May 30, 2023
Work With What You've Got - Professor Michael Bolus Actor Michael Peter Bolus holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting from the University of Southern California's School of Cinema and Television, a Master of Arts in Playwriting from Boston University, and a Doctor of Philosophy from Harvard. SUNY Graduate Center, earning a Ph.D. in Theater Studies. As Playwright, Director, and Dramaturg, he spent a year in residence at Boston Playwrights' Theater under the guidance of Nobel Laureate Derek Walcott. Television credits include guest roles or co-starring roles in NCIS, How to Get Away With Murder, Law and Order, Law and Order: SVU, Law and Order: Criminal Intent, Law and Order: Los Angeles, Strong Medicine, Swift Justice, Sidney Lumet's 100 Centre Street, The Eleventh Hour, and J.J. Abrams's Undercovers. His film credits include Dolemite Is My Name starring Eddie Murphy, co-starring roles in Woody Allen's Sweet and Lowdown, Bleach, Bury the Evidence, and Sam Raimi's Drag Me to Hell. His stage credits include The Seagull (directed by Anna Deavere Smith), Sunshine (directed by Joe Brancato), and a variety of roles in such plays as The Country Wife, The Taming of the Shrew, Under Milkwood, The Imaginary Invalid, The Cherry Orchard, and True West, to name just a few. Meanstreet, a Manhattan-based theatre company, hired Michael as its Artistic Producing Director, where he handled play selection, casting, directing, budgeting, grant-writing, fundraising, assembling respective creative teams, and various other managerial and administrative duties. His latest stage play, "Pound of Flesh," made its debut at the Berkshire Theatre Festival, marking its world premiere. The play's success led to subsequent productions under his skilled direction at esteemed venues such as the Edinburgh International Theatre Festival, The Odyssey Theatre Ensemble in Los Angeles, and the Taos Center for the Performing Arts. His other compelling plays, including "Attic People," "Hats Canes Trunks Trains," "West of Canaan," "Shaman in the House," and "Ex Machina," have been widely showcased across the country, featuring in various productions, workshops, and readings. Having directed a multitude of plays in cities such as New York, Los Angeles, Boston, and Washington D.C., Michael has established himself as a seasoned director. Additionally, he has showcased his talents as a filmmaker by both writing and directing several short films. His notable works include "Sullivan Street," which was featured in the Cannes Film Festival Shorts Corner, "An Idea for the Killing," and his directorial work on the short film "Importance of Ernest." With expertise in Film Studies, he has authored two notable books in the field. The first, titled "Aesthetics and the Cinematic Narrative: An Introduction," was published by Anthem Press. The second book, "The Light in the Dark: The Evolution, Mechanics, and Purpose of Cinema," was published by Cognella Press. His extensive knowledge and research will be further showcased in an upcoming anthology titled "Playing Shakespeare: Monarchs and Madmen," to be published by Peter Lang Press. In this anthology, readers can anticipate his captivating chapter titled "Fortune's Knave: Sex, Politics, and Machiavellian Doctrine in William Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra." His scholarly work, comprising articles, interviews, and criticism, has been published in numerous esteemed academic journals such as Theatre Journal, Theatre Survey, Slavic and East European Performance. His insightful contributions have also been featured in prominent publications like Newsweek (Japan), The Montreal Review, and Modern Mask. In addition to his academic pursuits, his poetry and prose were showcased in the e.e. cummings Pre-Centennial Tribute, highlighting his talent and versatility as a writer. Starting in 2014, he has assumed the role of Department Chair for the Liberal Arts Program at The Los Angeles Film School. In this capacity, he provides guidance and support to a vibrant and diverse faculty, staff, and student community. As Department Chair, he effectively manages a substantial budget and fosters community-based outreach initiatives along with various international projects. Concurrently, he serves as an Adjunct Professor of Film Studies at Santa Monica College. His expertise lies in a range of subjects including Film Appreciation, Film History, Film and Society, Aesthetics and Film, Screenwriting, and Acting for the Camera. He currently teaches a range of courses at different institutions. At Santa Monica College, he instructs students in Film History, Film Appreciation, and Screenwriting. At The Los Angeles Film School, he teaches Historical Archetypes and Mythology.