Curriculum Vitae

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

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 – 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- 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 –
    • Chair, 2020 & 2021
  • 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 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 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