About Me.
After growing up and attending college in West Virginia, I spent most of a decade in Japan, where I was a copy editor at Stars and Stripes, then the technology editor at The Japan Times.
I left Tokyo for New York with two goals in mind: to make "The Duck Diaries," my first feature documentary, and to eventually work at The New York Times. It took a while, but I achieved both. My father, who is one of the subjects of "The Duck Diaries," loved the film, but felt there was a larger story to tell. In retirement, he began writing it, with the considerable help of my mother, who is also a part of the story. In the pandemic summer of 2020 I podded with them and offered to review their manuscript. I had two reactions: I could see tremendous potential in the story, and that it had a far greater scope, and a different arc, than the film I had made. But it also needed a comprehensive rewrite, I thought. I offered to try rewriting a couple chapters, using their manuscript as source material, but also the journals of two other guys on the trip and the scores of hours of interviews I had obtained in the filming. Dad and mom liked what I came back with, and our partnership was off and running. That manuscript has now been through several drafts and is ready for an agent. |
EDUCATION
New York Film Academy, Digital Filmaking
Syracuse University, MA in Journalism
West Virginia University, BA in English
New York Film Academy, Digital Filmaking
Syracuse University, MA in Journalism
West Virginia University, BA in English
EXPERIENCE / SKILLS
Writing and editing; Video production; Japanese
Writing and editing; Video production; Japanese
AWARDS / RECOGNITION FOR "THE DUCK DIARIES"
Best Director, 2013 NYC Independent Film Festival
Honorable Mention, Best Documentary, 2013 NYC Independent Film Festival
Special Jury Award for Archival Storytelling, 2015 Arizona International Film Festival
Nominee for Best Sound Design/Editing, 2013 Maverick Movie Awards
Nominee for Best Chronicle, 2013 Maverick Movie Awards
Official Selection of the 2013 The Oaxaca Film Fest
Official Selection of the 2014 Hamilton International Film Festival
Official Selection of the 2015 College Town Film Festival
Best Director, 2013 NYC Independent Film Festival
Honorable Mention, Best Documentary, 2013 NYC Independent Film Festival
Special Jury Award for Archival Storytelling, 2015 Arizona International Film Festival
Nominee for Best Sound Design/Editing, 2013 Maverick Movie Awards
Nominee for Best Chronicle, 2013 Maverick Movie Awards
Official Selection of the 2013 The Oaxaca Film Fest
Official Selection of the 2014 Hamilton International Film Festival
Official Selection of the 2015 College Town Film Festival