Michael Nankin
Encyclopedia
Michael Nankin is an American
film and television writer, director and producer. He has been nominated for the Humanitas Prize
for his writing.
. The same year he received a screenplay credit for Russkies. In 1989 he wrote a sequel to The Gate entitled The Gate II: Trespassers.
Nankin became involved in television as a director, writer and producer on Life Goes On
in 1990. The series was created by Michael Braverman and focused on a Chicago family. He joined the series in its second season as a producer. He was promoted to supervising producer for the third season. He was promoted to co-executive producer for the fourth season. He scripted nine episodes of the series before its cancellation in 1993. He also directed eight episodes of the series. Nankin also wrote for Picket Fences
in 1992.
In 1994 Nankin became a consulting producer, writer and director for Chicago Hope
. Nankin was nominated for a Humanitas Prize in the 60 minute category for his work on the Chicago Hope episode "Shutt Down" (co-written with Michael Braverman). He returned to Picket Fences as a director and producer in 1995, lensing a single episode. He also wrote the story for a pilot episode for a new version of Flipper
but was not involved with the ongoing series that followed.
Nankin worked as a writer and director for American Gothic
in 1995 and 1996. He wrote and directed the episode "Potato Boy" and directed a second episode. He also directed episodes of Moloney and Early Edition
in 1996. Nankin served as a co-executive producer on the action series Roar
in 1997. Nankin wrote one episode and directed one episode of the series, which starred Heath Ledger
. Only 13 episodes were produced and the second half of the series did not air until 2000.
In 2000 Nankin directed episodes of Strong Medicine
and Cover Me: Based on the True Life of an FBI Family
. In 2001 he directed the TV movie The Agency and several episodes of the series that followed the film. In 2002 Nankin directed the pilot episode for a series called Septuplets. Nankin was also credited as an executive producer. The pilot was not picked up by a network. He also directed episodes of Monk
that year.
In 2004 Nankin served as a consulting producer for the short lived WB family drama The Mountain
. He wrote one episode of the series. He directed episodes of Veritas: The Quest
and Invasion
in 2005.
He worked as a regular director for the reimagined Battlestar Galactica
. His involvement with the series began in 2005 with the second season and he directed eight episodes before its conclusion in 2009. He often worked alongside writing team Bradley Thompson
and David Weddle
and five of his eight episodes were scripted by the pair. While working on Battlestar Galactica Nankin also directed episodes of The Dresden Files
, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, and Eureka
. He also directed the TV movie Break-In in 2006.
In 2009 Nankin followed Thompson and Weddle from Battlestar Galactica to CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
and he directed their script for the twentieth episode of the ninth season.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
film and television writer, director and producer. He has been nominated for the Humanitas Prize
Humanitas Prize
The Humanitas Prize is an award for film and television writing intended to promote human dignity, meaning, and freedom. It began in 1974 with Father Ellwood "Bud" Kieser — also the founder of Paulist Productions — but is generally not seen as specifically directed toward religious...
for his writing.
Career
Nankin's film career began in 1976 with a short film called Gravity. Nankin co-wrote and co-directed the project with David Wechter. The pair followed this up with another short, Junior High School. They produced their first feature length project in 1980, a comedy called Midnight Madness. Nankin scripted a horror film called The Gate which was released in 1987. The film marked the acting debut of Stephen DorffStephen Dorff
Stephen Dorff is an American actor, best known for portraying Stuart Sutcliffe in Backbeat, Johnny Marco in Somewhere, and for his roles in Blade and Cecil B. DeMented.-Early life:...
. The same year he received a screenplay credit for Russkies. In 1989 he wrote a sequel to The Gate entitled The Gate II: Trespassers.
Nankin became involved in television as a director, writer and producer on Life Goes On
Life Goes On (TV series)
Life Goes On is a television series that aired on ABC from September 12, 1989 to May 23, 1993. The show centers on the Thacher family living in suburban Chicago: Drew, his wife Elizabeth, and their children Paige, Rebecca, and Charles, who is known as Corky...
in 1990. The series was created by Michael Braverman and focused on a Chicago family. He joined the series in its second season as a producer. He was promoted to supervising producer for the third season. He was promoted to co-executive producer for the fourth season. He scripted nine episodes of the series before its cancellation in 1993. He also directed eight episodes of the series. Nankin also wrote for Picket Fences
Picket Fences
Picket Fences is a 60-minute American television drama about the residents of the fictional town of Rome, Wisconsin, created and produced by David E. Kelley. The show initially ran from September 18, 1992, to June 26, 1996, on the CBS television network in the United States...
in 1992.
In 1994 Nankin became a consulting producer, writer and director for Chicago Hope
Chicago Hope
Chicago Hope is an American medical drama series created by David E. Kelley that ran from September 18, 1994, to May 5, 2000. It takes place in a fictional private charity hospital.-Premise:The show stars Mandy Patinkin as Dr...
. Nankin was nominated for a Humanitas Prize in the 60 minute category for his work on the Chicago Hope episode "Shutt Down" (co-written with Michael Braverman). He returned to Picket Fences as a director and producer in 1995, lensing a single episode. He also wrote the story for a pilot episode for a new version of Flipper
Flipper (1995 TV series)
Flipper, is an American revival television series of the original 1964 Flipper television series. The first two seasons aired in first-run syndication; seasons 3 and 4 aired on the PAX network....
but was not involved with the ongoing series that followed.
