Kareem McMichael is an award-winning actor, writer and director and founder of Karmac Productions. He is best known for his documentary work and short film 'Best Friends'. He is currently the Online Content Manager for the Journalism and Mass Communications (JMC) department at Savannah State University (SSU) and the co-director and founder of the SSU Indie Film Festival. His detailed knowledge of the field of media is due to his learning many aspects of media ranging from production, talent, promotions, and graphic and web design.
The Macon, Georgia native has had a passion for acting and broadcast journalism since he was 5 years old and performed in a variety of school, church, and city functions growing up. He moved to Savannah in the fall of 05 to attend college at Savannah State University to major in Theater and minor in Mass Communications. Shortly after he became a production assistant at WJCL (ABC/Fox) in Savannah he switched his major from Theater to Mass Communications and made Theater his minor. Starring in plays such as The Amen Corner.
During his time at the university he became a news anchor, writer and producer for the student news cast Tiger Eye News. He also produced his own school web show ACES: The Around Campus Events and Sports Show. While doing this he wrote, produced, and starred in a film documentary titled "Had Enough" to raise awareness about domestic violence. Both the television show and film can be viewed at www.youtube.com/aces4show.
McMichael continued to perform in stage plays and films at Savannah State, SCAD, and Armstrong while working on his degree. He received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Mass Communications from Savannah State University in the Fall of 2009. He continued to work at WJCL and perform in local plays, write films, and developed his company Karmac Productions. In 2011 his one act play Best Friends won second place in the East Georgia College play write competition. He went on work at WTOC (CBS News) in Savannah from 2010 to 2011 before accepting his current position at Savannah State in 2011. At Savannah State University has helped advise the student newspaper, coordinate the student newscast, and helped instruct some of the graphic design classes. Since 2011 he's conducted workshops at SSU JMC's Southern Regional Press Institute.
He completed the role of Malik in the feature film titled Grrl Scouts that is based on a comic book by the same title and was shown at Comic Conn in San Francisco in the summer of 2012 and released a single that he wrote and produced titled ‘On A Mission’ which is now on iTunes & Google Play. He also starred as Malcome in Macbeth at Armstrong State College. In 2013 he was one of the producers of the documentary Road to Desegregation. In 2014 he produced the short film The C Files and he collaborated with the Department of Family and Children services to create a video titled Have A Heart, Give A Child A Fresh Start, to raise awareness about adoption. In 2015 he started producing the art talk show Art Talks, Art Matters which aired on Savannah Engage TV from 2015-2017.
In 2015 Road to Desegregation was accepted into the Humboldt International Film Festival and received the Jim Dumuling Award for Best Documentary with a Social Justice Theme. McMichael became one of the founding members of the SSU Indie Film Fest which started in 2015. The primary purpose of the festival is showcase films produced by Savannah State University (SSU) students.
In 2015 he completed the Savannah Neighborhood Leadership Academy class. The class brings together established and emerging leaders from diverse segments of the community to enhance their leadership skills with a focus on advocacy, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. During the class he produced a piece about recidivism. In 2016 Best Friends was produced as a short film has been accepted into and screened at over six festivals across America hitting many major cities including Atlanta, Kansas City, and Miami. Best Friends won Best New Urban Short Film at the Urban Film Festival in Miami, Fla.
In 2016 he completed the Georgia Film Film Academy class at Savannah Technical College. During the program McMichael learned various aspects of film production under the direction of John Grace. While in the class he starred in the short film Dinner is Served which was accepted and screened at the One Shot Take Film Challenge Festival in Florida. McMichael was tasked with producing a documentary about Savannah Feed the Hungry and it's founder State Representative Reverend Carl Gilliard.
Production of the documentary started in October 2016 after Hurricane Matthew hit and Feed the Hungry was immediately active. Production of the documentary went on until February 2017. The documentary premiered in April 2017 and since then has been accepted into various film festival, winning the Silver Award at the Philadelphia International Film Festival and winning Best Cinematography at the 12 Month Film Festival. McMichael is Currently working on a documentary or Coastal Jail Ministries. In addition to his professional accolades he continues to work with the youth and give them access to artistic experiences in the visual and performing arts world.
McMichael was appointed by Savannah City Council to the Savannah Film Commission (served 2016) and used his time on the commission to open up opportunities for students at SSU. McMichael is also a member of Art Rise Savannah and a member of the southeast Emmy chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (2014 to present). Because of his work with the arts in Savannah he was appointed to the Savannah Cultural Affairs and Art Commission and will serve from 2018-2020. In 2019 he was elected to serve on the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Southeast chapter Board of Governors. His 2 year term started in August 2019. McMichael continues to act, write, and produce music. He is working on numerous television, film, and documentary pieces.
The Macon, Georgia native has had a passion for acting and broadcast journalism since he was 5 years old and performed in a variety of school, church, and city functions growing up. He moved to Savannah in the fall of 05 to attend college at Savannah State University to major in Theater and minor in Mass Communications. Shortly after he became a production assistant at WJCL (ABC/Fox) in Savannah he switched his major from Theater to Mass Communications and made Theater his minor. Starring in plays such as The Amen Corner.
During his time at the university he became a news anchor, writer and producer for the student news cast Tiger Eye News. He also produced his own school web show ACES: The Around Campus Events and Sports Show. While doing this he wrote, produced, and starred in a film documentary titled "Had Enough" to raise awareness about domestic violence. Both the television show and film can be viewed at www.youtube.com/aces4show.
McMichael continued to perform in stage plays and films at Savannah State, SCAD, and Armstrong while working on his degree. He received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Mass Communications from Savannah State University in the Fall of 2009. He continued to work at WJCL and perform in local plays, write films, and developed his company Karmac Productions. In 2011 his one act play Best Friends won second place in the East Georgia College play write competition. He went on work at WTOC (CBS News) in Savannah from 2010 to 2011 before accepting his current position at Savannah State in 2011. At Savannah State University has helped advise the student newspaper, coordinate the student newscast, and helped instruct some of the graphic design classes. Since 2011 he's conducted workshops at SSU JMC's Southern Regional Press Institute.
He completed the role of Malik in the feature film titled Grrl Scouts that is based on a comic book by the same title and was shown at Comic Conn in San Francisco in the summer of 2012 and released a single that he wrote and produced titled ‘On A Mission’ which is now on iTunes & Google Play. He also starred as Malcome in Macbeth at Armstrong State College. In 2013 he was one of the producers of the documentary Road to Desegregation. In 2014 he produced the short film The C Files and he collaborated with the Department of Family and Children services to create a video titled Have A Heart, Give A Child A Fresh Start, to raise awareness about adoption. In 2015 he started producing the art talk show Art Talks, Art Matters which aired on Savannah Engage TV from 2015-2017.
In 2015 Road to Desegregation was accepted into the Humboldt International Film Festival and received the Jim Dumuling Award for Best Documentary with a Social Justice Theme. McMichael became one of the founding members of the SSU Indie Film Fest which started in 2015. The primary purpose of the festival is showcase films produced by Savannah State University (SSU) students.
In 2015 he completed the Savannah Neighborhood Leadership Academy class. The class brings together established and emerging leaders from diverse segments of the community to enhance their leadership skills with a focus on advocacy, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. During the class he produced a piece about recidivism. In 2016 Best Friends was produced as a short film has been accepted into and screened at over six festivals across America hitting many major cities including Atlanta, Kansas City, and Miami. Best Friends won Best New Urban Short Film at the Urban Film Festival in Miami, Fla.
In 2016 he completed the Georgia Film Film Academy class at Savannah Technical College. During the program McMichael learned various aspects of film production under the direction of John Grace. While in the class he starred in the short film Dinner is Served which was accepted and screened at the One Shot Take Film Challenge Festival in Florida. McMichael was tasked with producing a documentary about Savannah Feed the Hungry and it's founder State Representative Reverend Carl Gilliard.
Production of the documentary started in October 2016 after Hurricane Matthew hit and Feed the Hungry was immediately active. Production of the documentary went on until February 2017. The documentary premiered in April 2017 and since then has been accepted into various film festival, winning the Silver Award at the Philadelphia International Film Festival and winning Best Cinematography at the 12 Month Film Festival. McMichael is Currently working on a documentary or Coastal Jail Ministries. In addition to his professional accolades he continues to work with the youth and give them access to artistic experiences in the visual and performing arts world.
McMichael was appointed by Savannah City Council to the Savannah Film Commission (served 2016) and used his time on the commission to open up opportunities for students at SSU. McMichael is also a member of Art Rise Savannah and a member of the southeast Emmy chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (2014 to present). Because of his work with the arts in Savannah he was appointed to the Savannah Cultural Affairs and Art Commission and will serve from 2018-2020. In 2019 he was elected to serve on the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Southeast chapter Board of Governors. His 2 year term started in August 2019. McMichael continues to act, write, and produce music. He is working on numerous television, film, and documentary pieces.