Our Faculty
Melanie LaRosa
Assistant Professor
Dyson College of Arts and Sciences
Media, Communications, and Visual Arts
Location
- @Pleasantville
Willcox Hall Media Lab
Office Hours
Pleasantville
Tue, Wed 9:30am-11:30am (by appointment)
12:10pm-3:30pm
(by appointment)
- Biography
- Publications & Presentations
- Research & Creative Works
- Professional Contributions & Service
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.
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
Production Grant
LaRosa, M. J. September 2018 - February 2019.
The Yip Harburg Foundation
, Private
.
Funded.
Travel Grant
LaRosa, M. J. September 2018 - November 2018.
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.