Nankin worked as a writer and director for American Gothic
American Gothic
American Gothic is a painting by Grant Wood, in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. Wood's inspiration came from a cottage designed in the Gothic Revival style with a distinctive upper window and a decision to paint the house along with "the kind of people I fancied should live in that...
in 1995 and 1996. He wrote and directed the episode "Potato Boy" and directed a second episode. He also directed episodes of Moloney and Early Edition
Early Edition
Early Edition is an American television series that aired on CBS from September 28, 1996 to May 27, 2000. Set in the city of Chicago, Illinois, it follows the adventures of a man who mysteriously receives each Chicago Sun-Times newspaper the day before it is actually published, and who uses this...
in 1996. Nankin served as a co-executive producer on the action series Roar
Roar (TV series)
Roar is an American television show that originally aired on the Fox network in the summer of 1997. In the year AD 400, a young Irish man, Conor , sets out to rid his land of the invading Romans, but in order to accomplish this, he must unite the Celtic clans.-Premise:Roar chronicles the...
in 1997. Nankin wrote one episode and directed one episode of the series, which starred Heath Ledger
Heath Ledger
Heath Andrew Ledger was an Australian television and film actor. After performing roles in Australian television and film during the 1990s, Ledger moved to the United States in 1998 to develop his film career...
. Only 13 episodes were produced and the second half of the series did not air until 2000.
In 2000 Nankin directed episodes of Strong Medicine
Strong Medicine
Strong Medicine is a medical drama with a focus on feminist politics, health issues and class conflict. The television series aired on the Lifetime network from 2000 to 2006. It is distributed by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. The series was created and produced in part by comedienne and...
and Cover Me: Based on the True Life of an FBI Family
Cover Me: Based on the True Life of an FBI Family
Cover Me: Based on the True Life of an FBI Family is an American television series which ran from March 5, 2000 to March 24, 2001 on the USA Network.-Premise:...
. In 2001 he directed the TV movie The Agency and several episodes of the series that followed the film. In 2002 Nankin directed the pilot episode for a series called Septuplets. Nankin was also credited as an executive producer. The pilot was not picked up by a network. He also directed episodes of Monk
Monk (TV series)
Monk is an American comedy-drama detective mystery television series created by Andy Breckman and starring Tony Shalhoub as the titular character, Adrian Monk. It originally ran from 2002 to 2009 and is primarily a mystery series, although it has dark and comic touches.The series debuted on July...
that year.
In 2004 Nankin served as a consulting producer for the short lived WB family drama The Mountain
The Mountain (TV series)
The Mountain is an American television series that was broadcast on the WB Television Network for one season, from 2004 to 2005. The show received very low ratings and was canceled after only thirteen episodes. The theme song, "I Miss You" is sung by blink-182.-Plot:The plot centers on a ski resort...
. He wrote one episode of the series. He directed episodes of Veritas: The Quest
Veritas: The Quest
Veritas: The Quest is a television program that aired in 2003. It follows a rebellious but intelligent teenager, Nikko Zond, discovering that his father Solomon's profession is much more mystical and adventurous than he previously thought...
and Invasion
Invasion (TV series)
Invasion is an American science fiction television series that aired on ABC for only one season beginning in September 2005. Somewhat similar to Invasion of the Body Snatchers, the show told the story of the aftermath of a hurricane in which water-based creatures infiltrate a small Florida town and...
in 2005.
He worked as a regular director for the reimagined Battlestar Galactica
Battlestar Galactica (2004 TV series)
Battlestar Galactica is an American military science fiction television series, and part of the Battlestar Galactica franchise. The show was developed by Ronald D. Moore as a re-imagining of the 1978 Battlestar Galactica television series created by Glen A. Larson...
. His involvement with the series began in 2005 with the second season and he directed eight episodes before its conclusion in 2009. He often worked alongside writing team Bradley Thompson
Bradley Thompson
Bradley Thompson is an American television producer and writer, best known for episodes of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine , The Twilight Zone , Battlestar Galactica , and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation with writing partner David Weddle...
and David Weddle
David Weddle
David Weddle is an American television producer and writer, best known for episodes of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine , The Twilight Zone , Battlestar Galactica , and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation with writing partner Bradley Thompson...
and five of his eight episodes were scripted by the pair. While working on Battlestar Galactica Nankin also directed episodes of The Dresden Files
The Dresden Files (TV series)
The Dresden Files is an American television series based on the books by Jim Butcher. It premiered January 21, 2007 on the Sci Fi Channel in the United States and on Space in Canada. It was picked up by Sky One in the UK and began airing on February 14, 2007.The series ran for a single season of...
, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, and Eureka
Eureka (TV series)
Eureka is an American science fiction television series that premiered on Syfy on July 18, 2006. Since then four seasons have aired, and a fifth is currently being filmed. The second half of season 4 began on SyFy on July 11, 2011 and ended on September 19, 2011...
. He also directed the TV movie Break-In in 2006.
In 2009 Nankin followed Thompson and Weddle from Battlestar Galactica to CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation is an American crime drama television series, which premiered on CBS on October 6, 2000. The show was created by Anthony E. Zuiker and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer...
and he directed their script for the twentieth episode of the ninth season.