Michelle Manning is a renowned American film director, television director, and producer, celebrated for her impressive work on iconic films such as Sixteen Candles and The Breakfast Club. From 1997 to 2005, she served as the President of Production for Paramount Pictures, overseeing all aspects of film development and production, as well as supervising production executives.
Manning's career began at Zoetrope Studios, where she worked as a production supervisor on Francis Ford Coppola's The Outsiders and Rumble Fish. She later joined Ned Tanen's Channel Productions, producing The Breakfast Club and serving as associate producer on Sixteen Candles. Manning made her feature directorial debut in 1986 with Blue City, and also directed musical sequences for Walter Hill's Another 48 Hrs.
In television, Manning directed episodes of Miami Vice and Paramount's Friday the 13th: The Series. She was Vice President of Production at Orion Pictures in the early 1990s, where she worked on Academy Award-winning Best Pictures such as The Silence of the Lambs and Dances with Wolves.
Manning began working for Paramount Pictures in 1991 as Senior Vice President of Production, and was promoted to Executive Vice President of Production in 1994. She was subsequently promoted to President of Production in 1997, replacing John Goldwyn. During her tenure, she oversaw the development and production of over 20 Paramount classic films, including Forrest Gump, The Hours, Titanic, The Firm, and Braveheart, among many others.
After leaving Paramount Pictures, Manning launched her own production company, MM Productions, in 2005. She went on to produce a range of films, including Cruise/Wagner Productions' The Eye, Mary Agnes Donoghue's Jenny's Wedding, and Prosecuting Casey Anthony for Lifetime. Manning also executive produced Teen Beach 2 and Adventures In Babysitting for the Disney Channel.
Since 2017, Manning has been an Executive Producer on the groundbreaking Disney Channel series Andi Mack, produced by her production company, MM Productions. She has directed eight episodes between the show's second and third seasons, and it has received widespread critical acclaim, including a Peabody Award nomination and wins for the GLAAD Media Award and the Television Academy Honor.
In 2019, Manning executive produced Netflix's The Dirt and Come Away, starring Angelina Jolie and David Oyelowo. Throughout her illustrious career, Manning has consistently demonstrated her expertise and dedication to the film and television industry, earning her a reputation as a highly respected and accomplished producer and director.
