Inspire, Fall/Winter 2008

Michael Davis ’90 is not one to shy away from new adventures, and he knows full-well what it means to confidently pursue one’s dreams. While at Cedarville, Mike’s ambitious spirit became intertwined with a life-defining vision. The theme for that academic year was “Making a Difference,” an idea that so deeply resonated with him that it became a personal mission statement and continues to influence his work as a thriving professional in the entertainment industry. After earning a B.A. in communication arts, Mike landed careers in radio and television and later began working at an advertising agency. He then joined EBI Video, where he served as executive producer for a national PBS cooking show and for a direct-to-video kids’ project titled Tails From the Ark . He was also involved in starting a local daily news show in partnership with Fox News. In 2000 — with his goal of impacting lives still driving his efforts and his entrepreneurial spirit in high gear — Mike launched Phoenix Entertainment, a content provider and syndicator of programs for various media platforms. With Phoenix, Mike has produced radio shows, TV shows, and Internet content, as well as live stage shows and direct-to-DVD film projects. In 2005, he expanded the company by establishing Uptone Pictures, which serves as the creative/production side of Phoenix. However, for this producer, the goal goes far beyond enjoyable films and a growing business. Mike’s philosophy of film production is to carry forward the “Making a Difference” theme he first encountered at Cedarville. “I am not much of a spoon feeder,” he said. “I seek to impact people to make them think.” He believes that combining picture and sound through the medium of film is a powerful way to do just that. “The world has a big appetite for entertainment, and television and film are by far the most powerful media today,” Mike said. Uptone Pictures capitalizes on this demand by using visual methods to project truth to media-stimulated viewers. The company works extensively with ministries and organizations to disperse Christian music, books, and TV and radio programs to audiences around the world. 22 fall/winter 2008 by Mark Kakkuri ’93 and Julianne Sandberg ’08