Louise O’Neill Vance
Senior Producer/Director/Writer
Editorial Consultant, Educator, Speaker, Environmental Activist
Ballycleary
Kinvara, Co. Galway
Ireland H91 WRH1
087 147-2402 m From outside Ireland: +353 87 147-2402
louise@louisevance.com
Profile
Louise Vance’s career spans thirty years of television journalism, documentary filmmaking, video production, and content writing. Specializing in real world stories, her producing, directing and writing achievements include duPont-Columbia and Peabody Award-winning U.S. network television documentaries for CNN, PBS, and TBS, as well as news and interview programs, high-end corporate communications, and educational films for leading institutions. As a filmmaker, public speaker, university lecturer and community educator, Louise offers practical knowledge, real world skills and a genuine passion for excellence in all forms of media communications. Since moving to the West of Ireland in February 2017, she consults with documentary filmmakers on script, story, educational outreach and community engagement. In her capacity as volunteer chair of Plastic-Free Kinvara, she crafts publicity efforts, acts as media spokesperson, and speaks to primary schools and colleges, youth organizations, and community groups in the region about the crisis in plastic pollution. She is active in a south Galway writer’s collective, and recently contributed a poem and two photographs to The Galway Review.
Recent experience:
Writer, Editor, Documentary Film Consultant, Presenter – 2017-present, Deliver talks, production seminars and documentary film screenings of my independent film, Seneca Falls, via Zoom in Ireland and the U.S.; interviewed live on Galway Bay FM
Write and distribute press releases announcing exhibitions for visual artists, community nonprofits, and film festival screenings
Editorial Consultant, Catching Sight of Thelma & Louise (U.S. feature documentary, 2018)
Author, Viewing & Action Guide, Catching Sight of Thelma & Louise (a comprehensive guide for educators, filmgoers and community groups)
Editor and Story Consultant, personal narrative and memoir manuscripts for area writers
Educator, Wrote, produced and delivered presentations to Ennis Zero Waste, Craughwell National School, Northampton National School, St. Joseph’s National School, Kinvara Tidy Towns and Youth Work Galway on the issue of plastic pollution
Sustainability Lead, Kinvara Tidy Towns
Senior Producer/Director/Writer, Louise Vance Productions — 1989-2018
Principal of this film and video production company serving U.S. and San Francisco Bay Area clients. Recent work included writing and co-producing two documentaries on the crisis in cancer care in America, and a third on the challenges of adolescent health care, for The National Institute of Medicine; writing fellowship and grant proposals on the high rate of incarceration of the nation’s mentally ill for the feature documentary, Kings Park; writing and directing the primetime documentary, Seneca Falls, broadcast across the U.S. and in Canada on PBS; small business success stories for CNN and Discovery’s Planet Green; and web stories and press releases for the University of California San Francisco on a host of health topics. See selected credits below under section heading, Independent Production.
Lecturer, Communication & Media Studies Department
Sonoma State University, Rohnert Park, CA (CSU) – August 2014 – January 2017
Designed and taught four undergraduate Communications courses: Documentary Making for Television, Advocacy and Business; Print and Web Journalism; Brand Communications; and Media and Popular Culture of the 1970s. Lectured to 240-seat lecture hall and conducted service-learning and project-based courses in smaller, seminar-style classes.
Contributing Writer, Documentary Film: An Insider’s Perspective, an anthology edited by Dr. Mary Cardaras, Cognella Academic Publishing, 2017. Contributed essay chapter entitled, “Transcendent Acts: Why We Make Documentary Film.”
Senior Broadcast Producer, Salesforce — August 2014-October 2014
Working with top creatives in production and broadcast programming, served as senior broadcast producer on 3-channel, 4-day live web experience on Salesforce LIVE from Dreamforce 2014. Trained 17 senior staff to be on-air hosts, produced bumpers and other interstitial elements, assisted with look and feel of broadcasts, and streamlined production processes. Produced daily live wrap show, The Daily Buzz, with live b-roll cut-ins from the day’s Dreamforce events.
