Hey there folks!
My name is Michael Klug.
This is my website.
It's meant to encompass all aspects of my creative life...
my history as an actor--
my experience with directing--
and my life-long love of writing...
plus some other wacky stuff.
This is NOT MY MESS.
check out my latest project here--
THE 53 ZOMBIE MOODS:
A Book for Your Coffee Table
Sid has returned from the dead; only to face a whole new way of “living”—dealing with his past, friends and family—while simultaneously making sense of the events unfolding around him--including a growing awareness of his appetite for living flesh. Many drafts and a first reading have been completed. In addition, it has been entered into several screenwriting competitions. It has been protected with the Writer's Guild of America; West.
Sid's Apple
The ultimate Christmas photograph. What lengths will one mother go to make it memorable? Meet Janice Gordon and her family of misfits. Forsaking all monetary, moral and common sense concerns, Janice embarks on a hilarious and heart-warming mission to create an Addams Family -themed Christmas card. This project is in the brainstorming and early writing stages.
A. Family Portrait
Tonight I Shall
Lease Your Soul
Welcome to a Lutz family dinner party. Great food. Good conversation. Plentiful drinks. Secrets. A missing daughter. A contract. And The Beast. This is a co-project with Chris McCaleb of Hand/Eye Coordinations . Several drafts and a first reading have been completed. Many query letters have also been sent. This piece has been protected with the Writer's Guild of America; West.
George, Frank & Liza
Based on a series of zombie-related, non-sensical stories from Michael's writing youth, it follows the hijinks of George (a zombie), his friend Frank, and Frank's lover, Liza. This project is currently in the brainstorming and early writing stages.
Joe Bob and his friend/physician Randall are on an innocent desert hike in the Peacekeeper Mountians, when a school locker; apparently belonging to someone named Lindsay; plummets from the sky. Randall is struck and horribly wounded. A dim Joe Bob must then try to escape their remote location to find help. Further unfortunate events transpire for both men; ending with a depressing dash of irony when Randall opens the locker that nearly killed him. This short project is in final rewrites and has been protected with the Writer's Guild of America; West.
Lindsay's Locker
Actress Clare Higgins ( Hellraiser 's wicked stepmother, Julia) surely had to delve deep into her own pain, fears and sins to portray the love driven (or was it lust driven?) "monster" Julia. What effect did living in Julia's shoes have on her personal life? This fictional tale shows what could have happened to Higgins', behind the scenes during the filming of Clive Barker's horror classic. This project is in the brainstorming and early writing stages.
Clare, This Is Julia
Eccentric Michael--obsessed with zombies since a childhood tragedy--must band together with Land of the Dead actor Simon Baker when an actual zombie epidemic explodes, and must then travel cross-country to find the only person they know can handle this disaster--legendary director; George A. Romero. This piece has been protected with the Writer's Guild of America; West and multiple drafts have been completed. Query letters and festival submissions have also been sent.
Me & Simon Baker
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Michael Klug (writer / director / editor / field zombie 1) click "biography" on the main menu above...
Clare Martin (director of photography / art director / field zombie 2)
David Schmidt (assistant director / fight co-ordinator / zombie extra)
Scott has a daily routine. He sets out his clothes, eats his cereal, washes the dishes, writes in his journal, brushes his teeth, reads to his wife, and checks his messages. Today is a bit different. Things have changed and this requires that Scott make some difficult choices. This is the shortened version submitted to GEORGE A. ROMERO'S DIARY OF THE DEAD contest on MySpace. This project is complete.
This is the director's cut of READY TO GO, as it was originally envisioned; with over 5 additional minutes. There are many scenes not in the "contest" version; as well as scenes you've already seen...lengthened. Scott's situation is made more clear and this allows the viewer to sympathize more deeply; and more fully understand his decisions. This project has attained picture lock and is awaiting a final soundtrack.
