View source for Michael Shanks (filmmaker)


{{about|the Australian filmmaker|3=Michael Shanks (disambiguation)}}
{{Use Australian English|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Michael Shanks
| image              = Michael Shanks at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival 03.jpg
| caption            = Shanks at the [[2025 Sundance Film Festival]]
| birth_name         = 
| birth_date         = 
| birth_place        = 
| education          = 
| alma_mater         = 
| occupation         = {{hlist|[[Filmmaker]]||[[film actor|Actor]]|[[Film composer|Composer]]|[[YouTuber]]}}
| years_active       = 2006–present
| parents            = 
| notable_works      = {{Plainlist|
*''[[Together (2025 film)|Together]]'' (2025)
*''The Wizards of Aus'' (2016)
}}
| awards             = 
| website            = [http://www.michaelshanks.com.au/ michaelshanks.com.au]
}}
'''Michael Shanks''' is an Australian filmmaker, actor and composer, known for directing ''[[Together (2025 film)|Together]]'' (2025) and ''The Wizards of Aus'' (2016). He also created the [[YouTube channel]] timtimfed, which has been active since September 2006.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Brockett |first=Frazier |date=2022-09-21 |title=A Conversation with Writer and Director Michael Shanks |url=https://fortyfourclovers.com/2022/09/21/a-conversation-with-writer-and-director-michael-shanks/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250417052816/https://fortyfourclovers.com/2022/09/21/a-conversation-with-writer-and-director-michael-shanks/ |archive-date=17 April 2025 |access-date=2025-01-31 |website=FORTY-FOUR CLOVERS. |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Herndon |first=Jessica |date=2025-01-03 |title=Give Me the Backstory: Get to Know Michael Shanks, the Writer-Director of "Together" |url=https://festival.sundance.org/blogs/give-me-the-backstory-get-to-know-michael-shanks-the-writer-director-of-together/ |access-date=2025-05-01 |website=Sundance Film Festival |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Career ==
As a grade 12 student, Shanks won the 2008 film competition run by [[The Escapist (magazine)|''The Escapist'']] to produce a web series [[pilot episode]].<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Michael Shanks |url=https://www.wheelercentre.com/people/michael-shanks |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250323210047/https://www.wheelercentre.com/people/michael-shanks |archive-date=23 March 2025 |access-date=2025-05-01 |website=The Wheeler Centre |language=en}}</ref> The pilot developed into ''Doomsday Arcade'', a 25-part web series. Shanks views creating the series "as [his] film school".<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />

In 2013, Shanks wrote and directed the short film ''Time Trap''.<ref name=":0" /> He also directed music videos for [[Guy Pearce]].<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Dale |first=David |date=2016-01-11 |title=Guy Pearce as talk-show host |url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/guy-pearce-as-talkshow-host-20160111-gm3ili.html |access-date=2025-12-10 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Guy Pearce - Broken Bones |url=https://www.guypearce.net/index.php/music/videos/brokenbonesvideo |access-date=2025-12-10 |website=www.guypearce.net}}</ref> He directed a segment of a 2015 episode of the [[Adult Swim]] series ''[[Off the Air (TV series)|Off the Air]]''.<ref name=":10" />

In 2016, he both directed and starred in the [[SBS (Australian TV channel)|SBS]] comedy-fantasy series ''The Wizards of Aus''. Shanks plays a wizard who emigrates to [[Melbourne]] and faces backlash from the local community.<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":2" /> Originally devised as a six-part online series, it aired on [[SBS Viceland|SBS 2]] as three thirty-minute episodes.<ref>{{cite web |last=Knox |first=David |date=8 December 2015 |title=Airdate: The Wizards of Aus |url=http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2015/12/airdate-the-wizards-of-aus.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250131040437/https://tvtonight.com.au/2015/12/airdate-the-wizards-of-aus.html |archive-date=31 January 2025 |access-date=31 January 2025 |website=TVTonight |publisher=}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Quinn |first=Karl |date=2016-01-01 |title=Wiz-kid Michael Shanks brings fantasy to life with The Wizards of Aus |url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/wizkid-michael-shanks-brings-fantasy-to-life-with-the-wizards-of-aus-20151231-glxkpu.html |access-date=2025-10-17 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Bizzaca |first=Caris |date=13 January 2016 |title=A Footscray fantasy {{!}} Screen News |url=https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/sa/screen-news/2016/01-13-a-footscray-fantasy |access-date=2025-10-17 |website=Screen Australia |language=en}}</ref>

