Curriculum Vitae

Valerie G Scoon

June 14, 2013

General Information

University address: College of Motion Picture Arts College of Motion Picture Arts University Center Building A3100A Tallahassee, Florida 32306-2350 Phone: 850-644-6396; Fax: 850-644-2626

E-mail address: [email protected]

Professional Preparation

1987 Bachelor of Arts, . Major: American History and Literature. Honor's.

Unspecified Name. (1987). Women's Army Corps in Film. Unpublished bachelor's thesis, Harvard University.

Professional Experience

2003–present Assistant in Film, College of Motion Picture Arts, Florida State University.

2003–present President and CEO, True Visions Productions. Develops and produces films and documentaries for theatrical release, television and cable. Conducts literary workshops to increase the skill level of reading and writing in populations that have had historical difficulty in this area by showing the connections between literature and filmmaking. Offers development consulting as well as seminars and workshops on shaping verbal presentations or pitches to studios, writing and developing in depth script outlines or treatments and screenplays successfully. True Visions has a non-exclusive producing deal with Harpo Films.

1995–2003 Director of Development, Oprah Winfrey's Harpo Films. Evaluated new scripts, books and verbal presentations for the company to acquire. Guided and fine-tuned efforts of writers and directors, aided both in story development and advised on casting.

Vita for Valerie G Scoon

1993–1994 Associate Director of News and Public Affairs, Public Broadcasting Service (PBS). At National Headquarters, selected documentaries that aired nationally over more than 350 local PBS stations. made funding recommendations for works in progress.

1990–1993 Creative Executive for Feature Films, Warner Bros. First African American to be hired as creative executive at WB. read screenplay and treatment submissions, evaluated verbal presentations then selected and recommended projects for the studio to acquire. Guided revisions of purchased projects by way of written in depth critical analysis that detailed strengths and weaknesses of the screenplay and outlined solutions for solving story issues. Oversaw revision process through production to release of films to theaters. Served as creative story executive on more than fifty projects.

1989–1990 Researcher, Edgar Scherick and Associates. Developed screenplay outlines and researched background information for films. Among other projects, researched how to adapt Theodore Dreiser's Cowperwood Trilogy from its 19th century setting into 20th century modern media setting.

1988–1989 In House Story Analyst, Creative Artist Agency. Read and wrote synopsis and critical comments for hundreds of scripts and novels. became well versed in range of screenwriters, screenplays and structure of the movie business.

1987–1988 Researcher for Curator, Smithsonian Museum of American History. Assisted with exhibit script and conducted photographic and bibliographic research for exhibit "From Victory to Freedom" which chronicled experiences of African Americans from WWII through the Civil Rights Movement, as well as other projects.

Visiting Professorship(s)

2003 UCLA.

2002 Special Instructor, California State University-Northridge.

Honors, Awards, and Prizes

Florida State Small Grant Proposal Award, Florida State University (2013). Florida State Graduate Faculty Mentoring Award, Florida State University (2012).

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Teaching

Courses Taught

Screenwriting III (FIL4135) Thesis (FIL5975) Thesis Film (FIL4973) MFA Thesis Production (FIL5977) MFA Qualifying Project (FIL5962) Screenwriting 2: Narrative Techniques (FIL5156-L) Screenwriting V: Motion Picture Workshop (FIL5159) Feature Screenwriting (FIL4160) Screenwriting 1: Techniques and Treatments (FIL5155-L) Producing 2 (FIL5646-L) Special Topics in Motion Picture, Television, and Recording Arts (FIL5931) Documentary Filmmaking (FIL3231) Producing 2 (FIL5216-L)

