Jessica Chriesman
Independent Filmmaker/Non Profit Communications
Education
University of Pennsylvania School of Social Policy & Practice and National Arts Strategies, 2020
Ivy League Certificate, Executive Program in Arts & Culture Strategy
University of Alabama at Birmingham, 2015
Bachelor of Arts, Film Production
Bachelor of Science, Psychology
Professional Experience
Director of Education and Outreach | Sidewalk Film Festival + Cinema Birmingham, AL February 2022 – Present
Morgridge Acceleration Program Fellow | Jane Goodall Institute Washington, DC (remote) October 2021 – Present
- Working closely with the JGI communications team to help the Institute define and articulate a thematic framework for strategic storytelling, and identify core competencies of effective storytellers.
Manager – Communications and Engagement | Opportunity Alabama Birmingham, AL October 2020 – January 2022
- Oversees statewide program – Rural Recovery Accelerator/Community Growth Accelerator
- Responsible for communications including social media, press releases, and website updates
Communications and Media Manager | Impact America Birmingham, AL October 2019 – October 2020
- Provided leadership and supervision of Media Production Fellows through goal development, relevant work experience, and teaching and guidance.
- Served as a member of the Development Team.
- Ensured the coordination of video production (scheduling, directing shoots) and editing
- Developed and implemented a media production strategy and content calendar for the year that results in high-quality multimedia content highlighting the organization’s initiatives and mission.
- In collaboration with Media Production Fellows, traveled throughout our geographic service area to shoot high-quality video interviews and b-roll footage related to the three main initiatives and recruiting.
- Developed and implemented Communications Calendar specific to targeted communication including newsletters, social media, email blasts, and any other organizational communication need.
Media Production Coordinator | Impact America Birmingham, AL July 2017 – October 2019
- Creative lead for media strategy that highlights the organization’s initiatives across four states for multiple audiences including community members, donors, and prospective staff members
- Organize scheduling and travel for four team members across four states
- Travel across the southeast to interview, shoot, and edit the stories of families who have participated in our programs
- Oversee final edits of video and photo projects; Produced over 40 videos
- Create curriculum for Stories from the Line initiative which teaches basic filmmaking skills; Teach workshops to over 20 staff members in two states
- Maintain Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook pages with a combined audience of over 6,000; Improved organic reach by over 45%
- Editor of monthly internal newsletter
Video Production Director, Co-founder | A la Carte Alabama Birmingham, AL January 2017- March 2020
- Conceptualize, shoot, and edit interviews with local chefs, restauranteurs, and personalities including Hunter Lewis, Editor of Food & Wine Magazine; Frank Stitt, James Beard Award Winning Chef; Martie Duncan, Food Network Star
- Contributor to Instagram, Youtube, and Facebook pages with a combined audience of over 1,900
- Write articles for webpage
Media Production Fellow | Impact America Birmingham, AL July 2016 – July 2017
- Traveled across the southeast to interview, shoot, and edit the stories of families who have participated in our programs
Teaching Assistant – Beginning Filmmaking | University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham, AL January 2016- April 2016
- Advise students and provided feedback on film projects
- Give supplemental lectures to clarify difficult topics
- Research and obtain additional teaching materials needed for classes
Event and Outreach Coordinator | Scrollworks Youth Music School Birmingham, AL January 2016 – December 2018
- Create and updates weekly newsletter to our students and families
- Find local musicians to perform for our students during Munch & Music lunchtime concert
Freelance Video Creator | Various Birmingham, AL June 2014- Present
- Research, conceptualize, shoot, and edit video shorts for various organizations
- Clients include Southern Foodways Alliance, Vox Creative, Hispanic Interest Coalition of Central Alabama, Secret Stages Music Festival, Leading Edge Institute, Homewood Church of Christ, Scrollworks Youth Music School, Bib & Tucker Sew Op, UAB Fringe Festival
Production Assistant | Various Birmingham, AL & Los Angeles, CA December 2014- August 2015
- Nike Commercial, Directors: Martin Desmond Roe & Nick Frew (2015)
- Showtime’s I Am Victor Cruz, Director Gotham Chopra (2015)
- Saturn Returns, Director Martin Desmond Roe (2015)
- Religion of Sports, Executive Producers Tom Brady, Michael Strahan, & Gotham Chopra (2015)
- Milk Life, Director Arik Sokol (2014)
Manager | Iron Giant Percussion Birmingham, AL February 2014- August 2018
- Organized tour of ten libraries across Alabama to present Summer Reading Program performances to over 1,000 kids
- Coordinate performances
- Contribute to social media
- Create promotional materials
Media Specialist/Office Assistant | Scrollworks Youth Music School Birmingham, AL October 2011- December 2015
- Created over 170 videos with over 250,000 views ranging from recitals, student testimonies, and video lessons
- Interview local bands in conjunction with Secret Stages
- Receive payments and manage site
- Maintain Instagram and Facebook pages
- Administrative tasks, as needed
Development Intern | Dirty Robber Los Angeles, CA June 2015- August 2015
- Wrote script coverage and reviews
- Research Assistant for Religion of Sports on Audience Network
- Production Assistant on set (Showtime’s I Am Victor Cruz, Nike) and in office
Media Fellow | UAB Digital Media and Innovative Learning Birmingham, AL August 2014 – April 2015
- Produce over a dozen video projects including Honors College Series, Silver ADDY award winner
- Coordinate meetings and maintain correspondences with clients
- Coordinate shoots, interview subjects, and oversee the editing process
Summer Scholar | Health Careers Opportunity Program in the Behavioral Health Interprofessional Program at UAB School of Medicine Birmingham , AL January 2014 – August 2014
- Attend mentoring sessions with Behavioral Science professionals
- Participate in job shadow and research opportunities with Behavioral Science professionals
- Attended the six week long Summer Health Professions Education Program ( including instruction on health science topics, scientific writing and critical reasoning; lectures on health disparities and determinants of health outside of clinical settings, clinical exposure and shadowing; community-based experiences, including primary health care in underserved populations; career development activities with one-on-one sessions and mock interviews; simulated patient care experiences in numerous fields, workshops on study skills, life skills, time management skills, and financial literacy; leadership development exercises and team-building skills)
Intern Video Strength Team | UAB Digital Media and Innovative Learning Birmingham, AL May 2013 – August 2013
- Edit videos for use on the UAB website in the Public Health Department
- Assist in filming interviews.
