Download as PDF (updated March 2019)
Education
PhD in Cinema and Media Studies
University of California, Los Angeles (December 2017)
Dissertation: “LGBT Film Distribution Companies and the Gay Media Niche, 1985 to Present”
Advisor: Kathleen McHugh
MA in Cinema and Media Studies
University of California, Los Angeles, June 2011
BA, Honors double major in Film Studies & German
Calvin College, Grand Rapids, MI, June 2007
Publications
“A Shelf of One’s Own: A Queer Production Studies Approach to LGBT Film Distribution and Categorization,” Journal of Film and Video 70, no. 3-4 (2018): 24-43. (link)
“Defining Homosexual Love Stories: Pat Rocco, Categorization, and the Legitimation of Gay Narrative Film,” Film History 29, no. 4 (2017): 59-88. (link)
“Stories Like Mine: Coming Out Videos and Queer Identities on YouTube,” in LGBT Youth and Media Cultures, ed. Chris Pullen. New York: Palgrave MacMillan, 2014. 19-33. (link)
“Invisible Walls: Narrativizing Spatial Limitation in Ico and Assassin’s Creed II,” in Mediascape, Fall 2013. (link)
“Watching the River: Mise en Scène and Safe Space in The Night of the Hunter,” in Mediascape, Winter 2012. (link)
Awards & Fellowships
- Dissertation Year Fellowship, UCLA, 2017
- Collegium of University Teaching Fellowship, UCLA, 2017
- Jack K. Sauter Award, UCLA, 2016
- LGBTS Teaching Fellowship, UCLA, 2016
- The Kemp R. Niver Scholarship in Film History, UCLA, 2013
- Archive Research Study Center (ARSC) Student Research Award, UCLA, 2012
- University Fellowship, UCLA, 2011 – 2015
- Presidential Scholarship, Calvin College, 2003 – 2007
Panel / Conference Presentations
“Stream. Out. Loud.’: Ownership, Authorship, and Diversity in LGBT Digital Media Platforms.” Society for Cinema and Media Studies annual conference, Seattle, WA, March 16, 2019.
“Defining ‘Homosexual Love Stories’: Reconsidering Pat Rocco and the Legitimation of Gay Narrative Film.” Society for Cinema and Media Studies annual conference, Toronto, Ontario, March 14, 2018.
Panelist on “Pride by Design: A Discussion of LGBTQ Stories in Art + Media,” at advertising firm TBWA/Chiat/Day Los Angeles, June 2017.
“Gaysploitation! Taste, Value, and Politics in Contemporary LGBT Media.” Society for Cinema and Media Studies annual conference, Chicago, IL, March 25, 2017.
“‘Building an Empire of Gay Media’: LGBT Promotion and Conglomeration at Here Media” and panel co-chair: “Word is Out: Marketing Queer Film and Media.” Society for Cinema and Media Studies annual conference, Atlanta, GA, March 30, 2016.
“A Shelf of One’s Own: LGBT Film Distributors and Media Categorization.” Society for Cinema and Media Studies annual conference, Montreal, Quebec, March 28, 2015.
“‘Everything Straight People Have, We’re Gonna Have’: LGBT Film Distributors and the Making of a Gay Media Niche.” Film & History annual conference, Madison, WI, October 30, 2014.
“Distributing Queer: An Industrial Analysis of Ariztical Entertainment and LGBT Film Promotional Practice.” Society for Cinema and Media Studies annual conference, Seattle, WA, March 22, 2014.
“Butching the Image: Documentation and Definition of Gay Bear Culture.” Society for Cinema and Media Studies annual conference, Chicago, IL, March 9, 2013.
“Stories Like Mine: Coming Out Stories and Queer Identities on YouTube.” Society for Cinema and Media Studies annual conference, Boston, MA, March 22, 2012.
“There’s Something Very Familiar About All This: A Cognitive Approach to Viewer Pleasure in Back to the Future.” Midwest Undergraduate Film Conference, University of Notre Dame, April 2007.
Teaching Experience
FTVS 3230: Technology/Aesthetics: Contemporary Digital Media (Spring 2019)
FTVS 1020: Art of Screen Media (Fall 2018, upcoming Fall 2019)
Loyola Marymount University, School of Film and Television, Los Angeles, CA
FTV 4: Introduction to Art and Technique of Filmmaking (upcoming Summer 2019)
FTV 114: Film Genres – Gay and Lesbian Film (Summer 2018, upcoming Summer 2019)
FTV 218: Queer Media Studies (Winter 2018)
FTV 112: Film and Social Change (Winter 2018, Winter 2019)
FTV 98T: Gaysploitation! The History, Economics, and Politics of Niche LGBT Media (Winter 2017)
UCLA Department of Film, Television, and Digital Media, Los Angeles, CA
LGBTS 183: Selling Out: Money, Marketing, and LGBTs (Spring 2016)
UCLA Humanities Division, Los Angeles, CA
As Teaching Assistant
- History of American Television (Spring 2012)
- History of Documentary Film (Fall 2012)
- History of European Motion Picture (Winter 2013, Winter 2016)
- History of American Motion Picture (Winter 2014, Spring 2015, Summer 2016, Fall 2016)
- Introduction to LGBT Studies (Fall 2014)
- Stylistic Studies for the Moving Image: Theory and Practice (Fall 2015)
Guest Lectures
“LGBT Branding and Niche Marketing.” Presented to FTV98TB: Consumer Culture and Branded Entertainment, Instructor Andrew deWaard, UCLA, May 2016.
