Skills
Filmmaker: Documentary, Narrative, and Educational - Producing, Directing, Cinematography, Audio, Lighting, Editing.
Educator: Curriculum Design, Teacher Trainings - Workshop Facilitation and Content Creation, Extensive Teaching Experience all levels College to Elementary.
Consultant: Communications, Development, Grant Writing and Research, Multimedia Campaign Design, Fundraising, Project Management.
Technology: Mac Operating Systems and Applications, Adobe Premiere, Final Cut Pro, Soundtrack Pro, DVD Pro, Color, Compressor, Final Cut X, Final Draft, Celtx, Adobe Photoshop Creative Suite, Adobe Acrobat, Basic Joomla and WordPress, Google apps, Microsoft Office.
Professional Digital Film and DSLR Cameras, Audio Recording Equipment, Lighting, DVD/CD Production Equipment.
Experience
Tso Inspired Media Arts LLC, 2009 – Present. Director and principal consultant of a digital media and consulting company that produces educational multimedia projects and provides media arts education, communications and development consulting.
Highlighted Tso Inspired Projects:
Documentary Filmmaker, 2014. Currently working on a film documenting process and outcomes for three grant funded projects at the STAR School. Project topics are: Farms, Greenhouses, Schools and Food Sovereignty; Traditional Foods and Elders' Recipes; and Healthy Living.
STAR Media Arts Program Director, 2009 – Ongoing. Direct students through a Place-Based Media Arts curriculum to create award-winning Films and Digital Story Telling Projects that are meaningful to them and their community. Through a place-based lens, students learn all steps to create a media project, from pre-production through production, post-production, and to public presentation and screenings.
STAR 3-to-3rd Project Coordinator and Teacher Training Curriculum Developer, 2011 – 2014. Created a multimedia curriculum for educator trainings and workshops. Includes nine instructional films, facilitator and participant guides, an extensive literature review, programmed tablets for each participant, and a webpage for the innovative STAR School 3 to-3rd (Age 3 to Grade 3) Project. Worked with a team to fully implement the program at STAR School, identify salient research, facilitate workshops and teacher trainings, and support implementation of the program at four indigenous serving schools in the southwest and Hawaii.
Communications and Development Consultant, 2013 - Present. Developed Friends of STAR contributions campaign, donor communications cycle, brochures and webpages. Grant writing and project development, and public relations at the STAR School
Honoring Our Elders Project, 2012 - Ongoing. Facilitating youth from the Hard Rock Chapter and Rocky Ridge School in interviewing their elders and editing the footage for an oral history documentary film project.
Curriculum Developer, Place-Based Media Arts, 2008 – Ongoing. Developed and wrote curriculum for integrating Media Arts / Media Literacy and Place-Based Education. Currently using and sharing curriculum with students and educators throughout the Southwest.
Navajo Peacemaking and Safe Schools Project Peer Leadership Education 2011 - 2012 Facilitated teachers from a multi-school consortium throughout the Navajo Nation to integrate place-based media arts projects into their curriculums to develop peer leadership skills, effective communication, creative and critical thinking, teamwork, and enable a deep engagement in the subject matter. One year project funded by a grant to STAR School from the Federal Safe Schools / Healthy Students Initiative.
STAR Peacemaking Film 2010 – 2011 Worked with students to produce an educational documentary with STAR School Media 7th / 8th grade students in which STAR students and staff demonstrate how Navajo peacemaking is taught and implemented to create a compassionate and responsive school environment. Based on "The Manual for Peacemaking" by Dr. Mark Sorensen and Thomas Walker Jr.
Northern Arizona University 2015 – present. Adjunct Professor. Communications – Electronic Media and Film, Filmmaking for Social Change: Place-based Storytelling.
Coconino Community College 2014 – present. Part-time Faculty. Digital Filmmaking, Speech Communications, Theatre.
STAR School 2004 – present. I am privileged to be a long-term community member of the first off-grid, all solar and wind powered charter school in the country. STAR is internationally recognized as a leader in Place-based Education, located 30 miles East of Flagstaff, AZ and serves the Southwest Edge of the Navajo Nation. I have served in a multitude of capacities including STAR Media Arts Program Director, Resident Documentary Filmmaker, Communications and Development, Multimedia Project Creator and Educator, Teacher Training, Website and Technology, Project Coordinator, Early Childhood Program Coordinator, Jr. High and Elementary Place-based Teacher in Language Arts, Social Studies, and Theatre Arts. Coordinator for NCLB Federal Requirements, Title 1, and Testing.
Northland Preparatory Academy, 2001 – 2004. Flagstaff, AZ. Honors English, Drama, Middle and High School.
Hillsborough County School District, 1999 – 2001 Tampa, FL. 5th Grade Personalized Education Program (PEP) Teacher.