- Lead a talk on how to enhance your use of YouTube
Book Seller | Barnes & Noble at UAB Birmingham, AL July 2011 – August 2014
- Assistant to the Textbook and Trade Managers
- Experience in online orders, packing, shipping
- Customer service in person, via email and phone
- Cashier
Organizations
- Indie Media Arts & Indie Media Arts South 2020 – (IMAS is a new initiative that connects representatives from media arts organizations in the Southern region of the US. It is a regional offshoot of a national group organized by the NEA and Sundance Institute to forge collaborations and share information as we all navigate a new time.)
- Alabama Humanities Foundation Young Professionals Board 2019 – Present
- Chair, 2020 – Present
- Birmingham Museum of Art College Collective 2014 – 2015
- National Society of Leadership and Success 2014 – 2015
- Psi Chi: International Honor Society in Psychology 2013 – 2015
- Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre, Los Angeles 2015
- PRCA/PRSSA 2014 – 2015
- Above the Line Student Film Festival 2013
Achievements
PHILOXENIA screened at Social Impact Film Festival (Virtual) – 2022
PHILOXENIA screened at George Lindsey UNA Film Festival in Florence, AL – 2022
PHILOXENIA finalist at World Food Forum Short Film Competition (Virtual) – 2021
PHILOXENIA screened at Sidewalk Film Festival in Birmingham, AL – 2021
PHILOXENIA commissioned to premiere at the Southern Foodways Alliance Spring Symposium in Birmingham, AL- 2021
SELF PORTRAIT screened at George Lindsey UNA Film Festival in Florence, AL – 2017 SELF PORTRAIT screened at Green Mountain Film Festival in Montpelier, VT – 2017
SELF PORTRAIT screened at Sidewalk Film Festival in Birmingham, AL – 2016
APRIL SHOWERS screened at Interurban Film Festival in Denison, TX – 2016
APRIL SHOWERS screened at George Lindsey UNA Film Festival in Florence, AL – 2016
SELF PORTRAIT screened at ARTlightenment Art and Film Festival in Nashville, TN – 2015
WINNER Best Music Composition
NOMINATED Best Documentary
HONORS COLLEGE SERIES – 2015
WINNER Silver ADDY Award
Presentations
- Behind Philoxenia – Birmingham Rotary Club Sunset, 2021
- Recycled Runway Photography Workshop – Bibb & Tucker Sew-Op, 2020
- Independent Filmmaking in Birmingham – Our Lady of Sorrows, 2020
- IF/Then South Pitch – Tribeca Film Institute/New Orleans Film Festival, 2019
- Race, Representation, and Media – Impact America, 2019
- Youtube and You, co-presented with Katy Joy Vaughan – UAB Digital Media, 2015
- Frame by Frame: The Making of a Film I Project – UAB Undergraduate Research Expo, 2013
Professional Development/Conferences Attended
- Reel Digital Documentary Lab, 2021
- Southern Documentary Fund Artist’s Convening, 2019
- Northwest Fest – International Documentary Film Festival Industry Weekend Edmonton, AB, Canada 2019
- Southern Foodways Winter Symposium Birmingham, AL 2018, 2019, 2021
- Creative Mornings Birmingham, AL 2019 (Monthly)
- David Mathews Institute for Civic Life – Media Track Montevallo, AL 2017, 2018, 2019
- Allied Media Conference Detroit, MI 2017, 2020
Skills
- Able to Listen
- Accept Feedback
- Adaptable
- Artistic Sense
- Attentive
- Client Communication
- Collaborating
- Critical Thinking
- Detail Oriented
- Directing
- Scheduling
- Screenwriting
- Script Coverage
- Social Media
- Producing
- Public Speaking
- Interviewing
- Editing
Software and Hardware
- Adobe Premiere Pro
- Adobe Photoshop
- Adobe Indesign
- Adobe Lightroom
- Adobe Bridge
- Canon DSLR Cameras
- Final Cut Pro
- Pluraleyes
- Tascam Recorder
- Zoom Recorder