WEST RIVER IMAGES

Mike Mickens has over 25 feature film credits as a cinematographer. He has multiple credits as a cinematographer, director and producer on various television and commercial projects. His most recent work includes "100 Things to Do Before High School" (Nickelodeon) and "Richie Rich" (Netflix).

 

Mickens attended the renowned Newhouse School at Syracuse University, from which he graduated with a B.S. in television and film production. After college, Mickens began his career in New York City working for MTV as a production manager. He also gained experience in commercial production, working with talented director/cinematographers such as Phil Marco, who inspired Mickens to pursue the art of lighting and cinematography.  

 

After spending several years in New York working as an electrician, gaffer, and videographer, Mickens moved to Los Angeles to pursue feature film and television projects. He was gaffer and lighting designer for Kevin Costner’s “500 Nations,” which aired on CBS. Mickens’ still photography from that project was included in the book based on the documentary. Mickens was also a lighting designer for director/cinematographer Tony Kaye; their work on the music video, “What God Wants,” featuring Roger Waters, received a Grammy nomination for Best Music Video. Mickens’ other projects as lighting designer included working for Oscar-award-winning director Saul Bass on the opening credits for “A River Runs Through It,” and for director David Lynch on commercials for Sony Playstation.

 

Roger Corman gave Mickens his first opportunity to work as cinematographer. He subsequently shot an array of 35mm features for Corman’s Concorde/New Horizons company. Mickens quickly gained a reputation as a cinematographer who could shoot great-looking movies despite time and budget pressures. Mickens has also worked on features, documentaries, PSAs and television projects for Gold Circle Films, Columbia Pictures, Destination Films, HBO, Showtime, Decade Pictures, Trimark Pictures, Nickelodeon Network, Orion Pictures, ABC, CBS and NBC Television.

 

In 2008, Mickens shot an independent feature titled "Greetings from the Shore," which was featured in American Cinematographer for its romantic portrayal of the Jersey Shore.

 

Mickens' other projects as cinematographer include "Supah Ninjas"(Nickelodeon), "Fred: the Show" (Nickelodeon),"Big Time Rush" (Nickelodeon), second unit DP on "The New Normal" (NBC), and additional photography on "Switched at Birth" (ABC Family). He also completed the short film "Mr. Maple Leaf," starring Terri Polo, as well as a series of PSAs  for the group Common Cause, titled "The Most Influential Man in America."