CV

Experience

  • SOCIALDEVIANT | Art Director - Video Production | Chicago, Illinois | June 2022-Present

    • Creating compelling consumer-facing social content at scale, resulting in an average of 50%-60% decrease in cost per key performance indicator, such as cost-per-click. 

    • Working with creative and strategy teams on concept development for clients such as Aldi, Joann Fabrics, Allegiant Airlines, Bumble Bee Tuna, and Medela.

    • Maintaining strategic brand voice and visual style for clients across various media platforms such as Tik Tok, Meta, Instagram, YouTube, and Connected TV. 

  • Fitting Descriptions | Camera PA/Truck Driver | June 2023

    • Oversaw safe transport and storage of grip & camera equipment worth upwards of $500k.

    • Assisted production department in addressing logistical challenges quickly on set.

  • Andre Champagne | Key Grip/DIT | Chicago, Illinois | July 2021

    • Set up grip equipment, including lighting and cable management.

    • Backed up and labeled media files; edited daily cuts.

    • Managed clapperboard and slated each shot.

  • UIC Kinesiology and Nutrition “Every Body Better” | First Assistant Camera/DIT | Chicago, Illinois | June 2021

    • Supplied and set up camera equipment & managed equipment rental, including remote streaming of video feed to client.

    • Edited Tik Tok promotional video.

  • International Children’s Media Center | Film Festival Selection Committee Intern | Chicago, Illinois | June 2020 – September 2020

    • Worked with a team of 15 interns to facilitate selection process of 500+ short films for a nonprofit festival agency.

    • Judged finalists for 6 separate film festivals, including outreach and educational programs for young children, incarcerated persons, and the LGTBQ+ community serving over 600,000 people globally.

  • MDOG Productions | Startup Video Production Company | Co-Founder | Chicago, Illinois | June 2018 – Present

    • Manage a three-person self-started company.

    • Plan, produce, and direct 20 video projects over four years, winning 8 awards from film festivals.

  • Freelance Photographer | Chicago, Illinois | Champaign, Illinois | September 2019 – Present

    • Headshot, product, and event photography.

    • Booking and scheduling: acquire clients through personal website.

    • Shooting and editing: choose appropriate camera body and lenses, use Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Lightroom to edit photos.

    • Product distribution: communicate with client to choose top images and ensure that they receive the product through file transfer.

  • College of Fine and Applied Arts | Video Intern | Champaign, Illinois | February 2020 – Present

    • Create official university video content promoting the college’s 8 academic programs.

  • Fighting Illini Productions | Video Intern | Champaign, Illinois | January 2020 – Present

    • Film and edit highlight videos for the Women’s Volleyball team, published to an audience of 50,000.

  • University of Illinois Honors Living Learning Community | Head Ambassador | Champaign, Illinois | May 2019 – May 2020

    • Led a team of 8 resident student advisors for the Honors dorm community.

    • Planned and executed LLC events, including securing food and supply orders and handling student registration.

    • Ran new student orientation and coordinated activities for 200+ residents.

  • Skalawag Productions | Production Assistant | Chicago, Illinois | May – August 2019

    • Supported a team of four filmmakers on three commercial sets.

    • Managed equipment and setup, behind-the-scenes photography, and catering.

  • GoGo Squeez Purpose Film | Camera Operator | Chicago, Illinois | July 2018

    • One of two camera operators on “Be-Time” created by Edelman Public Relations, featured in AdWeek Magazine.

Memberships

  • American Advertising Federation at UIUC | Chief Digital Officer | Champaign, Illinois | October 2019 – Present

    • Curate all digital content and manage visual aesthetic for student organization with 300+ members.

    • Build and manage aafillinois.com, which received 11,000 page views and 2,900 unique visitors in 2020.

  • Hyperlink | Founder & President | Champaign, Illinois | September 2021 - May 2022

    • Formed a new student advertising agency and recruited graphic designers, videographers, and copywriters to create internal branding content for the AAF Illinois student chapter.

    • Launched “Word of Mouth,” a student advertising blog, and recruited blog writers and an editor-in chief. Word of Mouth reached 100 monthly viewers within three months.

  • Midnight Oil Full-Service Advertising Agency | Art Director | Champaign, Illinois | September 2019 – May 2020

    • Concepted and executed creative strategy and advertising designs for two local businesses, Cracked Restaurant and Custom Ink Printing, with a team of six.

  • CTRL+V Video Agency | Line Producer | Champaign, Illinois | September 2019 – January 2020

    • Oversaw a team of ten to conceptualize, write, and shoot a video advertisement for Spalding.

  • National Student Advertising Competition | Creative Team | Champaign, Illinois | October 2018 – October 2019

    • Art director and Production Specialist on the Illinois NSAC creative team developing a full advertising campaign for Wienerschnitzel.

    • Responsibilities include logo design, filming of commercials, and general creative concepting and execution.

    • Designed logo to be used on a national campaign.

Creative Projects

  • Best Man | Producer & Director of Photography | June 2023 - Present

    • Organizing logistics on a short film with a budget of $10k.

    • Managing crew hiring, production insurance, equipment and space rental.

    • Developing a visual style to be referenced on set through camera testing & color grading.

    • On set, undertaking lighting design and leading a camera team of four crew.

