Michael Rissi

Go to content
Award winning Writer/Director Michael Allen Rissi has been making films and videos since childhood. Directing his first feature film at the age of 16, which was screened to paying audiences locally, he went on to receive a Bachelor of Arts degree in Cinema/Television Production at the University of Southern California, the prestigious film school which remains ranked number one in the world. Rissi followed his Bachelor's degree at USC with a Master of Fine Arts from the same institution and was commissioned to write and direct the documentary "Make It Happen," featuring George Lucas, John Milius, David Wolper, Robert Zemeckis, Laura Ziskin and many other luminaries from USC Cinema. Before graduating, he was also hired to direct the 35mm cult horror motion picture "Soultaker" at the age of 25. In 1992, Rissi's original screenplay "Borderline" was optioned by the Walt Disney Studios' Touchstone Pictures Banner through Randal Kleiser's production company. Since then, Rissi has directed two other feature motion pictures, the thriller "Up Against Amanda" which was picked up by world famous producer Roger Corman, and 2014's "Edgar Allan Poe's ANNABEL LEE." In addition to feature films, Rissi has produced and directed numerous award winning industrial videos, for a wide variety of clients, ranging from the Directors Guild of America and Toyota Motor Sports to the American Cancer Society and the Southern California Air Quality Management District. 
Back to content