Education.

DePaul University | Chicago, Illinois 
Graduated with Distinction
DePaul University | Chicago, Illinois 
Graduated Magna Cum Laude
Dean's List
Honors Program Member
Master of Arts in Sociology
 June 2017
Bachelor of Arts in Digital Cinema
June 2013
2009 – 2013
2009 – 2013


​Professional Experience

Film / Management / Organizing

SoapBox Productions and Organizing | Chicago, Illinois
Founder | Executive Producer | Project Director/Producer
June 2013 - Present
  • Produce and develop promotional videos, narrative, episodic and feature documentary and fictional films/TV
  • Collaborate on community organizing campaigns
  • Lead a multitalented team
Bourbon 'n BrownTown Podcast Co-Host and Producer
April 2017 – Present
Freelance |Film ​Producer, Assistant Director, UPM, PC
November 2009 – Present
DePaul University Campus Recreation – Ray Meyer Fitness & Recreation Center | Chicago, Illinois
Building Manager
May 2012 – September 2013
  • Supervise, create and maintain daily reports and operations of a 123,000 square foot facility
  • Ensure safety and positive experience for a daily average of 2,500 patrons
  • Liaison between professional staff and over 100 student employees for a variety of skill-specific positions
Creative Team Producer
August 2011 – September 2013
  • Create videos and marketing media for Campus Recreation including instructional spots and promotionals
  • Coordinate with other departments to develop training materials for staff and patrons

Group Fitness Instructor

CrossTown Fitness | Chicago, Illinois
June 2018 – Present
Studio Three | Chicago, Illinois
July 2017 – Present
Fitness Formula Club | Chicago, Illinois
April 2015 – March 2020
DePaul University Campus Recreation – Ray Meyer Fitness & Recreation Center | Chicago, Illinois
June 2012 – December 2018
Fire House Fitness | Chicago, Illinois
February 2017 – March 2017
Sproing Sport | Chicago, Illinois
February 2015 – December 2016
Cheetah Gym | Chicago, Illinois
December 2014 – May 2016
  • Carefully construct and teach various group fitness workouts with regards to individual and group instruction
  • Classes include Bootcamp, high intensity interval training (HIIT), circuit, general strength, and functional athletic performance

Certifications

American Council on Exercise (ACE)
July 2018 - Present | Personal Trainer
December 2014 - Present | Group Fitness Instructor
Adult, Child, Infant CPR/AED
American Heart Association
September 2013 - Present
TRX Level 1 Qualified
November 2014 - Present

Academic

DePaul University | Chicago, Illinois
Graduate Assistant, Department of Sociology
September 2016 – June 2017
  • Tutor and offer guidance with undergraduate and graduate projects and coursework including, but not limited to social statistics (SPSS, Stata, Excel), qualitative methods, and research paper writing.
DePaul University | Chicago, Illinois
Neighborhood and Community Partnership Intern, Egan Office for Urban Education & Community Partnerships (UECP)
September 2016 – December 2016
  • Coordinate data collection, communication and social media presence for projects
  • Present feedback/information about events, run and analyze reports
  • Develop/ update/maintain program materials
  • Represent the Egan Office on community committees and collaborative initiatives
*Sociology Curriculum Vitae available upon request

Film Production Experience

YEAR      TITLE OF PROJECT / Position / Production Company / Type / Camera or Format

Feature

2025      "CHI DNA" (WORKING TITLE) / Director x Producer / SoapBox Productions and Organizing / Documentary
2023      NO COP ACADEMY: THE DOCUMENTARY / Director x Producer / SoapBox Productions and Organizing / Documentary
2016      MERCURY IN RETROGADE / 1st AD / 71 Degrees North / Narrative / Alexa
2014      COOL APOCALYPSE / 1st AD x Production Manager / Lost Tree Lane Productions / Narrative / Panasonic GH3
               EMBERS / Production Coordinator / Palimpsest / Narrative / Alexa
                        *Official Selection - Chicago International Film Festival
               WHAT'S BEEF? / Director x Producer x Writer / SoapBox Productions and Organizing / Documentary / JVC 700
2013      CROSSING THE LINE / Additional Editor / Independent / Documentary / Canon DSLR
2011      YOU'RE NEXT! / Transportation x Set PA / Snoot Entertainment / Narrative / RED One Mysterium X
2008      THE ELEPHANT IN THE CLASSROOM / Director x Producer x Writer / Independent  / Documentary / HDV
                         *Special Guest Screening and Q&A – Ragtag Cinema in Columbia, MO

