Michael Shanks is an Australian filmmaker, known for directing The Wizards of Aus (2016) and Together (2025). He also created the YouTube channel timtimfed. [1]
As a grade 12 student, Shanks won a film competition run by The Escapist to produce a web series pilot episode. The pilot developed into Doomsday Arcade, a 25-part web series. [1] [2] Shanks has stated that he views creating the series "as [his] film school". [1]
In 2014, Shanks wrote and directed the short film Time Trap. [1] In 2016, he both directed and starred in the SBS comedy-fantasy series The Wizards of Aus . Shanks plays a wizard who emigrates to Melbourne and faces backlash from the community. Originally devised as a six-part online series, it aired on SBS 2 as a 3 x 30 minute television series. [3]
In 2020, Shanks directed the short film Rebooted. [1] His script Hotel Hotel Hotel Hotel was included in 2022's The Black List. [4] [1]
His feature directorial debut, Together, screened at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. [5] [6] [7] Starring Dave Franco and Alison Brie, the body horror film will be distributed by Neon. [8] [9] [10]
Shanks has named Lord of the Rings, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and Monty Python as early creative inspirations. He has also named filmmakers Edgar Wright and Ari Aster as influences. [1]
Alexandra Doig is a Canadian actress. She played the title role in the science fiction television series Andromeda (2000–2005). She also played the lead female role of Rowan in the science fiction-action horror film Jason X (2001), the tenth installment of the Friday the 13th film series. Since 2015, Doig has appeared in the Aurora Teagarden mystery television film series on the Hallmark Movies & Mysteries channel.
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