Michael is an award-winning filmmaker who began his career as a film student at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, where he won the William Morris Screenwriting Award for his short film KILLIN' TIME and later graduated with top honors after receiving the school's most prestigious filmmaking award, the merit-based WTC Johnson Fellowship.
He went on to study with director Cory Allen and legendary acting teacher Sanford Meisner and has written and/or directed several award-winning feature films and scripts including PLAYBACK (starring Christian Slater), JUST PECK (starring Brie Larson), and the animated feature BUNYAN & BABE (starring John Goodman).
As a cinematographer, Nickles has shot several acclaimed documentaries, including HANDS ON A HARDBODY, which won the Audience Award at the AFI Festival and which was recently turned into a Broadway musical. He also shot the travel doc MIKE'S INDIAN and the rock-doc MOTORCITY MOTOR MOUTH along with several music videos and behind-the-scenes episodes on musical artists for MTV and VH1.
Most recently, Nickles wrote, directed and produced the Main-based holiday/comedy HOLLY STAR and is the Executive Producer of Heather Graham's directorial debut HALF MAGIC. He is also the writer/director of the upcoming international thriller CIRCLE 9.
In this episode, Michael shares his one way ticket to the state of his best self. He also talks about the making of the film "Swing Away", the many charms of Greece, and offers advise for up and coming filmmakers.
Michael is just one of the extraordinary guests featured on The One Way Ticket Show, where Host Steven Shalowitz explores with his guests where they'd go if given a one way ticket, no coming back! Destinations may be in the past, present, future, real, imaginary or a state of mind.
Steven's guests have included: Nobel Peace Prize Winner, President Jose Ramos-Horta; Legendary Talk Show Host, Dick Cavett; Law Professor, Alan Dershowitz; Broadcast Legend, Charles Osgood; International Rescue Committee President & CEO, David Miliband; Grammar Girl, Mignon Fogarty; Journalist-Humorist-Actor Mo Rocca; ; Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr.; Abercrombie & Kent Founder, Geoffrey Kent; Travel Expert, Pauline Frommer, as well as leading photographers, artists, writers and more.