Michael Rizzi / Biography

Michael Rizzi knew he wanted to make films from an early age. His parents bought a Sony a Hi-8 video camera when he was twelve and thus he began experimenting with the moving picture. Crude videos and stop-motion animation movies he created with friends fed his interest in film which eventually led him into video production classes at Sir Francis Drake High School in San Anselmo, California, where he excelled. It was here where he learned to organize his ideas through editing, sound design, and camera work. He spent most of his free time in the editing and sound lab, honing his skills as an early filmmaker.After graduation he enrolled at San Diego State University and was accepted into the film department straight from high school. Here began his foray into working with actual film. After two years of helping on other people's movies, and learning the basics of working with film and on a crew, he began to make his own movies. Cinematography was always the most interesting part of filmmaking to Michael, so naturally he shot as much film as he could. His experience behind the camera proved to be beneficial as he became one of the most sought after camera crew members in the department. Michael will be graduating from SDSU in May of 2003. He plans on moving to Los Angeles and shooting feature films.