Michael Gleissner
Encyclopedia
Michael J. G. Gleissner is an entepreneur, film producer
, director
, screenwriter
, actor
, photographer, and musician
.
pioneer at 20 years old with his launch of the first e-commerce company Telebuch (Tele Book) in Regensburg, co-founded with Christian Jagodzinski. In 1996, Gleissner relocated to the United States
, and served as managing director of the ABC Book Service office in Florida
. In 1998, Telebuch and its subsidiary ABC Book Service GmbH, were acquired by Amazon.com
, after which Gleissner subsequently served two years as vice president of their US Operations. Gleissner also started "WWW-Service GmbH" as one of the first webhosting companies in Germany. It was later acquired by Verio
(later NTT
). He was a large shareholder in public companies like Jaye Muller's J2 Communications Inc. (USA) and United Internet AG), as well as investing in a series of Internet startups, such as Jfax GmbH, Deskclick/Eatfleet, and MagicDay.
to establish a presence for several of his companies, among them Bigfoot Communications
and Cleverlearn Inc. Both had formerly been based in New York City
. In 2002 Gleissner founded Bigfoot Entertainment
to finance and develop feature film
s, documentaries
, and reality TV
shows for the United States
and International
Market
. His company also acquired the franchises for Fashion TV(FTV)
in Singapore
and Philippines
. In April 2010, Gleissner co-founded the Fashion One
, an international channel that broadcasts a unique combination of lifestyle, entertainment and fashion content from all around the globe.
In 2006 the Congress of the Philippines
, considering him one of Cebu's prominent German expatriates, approved a Filipino citizenship application for Gleissner. The application awaited approval by Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
.
Gleissner is a property developer in Hong Kong
, Singapore
, the Philippines
and the United States. His developments include the 26-story Bigfoot Centre in Hong Kong's Causeway Bay
, various office buildings in Singapore and the United States, and holdings in the Philippine provinces of Cebu
and Palawan
.
Gleissner develops and oversees entertainment projects under the umbrella of the Bigfoot Group of companies, including Bigfoot Entertainment, Bigfoot Studios (with production facilities in Los Angeles
and Cebu, Philippines), and the International Academy of Film and Television
he founded on Mactan Island an international film school providing aspiring filmmakers with a competitive education under the mentorship of industry professionals, and the first of its kind in Southeast Asia
. Through his Hong Kong-based Bigfoot Ventures Ltd., he is also the largest shareholder in the fourth largest U.S. film exhibitor, Carmike Cinemas
.
on films such as: Shanghai Kiss
, Midnight Movie (film)
, 3 Needles
and The Curiosity of Chance
, writer and director of the feature thriller Irreversi
, and director of the reality show Screen Test and more than 40 shows for Fashion TV
, an international television channel devoted to fashion and modeling. Irreversi marked Gleissner's directorial debut of the first film to be produced in both English and Mandarin, with two versions filming simultaneously with two sets of separate casts.
Gleissner has recently finished directing the new action movie Deep Gold
, starring Bebe Pham
and Kersten Hui. Filmed over a period of almost four years after the production encountered several production delays, the movie was theatrically released on April 22, 2011 in the U.S.
Film producer
A film producer oversees and delivers a film project to all relevant parties while preserving the integrity, voice and vision of the film. They will also often take on some financial risk by using their own money, especially during the pre-production period, before a film is fully financed.The...
, director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
, screenwriter
Screenwriter
Screenwriters or scriptwriters or scenario writers are people who write/create the short or feature-length screenplays from which mass media such as films, television programs, Comics or video games are based.-Profession:...
, actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
, photographer, and musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
.
Germany/USA
Gleissner became an onlineONLINE
ONLINE is a magazine for information systems first published in 1977. The publisher Online, Inc. was founded the year before. In May 2002, Information Today, Inc. acquired the assets of Online Inc....
pioneer at 20 years old with his launch of the first e-commerce company Telebuch (Tele Book) in Regensburg, co-founded with Christian Jagodzinski. In 1996, Gleissner relocated to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and served as managing director of the ABC Book Service office in Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. In 1998, Telebuch and its subsidiary ABC Book Service GmbH, were acquired by Amazon.com
Amazon.com
Amazon.com, Inc. is a multinational electronic commerce company headquartered in Seattle, Washington, United States. It is the world's largest online retailer. Amazon has separate websites for the following countries: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Japan, and...
