Our Faculty

Melanie LaRosa

Melanie LaRosa

Assistant Professor

Dyson College of Arts and Sciences

Media, Communications, and Visual Arts

Location
  • @Pleasantville
    Willcox Hall Media Lab
Office Hours
Westchester

Tue, Wed (by appointment)

12:10pm-3:30pm

(by appointment)

Biography


Melanie LaRosa is a filmmaker and dedicated educator with wide-ranging experience in film production, from independent feature documentaries to mainstream public television, radio, and multimedia events. Her films have screened around the world and her work has been recognized with support from the New York State Council on the Arts, the Puffin Foundation, the Brooklyn Arts Council, the Lucius and Eva Eastman Fund, and inclusion in dozens of film festivals. Her research interests include personal voice, social change, and the influence of technology on culture.

Education


MFA , Temple University , Philadelphia , 2005
Film and Media Arts

BA , University of Michigan , Ann Arbor , 1992
Political Science

Awards and Honors

  • Starry Night Programs and Artist Residency, May 2015 - Artist Residency

PRESENTATIONS


LaRosa, M. J. (2017, July). 2017 International Conference. "How To Power A City" — work-in-progress screening. University Film and Video Association, Cal. State Univ., Los Angeles, CA

LaRosa, M. J. (2017, July). 2017 International Conference. Inclusive and Diverse Pedagogies in Media Production Courses. University Film and Video Association, Cal. State University, Los Angeles, CA

LaRosa, M. J. (2017, April). 70th Annual Convention. Imagining Tomorrow's Journalist: Innovating and Monetizing Drone usage for journalists, documentary film makers and educators. Broadcast Education Association, Las Vegas, NV

LaRosa, M. J. (2016, July). 2016 International Conference. Professional/Prosumer/Consumer: contemporary significance. University Film and Video Association, Univ. of Nevada, Las Vegas

LaRosa, M. J. (2015, August 7). 69th Annual Conference. Value Added: Why Film Classes Can't Be Replaced by a MOOC, YouTube Video, or Algorithm. American University, Washington DC

LaRosa, M. J. (2015, June 17). Peer Pitch: Documentary Pitch Workshop. "How To Power A City" - work in progress. Docs In Progress, Silver Spring, MD

LaRosa, M. J. (2015, April 3). Emerging Documentary Practices: A Symposium and Exhibition,. Emerging forms panel. Temple University, Philadelphia, PA

RESEARCH INTEREST


Personal voice in filmmaking Technical history and future of filmmaking Media and identity Diversity in media production

ARTISTIC AND PROFESSIONAL PERFORMANCES AND EXHIBITS

How To Power A City: Atlantic City
[Film screening] Puffin Cultural Forum,, Teaneck, NJ

How To Power A City: Las Vegas and Puerto Rico shorts
[Film screening] Transitions Film Festival,, Melbourne, Australia

The Poetry Deal: a film with Diane di Prima
[Film screening] Brooklyn Public Library,, Brooklyn Public Library, Brooklyn, NY

Adventures of Wonderbooks
[Film screening] Aroha Film Festival,, Auckland, New Zealand

The Poetry Deal: a film with Diane di Prima
[Film screening] Schnitzer Cinema,, Pacific Film Festival, University of Oregon, Portland, OR

The Poetry Deal: a film with Diane di Prima
[Film screening] Houston Cinema Arts Festival ,, Houston, TX

The Poetry Deal: a film with Diane di Prima
[Film screening] multiple events in nationwide ,

Grants, Sponsored Research and Contracts

LaRosa, M. J. (2018, September 15). Production Grant.
The Yip Harburg Foundation , Private . Funded,

LaRosa, M. J. (2018, September 20). Travel Grant.
Solutions Journalism Network , Private . Funded,

MEDIA CONTRIBUTIONS

  • NPR's Latino USA [Internet], June 2018
    "Solar Libre: Family Affair" — short documentary on rebuilding Puerto Rico with solar after Hurricane Maria
  • NPR program: "Latino USA" [Radio], May 31 2014
    Special Projects Producer, Futuro Media Group, producing live-streamed media events for an NPR program, including: - "Quiz The Media" — Chicago, IL. - "Citizenship and Belonging: A conversation with Lulú Martinez" - Chicago IL. - "Careers In Media for Youth" - New York, NY. - "Lanare and Beyond: A Town Hall about Water" - Fresno, CA. - "Long Beach Eats", Long Beach, CA. - "You Crazy: Growing Up Latino and Surviving to 25", Davis, CA. All events were live-streamed or live-broadcast.
  • PBS Series: "America By The Numbers" [TV], May 31 2014
    Special Projects Producer, Futuro Media Group, producing events for the premiere and nationwide release of the PBS series "America By The Numbers with Maria Hinojosa: Clarkston, Georgia." Events took place in: Atlanta, GA; Clarkston, GA; Tucson, AZ; San Diego, CA; Boulder, CO; Chicago, IL; and Washington DC.
  • Women's eNews [Internet], April 13 2012
    "I Broke Filmmaking Rules to Capture Anarchist Poet,” for online feminist news source with international readership of 1.5M per month.

UNIVERSITY SERVICE

  • Connections in Communications between Students and Professionals [Committee Member]
    Desc: Recruited Emmy-award winning Executive Producer to attend student event and share her experiences.
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