Shanks directed the sketch comedy series ''[[The Slot (TV series)|The Slot]]'' in 2017.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2017-05-11 |title=Skit happens — Foxtel’s new comedy punt |url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au:80/entertainment/television/foxtel-has-commissioned-a-new-comedy-series-the-slot-featuring-your-youtube-favourites/news-story/2f0e6232e1bbff781d3eae3df2ac9958 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20170809122331/http://www.heraldsun.com.au:80/entertainment/television/foxtel-has-commissioned-a-new-comedy-series-the-slot-featuring-your-youtube-favourites/news-story/2f0e6232e1bbff781d3eae3df2ac9958 |archive-date=2017-08-09 |access-date=2025-12-18 |work=Herald Sun |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":8">{{Cite web |title=The Slot (New) |url=http://www.michaelshanks.com.au/the-slot |access-date=2025-12-18 |website=MICHAEL SHANKS |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":9">{{Cite web |title=The Slot (2017) - The Screen Guide - Screen Australia |url=https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/the-screen-guide/t/the-slot-2017/35844/ |access-date=2025-12-18 |website=www.screenaustralia.gov.au |language=en}}</ref> Two years later he directed the short film ''Rebooted''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rebooted by Michael Shanks |url=https://pixflow.net/shortfilms/rebooted/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250617080340/https://pixflow.net/shortfilms/rebooted/ |archive-date=17 June 2025 |access-date=2025-05-01 |website=pixflow.net |language=English}}</ref><ref name=":6">{{Cite web |title=Rebooted (2019) - The Screen Guide - Screen Australia |url=https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/the-screen-guide/t/rebooted-2019/36846/ |access-date=2025-10-17 |website=www.screenaustralia.gov.au |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":7">{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Rkn6rnsgc4 |title=REBOOTED {{!}} Short Film |date=2020-03-23 |last=timtimfed |access-date=2025-10-17 |via=YouTube}}</ref>

His feature directorial debut, [[Together (2025 film)|''Together'']], screened at the 2025 [[Sundance Film Festival]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Maddox |first=Garry |date=2025-04-22 |title=How an Australian YouTube star's 'scream-worthy' horror debut sparked a bidding war |url=https://www.theage.com.au/culture/movies/how-an-australian-youtube-star-s-scream-worthy-horror-debut-sparked-a-bidding-war-20250417-p5lsl5.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250422213348/https://www.theage.com.au/culture/movies/how-an-australian-youtube-star-s-scream-worthy-horror-debut-sparked-a-bidding-war-20250417-p5lsl5.html |archive-date=22 April 2025 |access-date=2025-05-01 |website=The Age |language=en}}</ref> Starring [[Dave Franco]] and [[Alison Brie]] as a couple who encounter a supernatural transformation,<ref>{{Cite web |date=28 January 2025 |title=SUNDANCE CALLING |url=https://vicscreen.vic.gov.au/news/sundance-calling |access-date=2025-05-01 |website=VicScreen |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Gray |first=Peter |date=2025-07-23 |title=Interview: Michael Shanks on fusing his personal story into body horror flick Together; "As an emotional experience, it's coming from a very truthful place." |url=https://www.theaureview.com/watch/interview-michael-shanks-together/ |access-date=2026-02-14 |website=The AU Review |language=en-AU}}</ref> the [[body horror]] film was [[Film distribution|distributed]] by [[Neon (company)|Neon]], who acquired the film for $17 million.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last1=Lang |first1=Brent |last2=Rubin |first2=Rebecca |date=2025-01-29 |title=Sundance Breakout 'Together,' Body Horror Film With Dave Franco and Alison Brie, Sells to Neon |url=https://variety.com/2025/film/markets-festivals/sundance-together-horror-film-dave-franco-alison-brie-sells-neon-1236286374/ |access-date=2025-01-31 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Billington |first=Alex |date=2025-03-19 |title=First Teaser for Body Horror 'Together' with Alison Brie & Dave Franco {{!}} FirstShowing.net |url=https://www.firstshowing.net/2025/first-teaser-for-body-horror-together-with-alison-brie-dave-franco/ |access-date=2025-05-01 |website=www.firstshowing.net |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Laffly |first=Tomris |date=2025-08-01 |title=“This Film is a Celebration and Examination of My Fears and Anxieties about Fully Committing to Somebody”: Director Michael Shanks on NEON Body Horror Film, Together |url=https://filmmakermagazine.com/131439-michael-shanks-together/ |access-date=2025-05-01 |website=Filmmaker Magazine |language=en-US}}</ref>

In September 2025, Shanks is set to direct and produce his script, ''Hotel Hotel Hotel Hotel'', which, prior to being picked up by [[A24]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kroll |first=Justin |date=2025-09-29 |title='Together' Director Michael Shanks Sets Next Film 'Hotel Hotel Hotel Hotel' At A24 |url=https://deadline.com/2025/09/together-michael-shanks-hotel-hotel-hotel-hotel-a24-1236564890/ |access-date=2025-09-30 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref> was included in 2021's [[The Black List (survey)|The Black List]] of the "most-liked" unproduced screenplays.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hipes |first=Patrick |date=2021-12-13 |title=The Black List 2021: Daniel Jackson's 'Cauliflower' Tops Heap Of Year's Most-Liked Unproduced Screenplays |url=https://deadline.com/2021/12/the-black-list-2021-screenplays-list-scripts-1234890009/ |access-date=2025-05-01 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Influences ==
Shanks has named [[The Lord of the Rings (film series)|''Lord of the Rings'']], ''[[The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy]]'' and ''[[Monty Python]]'' as early creative inspirations. He has also named filmmakers [[Edgar Wright]], [[Ari Aster]],<ref name=":0" /> [[David Lynch]], [[Thom Yorke]], [[John Carpenter]], [[Peter Jackson]], [[Bong Joon Ho]], and [[M. Night Shyamalan]] as influences.<ref name=":1" />