, after which Gleissner subsequently served two years as vice president of their US Operations. Gleissner also started "WWW-Service GmbH" as one of the first webhosting companies in Germany. It was later acquired by Verio
Verio
Verio is a global web hosting provider headquartered in the United States. Incorporated in 1996 in Denver, Colorado, it is currently a wholly owned subsidiary of Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Communications, who acquired the company in 2000...
(later NTT
Nippon Telegraph and Telephone
, commonly known as NTT, is a Japanese telecommunications company headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. Ranked the 31st in Fortune Global 500, NTT is the largest telecommunications company in Asia, and the second-largest in the world in terms of revenue....
). He was a large shareholder in public companies like Jaye Muller's J2 Communications Inc. (USA) and United Internet AG), as well as investing in a series of Internet startups, such as Jfax GmbH, Deskclick/Eatfleet, and MagicDay.
Asia
In 2001, Gleissner moved to AsiaAsia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
to establish a presence for several of his companies, among them Bigfoot Communications
Bigfoot Communications
Bigfoot Communications is an Internet messaging service provider, based in New York, New York USA. They started out in 1995 during the dot-com era, as an e-mail forwarding service provider, and survived the dot-com bust to become a player in the Internet messaging arena....
and Cleverlearn Inc. Both had formerly been based in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. In 2002 Gleissner founded Bigfoot Entertainment
Bigfoot Entertainment
Bigfoot Entertainment is the parent company of Bigfoot Films, Bigfoot Productions, Bigfoot Production Services, Bigfoot Partners, the International Academy of Film and Television, and New Cebu Films...
to finance and develop feature film
Feature film
In the film industry, a feature film is a film production made for initial distribution in theaters and being the main attraction of the screening, rather than a short film screened before it; a full length movie...
s, documentaries
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
, and reality TV
Reality television
Reality television is a genre of television programming that presents purportedly unscripted dramatic or humorous situations, documents actual events, and usually features ordinary people instead of professional actors, sometimes in a contest or other situation where a prize is awarded...
shows for the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and International
International
----International mostly means something that involves more than one country. The term international as a word means involvement of, interaction between or encompassing more than one nation, or generally beyond national boundaries...
Market
Market
A market is one of many varieties of systems, institutions, procedures, social relations and infrastructures whereby parties engage in exchange. While parties may exchange goods and services by barter, most markets rely on sellers offering their goods or services in exchange for money from buyers...
. His company also acquired the franchises for Fashion TV(FTV)
Fashion TV
Fashion TV is an international fashion and lifestyle broadcasting television channel. It was founded in France in 1997 by its Polish-born president Michel Adam Lisowski, Fashion TV is the only 24/7 international TV network exclusively dedicated to fashion, beauty, glamour and style and has become...
in Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
and Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. In April 2010, Gleissner co-founded the Fashion One
Fashion One
Fashion One is a global fashion and entertainment television network, which was launched on 8 April 2010.Fashion One broadcasts 24/7 internationally and is the only channel to present a unique mix of lifestyle, travel, entertainment, film and fashion....
, an international channel that broadcasts a unique combination of lifestyle, entertainment and fashion content from all around the globe.
In 2006 the Congress of the Philippines
Congress of the Philippines
The Congress of the Philippines is the national legislature of the Republic of the Philippines. It is a bicameral body consisting of the Senate , and the House of Representatives although commonly in the Philippines the term congress refers to the latter.The Senate is composed of 24 senators half...
, considering him one of Cebu's prominent German expatriates, approved a Filipino citizenship application for Gleissner. The application awaited approval by Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is a Filipino politician who served as the 14th President of the Philippines from 2001 to 2010, as the 12th Vice President of the Philippines from 1998 to 2001, and is currently a member of the House of Representatives representing the 2nd District of Pampanga...
.
Gleissner is a property developer in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
, the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
and the United States. His developments include the 26-story Bigfoot Centre in Hong Kong's Causeway Bay
Causeway Bay
Causeway Bay is a heavily built-up area of Hong Kong, People's Republic of China, located on the Hong Kong Island, and covering parts of Wan Chai and Eastern districts. The Chinese name is also romanized as Tung Lo Wan as in Tung Lo Wan Road...
, various office buildings in Singapore and the United States, and holdings in the Philippine provinces of Cebu
Cebu
Cebu is a province in the Philippines, consisting of Cebu Island and 167 surrounding islands. It is located to the east of Negros, to the west of Leyte and Bohol islands...
and Palawan
Palawan
Palawan is an island province of the Philippines located in the MIMAROPA region or Region 4. Its capital is Puerto Princesa City, and it is the largest province in the country in terms of total area of jurisdiction. The islands of Palawan stretch from Mindoro in the northeast to Borneo in the...
