Megan S. Weaver- Seitz
Academic/ Director/Producer/Writer/Editor/Camera Operator
Films/Television/Digital Experience
Without Wings - StarrWeaver Productions
2nd Place – Best Narrative Short Film - Ft. Lauderdale International Film Festival
Official Selection –International Family Film Festival
Official Selection- Lake Arrowhead International Film Festival
** Writer, Director, Casting Director and Producer of award-winning 35mm short film starring Academy Award Nominee, Hailee Steinfeld.**
StarrWeaver Productions, Irvine, CA – Freelance
Irvine News – Irvine Community Television (ICTV)
Writer, Camera Operator and Editor for award-winning news-magazine style format, bi-weekly show documenting various events in the city of Irvine.
City of Irvine, Irvine, CA – Independent Contractor
Orange Slices- Public Cable Television Authority (PCTA)
Editor for segments of an award-winning documentary show featuring the cities of Stanton, Fountain Valley, Huntington Beach and Westminster. Awards: Three 1st Place Western Region WAVE awards
Public Cable Television Authority Huntington Beach, CA – Contracted
Overwinter - StarrWeaver Productions (In Post-Production)
Writer, Director, Casting, Production Designer and Producer of short narrative film filmed with RED and fully- funded by a Professional Development Grant from the Orange County School of the Arts.
StarrWeaver Productions, Irvine, CA – Freelance
USA Swim Nationals- Irvine Community Television (ICTV)
Videographer/Camera Operator for ICTV coverage of this NBC televised event covering USA Swim National competition featuring Olympic athletes such as Michael Phelps and Missy Franklin.
City of Irvine, CA - Freelance
Mr. Wetherby - Pink Milk Productions (In Post-Production)
Writer, Director, Casting, Production Designer & Producer,
35mm short narrative film.
Pink Milk Productions, Orange County, CA – Freelance
Zoofari 2014 Benefit Gala- Barron Audio/ Visual Services
Videographer/Camera Operator for coverage of this event put together by the Santa Ana Zoo and the City of Santa Ana.
Barron Audio/Visual Services – Santa Ana, CA
Queen Noor of Jordan VIP Gala Event – Center for Living Peace
Camera Operator and Editor for video documenting the Gala event with the visiting Queen Noor of Jordan.
Center for Living Peace, Irvine, CA – Contracted
U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon-
Irvine Community Television (ICTV)
Editor for "Power Houses", a reality/documentary show following the construction of various schools’ houses for the competition.
City of Irvine, CA – Freelance
City of Irvine, Annual Events – Destination Irvine
Writer, Producer, Camera Operator, Editor for video documenting yearly events and tourist attractions in the City of Irvine.
Irvine Chamber of Commerce, Irvine, CA - Contracted
Milt & Edie’s Drycleaners & Tailoring Service- Cutting Edge Digital
Producer, Cinematographer, Editor of a series of commercials
produced for this award-winning/famous drycleaner service in
Burbank,CA.
Cutting Edge Digital, Tustin, CA - Contracted
City Council and Orange County Great Park Board Meetings – ICTV
Camera Operator, Switchboard Controller (7 camera set-up)
City of Irvine, Irvine, CA – Independent Contractor
Artscapes – Irvine Community Television (ICTV)
Producer, Camera Operator and Editor for monthly hour-long art show featuring various landscapes in Irvine. On-location production sets and multi-camera shoot. Edited for broadcast on ICTV.
City of Irvine, Irvine, CA – Independent Contractor
Irvine Today – Irvine Community Television (ICTV)
Camera Operator, Graphics and Editor for news-format, weekly show announcing the events in the city of Irvine.
City of Irvine, Irvine, CA – Independent Contractor
Follow Thy Rainbow – StarrWeaver Productions
Director, Casting Director, 16mm short film
StarrWeaver Productions, Orange County, CA – Freelance
Irvine Entrepreneur Forum – Irvine Chamber of Commerce
Camera Operator and Editor for video documenting the inaugural and 2nd annual Irvine Entrepreneur Forum.
Irvine Chamber of Commerce, Irvine, CA – Contracted
Irvine Scene – Irvine Community Television (ICTV)
Camera Operator, Editor for hour-long show documenting various events, places and people in Irvine.
City of Irvine, Irvine, CA – Independent Contractor
The Great Park in Focus – Irvine Community Television (ICTV)
Camera Operator and Editor for hour-long show documenting the growth and development of the Orange County Great Park.
