Curriculum Vitae

Jessica Chriesman

Content Creator

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

SCHOLARSHIPS: Book Industry Charitable Foundation 2014 Scholarship | College of Arts and Sciences Alumni Leadership Scholarship | Junior League of Birmingham 90th Anniversary Scholarship | Golden Excellence Scholarship

Student Films

APRIL SHOWERS, comedy short, Director, Co-writer, Co-editor
SELF PORTRAIT, memoir short, Director, Writer, Editor
THE MARCH QUILTS, documentary short, Co-director, Co-editor

Professional Experience

Manager – Programs and Engagement| Opportunity Alabama Birmingham, AL October 2020 – Present

Oversees statewide program – Rural Recovery 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- Present

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

Conceptualize, shoot, and edit video promos for various entities
Clients include Hispanic Interest Coalition of Central Alabama, Secret Stages Music Festival, Leading Edge Institute, Homewood Church of Christ, 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 Junior Board 2019 –
- Chair, 2020
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

SELF PORTRAIT screened at Green Mountain Film Festival in Montpelier, VT – 2017
SELF PORTRAIT screened at George Lindsey UNA Film Festival in Florence, AL – 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

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

Conferences Attended

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
Creative Mornings Birmingham, AL 2019
David Mathews Institute for Civic Life – Media Track Montevallo, AL 2017, 2018
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