EDUCATION
The School of the Art Institute of Chicago (Chicago, USA)
Bachelor of Fine Arts with an emphasis in Film
Merit Scholarship Recipient, Graduation 2016
TRAINING / RESIDENCIES / WORKSHOPS
The Lee Strasberg Theater & Film Institute 2020-Present
Method Acting Program
Spazio Labo Photo Workshop with Richard Renaldi April-May 2021
Photo workshop and masterclass led by photographer Richard Renaldi
La Selva Film Accelerator with Lucrecia Martel, Barcelona, Spain June 2019
Film workshop and masterclass led by filmmaker Lucrecia Martel
Completion of original short under guidance of Lucrecia Martel
The Second City Chicago Acting Program August 2018-April 2019
Completion of levels I-III of the dramatic acting program
Completion of Acting on Camera Course
EXPERIENCE
Freelance 2017-Present
Writer, videographer, photographer, photo assistant, production assistant on film and photo shoots, installation and set design assistant
Actor in feature film By the Grace Of… by Dylan Reid 2019
Principal cast
Intern at FilmLab Palestine, Ramallah, West Bank July 2019
Documentation of a children’s filmmaking workshop in East Jerusalem
Creation of promotional video content
Cinematographer and Grip for Abbas Kiarostami Festival Teaser October 2017
Cinematographer, grip, and camera operator for director Anahita Ghazvinizadeh on the production of a teaser trailer for the Kiarostami Ten Film Festival in Tehran. A collaboration with Valentina Manzoni and Zachary Barner.
Cinematographer for short film I silenzi di mia madre [working title] January 2017
Directed by Valentina Manzoni, an ongoing project shot in Milan, Italy
Worked closely with director to plan and shoot film, Black Magic Ursa Mini 4.6k
Production Assistant for feature film They June-September 2016
Pre-production and production for the feature film They directed by Anahita Ghazvinizadeh and produced by Mass Ornament Films www.massoranament.com
Organized pre-production materials such as storyboards, scripts, and shot lists.
Worked with several departments to ensure the completion of tasks in a timely manner throughout production
Transportation, props, cast, & crew
Production Assistant for Short film What Remains November 2015
Directed by Anahita Ghazvinizadeh
Location scouting, casting, storyboarding, and preproduction organization
In charge of transportation and handling props
Assisted the art department with props and dressing/tearing down sets
Managed data and backed up files
Intern for Mass Ornament Films September-December 2015
Administrative work including data entry and communication
Pre-production: researched locations, assisted with with casting and crew organization, created storyboard book and shot list for short film What Remains
Post-production: set up project and sorted files in Premiere Pro, converted video formats, synced sound
Assisted in the creation of a mockumentary workshop for children
Co-manager at Middle East Bakery, Chicago January 2012-May 2019
Oversee employees and daily activities to ensure completion of tasks in a small family business environment
Implementation of POS system
Completed inventory of products as well as labelling and barcoding them
Inventory Management
Handling orders with clients such as Whole Foods and several independent cafes
Complete redesign of product materials, menus, logos, and branding materials
Created a new website and established a social media presence
PUBLICATIONS
2015 SAIC Fashion ‘The Walk’ Annual Magazine
SCREENINGS
2016 SAIC BFA Film Festival at The Gene Siskel Film Center
2016 Hyde Park Art Center Film Screening
FILMOGRAPHY
'The Last Remaining Olive Tree’ شجرة الزيتون المتبقية
2019 [pre-production], writer/director
By the Grace Of… directed by Dylan Reid
2019, actor
El Sonido del Verano
2019, writer/director
Bshoufik
2019, writer/director
They directed by Anahita Ghazvinizadeh
2017, production assistant
I silenzi di mia madre [working title] directed by Valentina Manzoni
2017-Present, cinematographer
What Remains directed by Anahita Ghazvinizadeh
2016, production assistant
As It Is
2016, writer/director