Writer, Co-Director, The Daughter’s Voice – Roy Cox Productions, Walnut Creek, CA — June 2014-present
Independent feature documentary about formerly enslaved girls in Nepal rebuilding their lives.
Instructor, Nonesuch School, Sebastopol, CA — February 2012 – July 2014
Wrote curriculum and taught video production and English Language Arts classes at this alternative high school
Writer, Senior Public Information Officer, UCSF News Office, San Francisco, CA — March – May 2012
Wrote press releases and web stories, pitched to national and local media, shot and edited web videos on new developments in Cardiology, Dentistry, Regenerative Medicine and Orthopedics.
Writer, Co-Producer, Eric Slade Productions, Portland, OR — 2001 – 2013 Wrote, cast and co-produced three educational films for the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies: “Lost in Transition: From Cancer Patient to Cancer Survivor;” “Adolescent Health Services: Missing Opportunities;” and “Delivering High Quality Cancer Care: A System in Crisis.” These films were sent to every member of the U.S. Congress and screened extensively at medical conferences where they received national media coverage and led to positive changes in the U.S. healthcare system.
Producer/Director/Writer, KQED Television, San Francisco, CA — 1998
Primetime special, Speaking Freely, An Evening with Remarkable Women – a PBS broadcast featuring nine leading women writers, artists, and innovators discussing the challenges facing women today.
Senior Producer/Director/Writer, The Working Group, Oakland, CA — 1996-1997
Livelyhood series and Not in Our Town II: Citizens Respond to Hate – national PBS broadcast
Series Senior Producer, Turner Broadcasting, Atlanta, GA — 1982-1987
$20 million, five-year documentary series, Portrait of America – national TBS broadcast
Producer/Director/Writer, Turner Broadcasting, Atlanta, GA — 1985
Two-hour TBS special, Iran: Behind the Veil, national PBS and TBS broadcast
Producer/Director/Writer, Turner Broadcasting, Atlanta, GA — 1985
20-part CNN series, Iran: In the Name of God, national CNN broadcast
Producer/Director/Writer, Turner Broadcasting, Atlanta, GA — 1983-87
Portrait of America: Massachusetts – one-hour film for national TBS broadcast
Portrait of America: Montana – one-hour film for national TBS broadcast
Portrait of America: Texas – one-hour film for national TBS broadcast (second unit director; scriptwriter)
Producer, CNN, Atlanta, GA — 1980-1983
Election ’82 – Issue and candidate profiles; Election Night line producer
Freeman Reports – Network prime time one-hour news/interview program
Take Two – Network two-hour midday news/interview program
Public Information Officer, University of Colorado, Boulder — 1979-1980
Hosted and produced weekly radio programs for statewide broadcast and TV segments for ABC affiliate
Public Affairs Producer, KOA-TV, AM/FM (NBC), Denver, CO — 1977-1979
Produced weekly public affairs programs, local documentaries, and public service campaigns
Education
State University of New York at Albany – B.A. in English, magna cum laude
New York State Teaching Certification, Secondary English
Signum Laudis, National Honor Society
INDEPENDENT Production (selected credits):
Seneca Falls, Independent Documentary, PBS broadcast nationally (2010 – 2012)
Investing in the American Dream, Mission Asset Fund/Levi Strauss Foundation (2009)
The G-Word, Discovery’s Planet Green (2008)
CNN Small Business Success Stories (2007)
What One Company Can Do: Levi Strauss & Company’s Global Code of Conduct (2006)
Bridging World History (series), Oregon Public Broadcasting (2004)
A Passion for Justice: 21st Century Feminism, Nat’l Organization for Women, Free Speech TV (2004)
Action for Justice: Making a Difference for Women & Girls, National Organization for Women (2003)
Apple Computer: North American Publishing Tour, keynote videos for Apple’s 25-city tour (2003)
Levi Strauss & Co: The First 150 Years: Built on Values, 40-minute official history of Levi’s (2002)
