Difference between revisions of "Michealene Cristini Risley"
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{{PersonBob | {{PersonBob | ||
| image=MichaeleneCristiniRisley.png | | image=MichaeleneCristiniRisley.png | ||
| − | | birthplace= | + | | birthplace=[[wikipedia:Clawson, Michigan|Clawson, Michigan, United States]] |
| dob= | | dob= | ||
| dod= | | dod= | ||
| − | | company=[[Sega of America]] | + | | employment={{Employment |
| + | | company=[[Sega of America]]{{ref|1=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVwkBApEKTM}} | ||
| + | | divisions=[[Entertainment & Consumer Products]]{{intref|Interview: Michealene Cristini Risley (2025-01-21) by Alexander Rojas}}, [[Sega Girls Task Force]]{{intref|Interview: Michealene Cristini Risley (2025-01-21) by Alexander Rojas}} | ||
| + | | start=1991 | ||
| + | | end=199x | ||
| + | }} | ||
| role=Executive | | role=Executive | ||
| − | | education= | + | | education=[[wikipedia:Michigan State University|Michigan State University]] (Telecommunications, English and Advertising) |
}} | }} | ||
| − | {{ | + | {{stub}}'''{{PAGENAME}}''' (née Cristini) is an American businesswoman and former [[Sega of America]] licensing and product development executive. |
| − | == | + | ==Career== |
| + | ===Background=== | ||
| + | Born and raised in [[wikipedia:Clawson, Michigan|Clawson, Michigan]], Michealene Cristini first began her career while attending [[wikipedia:Michigan State University|Michigan State University]], acting as a television reporter while earning her Telecommunications degree. Following this, she was employed with the ''[[wikipedia:Detroit Free Press|Detroit Free Press]]'', and had a side gig as a writer. Once she graduated, both her and a close friend moved out to California, looking for employment. Thankfully, she was able to land a role with [[wikipedia:Ron Greenberg|Ronnie Greenberg]], working in the television game show sector as an assistant - her first introduction to the entertainment industry.{{intref|Interview: Michealene Cristini Risley (2025-01-21) by Alexander Rojas}} | ||
| + | |||
| + | Once in Los Angeles, Cristini soon migrated from working with Greenberg to a job at [[wikipedia:KTTV|KTTV]], one of the cities' top television stations. During this time, she recalls a desire to work with high-profile entertainment companies, particularly [[The Walt Disney Company]], sending the company a repeated stream of employment requests. "Literally, I even have letters from the head of production saying, “your interest in Disney is duly noted.” Okay. Like, stop sending me notes." Her perseverance would pay off, and she was eventually hired by Disney's Steve McBeth in a licensing role. She remembers being brought onboard to establish a public relations arm for the company's then 6 licensing divisions; in her own words, "I really got my feet wet in licensing."{{intref|Interview: Michealene Cristini Risley (2025-01-21) by Alexander Rojas}} | ||
| + | |||
| + | She was also briefly employed in a licensing with [[Mattel]], where she was asked to help develop a film based on the popular Barbie franchise, as well as working on the animated short included with the company's [[wikipedia:P. J. Sparkles|P.J. Sparkles]] doll. As a result of this connection, the producers overseeing the short's animation recommended Cristini for recruitment to [[Marvel Entertainment]]. Here, she was employed as their vice president of production, managing the animated television series' that the company was running at the time - such as working with [[McDonald's]] on their ''Magic Paintbrush'' short film, or planning the production of ''[[wikipedia:Biker Mike from Mars|Biker Mike from Mars]]''. She was also currently in talks with [[wikipedia:Stan Lee|Stan Lee]] to adapt one of her favorite childhood comics to the silver screen. Further, she had recently met her husband, and the two were set to be engaged soon, with Cristini having "no interest in leaving."{{intref|Interview: Michealene Cristini Risley (2025-01-21) by Alexander Rojas}} | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===Entertainment & Consumer Products=== | ||
| + | {{MainArticle|Entertainment & Consumer Products}} | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===Sega Girls Task Force=== | ||
| + | {{MainArticle|Sega Girls Task Force}} | ||
| + | In 1993, Risley established the [[Sega Girls Task Force]], an internal [[Sega of America]] video game production team established to both address the issue of then-limited female participation in video gaming, and research the viability of games developed with a female audience in mind. The team was directly involved with the production of three Western-developed [[Mega Drive]] games, and advised a number of third-party studios on issues of inclusion and accessibility. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===Later career=== | ||
During the [[wikipedia:2012 United States presidential election|2012 United States presidential election]], Risley ran an unsuccessful bid as the official candidate of the [[wikipedia:Americans Elect|Americans Elect]] political party. | During the [[wikipedia:2012 United States presidential election|2012 United States presidential election]], Risley ran an unsuccessful bid as the official candidate of the [[wikipedia:Americans Elect|Americans Elect]] political party. | ||
==Production history== | ==Production history== | ||
| − | |||
{{ProductionHistory|Michealene Cristini Risley|Michealene C Risley|Michealene Christini-Risley|Michealene Christini|Michaelene Cristini Risley}} | {{ProductionHistory|Michealene Cristini Risley|Michealene C Risley|Michealene Christini-Risley|Michealene Christini|Michaelene Cristini Risley}} | ||
| − | }} | + | |
| + | ==Interviews== | ||
| + | {{InterviewList|{{PAGENAME}}}} | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Photographs== | ||
| + | :''Main article: [[:Category:Photos of {{PAGENAME}}|Photos of {{PAGENAME}}]] | ||
==External links== | ==External links== | ||
Revision as of 23:51, 30 January 2025
|
| Michealene Cristini Risley |
|---|
| Place of birth: Clawson, Michigan, United States |
| Employment history: Sega of America[1] (1991 – 199x)
Divisions:
|
| Role(s): Executive |
| Education: Michigan State University (Telecommunications, English and Advertising) |
This short article is in need of work. You can help Sega Retro by adding to it.
