Michael was in his late twenties, early thirties when he started to write. Life had thrown him a few curveballs and it became more of a coping mechanism than anything else. Out of desperation he wrote a short film and managed to get accepted into Manchester Metropolitan Film School, where he became fascinated by images, subtext and visually conveying emotion onto screen. The film bug bit and he swapped his pen for a camera.

After graduating from film school, Michael got a break directing corporate videos and low budget television commercials – which took him all over the world – until he decided to write and direct a ten minute short film with the intention of kickstarting a move into the competitive world of television drama.

Unable to secure any funding, Michael sold his house and funded the project himself. Touch Down was shot over three days on Super 16mm and went on to earn representation from the British Film Council at film festivals all over the world and opened up a door for Him at ITV Studios, directing Emmerdale and Coronation Street.