Oxygen Media: Reinventing Television, Apple Computer’s online media arts magazine (2002)
Inside/Out: Women, Men and Life After Incarceration, UCSF Center for AIDS Prevention (2000)
MIT’s Laboratory for Computer Sciences, 30-year anniversary program (2000)
Speaking Freely: An Evening With Remarkable Women, KQED-TV (1999)
The Dot in Dot Com, Sun Microsystems (1999)
Everyday Heroes, National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship (1998)
The Making of Think Different, Apple Computer, Macworld (1998)
Video News Releases/American Airlines In-flight Programs, Apple Computer (1993 – 1996)
Imagine: The Apple Education Series, Apple Computer, five episodes (1993)
Talk About Drugs, Levi Strauss & Co. in-house documentary (1990)
Talk About Non-Discrimination, Levi Strauss & Co. in-house documentary (1992)
Harvard Graduate School of Design, Apple Computer CEO keynote (1990)
Videodisc in the K-12 Classroom, Pioneer Technologies (1989)
Tropical Rain Forests: A Disappearing Treasure (interactive game), The Smithsonian Institution (1988)
PUBLICATIONS and PUBLIC APPEARANCES:
Speaking Engagements:
Keynote Speaker: San Francisco International Women’s Day Luncheon, 2016
Panelist, Sebastopol Documentary Film Festival, Women Directors on Women Directors, 2016
Guest Lecturer: Publicity and Public Relations Senior Project, Cal State East Bay, 2015
San Francisco International Women’s Day Summit, 2012, Women in Media panel
Centennial of California Votes for Women, State Capitol, 2011
AAUW/NOW/League of Women Voters – Centennial, CA Votes for Women, 2011
Flagler College, International Women’s Day, 2011, keynote speaker
Santa Rosa Junior College, Women’s History Month, 2011
Marin Women’s Hall of Fame, Teen Mentoring Summit, 2011
University of Rochester, Susan B. Anthony Center, Women’s History Month, 2010
San Francisco Film Society, Youth Education Program, 2010
KRCB-TV (PBS) Northern California, Pledge Show, Seneca Falls, 2010
SWAN Day San Francisco Inaugural Event, Brava Theater Center, 2010
Reel Girls/Real Change Conference, NYC, 2009
Frazier International History Museum, Louisville, KY, 2006
CNN International, Amanpour program: Global Women’s Rights, live interview guest, 2010
National AAUW, guest blogger: “Your Words, Your History” – Women’s History Month 2010
National Organization for Women in Media Awards, Los Angeles – Speaker, 2002, 2003
Radio Interview Appearances, 2010-2011, relating to Seneca Falls documentary:
KRCB-FM (NPR), Rohnert Park, CA
WXXI-FM (NPR), Rochester, NY
KPFK-FM Los Angeles – Feminist Magazine program
KOWS-FM, Occidental, CA
KWMR-FM, Point Reyes Station, CA
OTHER COURSES AND WORKSHOPS TAUGHT:
“Essential Skills for Careers in the Communications Field” – Guest lecturer, Cal State East Bay, 2014 and 2015
“Advanced Media Writing” – Guest lecturer, Sonoma State University Communication Dept., 2013
“Moving Your Message: Video Production for Nonprofits” – 1/2 day workshop, 2012 NTEN Conference
“Video Production” – Bay Area Video Coalition, 2012-2013
“The Art of the Video Interview” – UCSF News Office, Lieberman Productions, FireCircle Media
“Video Production” and “Documentary” – Nonesuch School, Sebastopol, CA, 2012 – 2013
“Advanced English Lit” and “English Intensive” – Nonesuch School, Sebastopol, CA, 2012 – 2013
“Women in Media” – San Francisco Women’s Day Summit, 2012
“Preparing for Live TV Appearances” – UCSF News Office, 2011
Supervisor and Documentary Instructor, Student Internships with Louise Vance Productions:
Sonoma State University, School of Communications, 2009 – 2010
San Francisco State University, MFA Film Studies, 2006
Stanford University, MFA Film, Documentary, 2005
Curator, “Information Warfare: Media Messages in Times of War”
Community Film Series, Intersection for the Arts, 2003
Guest panelist, Mills College Forum on Women in Communications, 2000
Guest lecturer, Georgia State University, Documentary Film Program, 1988
