Episode #102 Mike D from Lunkerville

Michael De Avila is primarily known for his groundbreaking work asthe host and producer of the award-winning fishing series,"Lunkerville." The show featuring regular folks at their secrethoney holes has enjoyed a 20-year run on national television,diving deep into fishing culture by bringing stories of everydayanglers. Michael's engaging hosting style and commitment toauthentic storytelling have garnered "Lunkerville" fIve SportsmanChannel Awards, a Cine Golden Eagle, and built a robust socialmedia fanbase of over 800,000 organic followers, making it abeloved staple in the fishing community.Beyond the banks and docks, Michael's career is equallydistinguished. He holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Film fromPurchase College. His first feature film, the experimental horrorfantasy "Lost Prophet," earned him acclaim in the NYC art sceneand received reviews from notable publications, including the NewYork Times, Variety, and the Village Voice, cementing his statusas a filmmaker of considerable skill and vision.During his foray into fishing television, Michael co-owned a videoproduction agency for nearly 23 years, creating innovative videocontent for retail fashion brands such as Chanel, Armani, J.Crew,and Victoria's Secret. His expertise spans various disciplines,including directing, producing, cinematography, editing, graphics,mixing, copywriting, and brand strategy, showcasing his versatilityand creative prowess.Michael's journey took a pivotal turn post-9/11 when he turned torecreational fishing as a source of solace. This personal passionled to the creation of "Lunkerville," blending his love for fishingwith his expertise in storytelling and media production. Hisadaptability is further evidenced by his strategic pivot to social-first content, with "Lunkerville" reaching new heights on TikTok,Instagram, and YouTube. His efforts have seen tremendoussuccess, with dozens of viral videos, including one reaching anastounding 15 million views on TikTok.In addition to his work on "Lunkerville," Michael revisited his indiedramatic comedy "Burnzy's Last Call" during the pandemiclockdown, re-editing and remixing it into a new HD Director's Cut.This version was released on Apple TV, Prime Video, and TUBI inthe Spring of 2022, introducing his early work to a new generationof viewers.Michael deAvila's career is a testament to his enduring passionfor storytelling, whether through the lens of a camera or the reel ofa fishing rod. His ability to connect with audiences, combined withhis extensive experience in multimedia production, continues toinfluence and shape both the fishing and filmmaking communities.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices