CV Alex Morrison

ALEX MORRISON [email protected] [email protected] EDUCATION Master of Fine Arts in Film and Electronic Media Graduated: May 2010 Thesis: “DIY: What Can I Do?”, Crowd Sourcing Website for environmental media. American University, Washington, DC Bachelor of Science in Cinema and Photography Double Minor Anthropology and Environmental Science Graduated: June, 2002 Thesis: Mighty Like a Rose, a documentary film. Ithaca College, Ithaca, NY COURSE DEVELOPMENT AND TEACHING EXPERIENCE Adjunct Professor: Designed syllabus and taught a course in Final Cut Pro use and editing theory. Worked with four sections during class lab sessions to achieve consistent results. American University, Washington, D.C.

September 2010 to present

Multimedia Consultant: Assisting students and faculty with multimedia presentations and ensured a consistent quality in projects. Includes a focus on video and audio equipment, editing techniques, graphic design, sound design, DVD authoring, Powerpoint presentations and copyright/fair use. Designed promotional material on Photoshop. American University, Washington, DC.

August 2008 to present

Final Cut Pro and iMovie Workshops: Taught three hour sessions designed to give an introduction to the program for non-editors; taught as a workshop through the Center for Teaching Excellence. American University, Washington, DC.

August 2008 to present

NOAA Ocean for Life Video Mentor: Contracted to mentor a group of sixty local and international students from various ethnic backgrounds, languages and cultures in two sessions. Main responsibilities included the creation of two short films documenting the experience and fostering a sense of well being between nations. Reviewed and exported to provide media for the website in both English and Urdu. NOAA, Washington, D.C.

June 2009 to August 2009

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Audio/Visual Specialist: Assisted journalism and communication students with editing projects and leading classes in focusing and conceptualizing works. American University, Washington, DC.

August 2007 to August 2008

Techniques in Visual Storytelling, Digital Photography and Filmmaking: Contracted to develop syllabus text, coordinate and teach courses in digital video and photography to students of various age and ethnicity. Produced award winning student films with consistent quality to promote the organization. Fairfax Collegiate, Fairfax, VA.

June 2008 to August 2008

16mm and Digital Video EXCO: developed and implemented a course in experimental film theory and production and coordinated a community screening. Oberlin College, Oberlin, OH.

August 2003 to June 2004

SELECTED WORKS DIY: What Can I Do? (work in progress, 2009, DV/HD) Developer, Designer and Administrator of a crowd sourcing website with Drupal for environmental media makers that create original video content. The site and content feature a multi-faceted service that allow users to post and access environmental media and news on a self-designed content management system that is shared on popular social networking sites, as well as an interactive guide and weekly podcasts that will serve as a model for other self-relying organizations. Studied the basis of website and graphic design on web sharing site theory and trends. (graduate thesis) Portfolio Website (2010, Web Design) Developer, Designer and Administrator of a portfolio site designed with WordPress that connects original material in blog categories and allows for the viewer to share through interesting links, interactive polls and comment sections. Studied the graphic design trends, color schemes and typography to create views. Knock, Knock (2010, HD) Director of Photography, Lighting Designer, short fiction film that follows the life of an abused woman as she travels in and out of dream states to avoid and confront an abusive husband. Alternate endings are planned as an experiment on a video sharing site. Meditation on Reaction (2010, HD) Creator, Technical Director, created and performed a video installation piece to study the effects of juxtaposed works of media on a volunteer. The piece consisted of two projections and a Skype videoconference to connect the volunteer from a separate room. Giving Them Strength (2010, DV) Co-Producer, Director of Photography, Editor, Writer, promotes an organization for low-income families and the homeless in Washington D.C. that provides food, education and daycare. Focuses on a new healthy-food initiative and how it is implemented in the educational program. Morrison 2

The Barge That Wouldn’t Budge (2009, HD) Cinematographer, studies the effects and consequences of derelict barges on the Chesapeake Bay, in concert with NOAA. Ford Fiesta Movement: YSOP (2009, SD) Producer and Director, a short documentary video created in coordination with Ford and YSOP, a service for the homeless in Washington, D.C. Provided a web compression for the Fiesta Movement website. Hart of the Faire (2009, HD) Second Unit Director, Cinematographer, focuses on the community of the Maryland Renaissance Fair, how bonds of friendship, loyalty and decades of tradition are formed and continue through the years. Ecoviews: Reclaiming the Bay (2009, HD) Co-Producer, Cinematographer, explores three aspects of life and business on the Chesapeake Bay and how each has a controversial impact on water quality and sustainability of the culture. Shown on Maryland Public Television as part of Chesapeake Bay Week. Street Sense PSA (2009, HD) Director of Photography, publicizes the plight of one homeless man as he regains his life, career and self-worth through a publication that empowers the homeless. Derby Dolls (2008, work in progress) Cinematographer, examines the roller derby sub culture in the DC area and how women are portrayed, create bonds and live a life within a violent sport entity; The Sleepers (2007, HD) Director of Photography, fiction film that shows how the worlds of reality and fiction combine and affect us in our day-to-day life and relationships. Feeding the Soul of the City (2007, HD) Producer, Director and Cinematographer, a short documentary video created in coordination with DC Central Kitchen, a service for the homeless in Washington, D.C. Visits two organizations, DC Central Kitchen and the Dupont Circle Farmer’s Market and how donated food travels from one location to another to help empower the homeless. Stars (2007, DV) Glidecam Operator, fiction film, a German soldier meets up with an American soldier and the need for survival brings them together into an unlikely friendship. Chosen as a finalist in the television show “On the Lot”. Mickey (2007, DV) Glidecam Operator, fiction film, one donation to a homeless man gives him a last chance for hope, through an autographed baseball. Chosen as a finalist in the television show “On the Lot”. Clip (2007, DV) Director of Photography, spoof on the biopic genre where a young boy grows up and struggles with his craft as a clip art designer. Featured on National Lampoon Online. Mighty Like a Rose (2002, 16mm) Director, Director of Photography, Editor, study of motherhood, teachers and loss through the moving portraits of thirteen individuals. Featured in the Hardacre Film Festival.

