Michael D. Witman
- Additional Crew
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
- Director
Born in Milwaukee, WI and raised in the neighboring suburb of Brown
Deer, Michael D. Witman was curious since his childhood about the
majestic world of film. From an early age of eight, he voiced to his
mother his interest in being a stunt man. However soon after, as he
began to grow, Witman realized the dangers in that choice and, to his
mother's rejoices, decided against that particular career path. Still
his interest in the film industry continued to persist throughout his
young years. Throughout grade school and his years as a Boy Scout,
Witman explored the industry through reading, research, and
experimentation. With several papers and the loads of research that
came with those papers, he found himself fascinated with the process
behind the filmmaking. In particular, Witman was captivated as to how
movies could trick an audience into believing things that were only
possible in the imagination. Using visual effects and camera
manipulation to control the audience's perception of the story being
told continued to be key in the subjects of his writing and research.
Through the Boy Scouts, Witman quickly became his troop's videographer,
recording events on trips and editing them together afterward to record
those moments for the troop. He was even recruited by the Milwaukee
County Boy Scout Council to capture and present several council-wide
events. After high-school, Witman attended Webster University for an
undergraduate film production program. Throughout those years, he
directed eight short films, and helped his fellow classmates with
countless other films. He also found himself deeply involved in several
organizations including the Media Association and Gorlok television,
the campus-wide TV station. During this time and for several years
after, Witman also worked as a volunteer at the Sundance Film Festival
in Park City, UT. He graduated successfully after completing his final
and most complicated short film, Red Ink, which was screened at over a
dozen venues around the nation including the St. Louis International
Film Festival and the Los Angeles International Short Film Festival.
Since college, Witman has moved to the west coast and currently resides
in the Los Angeles area working in the film industry. He began working
as a set production assistant and got the opportunity to be part of
several larger features including Live Free or Die Hard and Eagle Eye.
From his work as a PA, Witman quickly began working as an assistant
director in the world of independent film. After racking up a resume of
over 25 features and shorts, he took an opportunity to work in
television as both a set PA and an office PA. Currently, Witman is the
production secretary for the hit show, Modern Family. In the near
future, Witman hopes to produce and direct his first feature length
film in Los Angeles. He is currently in the stage of rewriting a script
with the help of several writers, with hopes of bringing it to life and
beginning a path to his true career goals of directing.