Resumé: Mike Pohjola

Resumé: Mike Pohjola

Filmmaker, author and interactive storyteller
Dramaturgist, Pohjola-filmi
Executive Narrator, The company P

EDUCATION
MA Student of Screenwriting at the Helsinki University of Art and Design, 2006-
MA Student of Comparative Literature in the University of Turku, 1997-
Writing for Cinema in the Theatre Academy 2002 (10 credits)
Devising Theatre training in the Turku Arts Academy 2001 (9 credits)
Write for Theatre training in the Turku Arts Academy 2000 (20 credits)
New York Film Academy Total Immersion Workshop 1999 (ca. 15 credits)

ENTREPENEURIAL
The company P: Founder, executive narrator. A Stockholm-based media company focused on interactive and participative storytelling. Won an International Emmy Award in 2008 for Best Interactive Tv Service with The Truth About Marika. Since created Dollplay to augment the FOX show Dollhouse, and is now working on the Nokia-funded TEVA with Tim Kring.
Pohjola-filmi: Founder, dramaturgist. A film production company focusing on Nordic cinema.
Riimuahjo Publishing: Founder, chairman of the board. A small publishing house focusing on roleplaying material.

ARTISTIC/MEDIA PRODUCTIONS
Films
Flag Burners (director, writer), 2009, Bufo
Amor Paradox (director, writer), 2009, Pohjola-filmi
Heaven and Helsinki 2018 (director, writer, producer), 2008, University of Art and Design, Helsinki
Pyhä maa (writer) (2008): Directed by Juhana Pettersson, produced by Elina Pohjola.
Verikosto (writer). In development.
Kadetti Kaarina sivarin leivissä (writer). In development.
A Cream Pi (director, writer, producer), 1999, NYFA

Tv and new media
Dollplay (writer, dramaturgist, developer), The Company P and FOX Interactive

Computer games
Lies and Seductions (designer, writer). 2009, University of Art and Design, Helsinki

Plays
Talvisirkus Valo (directed by Arja Pettersson) 2008, Tanssiteatteri Hurjaruuth
Maailman ympäri 80 päivässä (directed by Jaakko Kuusi) 2004, Turku Young Theatre
Kaunotar ja Hirviö (directed by Janne Salminen) 2003, Turku Young Theatre
Kuinka voin auttaa? (directed by the group) 2003, Turku Young Theatre
Chain of Fools (written as a writers’ jam, yet to be performed) 2002, published online
Pete ja Pinja vastaan avaruusolentojen hyökkäys (directed by Antti Niitemaa), 2002, Turku Young Theatre
Väkilukuisat vähäväkiset (written and directed) 2001, Tapahtumantekijät Oy
Wanted: Elävänä tai kuolleena (written with Mikko Joukamaa, Antti Niitemaa, directed by Mikko Joukamaa) 2001, Turku Young Theatre
Narnia: Velho ja Leijona (written with Mikko Joukamaa based on C. S. Lewis’ book “The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe”, directed by Antti Niitemaa) 2000, Turku Young Theatre
Prinsessa Ruusunen (directed by Tuula Väisänen) 1999, Turku Children’s Theatre
Tiikerin lapsi (written and directed, based on Torey Hayden’s book Tiger’s Child) 1998, The Mannerheim League for Children
Aladdin (written with Martti Antola, Mikko Joukamaa, Antti Niitemaa, directed by Arno Virtanen) 1997, Turku Children’s Theatre

Live roleplaying games
Katvealue 2, 2008 (with Oona Tikkaoja and Henna Kontusalmi): played at Kiasma, the Finnish Museum of Contemporary Arts
Katvealue 1, 2008 (with Oona Tikkaoja and Henna Kontusalmi): played at Ateneum, the Finnish Museum of Fine Arts Ateneum
I Regret Nothing (with Juhana Pettersson and Eirik Fatland): part of the city art festival Olohuone 306,4 km2
Four Color: All That Jazz, 2005
Real City, 2004 (produced with Juha Allan Ekholm): Played at ANTI Art Festival in Kuopio. Inspired Ekholm’s photo exhib Re:Play still touring Finnish galleries
Luminescence, 2004 (with Juhana Pettersson, produced by Mikko Pervilä)
File Not Found, 2003 (produced with Juha Allan Ekholm): Created as a part of the Virasto art event by the Arte group.
Ei minulta mitään puutu, 2002. Turku Book Fair. Later published in the Book of LARP.
Kuolema voi odottaa (with Mikko Rautalahti), 2002. Turku City Council.
inside:outside (written with Eirik Fatland, produced by Irene Tanke), 2001-2002: A Nordic tour visiting several conferences and the Norwegian Museum of Modern Art Kunstnernes Hus
Myrskyn aika (ten episodes, produced with Jami Jokinen), 1997-2001
Paljon Melua Tyhjästä (adapted from Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing), 1998
.laitos, 1997: Linda Awards for Best Event and Best Hype
Routametsä (with Unto Vauras), 1996
Viimeinen yö, 1996: Linda Award for Best Effects

