Zoe Kissel - About

ABOUT

 

HI! I’M ZOE.

I am a creative communicator located in East Lansing, Michigan.

After graduating from Michigan State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Media + Information, a concentration in Film + Media Production, and a minor in Documentary Production, I now work as the Director of Communications at the Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum, and as a freelance video editor and filmmaker. As of summer 2022, I am pursuing a Master of Arts in Strategic Communication at MSU.

My documentary film, Sh*t Saves the World, was awarded an Emmy Award by the Michigan Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, and was nominated for four additional Emmy Awards and awarded a Silver Telly Award. Sh*t Saves the World has recently signed with Motion Picture Exchange, a global film sales agency, for worldwide distribution. I am also a member of 640 Films, an independent film collective of growing artists, where I've most recently edited the feature film The Lovers.

As a film photographer, I’ve had the opportunity to grow my own business too—offering a thoughtful product line for like-minded analog and instant film photographers.

When not working, you can find me taking long walks through MSU’s gorgeous campus with a camera in-hand.

I am a multifaceted creator and I love sharing stories through a variety of mediums, all while delivering effective, personalized, and polished results.


AWARDS + RECOGNITION

+ Recognition for the acquisition of Sh*t Saves the World by the Michigan State University Libraries during the 2021 Faculty Book Reception.
+ 2021 Cinema Verde Award Winner, awarded by the Cinema Verde Film Festival for Sh*t Saves the World.
+ 2020 Silver Telly Award – General-Green/Eco-Friendly, awarded by The Telly Awards for Sh*t Saves the World.
+ 2020 Emmy Nomination – Editor - Program (Non-News), nominated by the Michigan Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences for Sh*t Saves the World.
+ 2020 Emmy Nomination – Documentary - Topical, nominated by the Michigan Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences for Sh*t Saves the World.
+ 2020 BEA Award of Excellence in the Faculty Documentary Competition – Documentary Feature, awarded by The Broadcast Education Association Festival of Media Arts for Sh*t Saves the World.
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2020 Silver Davey Award Winner, awarded for Sh*t Saves the World.
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2020 Feature Documentary Winner, awarded by the Sweden Film Festival for Sh*t Saves the World.
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2020 Best Feature Film Winner, awarded by The Monkey Bread Tree Film Awards for Sh*t Saves the World.
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2020 Buenos Aires International Film Festival Official Selection, screened with Sh*t Saves the World.
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2020 CinemAmbiente – Environmental Film Festival (Turin, Italy) Official Selection, screened with Sh*t Saves the World.
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2020 Charlotte Film Festival Official Selection, screened with Sh*t Saves the World.
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2020 Twin Cities Film Fest Official Selection, screened with Sh*t Saves the World.
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2020 First Coast Film Festival Official Selection, screened with Sh*t Saves the World.
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2020 13th International Kuala Lumpur Eco Film Festival Official Selection, screened with Sh*t Saves the World.
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2020 Amsterdam World Film Festival Official Selection, screened with Sh*t Saves the World.
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2020 Social World Film Festival (Vico Equense, Italy) Semi-Finalist, screened with Sh*t Saves the World.
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2019 Social Media Event Promotion Presentation, presented on behalf of the Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum during the Social @ Michigan State Lightning Round Communications Presentations.
+ 2019 Emmy Award – Promotion - Program - Single Spot, nominated and awarded by the Michigan Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences for Sh*t Saves the World.
+ 2019 First Place Award for Digital Media, Oral Presentation, awarded by the Michigan State University Undergraduate Research and Arts Forum for independent work and research on MSU TV: Growing a Campus Television Channel.
+ 2019 Trinity Film Festival Screener’s Choice Award, awarded for The Brown Note.
+ 2019 Spartan Film Festival Judges Prize + Audience Favorite Awards, awarded for The Brown Note.
+ 2019 Capital City Film Festival: Fortnight Film Competition, screened with The Brown Note.
+ 2019 Capital City Film Festival, screened with Juice.
+ 2019 South Texas Underground Film Festival, screened with Juice.
+ 2018 Terry and Tami Inch Scholarship, awarded by the Michigan State University College of Communication Arts and Sciences.
+ 2018 Student Emmy Award – Sports Live Event, awarded by the Michigan Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences for the 49th Annual Spartan Stampede.
+ 2018 Detroit Shetown Film Festival, screened with Juice.
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2018 Traverse City Film Festival, screened with Juice.
+ 2018 Threadbare Mitten Film Festival, screened with Juice.
+ 2018 Adrian International Film Festival, screened with Juice.
+ 2018 Madurai International Film Festival, screened with Composing Our Stories.
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2018 Semi-Finalist at the Los Angeles CineFest, screened with Juice.
+ 2018 Spartan Film Festival Audience Favorite Award, awarded for Juice.
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2018 Planet 9 Film Fest Most Relevant Creative Film Award, awarded for Juice.
+ 2018 Accolade Global Film Competition Award of Merit for Women Filmmakers (Student), awarded for Juice.
+ 2018 Best Shorts Competition Award of Recognition for Film Short (Student), awarded for Juice.
+ 2018 IndieFest Film Awards Award of Recognition for Women Filmmakers (Student), awarded for Juice.
+ 2018 Impact Docs Awards Award of Recognition for Documentary Short (Student), awarded for Composing Our Stories.
+ 2018 Accolade Global Film Competition Award of Recognition for Documentary Short (Student), awarded for Composing Our Stories.


