
(
Print
by Murder City Photography
Detective
Cast Blast
(
Theater
by Disney Reservations Center
Crew: Co-writer, Set Builder
Bonita Banana Mayoral Campaign
(
Theater
by Bonita Banana
Actor: Bud Comstock Nutz II
Cast Blast
(
Theater
by Disney Reservations Center
Actor: Jafar
SeaQuest 2032
(
Television
by Rockne S. O'Bannon (Action, Adventure, Family and Sci-Fi)
Actor - Rebel UEO Soldier By the mid-21st Century, humankind has colonized the oceans and formed the UEO--the United Earth Oceans--as a military organization to police it. Formerly a high-ranking member of the UEO, Nathan Bridger retired after the death of his wife, and retreated to an isolated island to study dolphins. An attempt is made to hijack the Seaquest DSV, the UEO's most powerful undersea vessel, and Nathan--its original designer--is convinced to return to active service, to assume command of it. His second in command is Cmdr. Jonathan Ford. In second season, the DSV added Dagwood, a prototype GELF (Genetically Engineered Life Form), Tony Piccolo, a man with surgically implanted gills, and Dr. Wendy Smith, a telepath/empath, to its crew of specialists. The series has New Age leanings, often presenting stories that deal with environmental issues or mix myth and mysticism--from ghosts to "gods"--into its science fiction. Written by Marg Baskin <marg@asd.raytheon.ca>
Disney Institute
(
Voice-over
by Walt Disney World Marketing
Canoe Trip Guest
Disney's Celebrations
(
Print
by Walt Disney World Marketing
Resident Father
Resort Magic Key Plan
(
Voice-over
by Walt Disney World Marketing
Narrator
Disney Institute
(
Print
by Walt Disney World Marketing
Restaurant Guest
Good Operators...
(
Industrial
by National Telephone Service
Crew: Writer, Assistant Director, Cameraman, Editor
Superboy
(
Television
by Ilya Salkind
Crew: Production Assistant - Writing Department
Scarecrows
(
Film
by William Wesley (Horror and Thriller)
Crew: Production Assistant, Boom Operator Criminals hijack a plane and force the pilot and his daughter to fly them to Mexico. However, an unexpected landing finds them in a cemetery inhabited by killer scarecrows.
Reading Rainbow
(
Television
by Reading Rainbow (Family)
Crew: Production Assistant Levar Burton introduces young viewers to illustrated readings of children's literature and explores their related subjects.
Best Actor, "Not So Perfect Opportunity" - Orlando Independent Filmmakers Valentine's Day Contest
(2017)
Most Innovative Film, "Cassandra" (Actor, Editor, Visual FX) - Orlando Urban Film Festival
(2016)
University of Central Florida
(1986-1987)
Miami Dade College
(1986-1987)