ALEX MORRISON

f.alexmorrison@gmail.com alex@diywcid.com
Falls Church, VA Washington, DC

EDUCATION

Master of Fine Arts in Film and Electronic Media

Anticipated Graduation: May 2010
Thesis: “DIY: What Can I Do?”, Social Networking Website for
environmentalists who create video content.
American University, Washington, DC

Bachelor of Science in Cinema and Photography

Double Minor Anthropology and Environmental Science
Graduated: June, 2002
Thesis: Mighty Like a Rose, a documentary film
Ithaca College, Ithaca, NY

COURSE DEVELOPMENT AND TEACHING EXPERIENCE

NOAA Ocean for Life Video Mentor: Provided assistance August 2008 to
to a group of sixty local and international students in two present
sessions. Main responsibilities included the creation of two
short films documenting the experience and fostering a
sense of well being between nations.

Ford Fiesta Agent: Chosen out of four thousand May 2009 to

applicants to participate in an innovative social networking November 2009
advertising campaign. Developed an online presence and
worked with marketers to promote and establish new forms
of video content online.

iTunesU Developer: Created a series of tutorials for the August 2008 to

American University section of iTunesU including present
Compressor and the software suite iLife ’09.

Multimedia Consultant: Assisting students outside of the August 2008 to

School of Communication with projects that include present
multimedia. Includes a focus on equipment, editing
techniques, sound design, DVD authoring and

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presentations; American University, Washington, DC.

Final Cut Pro and iMovie Workshops: Taught three hour August 2008 to
sessions designed to give an introduction to the program present
for non-editors; taught as a workshop through the Center
for Teaching Excellence; American University, Washington,
DC.

Audio/Visual Specialist: Assisted journalism and August 2007 to

communication students with editing projects and leading August 2008
classes in focusing and conceptualizing works; American
University, Washington, DC.

Techniques in Visual Storytelling, Digital June 2008 to

Photography and Filmmaking: developed and August 2008
implemented a course for students in middle school and
below. Students won a local film festival with an in-class
production; Fairfax Collegiate, Fairfax, VA.
16mm and Digital Video EXCO: developed and August 2003 to
implemented a course in experimental film theory and June 2004
production and coordinated a community screening;
Oberlin College, Oberlin, OH.

FILMOGRAPHY

DIY: What Can I Do? (work in progress, 2009, DV/HD) designing and
facilitating a social networking website for environmental media makers that
create video content. The site and content feature a series of “how-to”
videos and challenges placed on popular video-sharing sites as well as an
interactive map that will serve as a model for other self-relying
organizations; Web designer, Director, Cinematographer, Editor (graduate
thesis)

The Barge That Wouldn’t Budge (2009, HD) studies the effects and
consequences of derelict barges on the Chesapeake Bay, in concert with
NOAA; Cinematographer

Hart of the Faire (2009, work in progress) focuses on the community of the
Maryland Renaissance Fair, how bonds of friendship, loyalty and decades of

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tradition are formed and continue through the years; Second Unit Director,
Cinematographer

Ecoviews: Reclaiming the Bay (2009, HD) explores three aspects of life
and business on the Chesapeake Bay and how each has a controversial
impact on water quality and sustainability of the culture; Cinematographer.
Shown on Maryland Public Television as part of Chesapeake Bay Week.

Street Sense PSA (2009, HD) publicizes the plight of one homeless man as
he regains his life, career and self-worth through a publication that
empowers the homeless; Director of Photography

Derby Dolls (2008, work in progress) examines the roller derby sub culture
in the DC area and how women are portrayed, create bonds and live a life
within a violent sport entity; Cinematographer

The Sleepers (2007, HD) fiction film that shows how the worlds of reality
and fiction combine and affect us in our day-to-day life and relationships.
Director of Photography

Feeding the Soul of the City (2007, HD) visits two organizations, DC
Central Kitchen and the Dupont Circle Farmer’s Market and how donated
food travels from one location to another to help empower the homeless;
Director, Cinematographer

Stars (2007, DV) fiction film, a German soldier meets up with an American
soldier and the need for survival brings them together into an unlikely
friendship; Glidecam Operator. Chosen as a finalist in the television show
“On the Lot”.

