Biography
Michael L. Games was born 29 January 1952 in Bulawayo, Southern Rhodesian (modern day Zimbabwe), a second generation African. On completing his education, Michael was "called-up" for compulsory national service by the Rhodesian Defense Force, then in the throes of a guerrilla war in defense of its "illegal" declaration of independence from Britain in 1965.
On completion of his national service & with no real sense of direction, Michael fell into the fashion business where he quickly established himself as Manager of the country's premier fashion boutique chain of John Lance, Fashion for Men, with a branch in every city of the country. Increasing demands by the Rhodesian government for extended compulsory military call-ups, beyond national service, took its toll on the nation & its people. Michael resigned from his adventures in the rag trade in 1976 at a time when work opportunities were few & far between in an ailing Rhodesia.
Hollywood came to town and Michael got to taste the magic of the mystery that is the 'movies'. Flying in the face of good sense, Salvatore Alabiso, an Italian Producer, flew into Victoria Falls to make not one, but two movies, set in that unique & mystic vision only the Italians have of the Continent of Africa. Safari Express, the second of the duo of films, would become Michael's first adventure into the movies. Directed by Duccio Tessari and starring the world's hottest new sex symbol, Ursula Andress; who wouldn't have jumped at such an opportunity! And so the die was cast! On completion of his second film, Slavers (Prod/Director, Jurgen Goslar, and starring Cameron Mitchell, Brit Ekland, Trevor Howard & Ray Milland), Michael was invited to take over as Props Master on King Solomon's Treasures, with Producers, Harry Allan Towers (a relationship that continued until Harry sadly passed away in July 21, 2009) and David Millen, Directed by Alvin Rakoff and starring Patrick MacNee (The Avengers - TV Series), David McCullum (The Man From UNCLE - TV series) & Brit Ekland (for a second outing), and shooting in Johannesburg, South Africa, which subsequently became Michael's new home. Michael's fascination and enthusiasm for the industry inspired him to seek greater challenges and to that end, he secured an opportunity to Production Manage, the first ever television series in Zulu & Khosa for the South African Broadcasting Corporation. Michael's love of Film over Television resulted in his leaving Heyns Film & Television, where he had been resident Production Manager for almost four years to re-join the motion picture side of the business as a freelance Production Manager. Some considered the move insane, in a country fast loosing friends around the globe for its political stance on apartheid policies. But one must follow ones heart. His first adventure was as Production Manager on the Richard Chamberlain sequel to Cannon Production's King Solomon's Mines, Allan Quatermain & the Lost City of Gold, shot on location in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. Michael had come almost full circle in 8 years! Michael enjoyed a immensely rewarding, and probably the biggest learning experience of his career, over the next four years, working with Avi Lerner and his team at Cannon International on another six films, shooting on locations around South Africa & Zimbabwe and working with the likes of Richard Chamberlain, Sharon Stone, James Earl Jones, Dom de Luise, Peter Fonda, Donald Pleasance, Herbert Lom, Robert Vaughan, along with Producers & Directors like, David Dortort (Bonanza), Gary Nelson, Aaron Norris, Albert Pyun, Boaz Davidson & Steve Carver, to name a few. Wanting to extend himself even further, Michael left the comfort of a permanent position on Avi Lerner's team, to willingly go back to working Freelance. The gods smiled on Michael for he was immediately invited by Writer/Producer/Director David Wicht to Produce Windprints, an African story set during the period of South West Africa's transition to Namibia.