Master's Committee Member

Bennett, J., graduate. (2011). El Baile. [Platinum Remi Award Winner for Best Student Film] Humes, F., graduate. (2011). Our Rhineland. [Winner: Best Student Film; Director's Guild of America] Aramayo, B., graduate. (2010). Intercambios. [Award of Merit-Fort Lauderdale Int'l Film Festival; Special Jury Award-WorldFest ] Davidson, J., graduate. (2010). Missile Crisis. [1st Place Short Drama-Inde Gathering Int'l Film Festival; High Point Award-River Bend Film Festival; Grand Jury Prize Best Short-Gasparilla Film Festival; Best Live Action Short-On Location; 1st Place Drama Short-Indie Gathering Film Festival; Best Period Piece-Somewhat North of Film Festival; Best Florida Favor Award-Love Your Shorts Film Festival; Finalist in Shorts for Kids Category-Moondance Film Festival] DuPont, A., graduate. (2010). Underground. [Won Best Director/Best Young Actor-Action on Film Festival; 1st place in Short Narrative-Int'l Collegiate Film Festival; Best Short Film-San Diego Black Film Festival; Best Short Film-Twin Cities Black FIlm Festival; Best Short Film-Int'l Black Film Festival; Best Short Film-Texas Black Film Festival; 1st Place Use of Music/Bricker Humanitarian Award/Student Emmy-College Television Awards; Best Student Short-Tallahassee Film Festival; 1st Place-Palm Beach Int'l Film Festival Student Showcase] Emery, K., graduate. (2010). Bad Influences. [Won Best of the Fest; Rochester Film Festival] Griffin, S., graduate. (2010). The Lone Warrior. [Top 3 Awards-Palm Beach Int'l Film Festival Student Showcase; Nominated for Best Short Film-Action on Film Int'l FIlm Festival; 3rd Place in Student Showcase-Palm Beach Int'l Film Festival] Hassler, C., graduate. (2010). The Planeteer. [Award of Merit-Int'l Collegiate Film Competition; Outstanding Children's Program/Student Emmy-College Television

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Awards; 1st Place Children's-College Television Awards] Holcomb, C., graduate. (2010). Dead and Breakfast. [Won Best Cinematography, Pal Bay Film Festival] Lodico, L., graduate. (2010). 10,000 Hearts. Marinelli, B., graduate. (2010). Waking Eloise. [2nd Place Comedy-College Television Awards; Top 3 Awards-Palm Beach Int'l Film Festival Student Showcase; Audience Award for Short-DC Independent Film Festival; Grand Jury Award for Shorts-Dances with Films Film Festival; 2nd Place in Comedy/Student Emmy-College Television Awards; 2nd Place-Palm Beach Int'l Film Festival Student Showcase] Peck, E., graduate. (2010). The Way of Justice. [Gold Remi Award for Best Drama; Best Student Short-Los Angeles Women's Int'l Film Festival; Columbine Award-Moondance Film Festival] Tseng, C., graduate. (2010). Looking In. Adachi, K., graduate. (2009). Picture Day. [Best Student Short Film Award-Independents' Film Festival; 3rd Place in Comedy-Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Foundation; 1st Plae in College Student Category-Palm Beach Int'l Film Festival] Bell, S., graduate. (2009). The Quartering Act. [Award of Merit-Int'l Collegiate Film Competition, Fort Lauderdale Film Festival; Finalist-WILDSound Screenplay Contest; 2nd Place in College Student Category-Palm Beach Int'l Film Festival; Award for Best Short-Visionfest] Cagle, C., graduate. (2009). Murder for a Dime. [Shoestring Award-Rochester Int'l Film Festival; Semi-finalist-Region 2 of Student ] Economides, N., graduate. (2009). Drift. [Finalist-Fade in Awards; Best Drama-15 Minutes of Fame Film Festival] Hinds, A., graduate. (2009). Zimbabwe. [Columbine Award-Moondance Film Festival; 4th runner up in Short Narrative-Int'l Student Film Competition at Fort Lauderdale Int'l Film Festival; 2nd Place in College Student Category-Palm Beach Int'l Film Festival; Shoestring Award-Rochester Int'l Film Festival; Honorable Mention-Columbus Int'l Film Festival; 2nd Place in College Division-Palm Beach Women's Int'l Film Festival] Li, L., graduate. (2009). Lighthouse. Lorne, T., graduate. (2009). Squatter. [Best Editing Award-First Glace Film Festival] Meyer, D., graduate. (2009). The Hatter's Apprentice. [Award of Merit-Accolade Competition] O'Connell, R., graduate. (2009). Andy's Spic-n-Span. [Audience Choice Award-Gangrene Comedy Festival] Twibell, A., graduate. (2009). Milhous the King. Varney, A., graduate. (2009). S.P.A.G.H.E.T.T.-1. Wheat, D., graduate. (2009). Swallowed. [September Inanna Partnership Award-Bleedfest] Green, M. L., graduate. (2008). After the Storm. [Student Academy Award Finalist; Best Florida Student Short-Jacksonville Film Festival; Finalist-PGA Producers Challenge; Best Student Short Film-Independents' Film Festival] Sim, S., graduate. (2008). My Four Inch Precious. [ASC Award for Best Student Cinematography-ASC; Honorable Mention-College Television Award Competition; 1st Place-Palm Beach Int'l Film Festival Student Showcase; Student Award for Humor-US Int'l Film & Video Festival; Shoestring Award-Rochester Film Festival; 2nd Place for Best Student Live Action Short-Palm Springs Short Festival; 2nd Place for Student Cinematography-Palm Springs Short Festival; Bronze Plaque-Columbus Int'l Film &

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Video Festival; Best Production Design Award-Munich Int'l Film Festival of Film Schools]

Bachelor's Committee Member

Amick, C., graduate. (2010). APT203. Conde, A., graduate. (2010). Michael's Story. Eberhart, T., graduate. (2010). Finding Soil. Felker, M., graduate. (2010). Game Gorilla. Gines, P., graduate. (2010). When the Waters Rise. Houston, E., graduate. (2010). A Love Supreme. [Best Short Film-Texas Black Film Festival] Johnson, R., graduate. (2010). Caustic Sky. [Finalist for Paul Leader Award of Best Student Project, Central Florida Film Festival] Liz, D., graduate. (2010). Luz. [Winner of Best Student Film from Director's Guild of America] Oroza, C., graduate. (2010). Rigby. Papa, J., graduate. (2010). The Prisoner. Reese, C., graduate. (2010). Grinding Halt. Ambler, J., graduate. (2009). Forgotten Coast. [Golden Spike Award-Un Mare di Cinema Film Festival; Qualified for Inagural Social World Film Festival] Bendeck, M., graduate. (2009). Expect Delays. Bumford, K., graduate. (2009). Coming Back. Johns, A., graduate. (2009). I'm in Love with Kimberly Johnson. [2nd Place for Short Short-Kids First!] Jones, R., graduate. (2009). Expect Delays. Leatherwood, D., graduate. (2009). Forgotten Coast. [Golden Spike Award-Un Mare de Cinema FIlm Festival; Qualified for Inaugural Social World Film Festival] Marcilliat, C., graduate. (2009). A Funeral Story. [Honorable Mention- National Undergraduate Film Festival] Maurer, B., graduate. (2009). Summer Waters. McQuade Donald, graduate. (2009). Morgue. [Audience Award-Brainwash Film Festival] Pizzo, A., graduate. (2009). Morgue. [Audience Award-Brainwash Movie Festival] Polan, S., graduate. (2009). Pete and Caroline. Sklar, M., graduate. (2009). Green Christmas. Smith, B., graduate. (2009). Jane in the Factory. [Grand Jury Prize for Best Film-National Film Festival for Talented Youth; Audience Award-Brainwash Film Festival; Semi-Finalist-Region 2 of Student Academy Awards; Award of Merit-Int'l Collegiate Film Competition at Fort Lauderdale Int'l Film Festival] Watty, A., graduate. (2009). Highway. Anderson, S., graduate. (2008). Paul and His Wall. [Best Cinematography Award/Best Editing Award/Concord Award-Columbia University National Undergraduate Film Fest; Audience Choice Award-Chicago Int'l REEL Shorts Festival] Lazernick, J., graduate. (2008). Parking Garage. [Finalist-USA Film Festival Short Film & Video Competition; Finalist-Angelus Student Film Festival; Best Horror Mini Short-Shockerfest Int'l Film Festival]

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Research and Original Creative Work

Presentations

Invited Keynote and Plenary Presentations at Conferences

Scoon, V. G. (presented 2011, August). TBA. Keynote presentation at Annual Conference, Association of African American Museums. (National)

Invited Presentations at Symposia

Scoon, V. G. (presented 2011, December). TBA. In Sunrise Rotary Club. Presentation at the meeting of Sunrise Rotary Club, Tallahassee, FL. (Regional)

Original Creative Works

Films

Scoon, V. G. (Director Producer). (accepted). Grenada: Colonialism and Conflict [Documentary]. Self.

Scoon, V. G. (Associate Producer). (2007). The Great Debaters. HARPO Films.

Scoon, V. G. (Associate Producer). (2005). Their Eyes Were Watching God. HARPO Films.

Scoon, V. G. (Executive). (1998). Beloved. HARPO Films.

Service

Florida State University

FSU University Service

Member, Florida State Diversity and Inclusion Committee (2012–present).

FSU College Service

Member, Graduate Admissions Committee (2004–present).

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The Community

Co-Producer, Co-Producer of documentary on the history and community outreach efforts of the church, Bethel Missionary Baptist Church (2008–present).

Co-Chair of Youth Empowerment Committee, Director of volunteer organization that sponsors programs which mentor and empower underprivileged children and youth such as "The Leadership Program", an eight week seminar that teaches girls about self esteem, leadership, understanding money and other life management skills, The New Leaders (2002–present).

Volunteer, Literary rehabilitation for youthful offenders convicted or charged with murder. Volunteered for playwriting seminar, attended performances written by and starring inmates, interviewed inmates and wrote for newsletter, Unusual Suspects (1999–2000).

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