Michael Klug grew up in the beautiful Black Hills of SD, just 40 miles from Mt. Rushmore. Today he's a writer, actor and director. His first acting role in the third grade came about when Missoula Children's Theatre arrived in town. He was a "candlestick" in Pinnochio, and then a year later, the only male munchkin in The Wizard of Oz. He began his writing career with his first short story "House of the Dead" _ the tender age of 10. In eighth grade he co-wrote, co-produced and co-directed (as well as starred as "Freddy") in a stage play called A Nightmare on Elm Street: The Tribute, with his best friend Eric. Many roles in high school followed, including Scrooge in A Christmas Carol. He won 3 Best Actor honors; as well as a "Most Dedicated" Drama Club award while there. His writing continued, mostly horror fare, including poetry, short stories, and a fabulously entertaining series of stories called "George, Frank & Liza", which is currently on the back burner for a screenplay translation. Michael and friend Eric also dabbled in filmmaking during high school; creating several innovative; no budget horror shorts. He studied theatre in college, _ Minnesota State University; Moorhead; focusing his studies on acting and directing. While there, he was nominated 3 times for the prestigious Irene Ryan/ American College Theatre Festival award; for his acting work in Galileo, Picnic and As You Like It. His nomination as Touchstone in As You Like It led him to a regional win, and onto the Kennedy Center, representing the 8-state Region 5; where he competed against only 12 other undergrads and graduate students from across the US. His favorite roles in college included the title role in Tartuffe, Mary Sunshine in Chicago, and The Writer in The Good Doctor. His writing was also still moving along admirably; including a play writing course (where his one act, Sin was completed), and a creative writing course where many more poems and shorts found the light of day. Two summers of stock with the Straw Hat Players (Moorhead's summer theatre) later, found him graduated and off to the real world. His return home to SD, led him to some substitute teaching, a bit of radio DJ-ing and work as an assistant director for a production of Harvey at his high school alma mater. He then found work with Small Change; a touring children's theatre out of Minneapolis. He toured as Louie the Lightning Bug for 5 months in TX, OK, AR and LA; teaching kids about electric safety. Also in Minneapolis, he starred opposite Sarah Jane Olsen in A Fair Country; just a short time before her discovery and subsequent arrest by the FBI. A move to Chicago found a great working relationship with The Griffin Theatre, appearing in over a half dozen of their productions; including the world premieres of The Adventures of Rocky & Bullwinkle, Stardust and Sleeping Ugly. He also appeared in several short films and two features during his 10 year stay in Chicago. Acting in film inspired him to push forward on his own screenplays. One, "Sids Apple" is in final rewrites, and Michael hopes it will soon move into pre-production with him _ the helm. His second feature screenplay has been completed and query letters have been sent to select literary agencies. In addition, his work (both in front of and behind the camera--officially billed as "Assistant to the DP") on the feature House of Black Wings (from Sword & Cloak Productions ), inspired him to write and direct his first two short films; under the newly formed not my mess films. French Toast is completed, and Ready to Go is currently awaiting a final soundtrack. Michael recently relocated to Hollywood, where he has worked as Assistant Director on an indie short film as well as a web-series. Also, there is a co-project currently in the works with Hand/Eye Coordinations ; the company behind The Intervention; Michael's first feature acting role.
Yesterday ... A no-name actor.
Today ... A hopeful dreamer.
Tomorrow ... A working screenwriter.
I'm not talking about Simon, folks.
I'm talking about ME !
HOW CAN YOU HELP ??
Someone out there knows someone who knows someone who knows someone.
** ANNOUNCING **
THE FIRST EVER MICHAEL KLUG
" CAMPAIGN TO GET MY MOVIE MADE ! "
I've written a script entitled,
" Me & Simon Baker "
and that script is looking for a way
AROUND, UNDER or OVER
the Hollywood Machine
and into SIMON'S ARMS !
c'mon...
Anarchy for Breakfast--a web-series co-created by and starring friend Lorri Hamm
The 53 Zombie Moods --the website for my book with Vanessa Puopolo
Maidenhead--home of the indie film starring friend Lorri Hamm
Sword & Cloak Productions--home of HOUSE OF BLACK WINGS and other indie film goodies
Actor Leah Myette
Hand/Eye Coordinations --home of THE INTERVENTION and all things Chris McCaleb
The Griffin Theatre--uber-awesome Chicago-based theatre
Jason's Big Problem--home of the indie film by Hamish McCollester and Maggie McCollester
Flashback Weekend --annual Chicago-based horror film convention
Actor Joel Liestman
Horror 101 --in depth horror film reviews by a wide array of fans; edited by friend Dr. A.C.
Actor Maggie McCollester
YouTube Channel--for yours truly and NOT MY MESS FILMS
Actor Libby Baker
IMDB Page --for yours truly
Actor Scott Harris
A Dog's Howl--hysterical web-comics by friend Michael Dennehy
Actor Casey Hayes
Metacafe Channel--for yours truly and NOT MY MESS FILMS
Bloody-Disgusting.com--all the horror news that's fit to print
Vimeo Channel--for yours truly and NOT MY MESS FILMS
The Game--a short film by Bob Koester featuring yours truly
Facebook--personal page for yours truly
Dumper Entertainment --home of BIG BOTHER and all things Justin Marchert
Facebook--page for THE 53 ZOMBIE MOODS
Actor Lorri Hamm
The Zombie Survival Guide --a book which belongs in EVERY savvy person's library
Twelve Ones--a short film by Bob Koester featuring yours truly
Without-a-Box--the place to go when submitting to film festivals and script competitions
Homepage of the Dead--all the zombie news that's fit to print
KlaarClare Shops--handmade goods from friend and artist Clare Martin
Straw Hat Players--the summer stock program for Univ. of Minnesota; Moorhead (my alumni)
Jessica McCartney--friend and spectacular writer
Horrorgasm Radio Plays --co-created by and starring friend Jennifer Grace
RESUME.doc
The original blogging experiment--since 2005--involving you, the reader, in every aspect of my fascinating life. While today, it is only occasionally updated, know that there will still be new things when you least expect it--entries about zombies, screenwriting, celebs which I find attractive, television and movie updates, in-depth explorations of my many, many neuroses...EVERYTHING you could ever want to know about klugula...
Take a walk on the living dead side. This is a blog which follows the exploits of yours truly, as I learn all I can about "Dennis", the zombie who resides in the parking garage of my 12 story building.
I'm a proud (if stubborn) diabetic since March of 2011. This blog follows the highs and lows of making all of these wacky changes...not to mention the highs and lows in my blood sugar! *GACK*