Short to Medium-Length

​2023      ONE MILLION EXPERIMENTS / Director x Producer / SoapBox Productions and Organizing / Documentary​
​2021      SEGUIMOS AQUÍ / Executive Producer / SoapBox Productions and Organizing / Documentary​
2016      CALVIN'S STORY / Producer / SoapBox Productions and Organizing / Micro-Documentary
2014      THE HARD WAY / Key Production Assistant / Mimi Productions / Narrative / Red Epic
               BLUE NOTES / Producer / SoapBox Productions and Organizing / Visual Narrative / Blackmagic 2K
2013      THE GIRL IN BLUE / First Assistant Director / Palimpsest / Narrative / Red Epic
               NO COMPRENDO / Unit Production Manager / DePaul University / Narrative / Red Epic
2012      STAGE THREE / First Assistant Director / Contrarian Films / Narrative / Canon 7D
               ME VS. TOOTH FAIRY / Production Coordinator x 2nd AD/ Black Apple Media / Narrative / RED One Mysterium X
               REMOTE VIEWING / Second Assistant Director / Digital Hydra / Narrative / RED Epix X
               ALARM 7-7-3 / Producer / DePaul University / Narrative / RED One Mysterium X
               SUMMER / Producer / DePaul University / Narrative / RED One Mysterium X
2011      THE ART POLICE / Second Assistant Director / DePaul University / Narrative / Red One Mysterium X
               WELDOR'S NIGHT / First Assistant Director / Charles Mueller Productions / Narrative / Canon 7D
               DEALER / Writer x Director / DePaul University / Narrative / Canon 7D
2010      LI / Lead Location Scout / Digital Hydra / 3D Narrative / RED One
               NUDE / Assistant Director / DePaul University / Narrative / RED One
               FRIENDLY FIRE / Director / DePaul University / Narrative / Panasonic DVX 100

Commercial & Television

2020      "HERO TO HUMANS: Karlie Thornton" / Director + Strategist / SoapBox Productions and Organizing + Gumbo Media  
               for client, Nike / Commercial
2017      "FIRST WHEELS" / Producer / SoapBox Productions and Organizing (client AUADD) / Commercial
2015      "IT'S TIME TO SAVE ANTI-BIOTICS" / Producer / SoapBox Productions and Organizing (client US PIRG) / PSA
               TOMY COMMERCIAL SPOTS / 1st Assistant Director / Pink Hippo Productions / Commercial / Canon C100
2014      HSV TECHNOLOGY GENESIS STORY REENACTMENT SPOTS / Production Manager / Digital Hydra / Series / RED Scarlet
               VARIOUS SPOTS / Production Assistant / Explore Media / Commercial / Sony F5 x RED Scarlet
2013      GOOD FOOD AMERICA / Production Assistant / Two River Pictures / Realty Show / Sony EX-1
2012      TAKING CHICAGO / Key Production Assistant / Half Yard Productions / Realty Pilot / Panasonic HD

Skills and Abilities

PC/Mac OS | Microsoft Office | Basic Camera Operation | Still Photography | Sound Recording
Film & Event Production Management | SAG/AFTRA/Other Film Contracts | EP Scheduling/Budgeting | Social Media
Adobe Suite | Final Cut Pro Suite | Stata | SPSS

Awards and Honors

National Society of
Collegiate Scholars (NSCS)
2010 – 2013
William N. Wasson Leadership
and Academic Award
December 2012
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Speech Contest Winner
December 2012
*Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Internship Grant (OddLot)
September 2012

Activities

  • Chicago Graduate Student Ethnographic Conference Host Student Coordinator October 2015 - April 2016​
  • Digital Cinema Collaborative (DCC) Producer’s Circle and General Body Member 2009 – 2016
  • Sankofa Black Student Leadership Retreat Student Coordinator April 2013
  • National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association Lead On Conference Host Committee Coordinator 2012 – 2013
  • Black Student Union (BSU) Historian 2010, Membership Outreach 2011, Vice President 2012 2009 – 2013
  •                First Annual Black Film Festival, Founder and Head Coordinator February 2012

Noteworthy Presentations, Workshops, & Keynotes

  • Keynote Address to Graduating DePaul University Honors Students at Honors Gala (Chicago) May 2023​
  • Media Power and Equity: Using Digital Storytelling to Support Your Mission at Arts & Business Council (Chicago) July 2021
  • Activist Art & Place-based Storytelling at Camp True/False at the True/False Film Festival March 7, 2020
  • Chicago DNA: Resistance, Meaning, and Perspectives in Drill Rap and the Activist Resurgence at Various Classrooms at DePaul University Fall 2018 + Winter 2019
  • Film Truth to Power during DIY Day at the True/False Film Festival March 1, 2019
  • Live Bourbon 'n BrownTown Podcast Recording + Presentation at DePaul Honors Program Speaker Series October 5, 2018
  • Guest Speaker on Modern Activism at DePaul Honors Student Seminar: Altruism to Activism Fall 2018 + 2019
  • Social Media Literacy and Activism during DIY Day at the True/False Film Festival March 2, 2018
  • SoapBox Productions and Organizing: Social Media and the Visual Narrative in the Modern Age of Activism at Service Speaks: A Call to Action Conference at DePaul University May 2017
  • No Equipment? No Excuses! at Midwest Fit Fest April 2017
  • Chicago DNA: Resistance, Meaning, and Perspectives in Drill Rap and the Activist Resurgence at Crossing Boundaries Liberal Arts & Social Sciences Interdisciplinary Graduate Student Conference March 2017

Artist-in-Residence

  • Camp True/False a part of the True/False Film Festival Education Team March 2018-2020
  • Lebanon High School Positive Voices Legacy Mural and Documentary Film Summer Program June 2018