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Meditations on Being Human (2001, 16mm) Director, Director of Photography, Writer, Editor, personal exploration into themes of loneliness, depression and coping with loss. Featured in the Hardacre Film Festival. FELLOWSHIPS AND GRANTS “Making Your Media Matter” Scholarship: Funds provided towards admittance at a conference for social media activists.

January 2010

Center for Teaching Excellence Graduate Fellow: Assist faculty and students to create multimedia content for classes and special projects along with leading workshops in editing at the New Media Center; Center for Teaching Excellence, American University, Washington, DC.

August 2008 through present

The James B. Pendleton Student Research and Production Grant: provided as production funds to finish promising film works at Ithaca College; Ithaca, NY.

May 2002

Internship, Florentine Films: Awarded a summer internship to work in post-production for Ken Burn’s production company; Walpole, NH.

May 2001

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY Producer/Editor: Providing a series of professor profiles and tutorials for the Academic Multimedia Service. Responsible for the most viewed tutorial series on the iTunesU site. American University, Washington, DC.  

August 2010 Present

Multimedia Consultant: Assisting students outside of the School of Communication with multimedia projects. Responsibilities include maintaining the lab, ensuring customer satisfaction and assisting faculty; American University, Washington, DC.

August 2008 – August 2010

Videographer, created content and managed camera and sound operations at the christening of the Hydro II, a new surveying ship; NOAA, Baltimore, MD.

April 2009

Ford Fiesta Agent: Chosen out of four thousand applicants to participate in May 2009 to an innovative social networking advertising campaign. Developed an online November 2009 presence and worked with marketers to promote and establish new forms of video content online; Washington D.C. Audio/Visual Specialist: Assisted journalism and communication students with editing projects and leading classes in focusing and conceptualizing works; American University, Washington, DC.

August 2007 to August 2008

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Lead Salesman/Glidecam Instructor: Oversaw sales requests and taught daylong courses at a major film equipment rental house. Tasks included daily sales, public relations and customer satisfaction; Alan Gordon Enterprises, Hollywood, CA.

July 2005 to July 2007

Freelance Audio Visual Specialist, Created reels, promotional materials and managed hardware resources for TBWA/Chiat/Day, a major advertising agency for Apple, Nissan and other clients. Maintained consistent quality to promote the organization; Los Angeles, CA. Film Series Curator, collected and exhibited a weekly independent film screening, designed promotional materials; Oberlin, OH.  

July 2004 to July 2005

Freelance Producer, commercial, coordinated casting, location, crew and budget for the company USA Telephone; Ithaca, NY.

January 2003

Photo Editor, Evaluated technical and aesthetic value of photographs and illustrations for a weekly newspaper publication. Provided assistance in layout, production and delivery for print; Ithaca, NY.

August 1999 to August 2001

January 2003 to January 2004

INTERNSHIPS AND AWARDS Student Academy Award, Regional Achievement Award, “Ecoviews: Three Stories From the Chesapeake Bay”

May, 2010

BEA Awards, Second Place Best Student Documentary Short, “Chesapeake Gold”

February, 2010

Peer Awards, Best Student Documentary “Ecoviews”

November, 2009

Life on Terra, Featured Short “The Barge That Wouldn’t Budge”

September, 2009

Life on Terra, Featured Short “Chesapeake Gold”

July, 2009

Visions, Winner of Best Environmental Production “Ecoviews”

April, 2009

Visions, Nominee for Best Cinematography “Chesapeake Gold”

April, 2009

Visions, First Place in Visual Storytelling, Broadcast Journalism “Chesapeake April, 2009 Gold” Visions, awarded Honorable Mention for the short film “The Sleepers”

May, 2008

Hardacre Film Festival, selected twice for a screening of short and feature film works; Tipton, IA.

June 2001 and 2003

Prevues II, recognized as one of the top graduating filmmakers from Ithaca

May, 2002

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College; Ithaca, NY. Editing Intern, awarded work with Ken Burns at Florentine Films; Walpole, NH.

May, 2001

Best College Newspaper, Better College Newspaper Contest for 2000, presented by the New York Press Association; Albany, NY.

March, 2001

Silver Crown Award for Spring 2000, presented by the Columbia Scholastic Press Association at the National College Media Convention; New York, NY.

February, 2001

Mark of Excellence Award, First Place for the Best All-Around Non-Daily Newspaper in the Nation for 1999, presented by the Society of Professional Journalists; Columbus, OH.

October, 2000

First Place for Photography, Better College Newspaper Contest for 1999, presented by the New York Press Association; Albany, NY.

May, 2000

Silver Medalist Certificate, for the spring 2000 semester, presented by the Columbia Scholastic Press Association at Columbia University in its Annual Critique for 2000; New York, NY.

May, 2000

TEACHING AND RESEARCH INTERESTS Cinematography; Screenwriting, Still Photography, New Media, Social Networking, Environmental and Social justice documentary production, Fiction Film Production, Film Theory

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