My approach to teaching is heavily influenced by my work as a documentary filmmaker and as an advocate for community and participatory media. I believe it is irresponsible to teach the tools of media production without also teaching media literacy and storytelling. If we are going to make media, we must learn to be responsible storytellers and critical media consumers.
Media production is constantly evolving; the tools, the technology, the audiences, and how we reach them. Rather than ask students to master specific tools, I encourage them to understand the foundation and principles of media production and storytelling, while building the confidence that they can learn any of the tools and answer any of the questions that they face in their work as media producers and storytellers.
The most valuable skill one can possess is the ability to say: I don’t know the answer right now, but I’m sure I can figure it out. I model this approach by joining my students in learning new tools as they become available. |
Teaching Positions
Part-time Lecturer, University of Washington Bothell Media & Communication Studies 2012 - present Mentor, Seattle Black Spatial Histories Institute Wa Na Wari 2021-2022 Seattle Central Community College Film and Video Program 2009 - 2012 School of Authentic Journalism, 2010 Mentor, Reel Grrls 2008 - 2016 |
Classes taught
BISMCS 260 Working with Audio BISMCS 343 Digital Oral History BISMCS 343 Documentary Production BISMCS 234 Post Production Techniques BISMCS 234 Intro to Non-Fiction Visual Storytelling COM 236 Audio Production COM 260 Directing for Film and Video COM 298 Advanced Editing ENGL 203 Advanced Scriptwriting COM 225 Advanced Video Production COM 200 Small Group Productions |