“Film Style in Digital and New Media.” Presented to FTV115: Introduction to Stylistics of the Moving Image, Professor Ben Sher, UCLA, November 2015.
“Cinematography in Run Lola Run.” Presented to FTV115: Introduction to Stylistics of the Moving Image, Professor Ben Sher, UCLA, October 2015.
“Queer Media History.” Presented to LGBTS M114A: Introduction to LGBT Studies, Professor James Schultz, UCLA, December 2014, November 2015, November 2016 December 2017.
“Television News and Documentary during McCarthyism.” Presented to FTV108: History of Documentary Film, Professor Vincent Brook, UCLA, October 2012.
Research Assistantships
Research Assistant to Professor Denise Mann, November 2014 – June 2016
UCLA Department of Film, Television, and Digital Media, Los Angeles, CA
Researched digital distribution of LGBT and independent media. Examined historical and contemporary press about online media, niche marketing, and conglomeration. Observed recent trends in LGBT and independent media and produced informational blog posts and reports. Contributed to scholarly anthology on contemporary online management of media content.
Research Assistant to Professor Steve Mamber, February 2014 – September 2014
UCLA Department of Film, Television, and Digital Media, Los Angeles, CA
Worked on Student Development Team for media/digital humanities project ClipNotes. Researched and annotated films to create undergraduate film analysis lessons. Developed instructional resources to aid grad students and professors in using ClipNotes to teach and creating their own film annotations. Assisted in grant-writing to secure funds for further ClipNotes development.
Research Assistant to Professor Eddo Stern, October 2010 – May 2012
UCLA Game Lab, Los Angeles, CA
Wrote or copyedited all lab communications, generated content for the website and blog, solicited and edited game scholarship, interviewed game designers. Strategized events, development, and improvements for the lab, edited promotional video, assisted in game design projects.
Research Interests
LGBT media, queer history and culture, queer theory, gay male subcultures, marketing, popular culture, media industries, online media, media and identity, video game studies
Leadership & Service
- Panel Moderator, UCLA QScholars LGBT Studies Undergrad Research Symposium, 2016
- Judge, Women and Minorities in Media Festival (WAMMFest), 2015
- Editor, META section, Mediascape, 2012 – 2013
- Jury Member, GLAAD Media Awards, 2012
- Student Representative, Cinema and Media Studies Program, 2011 – 2012
- Social Media Manager, The Crank Film Society, 2010 – 2013
- Vice President, LUDUS, (graduate student video game organization), 2010 – 2013
- Treasurer, The Crank Film Society, 2010 – 2012
- Assistant designer, video game project with Prof. Eddo Stern, Summer 2010
- Videographer, LC/NA “Hearts on Fire” queer advocacy conference, 2008
Professional Affiliations
SCMS Queer Caucus, 2012 – present
SCMS Media Industries Special Interest Group, 2012 – present
Society for Cinema and Media Studies, 2011 – present
Creative Advocacy Work
One Baptism, Many Gifts: The Story of Three Lutherans Called to Ministry (2009)
Co-directed documentary that tells the stories of three LGBT pastors and their struggles with discrimination in the Lutheran church. The film was used as an advocacy tool in the successful 2009 denomination-wide reversal of anti-LGBT church policy.
Daily Work: Building Bridges to Employment (2008)
Made short documentary about work and mission of Daily Work, a Twin Cities non-profit that aids people with barriers to employment. Interviewed Executive Director and several clients to create a film used for advertising and fundraising.
Other Work Experience
Researcher/Assistant to Editor, January 2015
Return to Black Planet (documentary), Los Angeles, CA
Researcher and assistant to editor Bryan Darling (editor on I Want Your Love, 2012, story consultant on Interior. Leather Bar., 2013) for James Franco’s documentary webseries based on David Shields’ book Black Planet: Facing Race During an NBA Season (1999). Collected video footage to illustrate concepts discussed by Shields, such as race, gender, performance, etc.
Researcher/Assistant to Editor, October 2013 – July 2014
Seed Money: The Chuck Holmes Story (documentary), Los Angeles, CA
Researcher and assistant to editor Bryan Darling for documentary about Falcon Studios. Took notes on the films, identified dates and actors in photos, and helped choose footage that reflects gay history and culture of the period the film discusses.
English Tutor, July 2011 – August 2011
IvyMax Academy, San Marino, CA
Prepared lesson plans, taught English grammar one-on-one to an ESL student.
Digital Media Specialist, September 2008 – August 2009
Lutherans Concerned/North America, St. Paul, MN
Worked with video, the web, and design to advocate for queer rights and equality in the Lutheran church. Made a documentary about queer pastors to be used as an advocacy tool.
Editorial Intern, January 2009 – July 2009
Twin Cities AV Club, The Onion, Minneapolis, MN
Wrote reviews and articles about Twin Cities culture, wrote previews of theater and film, fact-checked event and restaurant listings, kept online event listings current.
Associate Program Director, August 2007 – August 2008
Southeast Asian Ministry/Daily Work, St. Paul, MN (as part of Lutheran Volunteer Corps)
Taught ESL, managed ESL program during the search to replace the previous director, ran elder immigrant/refugee programs, managed website, assisted people in employment issues, etc. Made a short documentary about the work and mission of Daily Work.