RELATED ACTIVITIES:
Creator and web producer, www.senecafallsfilm.org
Creator, blogger, writer: beyond seneca falls online web community, 2009 – 2012
Grants written and received, The Seneca Falls Documentary Project:
The Vanguard Public Foundation, Social Justice Fund
The Richard C. Munroe Foundation
The Shultz Foundation
The Aepoch Healing Arts Fund
The Fund for Women Artists
The Sister Fund
The Fledgling Fund
Peg Yorkin
Editorial Consultant, Grant writer for independent documentaries, 2004 – 2016:
Catching Sight of ‘Thelma and Louise’
Faubourg Treme: The Untold Story of Black New Orleans
Hope Along the Wind: The Life of Harry Hay
The Cockettes
Ugly Ducklings
Light in the Darkness, A Not in Our Town Special
We Were Here: Voices from the AIDS Years in San Francisco
Kings Park: Stories from An American Mental Institution
Big Joy: The Adventures of James Broughton
Judge, Georgia Area Regional Emmy Awards, 1992
Juror, San Francisco International Film Festival, Documentary category, 1991, 1992
Judge, Chicago Area Emmy Awards, 1988
AWARDS AND HONORS (selected):
Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Award, Silver Baton (Iran: In the Name of God)
George Foster Peabody Broadcasting Award (Portrait of America, series)
On Cable People’s Choice Award, Best Documentary (Portrait of America, series)
Ohio State Awards, Achievement of Merit (Iran: In the Name of God)
Chicago International Film Festival, Gold Hugo Award (Iran: In the Name of God)
Overseas Press Club, Honorable Mention (Iran: Behind the Veil)
Regional Emmy Awards, Nominee, Best Documentary (Iran: Behind the Veil)
Regional Emmy Awards, Nominee: Best Writer, Television (composite)
Houston International Film Festival, Silver Award in TV Documentary (Portrait of America)
Columbus International Film Festival, 2nd Place, International Relations (Iran: Behind the Veil)
ACE Awards, Nominee, Outstanding Program Achievement (Portrait of America)
Monitor Awards, Best Achievement in Network News/Documentaries (Iran: Behind the Veil)
International Film and TV Festival of NY, Documentary Special: Gold Medal (Iran: Behind the Veil)
International Film and TV Festival of NY, Bronze Medal (Portrait of America, series)
National Education Film Festival, First Place Award (Portrait of America: Massachusetts)
Cindy Awards, two Documentary Gold Awards (Iran: Behind the Veil, Portrait of America)
Cine Golden Eagles, two awards (Portrait of America: Massachusetts and Montana)
L.A. Reel Film Festival, Nominee, Best Documentary Short (Seneca Falls)
L.A. Reel Film Festival, Winner, Best Original Score (Seneca Falls)
Okanagan International Film Festival, Best International Documentary (Seneca Falls)
National Association of Black Journalists, Award of Excellence, Field Producing, CNN
Freddie Award for Excellence in Medical Journalism (Lost in Transition)
Finalist, International Movie Trailer Film Festival (Seneca Falls)
Nominee, U.S. State Department’s American Film Showcase (Seneca Falls)
2014 Communicator Awards “Award of Distinction” (A System in Crisis)
2014 Telly Award (A System in Crisis: Charting a Course for High Quality Cancer Care)
PERSONAL:
- Born in Oceanside, New York
- Worked as a staff television journalist and documentary filmmaker in
Denver, Atlanta, New York, San Francisco - Awarded “Youth of the Month” by Levittown Exchange Club, senior year of high school for leadership, scholarship, character and athletic ability
- Volunteer tutor for community nonprofits serving disabled children, adults seeking literacy skills
- Member of San Francisco Writing Circles for Women, 1992 – 1998
- Facilitator of Insight Meditation group through Spirit Rock Meditation Center, 1995 – 2005
- Married to artist and designer Darryl Vance
- Avid writer, reader, photographer and traveler
REFERENCES:
Please see industry references on my Linkedin page:
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/louise-vance/16/857/9a4
Additional references provided upon request.