City of Irvine, Irvine, CA – Independent Contractor
Every Fifteen Minutes – Various
Camera Operator and Editor for video documenting the Every Fifteen Minutes event at high schools including Irvine High, Northwood High, Woodbridge High, and Burros High School.
City of Irvine, StarrWeaver Productions, Life to Lens Videography, Orange County, CA – Contracted
Zombie Prom – USC Graduate Thesis Film
Production Assistant Coordinator for large cast including RuPaul. Mentored by Wes Craven.
Los Angeles, CA - Freelance
Academic Experience
Vanguard University – Assistant Professor of Cinema Arts
Non-Linear Editing - Educate students in the technique of film editing through practical, experiential learning, as well as education in the historical, theoretical and aesthetic foundation of filmmaking. Students learn shortcuts and skills to gain proficiency in Avid Media Composer through class exercises and film/video projects.
Advanced Non-Linear Editing – Students gain advanced understanding of non-linear editing software and delve deeper into the theory behind editing. Students learn advanced editing techniques and special effects within the non-linear editing software, Avid Media Composer, Adobe Premiere CS6 and CC, as well as beginning skills in Adobe After Effects.
Digital Audio & Video Production – This core-course provides student experience with the entirety of the digital filmmaking process through short exercises in the field and culminating with guidance through the pre-production, screenwriting, production and post-production phases to create an individually directed, location-based, short narrative film.
Cinematography – This course educates students in the theory, aesthetics and progression of cinematography throughout history. Students apply theory in hands-on training and activities in the art of cinematography using trending digital video equipment.
Zombie Cinema: Reflections of Society – This special topic class provides students with an in-depth examination of humanity in zombie cinema and Z-culture through historical, psychological, and societal lenses.
Television Production (Webisode Series) – Educate students about television/ film history and the operations of a 3-camera, live studio production through lecture, hands-on training and guest speakers. Students learn the safety protocols of a TV studio; how to operate television cameras, lighting and audio equipment; how to write a properly formatted television script; and how to function in the various roles of a TV crew. Students learn to write and create sitcoms, shoot and write on- location news magazine-style broadcast format and culminate in producing three episodes of an entirely student created webseries shot on-location.
Television Production (Sitcom) – Educate students about television/ film history and the operations of a 3-camera, live studio production through lecture, hands-on training and guest speakers. Students learn the safety protocols of a TV studio; how to operate television cameras, lighting and audio equipment; how to write a properly formatted television script; and how to function in the various roles of a TV crew. Students learn to write and create sitcoms, run a studio talk show and on- location news magazine-style formats. Students create a half-hour entirely student-written and produced sitcom pilot in class for the final project.
Digital Audio & Video Principles – This core-course is an introduction to pre-production, crew responsibilities, equipment rental, single camera operation, basic non-linear editing, field audio recording and post-production sound. This core-course includes lectures, hands-on assignments, and project screenings. Students are taught Adobe Premiere CS6 and CC editing skills, learn various cameras, basic three-point lighting set-ups, and produce a news story, commercial and short narrative film among other projects.
Vanguard Voice Advisor (University Online Newspaper) - Students in this practicum course are hired as part of this cutting-edge, college journalism publication that incorporates broadcast journalism as well as traditional journalist publication. Students write, report, and attend weekly newsroom as well as a yearly conference in various states. As advisor I manage the budget, am liaison between the university staff and students, perform specialized workshops for newsroom, advise the student Editor in Chief and oversee each publication that the students produce.
Digital Video Production (Guest Lecturer)-. Guest lectured on the topics: the roles of a production crew, production design, casting and audition processes, legal issues for filmmaking, scheduling for production shoots, and location scouting. Additionally I also screened various short films that I have directed/written, cast and produced including my award-winning thesis film, Without Wings, starring Academy Award nominee, Hailee Steinfeld, and answered students' inquiries as to how the film was created- from concept to screen.
Writing for the Media (Guest Lecturer) –Guest lectured on the topics of writing for broadcast news media, news-magazine style format, interview skills, finding a news story and my experiences over the last eight years in the field as a producer, camera operator and news media professional.
Broadcast News – An in depth, historical study of journalism, broadcast news, sportscasting, and the TV news industry with practical application in field reporting and production. Lessons culminate with the production of several on-location news segments edited to industry standards and visits to broadcast studios in Los Angeles. This course is one in a series of three, newly developed classes for the communication/journalism emphasis at Vanguard University. I was asked to develop the curriculum for this series.