Barnard-White Middle School, Union City, CA 1998 – 1999 Eighth Grade Core Teacher - Language Arts and History
Rocky Ridge School, Rocky Ridge, AZ 1997 - 1998 Committee Manager - Consolidated School Reform Plan, Student Teacher.
Pre-license Teaching: 1995-97 Director / Teacher, Alchini Bi Olta: An all-volunteer early learning community-based school operating out of a hogan in the Joint Use Area of the Navajo and Hopi reservations. 1994 Teaching Internship, Montessori Children’s House of Brandon, Learned about the Montessori method working with ages 6-9. 1992 – 93 Drama and Language Teacher / Summer Camp Director, The Vineyard School and 1992 Drama Teacher, Brandon Swim and Tennis Club After School and Summer Camp.
Other: Razzle-Ma-Tazzle the Dazzling Clown on BJ’s Buddies Television Show WFSU Tallahassee, FL and Clown for Birthday Parties and Special Events 1988 - 1994. Communications Intern at the Sierra Club Legal Defense Fund, Tallahassee, FL. 1991.
Education
Northern Arizona University, Current Doctoral Student, 2013 – present. Curriculum and Instruction, Flagstaff, AZ
Northern Arizona University, Master of Arts, Sustainable Communities, 2010 Flagstaff, AZ. Thesis: Place Based Media Arts Education: The Making of Yellow Woman, A Demonstration Project. Named Head of The Class by Inside NAU.
Prescott College, Center for Indian Bilingual Teacher Training: Elementary Education Teaching Certificate Program, 1998. Prescott, AZ.
Antioch College, Baccalaureate of Arts, Communications, 1995. Yellow Springs, OH. Concentration: Documentary Film.
National Outdoor Leadership School, 1989, Lander, WY Semester in the Rockies, Biology.
Florida School of the Arts, 1988 Palatka, FL Theatre Arts.
Professional Development Trainings: Technology in the Classroom, Arts in the Classroom, Shakespeare in the classroom, Writing for Standardized Tests, Tribes Training, Personalized Student Education, Animation.
Published Film Projects
STAR 3-to-3rd Multimedia Training. This project required the making of 8 educational short films, which can be viewed either as one continuous film (1 hr. 53 min), or as individual chapters, all of which are availble on DVD or for free online and are now used in multiple teacher training programs throughout the world:
Place-Based Education: The STAR 3-to-3rd Model – (13 min) A film demonstrating how STAR School utilizes Place-Based Education in the 3-to-3rd (Age 3 to Grade 3) classes. STAR is the 1st all off-grid charter school in the country, and is recipient of the 2012 Dpt. of Ed. Green Ribbon Award. STAR is located on the southwestern edge of the Navajo Nation and serves a majority indigenous population. This is one in a series of eight instructional films demonstrating the STAR School's 3-to-3rd method. This film featured in Link TV's 2015 Culture Unplugged: Humanity Explored Film Festival.
Multilingual Cognition: Sign Language – (13 min) The STAR School 3-to-3rd Project infuses both American Sign and Navajo Languages throughout the daily curriculum. This film looks at the benefits of using American Sign Language with children age 3 to grade 3. This is one in a series of eight instructional films demonstrating the STAR School's 3-to-3rd method. This film was featured in Signing Times!
Multilingual Cognition: Navajo Language – (14 min) The STAR School 3-to-3rd (Age 3 to Grade 3) Project infuses both American Sign and Navajo Languages throughout the daily curriculum. This short film looks at the use of Navajo Language within this program. This is one in a series of eight instructional films demonstrating the STAR School's 3-to-3rd method.
A Focus on Math: High Quality Materials - (17 min) Illustrates the use of guided instruction with high quality Montessori math materials for multi-sensory exploration of math concepts in the STAR School 3-to-3rd (Age 3 to Grade 3) project. This is one in a series of eight instructional films demonstrating the STAR School's 3-to-3rd method.
A Focus on Math: Áhi'iltaa, Math in Cultural Context – (13 min) Demonstrates the use of Dine' (Navajo) Language and Culture in the math curriculum in the STAR School 3-to-3rd project. This is one in a series of eight instructional films demonstrating the STAR School's 3-to-3rd (Age 3 to Grade 3) method.
A Focus on Math: The Math Relationship – (16 min) Shows how the STAR School 3-to-3rd Project recognizes the Relationship of Math to the world within their curriculum. This is one in a series of eight instructional films demonstrating the STAR School's 3-to-3rd (Age 3 to Grade 3) method.
