Serving the San Francisco Bay Area New Music Community

                    
David Michalak
Filmmaker/Soundtracks/Lap steel guitar
Since 1971 I've made over 50 films with original soundtracks. Here are some highlights. I worked exclusively in super-8 for ten years, completing over 25 films, including 3 features. I was a guest writer for White Ox Films in Rochester, N.Y. and for the international magazine Super-8 Filmmaker in San Francisco. In 1978 I moved to San Francisco and started my own mail-order record business called EARWAX to produce 16mm films. Dreamlife my first 16mm film was premiered at the landmark Castro Theatre in S.F. in 1982. A soundtrack Picture Disc Lp of original music was released later in that year. A two-part Retrospective of my work was held in S.F. from 1992 - 1993. Part 1, When Dinosaurs Roamed The Earth, was held at The No Nothing, and Part 2 Eye-Full Films Revisited at the Cinematheque. In 1996 I completed Inside-Out, which featured The Kate Foley Dance Company and a score written with Nik Phelps and performed by the Club Foot Orchestra. The film had it's premiere with the orchestra playing live, at The Victoria Theatre in S.F. as part of my 2nd Retrospective called 25 Years Of Eye-Full Films. In 1999, after 10 years of work, I premiered When The Spirit Moves, a mystical fairy-tale featuring (Joe Goode) dancer Vong Phrommala and silent-movie style actress Billie-Marie Gross, at The Film Arts Festival. After nearly 30 years of filmmaking and over 50 completed films a soundtrack trio was formed to play live scores for my movies. The group, called “Reel Change”, started as a trio and has featured: Andrew Voigt (woodwinds), Joe Sabella (samples), David Michalak (lap steel), Phillip Greenlief (saxophones), Adam Hurst (cello), George Cremaschi (Contrabass), Tom Nunn (Homemade Instruments), Kyle Bruckman (double reeds), Thersa Wong (cello) and Tom Djll (trumpet). Reel Change performed a live score for the 1928 silent film, Fall Of The House Of Usher, at Yerba Buena Center For The Arts, somArts and The Exploratorium. The band released it’s first soundtrack CD this year called, “Open In Total Darkness.” A second CD will be released in 2006 featuring soundtracks for the films of Maya Deren. In 2004 I started a new group called “Ghost In The House” and am currently mixing a new CD entitled “Sleepwalk.” The group features Karen Stackpole, Kyle Bruckman and Tom Nunn. In early 2005 Bob Marsh and I started a duo called, “Dr. Bob”. We are currently recording a CD and will perform at The Edge Tone Festival this July.

Some of the other musicians who I have played with live or on soundtracks include: J.A. Deane, Bruce Ackley, Carla Kihlstedt, Matt Brubeck, Dean Santomeiri, Beth Custer, Club Foot Orchestra, Damon Smith, Ed Herman, Doug Carroll, Jim Heron, Myles Boisen, George Cremaschi, Ron Heglin, Karen Stackpole and Monday Night Music. On occasion I have also played and showed films with Nik Phelp's Sprocket Ensemble.
Upcoming Events:

Sunday, March 15 2026 7:15 PM
West Oakland Sound Series [2201 Poplar Street Dresher Ensemble Studio Oakland]
Clarinetist Ben Goldberg joins DILLON VADO (vibraphone) and TIM BULKLEY (drums) in a set of trio improvisations. Sound knowledge and awareness from planet Neptone. The practice of remembering what you can't forget. Come have a listen; you won't believe your ears. Or else, you will believe your ears but there might be something else you don't believe. Or maybe nothing at all.

EYE-FULL FILMS presents a set of experimental films by David Michalak, STEVE MOBIA, and ARTHUR GANSON, including the premiere showing of Michalak's "Still Movin'."  More...
Friday, March 20 2026 6:30 PM
Indian Rock Park [LOCATION: Indian Rock Park: 950 Indian Rock Ave, Berkeley 94707 -just west of the rock, under the trees -there is no formal seating so bring a blanket, chair, or sit on the rock]
Wendy Reid'S AMBIENT BIRD-INDIAN ROCK
sfSOUND musicians join the Bird Ensemble in a Spring Equinox outdoor performance of Ambient Bird-Indian Rock, with Brenda Hutchinson’s Dailybell at sunset

musicians:
Lulu, African Grey parrot
Wendy Reid, violin
Brenda Hutchinson, long tube
Krys Bobrowski, glisglas
Ron Heglin, tuba
Kanoko Nishi, koto
Tom Djll, trumpet
Brendan Lai-Tong, trombone
Matt Ingalls, clarinet
John Ingle, saxophone
David Michalak, skatchbirds  More...
CDs on which David Michalak appears:
ArtistTitleLabelNumber
T.D. Skatchit & Company Skatch Migration
Artist: T.D. Skatchit & Company
Title: Skatch Migration
Label: Edgetone Records EDT4103
Label page on this site: Edgetone Records
Edgetone Records EDT4103
T.D. Skatchit & Company T.D. Skatchit & Company
Artist: T.D. Skatchit & Company
Title: T.D. Skatchit & Company
Label: Edgetone Records EDT4096
Label page on this site: Edgetone Records
Edgetone Records EDT4096
Interviews/Articles:
Jack Foley (04/20/2003)
Benjamin Lindgren's Paintings