Mickey (2007, DV) fiction film, one donation to a homeless man gives him a
last chance for hope, through an autographed baseball; Glidecam Operator.
Chosen as a finalist in the television show “On the Lot”.

Clip (2007, DV) spoof on the biopic genre where a young boy grows up and
struggles with his craft as a clip art designer; Director of Photography.
Featured on National Lampoon Online.

Mighty Like a Rose (2002, 16mm) study of motherhood, teachers and loss
through the moving portraits of thirteen individuals; Director, Director of
Photography, Editor. Featured in the Hardacre Film Festival.

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Meditations on Being Human (2001, 16mm) personal exploration into
themes of loneliness, depression and coping with loss; Director, Director of
Photography, Writer, Editor. Featured in the Hardacre Film Festival.

FELLOWSHIPS AND GRANTS

Center for Teaching Excellence Graduate Fellow: August 2008

Assist faculty and students to create multimedia content through present
for classes and special projects along with leading
workshops in editing at the New Media Center; Center for
Teaching Excellence, American University, Washington,
DC.

The James B. Pendleton Student Research and May, 2002

Production Grant; provided as production funds to finish
promising film works at Ithaca College; Ithaca, NY.

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

Videographer, created content and managed camera and April 2009

sound operations for NOAA at the christening of the Hydro
II, a new surveying ship; Baltimore, MD.

Lead Sales Representative, managed the full time sales July 2005 to July
requests of Alan Gordon Enterprises, a full time rental film 2007
equipment house; Los Angeles, CA.

Freelance Audio Visual Specialist, created reels, July 2004 to July

promotional materials and managed hardware resources 2005
for TBWA/Chiat/Day, a major advertising agency for Apple,
Nissan and other clients; Los Angeles, CA.
Film Series Curator, collected and hosted a weekly January 2003 to
independent film screening at a local restaurant; Oberlin, January 2004
OH.
Freelance Producer, commercial, coordinated casting, January 2003
location, crew and budget for the company USA Telephone.

Photo Editor, supervised and provided assignments to a August 1999 to

group of twenty photographers for The Ithacan, August 2001
coordinated photography needs for multiple sections;
Ithaca, NY.

INTERNSHIPS AND AWARDS

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Peer Awards, Best Student Documentary “Ecoviews” November,
2009
Life on Terra, Featured Short “The Barge That Wouldn’t September,
Budge” 2009

Life on Terra, Featured Short “Chesapeake Gold” July, 2009

Visions, Winner of Best Environmental Production April, 2009

“Ecoviews”

Visions, Nominee for Best Cinematography “Chesapeake April, 2009

Gold”

Visions, First Place in Visual Storytelling, Broadcast April, 2009

Journalism “Chesapeake Gold”

Visions, awarded Honorable Mention for the short film May, 2008
“The Sleepers”

Hardacre Film Festival, selected twice for a screening of June, 2001 and
short and feature film works; Tipton, IA. 2003

Prevues II, recognized as one of the top graduating May, 2002

filmmakers from Ithaca College; Ithaca, NY.

Editing Intern, awarded work with Ken Burns at May, 2001

Florentine Films; Walpole, NH.

Best College Newspaper, Better College Newspaper March, 2001

Contest for 2000, presented by the New York Press
Association; Albany, NY.

Silver Crown Award for Spring 2000, presented by the February, 2001
Columbia Scholastic Press Association at the National
College Media Convention; New York, NY.

Mark of Excellence Award, First Place for the Best All- October, 2000
Around Non-Daily Newspaper in the Nation for 1999,
presented by the Society of Professional Journalists;
Columbus, OH.

First Place for Photography, Better College Newspaper May, 2000

Contest for 1999, presented by the New York Press
Association; Albany, NY.

Silver Medalist Certificate, for the spring 2000 May, 2000

semester, presented by the Columbia Scholastic Press
Association at Columbia University in its Annual Critique for

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2000; New York, NY.

TEACHING AND RESEARCH INTERESTS

Cinematography; Screenwriting, Still Photography, New Media, Social

Networking, Environmental and Social justice documentary production,
Fiction Film Production

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