Michael Rinaldi(II)

Mike is an LA-based screenwriter from Canada who writes darkly funny commentary on masculinity, failure, and connection, often blending surreal comedy with genre to explore challenging emotional truths. After obtaining a BFA in Theatre and Performance, Mike worked with many of Canada's top theatre companies, wearing multiple hats (often simultaneously) as an actor, sound designer, producer, and writer. After writing and performing with several upstart sketch groups and innovative indie darlings, Mike co-founded Theatre Melee, achieving a measure of cult status in Vancouver with their dangerously absurd takes on death, the afterlife, and the end times. When his runaway Fringe hit Toothpaste and Cigars, co-written with TJ Dawe, was adapted into the 2013 feature film The F-Word (titled What If in the US) starring Daniel Radcliffe, Zoe Kazan, and Adam Driver, Mike narrowed his focus to screenwriting and attended Norman Jewison's Canadian Film Centre as a writer-in-residence in the prestigious Primetime TV Program. Since then, Mike has created, written, and developed TV and film projects with Seven24 Films, Peacock Alley, and Neshama Entertainment, including two thrillers now streaming on TUBI (USA) and Crave (Canada). Mike is a proud dad of two amazing young men and a loving husband to the hilarious and talented Juno Rinaldi.