MICHAEL ADDIS - Writer/Director

"In general, movies need to say a lot or else they shouldn't get made," Michael Addis boldly proclaims as he describes his work ethic. He makes his feature directing debut on POOR WHITE TRASH but is not one to rest on his laurels. He is currently co-writing and is set to direct CAPITOL KIDS for Dream Entertainment and later he takes off to Prague to shoot BELA KISS.

Although he is well on his way to becoming a prolific writer and filmmaker, quality is also key to his continuing success. His student film THE PHONEMASTER 9000 (1993) won top prizes at the Sundance, Aspen, USA, Houston and Oberhausen film festivals and was screened extensively on Bravo, PBS and The Learning Channel. Two years later, THE CAR THIEF won major honors at the New York, San Diego and Aspen film festivals. His recently filmed public service project "Dare To Keep Kids Off Of Drugs" has been shown in 5th grade classes across the United States

Additionally, Addis sold "This Charming Alien" to Showtime's OUTER LIMITS series and has directed an impressive number of music videos, award-winning television commercials and high-selling industrials.

His writing of POOR WHITE TRASH marked a bit of history as it is the first known movie written entirely over the Internet. Tony Urban, co-author of the story, submitted his idea to Addis over the Internet via e-mail. From there e-mail was the only way they worked. In fact, the two did not meet each other until the day before production began in Benton.

Although writing POOR WHITE TRASH was initially a cathartic experience, directing it proved to be both satisfying and enlightening for Addis. He was awestruck as both established veteran actors and talented newcomers found unexpected ways to bring his material to life.

"As a writer and director, I explored some of the more twisted aspects of human nature, like older people giving younger people bad advice," reflects Addis. "I wrote the script during a time I had a difficult legal situation where I was struck about the ironic ways the justice system delivers punishments. It evolved into a teen movie that's a radical 180 degree shift from everything that's out there about teens. There is no school, prom or graduation, and it's set in the summer. But what makes it ring true is that the story deals with growing up and facing adult challenges for the first time. But it does it in a crazy way...like John Landis with bad genes."

For more information about Michael Addis, visit his official website at www.michaeladdis.com.