Filmmaker
Michael Angelo
“I’ve always had a passion for the arts and helping others, so I decided to gift documentaries to homeless artists in Venice Beach. While filming with Lionel, the Treeman, we became instant best friends. Treeman connects with people without judgment regardless of race, politics, religion, etc. and unable to see beneath his mask they are forced to do the same. As digital media focuses our attention on conflict and division, these interactions showed me the importance of Lionel’s story and Treeman’s mission, to see nature in each other’s eyes and in doing so see our own reflections.
I’ve explored human nature with Treeman for many years, united in our mission to help others. Little did I know that Treeman’s greatest impact would come from Lionel removing the mask to help him self, while both inspiring and humanizing the un-housed. I am eternally grateful to him for letting me tell his story and to all our volunteers who have given selflessly to the project. “A DocumenTree” has been made almost entirely with volunteers, the filmmaking reflecting our theme of giving.”
Filmmaker’s Website and Show Reel: Michael Angelo Media
Health, Fitness and Flow Blog: Filmmaker Fitness
View IMDb: Michael Angelo IMDb
Michael Angelo has been working in film/TV since the 90s with a long history working in both production and post. Michael Angelo Media specializes in high end visual effects for commercials, music videos and feature films. In addition to documentary, Michael Angelo also directs commercial work, most recently for Club Fugazi and The 7 Fingers. Follow @MangeloMedia on social media to stay informed.
Filmmaker
Michael Angelo
“I’ve always had a passion for the arts and helping others, so I decided to gift documentaries to homeless artists in Venice Beach. While filming with Lionel, the Treeman, we became instant best friends. Treeman connects with people without judgment regardless of race, politics, religion, etc. and unable to see beneath his mask they are forced to do the same. As digital media focuses our attention on conflict and division, these interactions showed me the importance of Lionel’s story and Treeman’s mission, to see nature in each other’s eyes and in doing so see our own reflections.
I’ve explored human nature with Treeman for many years, united in our mission to help others. Little did I know that Treeman’s greatest impact would come from Lionel removing the mask to help him self, while both inspiring and humanizing the un-housed. I am eternally grateful to him for letting me tell his story and to all our volunteers who have given selflessly to the project. “A DocumenTree” has been made almost entirely with volunteers, the filmmaking reflecting our theme of giving.”
Filmmaker’s Website and Show Reel: Michael Angelo Media
Health, Fitness and Flow Blog: Filmmaker Fitness
View IMDb: Michael Angelo IMDb
Michael Angelo has been working in film/TV since the 90s with a long history working in both production and post. Michael Angelo Media specializes in high end visual effects for commercials, music videos and feature films. In addition to documentary, Michael Angelo also directs commercial work, most recently for Club Fugazi and The 7 Fingers. Follow @MangeloMedia on social media to stay informed.
My Story
Michael began shooting and editing test commercials for ad agency Goodby Silverstein and Partners eventually moving fully into post production working as an online editor, colorist and visual effects artist at Pacific Video Resources in San Francisco. Michael spent years working with directors of features, commercials and documentaries including well known documentarist Werner Herzog. Other editorial highlights include primetime editor at the 1998 CBS Winter Olympics in Nagano Japan editing the first snowboarding events in history and primetime features editor for swimming at the NBC 2000 Olympics in Sydney Australia.
In 2000 Michael Angelo Media was created focusing Michael Angelo’s talents on Autodesk Flame, visual effects and commercial work. Servicing a variety of high end post houses including Method Studios, The Mission, Framestore, Riot, The Mill, Charlex, Psyop, Eight VFX, Logan, Jump and others, project highlights include Super Bowl commercials and feature films like Knight and Day, Time Traveler’s Wife, X-Men Origins, Jumper, Live Free or Die Hard and more.
Inspired by homeless artists in Venice Beach California, in 2012 Michael began directing the documentary A DocumenTree which is slated for festival submission in 2020.
My Story
Michael began shooting and editing test commercials for ad agency Goodby Silverstein and Partners eventually moving fully into post production working as an online editor, colorist and visual effects artist at Pacific Video Resources in San Francisco. Michael spent years working with directors of features, commercials and documentaries including well known documentarist Werner Herzog. Other editorial highlights include primetime editor at the 1998 CBS Winter Olympics in Nagano Japan editing the first snowboarding events in history and primetime features editor for swimming at the NBC 2000 Olympics in Sydney Australia.
In 2000 Michael Angelo Media was created focusing Michael Angelo’s talents on Autodesk Flame, visual effects and commercial work. Servicing a variety of high end post houses including Method Studios, The Mission, Framestore, Riot, The Mill, Charlex, Psyop, Eight VFX, Logan, Jump and others, project highlights include Super Bowl commercials and feature films like Knight and Day, Time Traveler’s Wife, X-Men Origins, Jumper, Live Free or Die Hard and more.
Inspired by homeless artists in Venice Beach California, in 2012 Michael began directing the documentary A DocumenTree which is slated for festival submission in 2020.
My Work
OUR MISSION
Our mission with Treeman is to explore the relationship between nature and humanity. Spending time in nature triggers what neuroscientists call a “flow state”, positive feedback and a sense of well being from behavior that benefits us. We can also achieve flow states through athletics i.e. “being in the zone”, playing musical instruments, the flow arts, stilt walking and even through volunteerism. Volunteering to help those in need can make you healthier, happier and when people see you giving, mirror neurons in their brain react so they feel joy too. We are born helpless and need community to survive, nature rewards us for behavior that keeps us united.
HUMANITY AND TECHNOLOGY
This message of unity is contrary to the polarization we see online and in media that keeps us agitated and fixated as information platforms profit from advertising impressions. But are we really so diametrically opposed? Viewing the world through the lens of digital media it is easy to de-humanize those whose viewpoints we do not share as “other” responding with outrage, even violence. Treeman’s interactions with the public and his message that “We are all reflections of nature” comes when we need it most, and Lionel’s story affords us a unique look into America’s homeless, so often viewed as “other”.
OUR MISSION
Our mission with Treeman is to explore the relationship between nature and humanity. Spending time in nature triggers what neuroscientists call a “flow state”, positive feedback and a sense of well being from behavior that benefits us. We can also achieve flow states through athletics i.e. “being in the zone”, playing musical instruments, the flow arts, stilt walking and even through volunteerism. Volunteering to help those in need can make you healthier, happier and when people see you giving, mirror neurons in their brain react so they feel joy too. We are born helpless and need community to survive, nature rewards us for behavior that keeps us united.
HUMANITY AND TECHNOLOGY
This message of unity is contrary to the polarization we see online and in media that keeps us agitated and fixated as information platforms profit from advertising impressions. But are we really so diametrically opposed? Viewing the world through the lens of digital media it is easy to de-humanize those whose viewpoints we do not share as “other” responding with outrage, even violence. Treeman’s interactions with the public and his message that “We are all reflections of nature” comes when we need it most, and Lionel’s story affords us a unique look into America’s homeless, so often viewed as “other”.
Volunteer Filmmaking
Volunteers and interns are given training, filmmaking experience, IMDb credit and the opportunity to attend industry events.
College students can also receive academic credit while building their resume quickly.
To volunteer or apply for an internship send us a message on our contact page.
Volunteer Opportunities
To volunteer at any of the organizations featured in the film, click the images below.
A documentary by Michael Angelo
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