Performer
I perform my poetry on the collection LP Protestääni (Fuck Teosto, 2007).
Poetry performances at Runo&Rock club, DBTL poetry club, Pacifico, TVO, Kirja, Kiila club at Libertée, private events, and others.
Speaker at Interactive Exchange Ontario, Ropecon, Finncon, Mittelpunkt, Knutepunkt, Lucca Comics & Games Convention etc.
Host at the Turku Book Fair 2005 and 2006.
Host at Finncon 2004 and 2007.
Host at the Ropecon gala 2008.
Host at Kirjallisuusyhdistysten talvipäivät 2006.
Keynote at Kirjan ja ruusun päivä event in Pori 2004.

Publications

Short story Limaisenvihreä viiva in the anthology Tuhansien zombien maa (editor Juri Nummelin, Turbator, 2009)
Article Katvealue. Museolarppi Ateneumissa ja Kiasmassa (with Henna Kontusalmi and Oona Tikkaoja in the book Tulevaisuuden taidemuseo, editor Susanna Pettersson, National Museum of Art, 2009)
Sanaleikkikirja (Gummerus Publishing, 2008)
Kadonneet kyyneleet (Gummerus Publishing, 2008)
Tähti (Riimuahjo, 2007)
Star Wreck Roleplaying Game (Energia Productions, 2006)
Myrskyn aika (Johnny Kniga Publishing, 2003)
Live roleplaying game I Shall Not Want and essay Creating Settings For Your LARP
(in The Book of LARP, 2003, Interactivities Ink.)
The Manifesto of The Turku School (self-published 2000; published in As
Larp Grows Up in 2003)
Poems in the Tahtoisin lisää karusellikyytiä anthology (Savukeidas
Publishing, 2001)
Short story and a play in the Reviiri anthology (Varsinais-Suomi Commission of Arts, 2002)
Freelance work for Lumooja, Mikrobitti, Kaltio, Peliluola, The Larper, RPG.net, Magus, Spin, Larppaaja, and panclou
Editor-in-chief of Kulttuurilehti Ei (Savukeidas Publishing, 2002-2003)
Editor-in-chief of Larppaaja (Finland’s Live-Action Roleplaying Association, 1997-1998)

POSITIONS OF TRUST
Finland’s Live-Action Roleplaying Association member of the board (1997-1998), vice chairman and later acting chairman (1999).
Conklaavi ry founder and chairman (1998-2000)
Finland’s Science Fiction Writers’ Association, vice member of the board (2001)
Turku Young Theatre, member of the board (2000-2005)
Southwest Finland’s Authors’ Association, member of the board (2004), acting chairman (2005-2006)
Cultural Council of Turku, vice member of the board (2005-2007)
Pro Cultura Foundation, member of the board (2005-2008)
Regional Council of Southwest Finland’s Cultural Board, member of the board (2005-2007)
Student Union TOKYO of the Helsinki University of Art and Design, member of the board (2008-)
Student Union of the Aalto University, member of the board
Film Students Organization, chairman (2008-)
Helsinki City Philharmonic Orchestra, member of the board (2007-2008)

AWARDS AND GRANTS
Lasten Luku-varkaus Award for Kadonneet kyyneleet, 3500 euros, 2009
Chosen to make a short film in the Novellielokuva project, budget 17000 euros, 2009 (Finnish Film Foundatin and YLE)
False King of Literature, 2007 (elected by the Turun Sanomat newspaper)
Film development grant 10000 euros, 2006 (Finnish Film Foundation)