Resume | alisakatz

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY

Media and Design Professional with 15+ years of experience in:

• Multimedia Production • Idea Generation • Photography/Videography

• Writing and Story Development • Education/Training • Intercultural Communication

• Creative Programming • Budget Management

DESIGN PROJECTS

Tangible User Interface, Storytelling for cities - Final Research Project 2014-2015

Wordless Picture Books and Animation Research Spring 2014

Digital Humanities, Immersive Poem Fall 2013

Gamification of Education - Research and Design Project Spring 2013

Hunt Library 360 Degree Video Project Fall 2012

CHRONOLOGICAL WORK EXPERIENCE

Media Producer and Technical Director - Art2Wear 2013-2015

College of Design, NC State University

• Served as show-runner for live fashion show event that brought high end audience to the student fashion arena, ran technical dress rehearsals and called live show, generated cue sheets and communicated with entire staff to assure a smooth running event both backstage and front of house, Sought out lighting & A/V vendors, negotiated packages

• Produced video content for the show as well as behind the scenes content for DVD, Produced DVD for post show archiving and distribution to sponsors and VIPS, Oversaw the creation of motion graphics logo and sponsor reel

Code+Art Program Producer - James B. Hunt Jr. Library Video Walls 2014-2015

Digital Library Initiative, NCSU Libraries, Raleigh, NC

• Developed and implemented inaugural Code+Art Student Visualization Contest for the James B. Hunt Jr. Library

Christie Micro-tile video walls including project selection, jury deliberation, award ceremony execution, publicity

• Co-wrote academic short paper on computing the new aesthetic of the 21st Century library which was accepted at the ISEA 2015 Conference in Vancouver.

Project Manager/Experience Designer - Winklebeans: Tangible Storytelling 2014

USC Annenberg Innovation Lab, Los Angeles, CA

• Developed and implemented 6 week prototyping sprint of storytelling app and accompanying sensor-based toy. Project led to speaking engagement as panelist at SXSW Interactive 2015 on the panel entitled: Storytelling with New Screens

Video Producer 2013-2014

VIF Education

• Wrote, shot and edited videos for training and marketing of VIF's global professional development platform

Exhibit Coordinator - Special Exhibit on Governor Hunt 2013

Special Collections Exhibits, NCSU Libraries, Raleigh, NC

• Researched and facilitated collection and organization of exhibit related materials, video and photography

Print and New Media Account Executive 2012

Visual Marketing Partners, New York, NY

• Oversaw the development and production of print and new media advertising for luxury and entertainment brands

• Researched and implemented new technologies for the creation of augmented reality campaigns

Web-Series Director/Co-Producer & Business Development Manager 2010-2011 reDefine, Lackey + Casey Studios, LLC, Durham, NC, New York, NY

• Developed, produced and directed innovative web-series focused on work/life balance and technology

• Designed creative sales plan for consumer book and DVD edutainment series

• Established strategic retail opportunities through outreach and market research

Videographer/Project Consultant

Inside Morocco, NextGen Film Project, JDC Global Tour, Casablanca & Marrakesh, Morocco 2010

• Developed story ideas and served as sole videographer for location-based reality film/web project serving to educate young adult generations about humanitarian work being done in Morocco

Producer 2009

Prom Queen: The Homecoming, Big Fantastic/Vuguru/Tornante, Los Angeles, CA

• Oversaw production of episodic web series consisting of 22 episodes plus meta-videos for continuing franchise

• Guided a creative team of 4 individual directors shooting simultaneously throughout each day

• Managed $600K budget, negotiated contracts for and supervised acquisition of cast, crew, locations and equipment

• Liaised with financier/distributor to uphold and actualize branded sponsorship commitments with Verizon

Associate Producer 2007-2008

Defiance, Paramount Vantage/Bedford Falls, Feature Film, Los Angeles, CA, Vilnius, Lithuania

• Key production facilitator directly consulting with and servicing Producer, Director, Financier, Distributor, Cast and Crew in all aspects of production and delivery of independently financed $32M feature film

• Researched, recommended and secured artistic story elements including music, film footage, literature

• Consulted on distribution marketing campaign and development of website and educational supplements