Michealene Cristini Risley (née Cristini) is an American businesswoman and former Sega of America licensing and product development executive.
Contents
Career
Background
Born and raised in Clawson, Michigan, Michealene Cristini first began her career while attending Michigan State University, acting as a television reporter while earning her Telecommunications degree. Following this, she was employed with the Detroit Free Press, and had a side gig as a writer. Once she graduated, both her and a close friend moved out to California, looking for employment. Thankfully, she was able to land a role with Ronnie Greenberg, working in the television game show sector as an assistant - her first introduction to the entertainment industry.[2]
Once in Los Angeles, Cristini soon migrated from working with Greenberg to a job at KTTV, one of the cities' top television stations. During this time, she recalls a desire to work with high-profile entertainment companies, particularly The Walt Disney Company, sending the company a repeated stream of employment requests. "Literally, I even have letters from the head of production saying, “your interest in Disney is duly noted.” Okay. Like, stop sending me notes." Her perseverance would pay off, and she was eventually hired by Disney's Steve McBeth in a licensing role. She remembers being brought onboard to establish a public relations arm for the company's then 6 licensing divisions; in her own words, "I really got my feet wet in licensing."[2]
She was also briefly employed in a licensing with Mattel, where she was asked to help develop a film based on the popular Barbie franchise, as well as working on the animated short included with the company's P.J. Sparkles doll. As a result of this connection, the producers overseeing the short's animation recommended Cristini for recruitment to Marvel Entertainment. Here, she was employed as their vice president of production, managing the animated television series' that the company was running at the time - such as working with McDonald's on their Magic Paintbrush short film, or planning the production of Biker Mike from Mars. She was also currently in talks with Stan Lee to adapt one of her favorite childhood comics to the silver screen. Further, she had recently met her husband, and the two were set to be engaged soon, with Cristini having "no interest in leaving."[2]
Entertainment & Consumer Products
- Main article: Entertainment & Consumer Products.
Sega Girls Task Force
- Main article: Sega Girls Task Force.
In 1993, Risley established the Sega Girls Task Force, an internal Sega of America video game production team established to both address the issue of then-limited female participation in video gaming, and research the viability of games developed with a female audience in mind. The team was directly involved with the production of three Western-developed Mega Drive games, and advised a number of third-party studios on issues of inclusion and accessibility.
Later career
During the 2012 United States presidential election, Risley ran an unsuccessful bid as the official candidate of the Americans Elect political party.
Production history
- Richard Scarry's Busytown (Mega Drive; 1994) — Special Thanks (as Michaelene Cristini Risley)
- Mighty Morphin Power Rangers (Game Gear; 1994) — Special Thanks[3] (as Michaelene Cristini Risley)
- Scholastic's The Magic School Bus: Space Exploration Game (Mega Drive; 1995) — Special Thanks (as Michealene Christini-Risley)
- Garfield: Caught in the Act (Game Gear; 1995) — Licensing[4]
- VR Troopers (Mega Drive; 1995) — Licensing[5] (as Michaelene Cristini Risley)
- VR Troopers (Game Gear; 1995) — Licensing[6] (as Michealene C Risley)
- Pebble Beach Golf Links (Saturn; 1995) — Special Thanks[7] (as Michealene Christini)
- Fahrenheit (Mega-CD; 1995) — Special Thanks To[8]
- Garfield: Caught in the Act (Mega Drive; 1995) — Licensing[9]
- Garfield: Caught in the Act (Windows PC; 1997) — Marketing
Interviews
Photographs
- Main article: Photos of Michealene Cristini Risley
External links
- What happened when Sega courted female players in the mid-’90s article by Richard Moss at Polygon
References
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVwkBApEKTM
- ↑ Jump up to: 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Interview: Michealene Cristini Risley (2025-01-21) by Alexander Rojas
- ↑ File:MMPR gg us manual.pdf, page 14
- ↑ File:Garfield Caught in the Act GG US Manual.pdf, page 19
- ↑ File:VR Troopers MD credits.pdf
- ↑ File:VR Troopers GG credits.pdf
- ↑ File:Pebblebeach sat us manual.pdf, page 22
- ↑ File:Fahrenheit MCD JP SSCredits.pdf
- ↑ File:Garfield Caught in the Act MD credits.pdf