Film Mentors: Artist Development - Michael Behrens

Michael A. Behrens is a business consultant and indie film producer. He is currently in postproduction on the documentary film 780 Frederick and is in preproduction on the short film Jaime's Car. He is consulting for San Francisco State University Cinema Department's business startup Narrative Track Venture that explores the nature and origin of rumors and for Emergency USA as they develop their distribution strategy and outreach campaign around the Oscar nominated short documentary Open Heart (2012). He also consults for Global Heart Network in the area of strategic planning and communications. He formerly ran the San Francisco Film Society’s Professional Development Program. Behrens is an award winning artist, nonprofit business consultant, and film producer with 18 years’ of experience. His clients have included Paramount, Disney, Volkswagen, Fox, Burger King, National Theatre of Finland, Oregon Shakespeare Festival and many others. Recently he helped produce Jeff Rosenblum’s first documentary The Naked Brand (2012) for the Questus Agency (Ad Agency of the Year 2011). Previous award-wining films Michael has produced: My Garbage My Neighborhood (2011), Kunjo (2010) and Climate Change (2009).

Michael holds a Master of Nonprofit Administration from the University of San Francisco and has lectured at Saint Mary's College, California Art Institute, The National Acting School of Finland, Illinois State University, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Zhu Hai University and others. He was awarded the Rex Rabold Fellowship, USF Merritt Scholarship, and has received grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, US State Department and the People’s Republic of China. Since 2008 he has raised millions for nonprofits and individuals.