Michael Penney

"Ok you caught me... "About us" is really just "About ME" but what can I say, I'm a one man army these days although I work with a bunch of great industry folks so if the need arises I have second shooters, assistant free lance editors, special effects, make-up pros... you name it. My name is Michael and I started Afterlight Films in 2006 although I worked as a writer, producer, director and editor for other projects before that. 

I produced, shot, directed and did the post production for a 30 minute documentary on conflict gold in Columbia's Chocó rain forest called "The Last Gold Rush" (2008) with the help of friends and colleagues at Fair Trade Jewellery Company (FTJCO) in Toronto.  The documentary was used by the United Nations and FLO-Cert (the Fair Trade Labeling organization) and I travelled two more times with FTJCO to Bolivia and Madagascar to shoot more documentary footage of mining conditions related to their industry. 

I have also worked extensively with Mod Club Theatre and Virgin Mobile, producing concert videos and interviews with bands such as Muse,
Metric, and the Killers. I have donated services as videographer, editor and director to a number of charitable organizations including KidsFest, Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, Polo for Heart, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, and War Child. In 2008, I was also a founding member of #HoHoTO, a Twitter-based non-profit that raised over $285,000 for the Daily Bread Food Bank in its first 5 years.

I graduated in 2002 from Ryerson University's Film Studies program with a Bachelor of Fine Arts but it's been my experience in the industry that has really developed my love of both story-telling through film as well as marketing and brand-awareness through social media and film.

The industry is changing and I am eager to grow with it. I have recently purchased a Blackmagic URSA Mini Pro 4.6k as well as audio, lighting and supporting gear. I also work with a Panasonic AG-AF100 HD Camera. 

I live in Hamilton, Ontario CANADA, with my son Jude, my partner Marta, and our best-mutt, Amigo.  

I'm always up for working on independent projects so if  you would like to work together give me a shout.