Mike Thompson

Filmmaker / Director / Writer / Camera Operator

Empathy and Filmmaking, a question no one asked me to answer by Mike Thompson

If you ask me (no one did, check the title) empathy is the root of all good behavior.

Filmmaking is empathy forged. (10 points for working “forged” into my Light Forge bio?) You become the main character’s point of view. Books and music do it too, but a film has eye balls. You can see the persons eye’s react to their situations, and I believe that’s the strongest way to empathize with someone.

For my buck the more people you empathize with and the more strange points of view you learn to understand, the better person you are. Fictional characters included. So filmmaking is important.

Mike Thompson was born and raised in Las Vegas Nevada. In 2005 He graduated from UNLV with a degree in Film Studies. He has written and directed over 30 award winning short films and music videos. Mike is an active part in the Las Vegas film and music community, having conceptualized music videos for several of the most prominent bands in Las Vegas. His work in independent film has garnered him awards in almost every major category including directing, editing, cinematography, acting and screenwriting. He has been working full time as a videographer, editor, writer, and director in Las Vegas since he graduated. He is currently the Vice President of Light Forge Studios, where he has been working since 2008. In 2009 he finished his first feature length film “Thor at the Bus Stop” and in 2014 he finished his second feature length film “Popovich and the Voice of the Fabled American West” both of which screened in film festivals all over the world. He’s currently writing a third feature film and a novel.