TV Interview!
Interview with director Michael W. Gray of the movie “American Summer” by Suzanne 9/3/26
It was fun to speak with the director, co-writer and co-producer of this movie. I hope you enjoy our interview. The movie is a pleasant family movie, good for kids and adults. It premieres Friday, September 4th.
MORE INFO: Official Site Trailer
IN THEATERS SEPTEMBER 4TH
American Summer follows a reflective Mikey (Guttenberg) as he looks back fondly on one amazing summer from his youth: the summer he met “the” girl, scored a spot on the travel baseball team, and dealt with uncertainty as his US Army dad went missing overseas. The film is a heartwarming coming-of-age, family film with humor, baseball, summer love, and a puppy who saves the day.
Directed by: Michael W. Gray
Written by: Michael W. Gray, and Jennifer B. White, and Marc Prey
Starring: Steve Guttenberg, Christie Brinkley, Logan Gray, Mia Talerico, Cullen Moss, Erinn Ruth,
Maximus Virgili, Callie Reese, Lee Mazzilli, Luis Sojo and introducing Noodle the Puppy
Produced By: Michael W. Gray, Michael Cuomo and Ann M. Gray
Runtime: 83 minutes
A heartwarming, family, coming-of-age comedy.
SHORT SYNOPSIS
Mikey (Steve Guttenberg/Logan Gray) relives the unforgettable summer met Kelly (Christie Brinkley/Mia Talerico), where baseball, first love, neighborhood adventures and lifelong friendships help him find hope while his father remains missing in action overseas.
DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT
I grew up in an All-American small town. We all miss those days of freely riding bikes down tree lined streets. Where sprinklers sprayed the lawns of the simple squared properties and kids filled the yards, sidewalks and streets playing and goofing around. I wanted to see this idyllic time of life portrayed in a motion picture that children and adults could share together; to share in time away from devices and the stresses of everyday life. To reconnect our national pastime and the universal life force of love, into one grand experience full of fun, love, laughs and hope. That’s what American Summer is.
– Michael W. Gray
ABOUT THE FILMMAKERS
MICHAEL W. GRAY | Writer/Director/Producer
Michael W. Gray is a film producer, writer/director, and communications consultant working under his Relentless Filmz and Evoke Content Group banners. After decades working in global marketing and venture capital, Michael broke onto the film scene as a producer with the acclaimed mixed martial arts documentary FIGHTVILLE. FIGHTVILLE premiered at the South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Festival in Competition and immediately secured distribution in the U.S. and around the world. Anchored by a well-publicized SHOWTIME NETWORKS deal, it was the #1 independent film on iTunes for a run and has played on Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, and around the globe.
Michael followed this producing success with the Tribeca Film Festival premiere of A BIRDER’S GUIDE TO EVERYTHING, starring Oscar-winning actor Sir Ben Kingsley. Other festival notables for Michael include
Sundance Film Festival Competition film JAMIE MARKS IS DEAD, with Liv Tyler, Judy Greer, and Cameron Monaghan; Slamdance Competition film BODY, released by Oscilloscope Labs and Archstone; and South by Southwest (SXSW) Competition film LONG NIGHTS SHORT MORNINGS, released by Sony’s The Orchard in the U.S. and multiple international territories. Other notable releases include HERE ALONE (Tribeca Film Festival, released by Vertical) and LIGHT OF THE MOON (SXSW, released by Amazon). Also among his credits is the 2021-released thriller WHAT BREAKS THE ICE, featuring megastar Madelyn Cline, sensation Lukas Gage, and Ozark‘s Sophia Hublitz.
Next up is the U.S. theatrical release on September 4 of AMERICAN SUMMER, which Michael wrote, produced, and directed. The film stars Steve Guttenberg (Police Academy, Diner, 3 Men and a Baby), Christie Brinkley, Dan Lauria, Cullen Moss (Outer Banks), Mia Talerico (Disney’s Good Luck Charlie), Logan Gray, Lee Mazzilli, and a young ensemble cast.
Michael has NICK CLAUSI, a Santa Claus midlife-crisis comedy; MARVY VIBES, a raunchy high school comedy; IT’S YOUR TOWN, a small-town USA TV series; and a 1980s movie-to-sequel series, all written and ready for production partners.
ABOUT BLUE HARBOR ENTERTAINMENT:
Blue Harbor Entertainment is a boutique distributor of independent films designed for the business needs of today’s filmmakers. Established in 2023 by industry veterans Amanda Sherwin, Mike Messina and Seth Needle, Blue Harbor offers a much-needed alternative in today’s challenging U.S. distribution environment with a structure that empowers filmmakers by providing a 
comprehensive and full-scale distribution and marketing solution covering theatrical releases, home entertainment, transactional and subscription digital streaming platforms, and television. Notable releases include the hit romantic comedy A Nice Indian Boy starring Karan Soni and Jonathan Groff, the award-winning, untold story of Ronald McDonald House founder Dr. Audrey Evans, Audrey’s Children, starring Natalie Dormer, Lilly, the powerful story of equal pay activist Lilly Ledbetter starring Patricia Clarkson, and Ricky, which stars Stephan James, Sheryl Lee Ralph and Titus Welliver, and won the directing award at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. Recent releases include the Australian box office sensation Kangaroo Island, romantic drama An Autumn Summer, starring Lukita Maxwell and Mark McKenna, and adventure/action epic Storm Rider: Legend of Hammerhead.
Proofread and Edited by Brenda