Michael F.J. McCallum

Screenwriter and Director

"My screenwriting philosophy is simple: entertain! People don’t want exposition — they want conflict, momentum, and emotional stakes. Drama is a character who wants something and tries to overcome the obstacles in their way. Every scene needs to earn its place — if it’s not pushing the story forward, it’s dead weight. 

My approach to directing is even simpler: understand the script. What is the story? What’s the scene really about? Know what each character wants and what’s at stake if they don’t get it. Don’t over-explain. And don’t get in the way."

Michael F.J. McCallum is best known for editing the feature film Cerulean Blue (2019), co-writing the comedy Paper Champions (2020), and most recently adapting the novel Antonio S. and the Mystery of Theodore Guzman— with acclaimed director Kriv Stenders (Red Dog, The Correspondent) attached to direct.