Michael Eckels Email & Phone Number

New York, Ny, Us

Writer, producer, cinematographer, and editor for self-driven narrative and documentary film and television projects of both long and short forms. Idea generation and screenwriting. Conceptualization and pitch deck creation. Scheduling & Budgeting. Recent work includes collaboration with an Oscar nominated director on a documentary currently in post-production.

New York & Moscow

Video producer, shooter, and editor at Voice of America News, a US government funded news outlet broadcasting in over 40 languages. I began working in Moscow at the beginning of the 2014 Sochi Olympic games and later in New York. As a producer I supervise the planning and execution of feature and spot news stories on a daily basis.Lead creative for development and implementation of the Russian-language service’s latest half-hour weekend cultural news show called “New York - New York”. This includes developing the dynamic visual shooting/editing style to engage a younger audience and maximize the potential of social media. Likewise I play a role in the determination of content, organization of shoots, and meeting the schedule of deliverables.Additional regular duties include the daily production of video news packages for English and Russian language services. Liaison with members of press and public relations services of major companies and institutions. Daily shooting, editing, and delivery of news video content on tight deadline. Coverage of social, political, and sporting events including coverage of the UN. Live broadcasts from studio and the field. Press conferences and interviews with world leaders. Multimedia content for web and social media. Experience with lighting and multi-camera setups in the field and in the studio. Travel throughout the United States and Russia.

Moscow, Russian Federation

Creative producer and managing screenwriter of writer’s room for My Way Productions, a large Russian production company. Managed eight television screenwriters in three groups for prime-time television sitcom about the misadventures of an American journalist in Moscow.I played a key role in pitching the project to the network executives and the creative development of the pilot script. Development work was a continuous writing and rewriting process. Outlined two twenty-episode seasons. Outlined and planned the characters. Planning of character arcs and dramatic plot points. Assigned writing groups episodes and provided creative feedback in storybeat, step-outline, and dialogue stages of development. Creation of numerous jokes and gags. Co-wrote, story-edited, and developed forty episodes of the 24-minute show. Managed interpersonal conflict and performed hiring and firing functions while maintaining the groups.During production I worked with the casting department, art department, camera department and director to develop and and maintain a look and style that underscored the story elements of the script. Supervised script to ensure director and actors met creative guidelines. Liaised from set with network executives to report on shooting progress.

Moscow, Russian Federation

Independent filmmaking creative inside large news Russian news agency. I made outside-the-box boutique documentary content for a global audience. Conceptualization and execution of short documentary films for theatrical presentation and the web. Scripted, produced, shot, and edited the films as a one-person operation. My film “Exit - Life After the Orphanage” about the fate of Russian orphans in their adult lives was screened at film festivals in Europe and the US, including the prestigious Sheffield Doc/Fest.Lead professional development consultations with photo and video department staff to aid and oversee the creation of multimedia content. Participated in discussions and workshops on ethics in journalism, documentary filmmaking, and multimedia. Consulted with upper management on strategy to develop the agency into an international brand similar to Reuters or AP.

Moscow, Russia

Created and taught a series of hands-on classes called “Digital Narratives” to beginning and intermediate level photographers under the auspices of Leica Camera. The classes focused on expanding the fundamentals of digital photography into the realm of film & video. Students were instructed in the fundamentals of narrative story structure and the similarities and differences between still and moving images. Created lesson plans for students of all skill levels and experience.

Moscow, Russian Federation

Chief photo editor for Russia and countries of the former Soviet Union for large international highly-competitive newswire agency. Supervised four Moscow-based photographers and an international network of freelancers. Restructured the bureau’s freelance payment system to improve quality of work. Mentoring of entry-level photographers. Assigned and performed daily spot news and feature photojournalism reporting of high-level political, cultural and sporting events. Interaction with top-level government officials. Photo and video reportage from zones of armed conflict. Photographs have been published in many leading international publications.

Moscow, Russian Federation

News photographer and photo editor for daily English-language newspaper in Moscow. Supervision and direction of photography department, coordination with news, business, and arts desks. Spot news and feature photojournalism. Completed large in-depth photo project about African migrants in Russia. Management of two staff and four freelance photographers. Extensive editing work in Adobe Photoshop. Daily monitoring of English and Russian photo and text newswires. Creation of online photo sales system. Budgeting and equipment maintenance. Preparation of photography exhibitions.

Moscow, Russian Federation

As Deputy Director of the Internet Access and Training Program (IATP), I organized and managed a network of over eighty internet centers throughout Russia. The IATP program was implemented by NGO PH International and financed through the US Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Created the first public internet access sites for many small to medium-sized cities in Russia such as Vyborg outside St. Petersburg or Nakhodka, near Vladivostok in the Far East. Internet centers were typically opened in conjunction with a local public library.Strategic planning for long-term performance improvement. Creation and implementation of rating system for internet centers. Creation of employee handbook. Interaction and cooperation with American and Russian Government officials. Budgeting and various other administrative responsibilities. Management of Russian staff in Moscow office as well as throughout the country. Extensive travel throughout Russia to monitor center progress and meet and negotiate with local officials. Organized and implemented IT literacy programs for Russian secondary school teachers on the basis of their local centers.

Moscow, Russian Federation

Recruited candidates to participate in US-Russia educational and cultural exchange programs administered by American Councils for International Education (ACIE) and funded by the US Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Extensive travel throughout Russia to visit with students and educators in Russian secondary schools and universities. Gave public lectures about the FLEX, Muskie, and other exchange programs. Administered English-language testing and conducted interviews with secondary school students. Read and judged applications for ACIE’s high school teachers’ program. Coordinated and designed activities for program alumni. Maintained budgets for traveling and program advertisement. Interacted with Russian Ministry officials. Supervised assistant.

Vladivostok, Russia

Peace Corps Volunteer. Served as an EFL/ESL teacher in mid-sized school in far eastern Russia, a three-hour drive northwest of Vladivostok. Taught grammar, literature, and culture in kindergarten through eleventh grade. Wrote successful grant to build an English-language resource center including a large collection English-language books, the acquisition of a high quality computer, and installation of internet. This was the first ever public access internet point for the town. Organized and participated in various English-language talent shows, essay contests, and teacher training workshops.

Master Of Fine Arts - Mfa, Writer / Director For Film & Television

Fimmaking

Bachelor Of Arts - Ba, English Language And Literature/Letters