Bio:

Robert W. Prince
I began working with video production as a high school student and have loved it these 15 years since. In that time I have worked with nationally distributed documentary firms, directed television shows for public television, run a video production department and now teach documentary filmmaking and video production at the University of Alaska Fairbanks while producing my own internationally-recognized documentaries.

 

 

Robert William Prince
Assistant Professor of Journalism
University of Alaska Fairbanks
P.O. Box 756120 Fairbanks, AK 99775

907.474.6249 / Rob.Prince@uaf.edu / www.alaskafilmmaker.com

SUMMARY STATEMENT

My deep passion for teaching unites with 16 years of video production experience to give me the skills and experience necessary to be an outstanding professor. I have worked in all aspects of video production, from studio and field production to post-production and distribution, and enjoy sharing this knowledge with my students.

TEACHING PHILOSOPHY

I see my role as an educator to be three-fold: Get students excited about video production, help them navigate the many pitfalls in this highly-technical field, and get them thinking about how they can express themselves creatively and ethically in this medium.

EDUCATION

December 2004 Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan M.A. Telecommunication, Information Studies and Media Thesis: Documentary Making Choices: The Dutch Resistance during World War II 2004 Robert W. Schlater Scholarship Award recipient

May 1999 Calvin College, Grand Rapids, Michigan B.A. Telecommunications
1998 Telecommunications Scholarship

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

ASSISTANT PROFESSOR August 2009-Present
Journalism Department, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK
Courses: Television Production, Video Storytelling

ASSISTANT PROFESSOR August 2008-August 2009
Department of Communication Arts and Sciences, Calvin College, Grand Rapids, MI
Courses: Introduction to Video Production, Screenwriting,
Communication and Culture, Oral Rhetoric

ASSISTANT PROFESSOR August 2005-August 2008
Journalism Department, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK
Courses: Documentary Filmmaking, Video Storytelling,
Introduction to Mass Communication, Digital Video Editing

VISITING PROFESSOR January 2005-May 2005
Communication Arts and Sciences Department, Calvin College, Grand Rapids, MI
Course: Oral Rhetoric

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

VIDEO PRODUCER July 2000-July 2005
Calvin College, Grand Rapids, MI Supervise team of student employees and staff; advise student-run television station; produce, direct, shoot, and edit various single and multi-camera video projects including documentaries, fiction, and live events; associate produce, direct, and edit award-winning half-hour discussion show Inner Compass airing weekly on WGVU-TV; manage the distribution of the Eyes Wide Open video series and the accounts of the Calvin Media Foundation.

PRODUCER/DIRECTOR December 1999-February 2000
WGVU TV 35/52, Grand Rapids, MI Supervise team of student production assistants; produce, direct, and edit various live and pre-recorded programs for broadcast throughout west Michigan.

PRODUCTION ASSISTANT June 1999-December 1999
Kurtis Productions, Chicago, IL Assist producers with research and location arrangements for the A&E documentary series Investigative Reports with Bill Kurtis; manage tape library; facilitate footage sales; work with the HD video format.

RECENT PRODUCTIONS

2009 Finding Their Own Dance:
Reawakening the Alaskan Alutiiq Dance Arts
This internationally recognized hour-long documentary explores how the Alutiiq Natives from the Kodiak region of Alaska have begun performing their traditional dance arts again after Russian and American invaders effectively stripped them of their traditions.
www.alutiiqdancefilm.org

2005 Making Choices:
The Dutch Resistance during World War II
This hour-long documentary explores the wartime lives of four participants in the Dutch Resistance during World War II.

Reviews:

May 5, 2005: The Grand Rapids Press
“…wonderful…a quality production whose stories will keep you on the edge of your seat.”
—John Douglas, TV Critic

May-June 2006: Video Librarian
“…a powerful portrait of extraordinary human beings who risked everything to save the lives of strangers.”
—J. Carlson Film Critic, 3 out of 4 stars

May 2006: School Library Journal
“This moving and well-crafted narrative should be on every library’s must purchase list.”
—Dwain Thomas

NOTEABLE AWARDS & SCREENINGS

2009 Finding their own Dance Official Selection: Big Bear Lake International Film Festival
2009 Finding their own Dance Official Selection: Southern Winds Film Festival
2009 Screening Finding their own Dance, Château-Musée de Boulogne sur Mer, France
2008 Preview Screening Finding their own Dance, Anchorage Museum, Anchorage, AK
2008 Preview Screening Finding their own Dance, Alutiiq Museum, Kodiak, AK
2007 Certificate of Appreciation from University of Alaska Fairbanks Athletic Department for supporting a senior athlete’s progress toward a degree
2006 Making Choices First Place: Documentary Category, Fairbanks Film Festival
2006 Volvo Rocks! First Place: Music Video Category, Fairbanks Film Festival
2006 Making Choices Official Selection: Flint Film Festival
2006 Making Choices Official Selection: East Lansing Film Festival
2006 Making Choices Closing Film: Farthest North Jewish Film Festival
2005 Making Choices Audience Award: Newburyport Documentary Film Festival

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

Member, International Documentary Association Member
D-Word Community private forum for documentary professionals
Own and manage www.alaskafilmmaker.com

SKILLS

Proficient in AVID, After Effects, Photoshop, Final Cut Pro, DVD Studio Pro and Microsoft Office software applications, Apple and IBM platforms.
Familiar with Dreamweaver, Lightwave, Chyron, and Soundtrack.

REFERENCES

Charles Mason Dept. of Journalism University of Alaska Fairbanks
101 Bunnell Building Fairbanks, AK 99775 (907) 474-6217

Ellen Van’t Hof Associate Professor, HPERDS Calvin College
1570 East Beltline 106 Grand Rapids, MI 49546 (616) 526-6031