Jacob Mendel
, United States
 
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Contact details
240 E Grand River
Detroit, MI
Tel: 517 862-0459
Brief Summary
I am a cinematographer by training and am interested in cinematic projects of all capacities.Recently, I have been developing techniques for digital stereoscopic filmmaking, and have co-founded a company, Giant Eel Productions. While cinematography is my focus, I am also very competent as an editor and am able to edit media of many forms.
Professional Experience
Education
University of Michigan
School of Literature, Science and the Arts Honors program Department of Screen Arts & Cultures
Degree: BA (Highest Honors)
2007-2011

Relevant Coursework
3D Stereoscopic Honors Thesis: I created a 3D stereoscopic black-and-white 30 minute film using Real-D technology. My honors thesis was selected at TedxUofM, and premiered at the Michigan Theater in April 2011. Due to the highly technical nature of the project, I worked closely with the 3D Lab at University of Michigan School of Engineering, and received additional support from David Wilson, founder and director of The Museum of Jurassic Technology in Los Angeles.

Cinematography on Student Films: Cinematographer for approximately 15 student films (3 my own and the others those of other students in the department), working with both 16mm color negative film and high definition video. Many of these films have gone onto numerous film festivals and have won awards (see below)

Relevant Screen Arts & Culture Courses: Advanced Filmmaking, Advanced Videomaking, Classical and Contemporary Film Theory, World Cinema History 1930 – Present, Film Industry, Film Adaptation, Survey of Avant-Garde Film, Screenwriting, New Line Cinema, and Graduate Seminar on Material Practices

Criterion Collection Research Project (Winter 2009): Research Assistant to Professor Daniel Herbert who was writing a book on video stores and more broadly, home video cultures. Through the support of travel and research grants from the U of M Undergraduate Research Opportunity, my work on The Criterion Collection involved conducting interviews and literature review.

The Film and TV School of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague (FAMU) Fall 2009 FAMU International Program: Directing
Admitted into the Special Productions program within the Academy Program at FAMU International, for which I created a short film (Zlatá Rybka). I made the film in the Czech language using graduate students at DAMU, a well-known school of theater and dramatic acting in Prague. The film can be seen online at www.vimeo.com/8348656


Employment and Other Experience
Giant Eel Productions LLC (Detroit, MI)
Co-Founder and Chief Stereographer of Giant Eel Productions, for which
I have shot and directed numerous 3D projects, including commercials and my 3D film, Train of Shadows.

Kyoto Filmmakers Lab (Kyoto, Japan)
Selected for masters class at Shochiku Studios in Japan, which invited 20 Filmmakers from around the world to create a film. Selected as cinematographer for the film, Purple and Gold.

Ann Arbor Film Festival (Ann Arbor, MI)
Member of Ann Arbor Film Festival Screening Committee. Focused on work within the experimental and narrative categories of submission. Additionally, did extensive video editing for the festival, compiling short promotional pieces from interviews and filmmaker panels, including an interview with Kenneth Anger.

Cinephiles Anonymous (Ann Arbor, MI)
Ran a bi-weekly screening series with the aim of exposing faculty and students
to thought-provoking cinema from around the world. Coordinated with University
staff to select venues and locations, both outdoor and indoor, for these screenings, which consisted of a short film followed by a feature length film and then a discussion.

Roger Smith Shorts Workshop Director (New York, NY)
Selected as one of six filmmakers put up at the Roger Smith Hotel in New York City for one week. With professional actors and assistants provided, each filmmaker was required to make a short film shot entirely within the confines of the hotel.
More info at http://rogersmithshorts.wordpress.com

Zeitgeist Films Internship (New York, NY)
Worked in New York city for Zeitgeist Films, a boutique DVD and theatrical distribution company that focuses on world art house cinema and documentary film. Responsibilities included grassroots market outreach, web design, graphics design, and assistance
with DVD distribution.

Anonymous Content Internship (Los Angeles, CA)
Intern for the independent film company and commercial agency, Anonymous Content. Responsibilities included script coverage, web design and video editing. Near the summer’s end, I worked closely as an editor with director Sunu Gonera on the creation of a promotional trailer for project RED and Animal Planet.

University Videographer (Ann Arbor, MI)
Freelance videographer, providing video services of event recording, editing and
DVD authoring for individuals and institutions, including the Department of Development and the School of Engineering. Hired most recently by the U of M School of Literature, Arts and Sciences to make a documentary about a University of Michigan special program taught by an English department Professor Ralph Williams.

Production Assistant and Camera Intern on The Double (Detroit, MI)
PA on The Double, a feature film directed by Michael Brandt
starring Richard Gere, shot in Detroit and surrounding Michigan locations.


Awards and Recognition
 Best Foreign Short Film Award for Zlata Rybka at 2010 Action On Film International Film Festival
 Most Promising Student Filmmaker at 2010 East Lansing Film Festival
 Best Cinematography for Zlata Rybka at 2010 Detroit Independent Film Festival
 Best Student Short Film for Zlata Rybka at 2010 Sundeis Film Festival
 Official Selection of Zlata Rybka 2010 Vancouver International Film Festival
 Official Selection of Zlata Rybka 2010 Raindance International Film Festival
 3rd Place for Zlata Rybka for 2010 International Surrealist Film Festival
 Official Selection of Rooms for the 2009 47th Ann Arbor Film Festival
 Official Selection of Eschatology and The Waking Artist for the New Filmmakers Festival at Anthology Film Archives in New York
 Official Selection of Eschatology for the Filmstock International Film Festival in Luton, UK
 Official Selection of The Waking Artist for the Imago International Film Festival in Fundão, Portugal
 1st Place Cinematography for The Waking Artist and Eschatology at the 2009 Lightworks (an end of term
screening of student film productions, judged by Screen Arts & Cultures department faculty)
 1st Place at 2007 East Lansing Film Festival Lake Michigan Film Competition student category for
Madness of Existence
 1st Place at Chicago Future Filmmakers Festival within Long Form Narrative category (2006) for Oasis
 1st Place at Ann Arbor Young Filmmakers Cinema Slam (2006) for Oasis
 2009 Recipient of the Sidney J. Winer Scholarship (scholarship awarded for student summer internships)
 2009 Roger Smith Shorts Festival Workshop Director
 2010 Recipient of the Trueblood Fellowship Award for excellence in student film production at the
University of Michigan.
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