Interview with Tom Michaels
Filmmaker Tom Michaels was born Tomasz Bagiński in Gorzów Wielkopolski, Lubuskie, Poland, the son of Władysław Bagiński, a supervisor for Linden Mold & Tool Corporation, and Grazyna Baginski, a housewife turned factory worker. A graduate of USC film School, the emerging filmmaker from Northern California (Carmel), has had quite the success of his past two films The Devil’s Entrance and Older Self, which has resulted in over 40+ awards and 50+ nominations to date. The immediate success has resulted in numerous interviews with publications such as INFLUX magazine as well as others. His most recent film Come the Nightfall, shot on 16mm film is drawing a lot of interest within the filmmaking community as the public awaits its release.
2/6/20262 min read
First of all we would like you to introduce yourself so that we can introduce you to our audience. Who are you? How long have you been making films?
My name is Tom Michaels and I have been successfully making films with my production company Orzel Films since 2023.
And now we talk about your project. What will the audience find? This is unlike any other horror short out there. It was shot on 16mm and we gave it a retro, vintage aesthetic look and feel to it.
Were you inspired by any other movie to make the film?
I was always inspired by the films from the yester years, particularly from the 70’s/80’s.
And now we would like to know about your cinematographic preferences: Well cinematographically speaking, this was shot on 16mm film. I am not a fan of digital. Every film going forward as we venture into full Independent Features will be shot on 35mm only.
What does cinema mean to you?
There is a quote I always use and it’s “Cinema storytelling is a doorway within a filmmaker’s psyche.
What was the first movie you remember seeing?
As a child in Poland, before moving to America, the first film I ever watched was Ishiro Honda’s Godzilla.
Which movie is the best for you?
Well, my favorite movie of all time would be North by Northwest. I really enjoyed everything about this film. The story, cast of characters, the aesthetics and the way the movie flowed throughout. Just a really classic movie that I enjoy each time I have an opportunity to watch.
What do you think a movie must have as an essential ingredient?
Everything starts with a script. It is essentially the most important ingredient when making a movie.
Your favorite actor or actress?
My favorite actor would be Clint Eastwood but my favorite actress is a bit of a tough one for me. I would go with Gena Rowlands.
What qualities do you see in that actor/actress to have such consideration. What do you like most about them?
I have always admired Clint Eastwood. Everything that he has done for the business. He started as a tv actor, then became a tv star then a successful transition to a world wide movie star and eventually becoming an Oscar award winning director. It can’t get any better than that. As far as the late Gena Rowlands goes, She became not only a successful actress but one of the greatest ever to grace the screen.
A good movie has to…
NOT get an audience bored as they watch the screen. One needs to know how to psychologically keep an audience’s eyes glued to the screen.
What genre of cinema do you prefer?
Horror, Mystery, Sci-Fi, Thriller
How do you define yourself professionally?
A perfectionist. I am a Capricorn, so we are a bit of a stubborn bunch but we do work extremely hard and will not stop until our task is complete.
What movie have you seen most often?
I would say off the top of my head, North by Northwest.
What topics are the most inspiring for you? Aliens and life on other planets. Life after death. Where we actually come from. Who/what and how did life actually begin on Planet earth.