.
Gleissner develops and oversees entertainment projects under the umbrella of the Bigfoot Group of companies, including Bigfoot Entertainment, Bigfoot Studios (with production facilities in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
and Cebu, Philippines), and the International Academy of Film and Television
International Academy of Film and Television
International Academy of Film and Television is an international film school owned by Bigfoot Entertainment. Its campus is located in Mactan Island, Cebu Philippines with offices in Los Angeles and Hong Kong. -History:...
he founded on Mactan Island an international film school providing aspiring filmmakers with a competitive education under the mentorship of industry professionals, and the first of its kind in Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
. Through his Hong Kong-based Bigfoot Ventures Ltd., he is also the largest shareholder in the fourth largest U.S. film exhibitor, Carmike Cinemas
Carmike Cinemas
Carmike Cinemas Inc. is a motion picture exhibitor headquartered in Columbus, Georgia in the United States of America. As of December 31, 2010 it operates or has an interest in 239 theaters with 2,236 screens in 35 states, making it the fourth largest theatre company in the United States.Carmike...
.
Musician
Under the name "Mickmeister", Gleissner had created and released several dance singles, including Where Are You Now, Mr.Bond, Running Out of Love, and Dont Let That Fool You.Filmography
Gleissner's credits include executive producerExecutive producer
An executive producer is a producer who is not involved in any technical aspects of the film making or music process, but who is still responsible for the overall production...
on films such as: Shanghai Kiss
Shanghai Kiss
Shanghai Kiss is a 2007 direct-to-DVD romantic drama comedy. The film was released on DVD on October 9, 2007.Hayden Panettiere won the Feature Film Award at the Newport Beach Film Festival for her role as Adelaide.- Synopsis :...
, Midnight Movie (film)
Midnight Movie (film)
Midnight Movie is a 2008 horror film from Bigfoot Entertainment in the horror/slasher genre directed by Jack Messitt and produced by Kacy Andrews.-Plot:...
, 3 Needles
3 Needles
3 Needles is a 2005 Canadian drama film directed by Thom Fitzgerald. The title, refers to the three main characters who make a deal with the Devil in order to survive a global epidemic...
and The Curiosity of Chance
The Curiosity of Chance
The Curiosity of Chance is a 2006 film directed by Russell P. Marleau, produced by Bigfoot Entertainment and starring Tad Hilgenbrink.-Plot:...
, writer and director of the feature thriller Irreversi
Irreversi
Irreversi is a 2010 dramatic film directed by Michael Gleissner and shot in Hong Kong as the English language version of Gleissner's Mandarin language film Hui lu, which he filmed and directed at the same time in the same locations but with an entirely different cast...
, and director of the reality show Screen Test and more than 40 shows for Fashion TV
Fashion TV
Fashion TV is an international fashion and lifestyle broadcasting television channel. It was founded in France in 1997 by its Polish-born president Michel Adam Lisowski, Fashion TV is the only 24/7 international TV network exclusively dedicated to fashion, beauty, glamour and style and has become...
, an international television channel devoted to fashion and modeling. Irreversi marked Gleissner's directorial debut of the first film to be produced in both English and Mandarin, with two versions filming simultaneously with two sets of separate casts.
Gleissner has recently finished directing the new action movie Deep Gold
Deep Gold
-External links:*...
, starring Bebe Pham
Bebe Pham
Bebe Phạm, born Phạm Thị Thúy, is a Vietnamese model and actress. Pham was born in Bien Hoa, Vietnam, in 1985. She became interested in modeling at the age of 17 and by the age of 19 she started her modeling ambitions at informal gatherings of would-be models near her home, where she learned the...
and Kersten Hui. Filmed over a period of almost four years after the production encountered several production delays, the movie was theatrically released on April 22, 2011 in the U.S.
Producer
- The DogwalkerThe DogwalkerThe Dogwalker is a 2001 film directed and produced by Jacques Thelemaque, starring Diane Gaidry and Pamela Gordon ....
(2001) - Nautical AngelsNautical AngelsNautical Angels is a travel show, directed by Daniel Foster and produced by Bigfoot Entertainment.A luxury yacht captained by three gorgeous women where they take ocean adventures and docking in various exotic ports around the world.-Cast:...