== Filmography ==

=== Film ===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="margin-right: 0;"
|-
! rowspan="2" style="width:33px;"| Year
! rowspan="2" style="width:200px;"| Film
! colspan="4" | Functioned as
! rowspan="2" | Notes
! rowspan="2" | Role
! rowspan="2" |{{Abbr|Ref.|References}}
|-
! style="width:75px;"| Director
! style="width:75px;"| Screenwriter
! style="width:75px;"| Composer
! style="width:75px;"| Actor
|-
| 2013
| ''Time Trap''
| {{Ya}}
| {{Ya}}
| {{Ya}}
| {{Na}}
|Short
| {{N/A|N/A}}
|<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |title=TIME TRAP - Short Film |url=http://www.michaelshanks.com.au/timetrap |access-date=2025-10-17 |website=MICHAEL SHANKS |language=en-US}}</ref>
|-
| 2019
| ''Rebooted''
| {{Ya}}
| {{Ya}}
| {{Ya}}
| {{Ya}}
|Short
| 10,000 Sandals Director
|<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9335950/fullcredits/ |title=Rebooted (Short 2019) - Full cast & crew - IMDb |language=en-US |access-date=2025-12-18 |via=www.imdb.com}}</ref>
|-
| 2019
| ''Parked''
| {{Ya}}
| {{Na}}
| {{Na}}
| {{Na}}
|Short
|
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gillies |first=Scott |title=Parked: behind the scenes {{!}} Screen News |url=https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/sa/screen-news/2019/10-16-parked-behind-the-scenes |access-date=2025-10-17 |website=Screen Australia |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Parked (2019) - The Screen Guide - Screen Australia |url=https://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/the-screen-guide/t/parked-2019/36849/ |access-date=2025-10-17 |website=www.screenaustralia.gov.au |language=en}}</ref>
|-
| 2025
| ''[[Together (2025 film)|Together]]''
| {{Ya}}
| {{Ya}}
| {{Na}}
| {{Ya}}
|Feature debut
| Simon
|<ref name=":3" />
|-
|}

=== Television ===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="margin-right: 0;"
|-
! rowspan="2" style="width:33px;" | Year
! rowspan="2" style="width:200px;" | Film
! colspan="4" | Functioned as
! rowspan="2" | Notes
! rowspan="2" | Role
! rowspan="2" |{{Abbr|Ref.|References}}
|-
! style="width:75px;" | Director
! style="width:75px;" | Screenwriter
! style="width:75px;" | Composer
! style="width:75px;" | Actor
|-
|2015
|''[[Off the Air (TV series)|Off the Air]]''
|{{Ya}}
|{{Ya}}
|{{Na}}
|{{Ya}}
|Season 5, episode 3: "Stare Down"
|
|<ref name=":10">{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0L1SlmeN2oM |title=Holes {{!}} Off the Air {{!}} Adult Swim |date=2015-11-24 |last=Adult Swim |access-date=2025-12-18 |via=YouTube}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Michael Shanks {{!}} Director, Writer, Visual Effects |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5479260/ |access-date=2025-12-18 |website=IMDb |language=en-US}}</ref>
|-
| 2016
| ''[[The Wizards of Aus]]''
| {{Ya}}
| {{Ya}}
| {{Ya}}
| {{Ya}}
|Co-written with Nicholas Issell
| Jack
|<ref name=":2" />
|-
| 2018
| ''[[The Slot (TV series)|The Slot]]''
| {{Ya}}
| {{Ya}}
| {{Na}}
| {{Ya}}
|Shanks directed episode 5; Co-written with Nicholas Issell
|
|<ref name=":8" /><ref name=":9" /><ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7362280/fullcredits/ |title=The Slot (TV Series 2017– ) - Full cast & crew - IMDb |language=en-US |access-date=2025-12-18 |via=www.imdb.com}}</ref>
|}

== References ==
<references />

== External links ==
* [https://www.michaelshanks.com.au/ Official website]
* {{IMDb name|id=5479260}}
* [https://www.youtube.com/user/timtimfed Timtimfed YouTube channel]
{{commons category}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Shanks, Michael}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Australian filmmakers]]
[[Category:Australian film actors]]
[[Category:Australian film score composers]]
[[Category:Australian horror film directors]]
[[Category:Australian YouTubers]]
[[Category:YouTube channels launched in 2006]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]
[[Category:YouTube filmmakers]]

{{Wikipedia attribution|original_title=Michael Shanks (filmmaker)|access_date=2026-03-04}}