- The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, MFA, film. .
- Brigham Young University, BFA, film direction. Minor in Art History.
- Proficient in French. Honors Thesis: Hypnosis and Storytelling.
COMPUTER SKILLS
- Video Editing: AVID, MEDIA 100, Final Cut Pro, Adobe Premiere Pro, After Effects. Encore
- Multimedia: Flash, Macromedia Director, Go Live, Illustrator, Photoshop, Image Ready, SoundEdit 16.
- Windows and Macintosh.
FILM AND VIDEO -- SCREENWRITING
Semi-Finalist, Chesterfield, Cyclone, Empire, new Century Screenwriting Competitions 1997 and 2000
Screenwriter, Revelations 2001,
- SUNDANCE SCREENWRITERS LAB FINALIST
- Illinois Arts Council Fellowship Recipient
- Preacher Cipher attempts to jumpstart the Apocalypse by training a young insurance salesman to be the Anti-Christ.
Screenwriter, John Brown, Angel of Death 1999
- Illinois Arts Council Grant
- The historical drama of an obsessive Abolitionist's drive for penance at bloody Harpers Ferry.
Feature Video/Film: Screatures 1997
- A woman moves into an abandoned farmhouse located conveniently near an asylum. Working solo, I wrote, shot, directed, acted in, and edited this 65 minute experimental video. Includes 16-mm film and computer imagery edited on AVID.
Short Films 1990- 1997
- I am familiar with all aspects of production including: direction, camera, editing, prod. management, script supervision, art direction, acting, story boarding, special effects, screenwriting.
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
College of Lake County, Northern Chicago Suburbs
- After Effects, Video Production, Photoshop, Art Appreciation
Columbia College, Chicago
- Alternative Forms, Digital Video Production III. 2001
American Academy of Art 1998- 2006
- Film/Digital Video Production, After Effects, Multimedia Design, Macromedia Director, Photoshop. Screenwriting, Modern Art History, Art and Technology, Film and Society.
Academic/Student Advisor. American Academy, 1999-2006
- One of two advisors in charge of all student advising and retention. Attended Noel-Levitz conventions in Iowa (1999) and Washington DC (2000) for training in retention/advising.
- MFA Creation Committee. 1999-present
TECHNICAL EXPERIENCE
The Chicago International Film Festival, June-Nov. 1994- 1997
- Four years of experience includes technical and financial management of festival theaters (i.e.. Six Odeon-Cineplex theaters in downtown Chicago). Security and crowd control for special events with Spike Lee, Roger Corman, Michael Douglas and Liv Ulman attending.
- Coordinated exhibition and shipment of festival films. Arranged audio/visual support, product purchase, phone banks. Constructed a new 35-mm screening room for jury and press screenings. Wrote grants. Helped hire, train and manage over 40 employees.
Sundance Film Festival, Nov. - Jan. 1995- 1996
- Staff Assistant and audio-visual technician. Set up for Robert Redford's press conferences and special events.
The Chicago Children's Film Festival at FACETS, July - Nov. 1995
- Technical/Festival Entry Coordinator.
EXHIBITIONS
The New York International Independent Film & Video Festival 1998
- Screening of Screatures, feature-length video.
Center for Communications Resources 1998, Screening of Screatures.
The School of the Art Institute of Chicago 1997
- Screening of Screatures. Graduate show.
Utah Film and Video Center 1996
- Performance of Screamers, a two-hour-long horror story with projected film, video and computer imagery. Acted twelve characters, created sound effects with my voice.
Three Performances 1996
- Performed Screamers in an abandoned old house in "slumber party" fashion.
Professional Storyteller
- For ten years I have told hundreds of "Tales of Terror" at parties, libraries, schools, talk shows, storytelling festivals, a cable-access station, and Chicago's Adler Planetarium.
OTHER INTERESTS
I make frequent pilgrimages to study Modern Art and sculpture in DC and NY museums. I love to study religion/theology, cutting-edge technology, politics and current events. I mountain climb and maintain a motorcycle.