(2005) (TV) - 3 Needles3 Needles3 Needles is a 2005 Canadian drama film directed by Thom Fitzgerald. The title, refers to the three main characters who make a deal with the Devil in order to survive a global epidemic...
(2005) - Fashion TV Asia (2006)
- USS Cooper: Return to Ormoc BayUSS Cooper: Return to Ormoc BayUSS Cooper: Return to Ormoc Bay is a 2001 Philippine documentary film produced by Bigfoot Entertainment and directed by Daniel Foster. The film documents the fate of an American destroyer that was torpedoed during World War II.- Synopsis :...
(2006) - Falling for GraceFalling for GraceFalling for Grace is a 2006 romantic comedy film directed by Asian-American Fay Ann Lee, who also co-wrote the film with Karen Rousso, and stars alongside Gale Harold. It debuted at the 2006 Tribeca Film Festival...
(2006) - The Curiosity of ChanceThe Curiosity of ChanceThe Curiosity of Chance is a 2006 film directed by Russell P. Marleau, produced by Bigfoot Entertainment and starring Tad Hilgenbrink.-Plot:...
(2006) - Hui lu (2007) (and as director and screenwriter)
- Shanghai KissShanghai KissShanghai Kiss is a 2007 direct-to-DVD romantic drama comedy. The film was released on DVD on October 9, 2007.Hayden Panettiere won the Feature Film Award at the Newport Beach Film Festival for her role as Adelaide.- Synopsis :...
(2007) - Hollywood Boot Camp (2007)
- You Me and Captain Longbridge (2008)
- Bigfoot TV (2008) (TV)
- Midnight MovieMidnight Movie (film)Midnight Movie is a 2008 horror film from Bigfoot Entertainment in the horror/slasher genre directed by Jack Messitt and produced by Kacy Andrews.-Plot:...
(2008) - Within (2009 film)|Within (2009)
- Fashion OneFashion OneFashion One is a global fashion and entertainment television network, which was launched on 8 April 2010.Fashion One broadcasts 24/7 internationally and is the only channel to present a unique mix of lifestyle, travel, entertainment, film and fashion....
(2010) (TV) - IrreversiIrreversiIrreversi is a 2010 dramatic film directed by Michael Gleissner and shot in Hong Kong as the English language version of Gleissner's Mandarin language film Hui lu, which he filmed and directed at the same time in the same locations but with an entirely different cast...
(2010) (and as director and screenwriter) - Midnight Movie: the Killer CutMidnight Movie (film)Midnight Movie is a 2008 horror film from Bigfoot Entertainment in the horror/slasher genre directed by Jack Messitt and produced by Kacy Andrews.-Plot:...
(2010) - Model Yoga (2011) (TV)
- Model Workout (2011) (TV)
- Underwater Action (2011) (TV) (and as photographer)
- Deep GoldDeep Gold-External links:*...
(2011) (and as director and screenwriter) - The Girl With No Number (2011) (and as director)
Actor
- The Curiosity of ChanceThe Curiosity of ChanceThe Curiosity of Chance is a 2006 film directed by Russell P. Marleau, produced by Bigfoot Entertainment and starring Tad Hilgenbrink.-Plot:...
(2006) as Sasha - Fashion TV Asia (2006) (as himself)
- Hui lu (2007) as Charlie
- Shanghai KissShanghai KissShanghai Kiss is a 2007 direct-to-DVD romantic drama comedy. The film was released on DVD on October 9, 2007.Hayden Panettiere won the Feature Film Award at the Newport Beach Film Festival for her role as Adelaide.- Synopsis :...
(2007) as Frank - Midnight MovieMidnight Movie (film)Midnight Movie is a 2008 horror film from Bigfoot Entertainment in the horror/slasher genre directed by Jack Messitt and produced by Kacy Andrews.-Plot:...
(2008) as Chief - Within (2009 film)|Within (2009) as Paul
- IrreversiIrreversiIrreversi is a 2010 dramatic film directed by Michael Gleissner and shot in Hong Kong as the English language version of Gleissner's Mandarin language film Hui lu, which he filmed and directed at the same time in the same locations but with an entirely different cast...
(2010) as Charlie - Deep GoldDeep Gold-External links:*...
(2011) as Benny Simpson - The Girl With No Number (2011) as Bergmann (as well as director)
External links
- Michael Gleissner at the Internet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie Database is an online database of information related to movies, television shows, actors, production crew personnel, video games and fictional characters featured in visual entertainment media. It is one of the most popular online entertainment destinations, with over 100 million...