  • ALJON | Director, Editor, Director of Photography | March 2023

    • Directed and produced a 2-minute microfilm.

    • Used various AI technology to generate visuals and story elements, in a commentary on the growth of artificial intelligence.

    • ALJON was a finalist for Best Microfilm in LA International Film Festival’s Indie Short Fest.

  • The Goji Project | Writer/Director | Urbana, Illinois | November 2020 - May 2021

    • Wrote a 16-page screenplay and worked with an executive producer to secure funding.

    • Directed a crew of 14 students and 8 actors to produce a 23-minute short film.

    • Organized a local premiere event, which had 100+ attendees.

  • Phillies | Assistant Director, Writer | Champaign, Illinois | November 2020

    • Directed a team of 12 students to produce a short film.

    • Wrote a 3-page script and handled pre-production, including shot lists, call sheets, and schedules.

  • Tiny Bit of Giant’s Blood’s “Girl Over Here” Music Video | Director of Photography | Chicago, Illinois | June 2020

    • During quarantine, created music video using dolls as subjects, filming actors remotely.

    • Video was selected by the Midwest Film Festival, screened to an audience of 200+, and generated 1K views online.

  • Whitewater | Writer, Director, Editor | Chicago, Illinois | January 2018 – Present

    • Oversee a team of five filmmakers to self-produce a short film with 600+ views.

    • Expand the project into a 60-minute short feature film in 2019, which is currently in post-production.

  • Tiny Bit of Giant’s Blood “Five Foot Heels” Music Video | Director, Camera Operator | Chicago, Illinois | February 2020

    • Directed four band members, fifteen dancers, and a lighting technician.

    • Video generated 600+ views online.

  • Tiny Bit of Giant’s Blood “If You Want Blood” Music Video | Director, Camera Operator | Chicago, Illinois | January 2020

    • Coordinated four band members and four actors on an 8-hour shoot.

    • Video generated 1.2K views online.

  • Kevin Pollack’s “Man About Town” Music Video | Director of Photography | Chicago, Illinois | July 2019

    • Managed two assistant camera operators and oversaw camera setup.

    • Won awards from the Monkey Bread Tree Film Awards, First-Time Filmmaker Sessions, Los Angeles CineFest, and Crown Wood International Film Festival.

  • Central Student Government | Director of Photography | Champaign, Illinois | December 2018

    • Oversaw three camera operators during the production of the pilot episode of the upcoming web series “Central Student Government”.

  • Tiny Bit of Giant’s Blood “Number One Man” Studio Recording Video | Director of Photography | Chicago, Illinois | March 2019

    • Recorded multiple live studio session playthroughs and edited them into a cohesive music video, generating 200+ views online.

  • The Drive | Camera Positioning | Champaign, Illinois | January 2019 – May 2019

    • Camera positioning and tech operator for the virtual reality production “The Drive,” produced by You Matter Studios for national distribution and use in diversity workshops.

    • Won awards in the Desertscape International Film Festival, deadCenter Film Festival, 360º Film Festival, Honor Film Festival, Short. Sweet. Film Fest., and Indie Film Night.

  • Power Play | Writer, Director of Photography | Chicago, Illinois | September 2017 – December 2017

    • Writer and director of photography for the eleven-minute short film “Power Play,” involving a team of five filmmakers.

    • Generated 350+ views online.

Creative Awards

  • ALJON

    • Finalist | Best Microfilm | Indie Short Fest | Los Angeles International Film Festival

  • The Goji Project

    • Finalist | Best Sci-Fi Short | Indie Short Fest | Los Angeles International Film Festival

    • Official Selection | Zero Degree Film Contest

    • Official Selection | Crown Point International Film Festival

    • Official Selection | UIUC Film Festival

    • Honorable Mention | Art Film Awards

  • Tiny Bit of Giant’s Blood’s “Girl Over Here” Music Video

    • Official Selection | Midwest Film Festival

  • “The Drive” VR Film

    • Best AR/VR | Indie Film Night

    • Official Selection | Desertscape International Film Festival | deadCenter Film Festival | 360º Film Festival | Honor Film Festival | Short. Sweet. Film Fest. | Indie Film Night

  • Kevin Pollack’s “Man About Town” Music Video

    • Semi-Finalist | Los Angeles CineFest

    • Best Music Video | Crown Wood International Film Festival

    • Special Mention | Monkey Bread Tree Film Awards

    • Official Selection | First-Time Filmmaker Sessions | Monkey Bread Tree Film Awards

  • Kevin Pollack’s “Holiday” Music Video

    • Official Selection | Monkey Bread Tree Film Awards | International Cultural Artifact Film Festival | Port Blair International Film Festival

Education

  • University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

    • Bachelor of Science in Advertising with Highest Honors | College of Media | GPA 3.98/4.0 | May 2022

    • Art and Design Minor | College of Fine and Applied Arts

    • Study Abroad | Amsterdam, Netherlands | Munich, Germany | Fussen, Germany | Salzburg, Austria

Academic Awards

  • Stamps Charitable Foundation Scholar | Full-cost scholarship awarded to top 0.025% of in-state students

  • University Chancellor’s Scholar | Top 1.5% of University of Illinois students

  • College of Media James Scholar | Top 20% of College of Media students

  • Bronze Tablet Scholar | Top 3% of graduating class