SELECTED PRESS + MEDIA

+ Michigan State professor combines humor and science in documentary on poop, written by Julie Hinds for the Detroit Free Press.
+ ‘S--- Saves the World’ documentary by Michigan State prof explores global impact of waste, written by Samuel Dodge for M Live.
+ Sh*t Saves the World, written by Troy Hale for the Journal of Media Education.
+ Ryan Powell Puts Nature To Music Through Harper Earth Day Gift, written by Chuck Carlson for Albion College’s Center for Sustainability and the Environment.
+ Sh*t Saves the World was nominated for four awards: Talent Narrator / Performer, Best Documentary, Best Editor, and Documentary Topical, written for the Michigan State University School of Journalism.
+ J-School Professor Troy Hale wins 26th career Emmy Award, written for the Michigan State University School of Journalism.
+ The MSU J-School was well-represented in the 42nd annual NATAS Michigan Chapter Emmy Award nominations, written for the Michigan State University School of Journalism.
+ ComArtSci Collects Wins at the 41st Emmy Awards Michigan Chapter, written by John Castro for Michigan State University’s College of Communication Arts and Sciences and the MSU School of Journalism.
+ “Sh*t” Film Wins An Emmy Award, written by Barb Miller for Michigan State University’s Knight Center for Environmental Journalism.
+ WKAR Receives 2019 Regional Emmy Nominations, written for WKAR-MSU.
+ Knight Center Supported Documentary Nominated for Emmy Award, written by Barb Miller for Michigan State University’s Knight Center for Environmental Journalism.
+ Students excel in presenting research, written for Michigan State University Undergraduate Education.
+ Students Present Undergraduate Research at UURAF 2019, written for Michigan State University’s College of Communication Arts and Sciences and the MSU School of Journalism.
+ Madurai International Documentary and Short Film Fest Begins Today, written by MT Saju for The Times of India (Mumbai, India).
+ Films Section #8: Student Films from Michigan State University, USA, written by Amudhan R.P. for MARUPAKKAM Festivals.
+ Introducing MSU TV: A Channel Made For Spartans, written by Rianna N. Middleton for Michigan State University’s College of Communication Arts and Sciences.
+ Eight Student-Produced Short Films Featured At Traverse City Film Fest, written by Caroline Johnson for Michigan State University’s College of Arts and Letters.
+ 14th Traverse City Film Festival To Feature ‘The Eyes of Orson Welles’, Ethan Hawke’s ‘Blaze’, written by Erik Anderson for AwardsWatch.
+ A Filmmaking Community, written by Jessica Kukla for Ing Magazine (East Lansing, MI).
+ We’ve Talked Before About The Need For Female Fronted Bands And With Zoe Kissel Singing And Playing Guitar, Sidewatcher Is A Perfect Example, written by Autumn McDonald for Pure Nowhere Magazine (San Diego, CA).
+ New Music: Sidewatcher — Fans Of Alternative/Punk Rock Will Love It, written by Maria Savva for U.K. Arts Directory.


TECHNICAL SKILLS

+ Adobe Creative Suite
+ Avid Media Composer
+ Blackbaud Altru
+ Cision
+ DaVinci Resolve and Speed Editor Console
+ Drupal
+ Facebook Business
+ Google Business
+ Mailchimp
+ OBS Software
+ Pro Tools
+ Red Giant Suites
+ Sprinklr
+ Squarespace (Circle Member)
+ Twitch
+ Wordpress
+ Content creation
+ Coordinating press releases
+ Digital accessibility best practices
+ Graphic design
+ Photography, videography, motion graphics, and editing
+ Project management
+ Social media analytics, strategy, and trends
+ Website strategy and management
+ Writing and copyediting
+ YouTube Video Production

CREATIVE PARTNERS

+ Dylan Kissel – Audio Production + Post-Production
+ Growing Up Blue – Australian Cattle Dog Vlogs
+ 640 Films – Independent Films + Visual Arts
+ Russ Kissel – Hand-Developed, Printed, Toned, + Colored Photography
+ Zoe’s Reef – Saltwater Nano Reef Tank (Coralife BioCube 32g)


I FREQUENTLY WORK WITH…

+ Jennifer A. Berggren Productions (Lansing, MI) – Creative video production dedicated to sharing your story.
+ Troy Hale Films (East Lansing, MI) – A documentary film production company.
+ SSNautical.com (Wyandotte, MI) – U.S. Coast Guard Approved boating and marine products, including personalized life rings, boat clothing, nautical gifts, and channel marker buoys.
+ SignOutfitters.com (Wyandotte, MI) – A sign company providing yard signs, political signs, custom signs, sidewalk signs, and sign related products.
+ 2DaySigns.com (Wyandotte, MI) – An online provider of yard signs for political campaigns, company events, and small businesses.