• Facilitator at community events to promote the film and demonstrate supplemental educational materials

Director of Production 2006-2007

UNITY Productions/Capitol Films, Los Angeles, CA

• Oversaw development, production and delivery for a yearly slate of 8-12 feature films

• Liaised with writers, agents and creative producers to develop and enhance screenplays

• Hired and supervised interns to assist with office operations

Executive Assistant to Producer 2005-2006

Miami Vice, Universal Studios/Forward Pass, Feature Film, LA, Miami, Santo Domingo, Montevideo

• Supervised logistical production for $150M feature film including cast/crew negotiations and contracts, scheduling, character research and visas while traveling on location for 10 months with production

• Gatekeeper and liaison for director, producer and all production departments to handle delicate situations during a hurricane season which devastated Miami and our production resources

Creative Advertising Coordinator 2004-2005

Fox Searchlight/J&A Advertising, Los Angeles, CA

• Participated in brainstorming sessions and conducted market research for effectiveness of campaign strategies

• Managed the daily production of print, audio/visual and web materials for film marketing campaigns including the production of TV spots, film trailers, newspaper ads, one sheets and special publications

• Liaison for filmmakers, vendors and the Senior Vice President of Creative Advertising

Assistant to the Director/Producer 2002-2004

The Clearing, Fox Searchlight, Feature Film, Los Angeles, CA, Atlanta, GA, Asheville, NC, Pittsburgh, PA

• Researched & evaluated screenplays on behalf of director, providing script coverage of potential new projects

• Managed daily support to feature film director throughout the development, pre-production, production and post- production stages of the filmmaking process

• Interfaced with key personnel to arrange casting of actors and hiring of crew, factual/artistic research, traveled to shooting locations, coordinated 2nd unit shoots/ADR sessions, arranged film screenings

Feature Film Programmer 2000-2002

Santa Barbara International Film Festival, Santa Barbara, CA

• Managed and determined film and educational community programming including film entries, selection committees, feature film jury, interns and volunteers

• Worked in tandem with Executive Director and Board to resolve challenges and build a strong festival program amidst a difficult financial crisis

• Maintained all aspects of filmmaker relations, schedules, guest lists, award announcements, film projections

• Fundraised, increased and retained Cinema Society membership and programmed screenings and speakers

• Promoted event and scouted for films via networking at other leading international film festivals

ADDITIONAL COMMUNITY ARTS EXPERIENCE

Arts Educator, Durham Public Schools; Presenter, Duke Gardens; Juror, Edinburgh International Film Festival; Publicity Assistant, Cannes International Film Festival; Programmer, Israel Film Festival; Guest Relations, Lake Placid Film Forum;

SKILLS

Microsoft Office, Adobe Creative Suite, Photography and Videography (DSLR, RED, Go Pro), Audio Recording and Editing, Camtasia, Basic: XML, Arduino, Interviewing, Copywriting, Scriptwriting, Working with children.

EDUCATION

North Carolina State University 2015

Masters of Art+Design: New Media and Interaction Design, GPA 3.8

University of California, San Diego 1999

B.A. Visual Arts: Media, minor in Education, San Diego, CA, GPA 3.75

Film Academy of Prague (FAMU), American University, World Capitols Program 1998

Directors Program, Prague, Czech Republic, Recipient: Betty Tate Scholarship

TRAINING

Shakerag Workshops 2013

Crafting with Electricity, Arduino and circuity workshop with MIT's Leah Buechley, Sewanee, TN

Stills: Edinburgh Center for Photography 2010

Fashion and experimental photography workshops, Edinburgh, Scotland

Tel Aviv University (Los Angeles/Tel Aviv Partnership) 2004

Master Class in Creative Producing, Tel Aviv, Israel

International Center for Photography 2002

Available light workshop with Bobbie Lane, New York, NY

SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS AND OTHER ACCOLADES

Panelist - SXSW Interactive 2015 - Panel on Storytelling with New Screens

Panelist - Association of Children's Museums Conference 2015 - Panel on Technology in Museums

STEAM Communications Fellow - North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences

PPROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

Themed Entertainment Association - Next Gen

Association of Children's Museums