JetGrrl37 Productions
After exploring the fashion, film, and theatre departments at Ohio State University, I moved to Chicago, where I came of age during the era of the DIY indie filmmaking and outsider art renaissance. I embraced the raw spontaneity that capturing images on video allows you. Editing down that spontaneity led me to becoming an early adopter of Avid and Premiere digital editing software. My first short film, "Flight of the Agitator", received an Honourable Mention at the First Annual Chicago Underground Film Festival. I also dabbled in the world of short film and video distribution. As Distribution Manager at Picture Start, Inc, I handled the US rights for Oscar winning animated short "Wallace & Gromit’s The Wrong Trousers", and the short film "Some Folks Call It a Sling Blade" written by and starring Oscar winner Billy Bob Thornton.
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Along with navigating through a series of hairbrained schemes and strokes of creative genius, I was a storefront theatre actress, an indie radio station DJ, an art school life model, a freelance journalist, a cabaret theatre House Manager, managed an art house cinema, ran a cafe/gallery performance space, and was Robert De Niro’s waitress whilst he was shooting a film in my neighbourhood, Wicker Park.
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Those were character-defining and extraordinary years that taught me valuable lessons on resourcefulness, tenacity, and, most importantly, how to not take myself too seriously. However, over time I found that my creative career was treading water. To remedy that, I established JetGrrl37 Productions (formerly Gullible Girl Productions), the production house where, to this day, my film, written, and digital media projects reside.
Bright Icons (writer/director)
Bright Icons is a magically realistic, historically-based tale of the past, present, and future of the southern coastal English town of Brighton shown through the intertwining lives and legacies of two indigenous families. Originally written as a one-act play for a touring company of actors, the project evolved into a live performance event that uses street theater as the vehicle for a walking tour of Brighton's iconic cultural landmarks. As creative producer, I was asked to solidify the event’s concept and devise a marketing strategy. The teaser short film I wrote and directed was the center point of the event's pitch deck.
The Life of Brighton (writer/director/editor)
With all of the lovely attractions and events Brighton has to offer during the summer season, it is obvious why it is such a popular summer tourist destination. But the tourist that travels during the off-season has a different set of priorities. The off-season tourist is a "traveller" who takes a deep dive into their destination. The goal is to show that Brighton is much more than it’s tourist traps. It has a spine, heart, and soul. Who better to show that than the locals. Four Brighton locals meet at Brighton Station and set out on a crawl through the streets and twittens to visit a few their favorite hidden gems and cheeky haunts a tourist may overlook, but the traveller seeks.
Digital & Social Media Content Creator / Marketing Manager, My HELM
Because of the Covid-19 lockdown, My HELM - a Brighton-based workshop provider for Home Education kids, teens, and their parents/carers - was seeking w
My HELM, a Brighton-based workshop provider for Home Education kids, teens, and their parents/carers, was seeking ways to transform and promote it's range of On Site activities to Online Workshops, as well as maintain My HELM's presence as a home education community resource over lockdown. I was hired to create a promotional video to introduce their series of online workshops which were offered as a socialisation option.
As a digital marketer, gaining the trust of the close-knit Home Education community, who have a reputation for being proud luddites, was quite a challenge. But I cracked the code by using humour and a playful sense of comradery. My silly GIFs and short promo videos promoting My HELM’s new series of online workshops were a hit with both kids and parents. As a result, my role expanded to Marketing Manager, where I created written and visual content for their Facebook group pages, managed their blog output, and hosted their YouTube channel (April - September 2020). As lockdown eased, I redesigned their website to announce the return of their On Site Summer Workshops and improve their landing and purchase pages' UX. Their website engagement rate increased to 1.2% from .42% the previous year.
I may have had a little too much fun designing these GIFs for promotional posts on Facebook and Eventbrite. Using Giphy's cheeky and playful animated stickers and special effects for text gave me a chance to explore digital display advertising.
Julian Assange speaks...
Occupy London Stock Exchange, St Paul's Cathedral, London, 15 Oct 2011
I shot this video of Wikileaks whistleblower Julian Assange who appeared out of nowhere to address the crowd at the Occupy London Stock Exchange protests on the steps of St Paul's Cathedral, London. The protesters didn't have a permit to allow the use of amplification, so Assange used a bullhorn to project his voice to the crowd on the steps, and the crowd, in unison, repeated what he said to those in the back could hear his words. It was the most polite and orderly protest I had ever attended. The police said "please" whilst we were being kettled. Very British...