Saddleback College – Associate Part-time Professor/Faculty
Non-Linear Editing - Educate students in the technique of film editing through practical, experiential learning, as well as education in the historical, theoretical and aesthetic foundation of filmmaking. Students learn shortcuts and skills to gain proficiency in both Final Cut X and Adobe Premiere through class exercises and film/video projects.
Grand Canyon University – Online Adjunct Professor
Film Financing, Budgeting and Distribution – Educate students in the entire post-production process beyond the creation of a production. Students have an intense review of film financing, contracting, budgeting, insurance and modes of distribution.
Orange County School of the Arts (OSCA) –
Conservatory Instructor
Television Production I – Educate students about the operations of a 3-camera live studio production through lecture and hands-on training. Students learn the safety protocols of a TV studio; how to operate television cameras, lighting and audio equipment; how to write a properly formatted television script; and how to function in the various roles of a TV crew. Students also learn about on-location news production and work in groups to produce three short episodes of a TV news program and create taped content (“packages”) for playback during the TV, scripted taping of each episode.
Directing I - Educate students in the art of both acting and directing. Students become more comfortable in the role of “director” by understanding the actor’s process. Students increase their skill set by breaking down the job of the director; including casting, establishing and communicating a point of “point of view”, blocking, adjusting, utilizing specific camera angles effectively, creating shot lists and editing. Students also engage in acting and writing activities to broaden their understanding of the actor/director/writer relationship.
Center for Living Peace – Instructor/Creator
Reel Inspiration Film Series - Educate students of all ages, though primarily teens and adults, through lecture and discussion facilitation on the film aspects and social themes presented by the films screened in class. Pre-screening lectures include history of cinema and the world at the time when the film was made and the era in which the story resides, pertinent film techniques used including camera angles, moves, lens choice, editing, after-effects and script analysis. Post-screening discussion facilitation on the topics presented by the film encourages students to think introspectively about social issues the films raise. Class strives to engage students to participate in discussion about the influence of film art within a larger community.
Children’s Theatre Workshop – Assistant Director, Instructor
Rising Stars Program – Educate, direct and coach 7-9 year olds in the art of theatre acting, self-expression and the development of stories. The students perform in creative drama games, activities, skits, learn freedom of movement, improvisation, miming, script analysis, creating and developing characters, puppetry, and clowning. Original scripts are written and directed by each instructor each semester.
Shining Stars Program - Educate, direct and coach 10-16 year olds in the art of theatre acting, self-expression and the development of stories. These advanced acting students perform in creative drama games, activities, skits, learn freedom of movement, improvisation, miming, script analysis, creating and developing characters, puppetry, and clowning. Original scripts are written and directed by students and instructors each semester.
Film Stars Program – Educate, direct and coach 8-16 year olds in the art of film acting, set design, cameras operating and the world of film and television production. The students learn creative drama games, improve their improvisation skills, learn about being both in front and behind the camera, acquire techniques for on-camera acting, learn to read and analyze film scripts, gain audition tips for film and television, perform ‘cold reads’, learn basic camera terms, and get a ‘behind the scenes’ look at filmmaking. Each instructor writes, directs and shoots an original short film with the students in class each semester.
Software Proficiency
Adept in Adobe Premiere CS6 & CC, Avid Media Composer, Final Cut Pro 7.0 / 10.0(including Compressor, Motion, and DVD Studio), Adobe CS5 Photoshop, Adobe After Effects, Discribe, ProTools, LiveType, Granicus, Tightrope, Final Draft, Microsoft Office, Outlook, Excel. Strong knowledge of media workflows.
Equipment Proficiency
Adept in using Canon T3i, 5D, 6D and 7D DSLRs, Sony DVcam VTRs, Sony Vixia HDcam, Sierravideo Router, Primera DVD Duplicator and Printer, Panasonic Remote-Head Controller, Vision Switcher, Sony NXCam, Sony DVCam DSR450WS and HD cameras, basic Mole lighting kits, Kinoflows, Studio controls, JVC HD and RED cameras
Education
M.F.A. in Film Production, emphasis Directing – Chapman University
FCP 7.0 /10.0 Advanced Training
Adobe Premier CS6 and CC Advanced Training
Both Tape and Digital/Tapeless Workflow Techniques and Compressions
B.F.A. in Film & Media Studies – University of California, Irvine
B.F.A. in English – University of California, Irvine
Acting Training – John Frederick Jones, Jesse Runde, Kelly Galindo
Advanced Film Directing Training – John Badham, David Ward, Lynn Hamrick
Special Skills
Directing, Casting, Producing, Screenwriting, Production Design/Location Scouting, Editing, Cinematography, Acting Coach, Foley Artist
Recognitions