Michael Reff,
Every day, every shoot… I absolutely love what I do !
For over 30 years with Turner Broadcasting: from his early days as a Video Journalist for CNN to Director of Photography with Turner Studio’s elite Film and Video Unit, Mike was awarded the opportunity to travel the world creating stunning imagery.
He was hired directly out of college and worked his way up and around the Turner organization, broadening his experience as he went, including: field sound recording, long format post-production editing, videography, and field producing. Eventually he found his comfort zone and his greatest challenges within the Turner Studio’s Film and Video Unit shooting high-end entertainment productions.
Michael brings the same intensity and passion to exotic locations and to the seemingly mundane. He’s shot “everyman”, businessmen, icons and news makers. He’s shot in war zones and end zones, from some of the highest peaks to stunning underwater depths.
Since leaving Turner in 2012, Mike has brought his eye for capturing truthful images and his warmhearted exuberance to all his projects and clients. As a Rescue and ReBreather Certified SCUBA diver for over 30 years, Mike looks for every opportunity to shoot above and below the ocean surface.
Mike lives in Atlanta with his wife, 2 daughters, 2 golden retrievers and a vast array of photographic and dive equipment.
Covering People and Events that made history
includes CNN assignment coverage of:
- President Clinton
- President Carter
- Vice President Quayle
- President José María Figueres of Costa Rica
- Bush Gorbachev Summit, 1991, Moscow Russia
- 1st Presidential trip for Boris Yeltsin, 1992, Rome, Italy
- The Fall of Communism, 1992, Moscow
- Gorbachev Resignation, Moscow Russia
- New Years Eve, Red Square Russia
- Operation Restore Hope, Mogadishu, Somalia 1993 / 1994
(imbedded with the first MEU Marine Corps Unit) - Air Craft Carrier Washington, Launched from and landed on deck while shooting
- Goodwill Games, 1994, Moscow, Russia
- Super Bowl 1995, 1996
- World Series 1995, 1996 (Braves Private Crew)
- Golden Globes 2008-2013, Red Carpet Interviews
- Emmys – 2012, Red Carpet Interviews
- Toronto Film Festival 2013-2015, Red Carpet / Private Interviews
Locations Include:
- Indonesia, Jakarta, CNN “People Bomb” series
- Cambodia, Ankgor Wat, UPS, “UPS Volunteer of the Year Award”
- Democratic Republic of Congo, Disney Foundation, Silver Back Gorilla Protection
- Kenya, Niarobi, TBS, Flamingo Watch”
- Somailia, Mogodishu, CNN, Two months imbedded with “Operation Restore Hope”
- Margarita Island, Venezuela, TBS, “South America’s Coca-Cola President”
- Panama. Panama City, CNN, “The Next List – Fish Farming”
- Mexico, Baja Mexico, TBS, “Whale Touching”
- St. Barth, CNN Travel Guide, Cooking in the Caribbean
- St. Martian, CNN Travel Guide
- Canada, Quebec, CNN Newsroom
- Canada, Manitoba, CNN Earth Matters, “Ducks Unlimited”
- Red Center, Australia, CNN Travel Guide
- Belarus, Minsk, CNN
- South Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, UPS Asia Delivery Tour
- Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam – UPS “Sustainability” Promotional Tour
- Marbella , Spain – Platino Awards (Latino Oscars)
Underwater Highlights Include:
- Galapagos, Ecuador, CNN Travel Guide
- Cocos Island, Costa Rica, CNN Travel Guide
- Roatan, Honduras, CNN Travel Guide
- Papua, New Guinea, CNN Travel Guide
- Panama. Panama City, CNN, “The Next List – Fish Farming”
Industry Awards:
- National Emmy – News and Documentary, “The Planetary Police” CNN
Story on The UN, Editor - National Emmy – News and Documentary, “In Natures Wake” CNN story on
the Mississippi Flooding, Editor - National Emmy – News and Documentary, “Somalia – Operation Restore
Hope”, Audio - Southeastern Regional Emmy – Best of Photography Craft
- Southeastern Regional Emmy – Best of Photography Craft
- Golden Eagle Award
- (4) Telly Awards, Silver – “Without Grady” Ad Campaign
- (4) Flame Awards, Silver -“Without Grady” Ad Campaign
- NPPA Editor of the Year Award – Gulf War coverage
- Mid-Atlantic Emmy Winner – UPS / Tony Heath – Heart of Gold
- Silver Telly Award – UPS / Jim Cassey – Volunteer Award Winner
- Bronze Telly Award – UPS / Tony Heath – Heart of Gold
Clients Include:
- Turner Broadcasting and Subsidiaries:
- TBS, CNN, Headline News, Turner South, TNT, TCM, Cartoon Network , Cartoon Network Latin America, Telemudo, CNN International, TNT Latin America, Boomerang Latin America
- Atlanta Zoo
- Bain and Company
- BET
- Boomerang Latin America “ BoomBox” Concerts, stage coverage for; Maroon 5, Fall Out Boy, Justin Bieber, Starship , Jason Derulo, LMFAO, Pit Bull, 3rd Day
- Charter Cable
- Chick-Fil-A
- Dave Mathews Band – Concert Camera
- Disney Foundation
- Georgia Aquarium
- Georgia Public Broadcasting
- Gospel Music Channel
- Grady Hospital (Award-Winning “Without Grady” Ad Campaign)
- NBA, NBA.com – Coverage of NBA Allstars
- NASCAR.com
- Soul Miners Daughter (Sugar Land’s first band) – Concert Coverage
- UPS
- Coca-Cola
- National Geographic
- UP Television
- Delta Airlines
- Sun Trust Bank
- Home Depot
- WebMD
- Share Care
- Sun Trust Bank
- Travelocity
Behind the Scenes – Movie credits:
- ACME TRAILER CO.
- TAG – Jermey Renner Ed Helms, Jon Hamm
- MONKEY DEUX
- Game Night – Jason Bateman
- Central Intelligence – Dwayne Johnson
- Alvin & the Chipmunks III
- MOB SCENE
- Den of Thieves -Gerard Bulter
- A Bad Moms Christmas – Susan Sarandon, Christine Baranski, Mila Kunis, Kristen Bell,
- Let’s Be Cops – Jake Johnson , Damon Wayans
- Middle School – Best Yrs of Your Life
- Kill the Messenger
- 12 Years a Slave
- OZARK – Jason Bateman/Laura Linney
- FILM SOLUTIONS
- Poms – Diane Keaton
- Dumplin – Jennifer Aniston
- IMAGE QUEST
- Walking Dead – Season 2
- Dumb & Dumber 2
- MEDIA FARM
- The Shack “
- TIME WARNER / TNT
- Last stand at Saber River/ – TNT staring Tom Seleck
- Bastard Out of South Carolina – Showtime prod. directed by Anjelica Houston
- “Raising Izzy ” – GMC
- “In the Meantime” GMC
- “Watsons Go to Birmingham” – Hallmark channel
- “Ben 10” – Warner Bros. Dark Castle Ent.
- Andersonville -TNT Directed by John Frankenheimer
- Rough Riders – TNT
Author and Instructor:
- Videomaker Magazine – authored several articles on video production techniques
- Georgia State – Seminar Instructor “The Inside Secrets of Mic Placement”
- Western KY University – Seminar Instructor “Producing from the Camera Operators Perspective”
- Videomaker Magazine – Seminar Instructor -“Shooting from Aperture to Zoom”
- UPS – Seminar Instructor “What a crew doesn’t say to the Producer”
- Ga Aquarium – Seminar Instructor -“Underwater – Tips and Techniques”