A graduate of the High School of Art & Design and Parson’s School of Design as an Illustrator, Mike started his career in Theatre and Film as a sound designer. He was nominated several times for the prestigious Audelco Award for excellence in Sound Design. From there Mike went on to write, produce and direct radio drama and audio books, adapting the works of such acclaimed Science-fiction authors as Isaac Asimov and Arthur C. Clark and has been the recipient of a series of grants to develop his feminist-science-fiction play Nemesis. As an Illustrator he has also has done storyboards for a number of film as diverse as horror film BRAIN DAMAGE by Frank Henenlotter to recent thrillers like the John Singleton produced ILLEGAL TENDER & THE MINISTERS by Franc. Reyes
Mike is currently chief Film critic for WBAI RADIO’s daytime film review program, REELWORLD, and host of WBAI’s popular late night radio show, NITESHIFT, which features live guests including everyone from Richard Donner, Harlan Ellison and Richard Dreyfuss to Levar Burton, Esai Morales and Rah Digga. Sargent is a nationally quoted film critic whose quotes have been used in national television, print and radio advertising campaigns. He is also a founding member of Black Film Critics Circle (BFCC). BFCC holds the distinction of being the only organization developed by and catering to the needs of African American media professionals who critique movies and cover the film industry.
Sargent is also an established writer and director. His writing and directing debut feature film, Personals (aka Hook'd Up) starred Malik Yoba (of NY Undercover and Why Did I Get Married) and Stacey Dash (of the film and TV show Clueless). Personals was the opening night film at Los Angeles’ Pan African Film Festival in 1999. The L.A. Times called the film “both entertaining and provocative.” The film was distributed theatrically in 2000-2001.
Mike has returned to filmmaking and is currently shooting BAD BOYS: A documentary. This is an in-depth, investigative film that examines why women and society in general are in love with Bad boys thought history. He has also created website that is a standalone component as a place intended for women to share their stories with each other in hopes of having a greater understanding of why they do it – get involved with those bad boys -- & whether it is helping or holding them back -- whether it is empowering or diminishing their power – whether the attraction to bad boys is nurture or nature.
FROM THE SHADOWS
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Film
DIRECTOR
BAD BOYS: A DOCUMENTARY
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Documentary
DIRECTOR /PRODUCER
The Ministers
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Film
Art department
Illegal Tender
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Film
Art department
PERSONALS aka HOOK'D UP
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Film
WIRTER/DIRECTOR
Personals
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Film
Director
Wonderguy
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Film
Sound department