Adopting and Adapting: Finding the Right Approach for the STAR 3-to-3rd Model -(15 min) This film illustrates how and why the STAR School 3-to-3rd (Age 3 to Grade 3) project chose to Adopt a Montessori approach and Adapt it for the school and community's unique educational needs. This is one in a series of eight instructional films demonstrating the STAR School's 3-to-3rd method.
The Prepared Environment in the STAR 3-to-3rd Model – (12 min) This film illustrates how a Prepared Environment in the STAR School 3-to-3rd (Age 3 to Grade 3) project is an Expression of Care. This is one in a series of eight instructional films demonstrating the STAR School's 3-to-3rd method.
STAR Peacemaking – (26 min) An Educational Documentary in which STAR (Service To All Relations) School students and staff demonstrate how Navajo Peacemaking is taught and implemented to create a compassionate and responsive school environment. This film is an official selection of: The Peace on Earth Film Festival in Chicago, The Red Nation Film Festival in Los Angeles, The Flagstaff Mountain Film Festival, and shown as a part of the Museum of Northern Arizona Navajo Show. This film was also featured in the documentary "Valdagno, Arizona" and screened at the 2011 Venice Film Festival in Italy.
The Making of Yellow Woman, A Demonstration of Place-Based Media Arts – (26 min) Thesis Film on Place-Based Media Arts. Chronicles the making of Camille Manybeads Tso's award winning film, "In the Footsteps of Yellow Woman" as a Demonstration Project. Submitted to Northern Arizona University in partial fulfillment for the Degree of Master of Arts Sustainable Communities, December 2010. This film was featured in the Arizona State University 2011 Local to Global Justice Forum & Festival, and in the 2011 De La Plume A L'ecran Film Festival in Nantes France.
In the Footsteps of Yellow Woman, Executive Producer, Film by Camille Manybeads Tso, 2009. A 26 minute Docu-Drama about a 13 year old who finds her own strengths through making a documentary film about her Grandmother and their ancestral history. She imagines what it would be like to be her Great-Great-Grandmother, Yellow Woman, who lived through the Navajo Long Walk of 1864 - 1868. The re-enactments were performed by the descendants of Yellow Woman and filmed in many of the places where the historical events actually took place. Filmed by Camille Manybeads Tso as her eighth grade project as a demonstration of Place-based Media Arts Education under the Direction of Rachel Tso. AWARDS: The Dolphin Award (Young Filmmaker) – Moondance Film Festival; Best Youth Film of the Year, Best Actor, Best Script – Cowichan Aboriginal Film Festival; Special Student Recognition – Lake Arrowhead Film Festival; Most Innovative Short – Eckerd Film Festival; Best Documentary Short – Red Nation Film Festival 2009; Best Student Dramatic Short - Southeastern Native American Indian Film and Video Festival 2009; Best Student Docudrama - International Cherokee Film Festival 2009. Featured in over 90 film festivals internationally.
Crimes Against Humanity: (28 min) Voices from Big Mountain 1994, A Documentary Film about the Navajo - Hopi Land Dispute told by the youth of Big Mountain. Producer, Senior Thesis Project. Antioch College, 1994. This project followed the model set by "Shoot Back" by providing access to filmmaking equipment and instruction on how to make a documentary film to the youth of an area in crisis.
Additional Film Work: Howard Shanker For Congress Campaign Commercial 2008, Filmmaker. Unplug Stereotypes - Public Service Announcement, Native American TV 2011, Camera Operator. Tears, Radmilla Cody, Music Video 2006, Camera Operator. Beautiful Dawn Song Radmilla Cody Music Video 2005, Camera Operator.
Highlighted PBMA Projects Produced with Students
RedBird Saves the Corn – (5 min) Traditional Navajo Spider Woman story retold through light box animation by STAR School Peer Leadership Students. Demonstration of integration of Native Literature, Literacy, and Place-Based Media Arts. Winner: Second Place 2014 MY HERO International Film Festival Middle School Animation category. This film is an official selection of: MY HERO International Film Festival, The Red Nation Film Festival in Los Angeles, The American Indian film Festival in San Francisco, The Flagstaff Mountain Film Festival, and shown as a part of the Museum of Northern Arizona Navajo Show and NAU Native American and Indigenous Film Series. This film was also featured in the documentary "Valdagno, Arizona" and screened at the 2011 Venice Film Festival in Italy.
Ta'chee – (5 min) STAR School 8th grade student William John explores the traditional meaning and reasons for the Ta'chee (sweat lodge) ceremony. This film is an official selection of: Link TV's Culture Unplugged: Spirit Enlightened Film Festival, The Red Nation Film Festival in Los Angeles, CA, The Flagstaff Mountain Film Festival, and shown as a part of the Museum of Northern Arizona Navajo Show.
Doo'ko'oosliid – (10 min) Dine' youth-made film about their and their community's relationship with the San Francisco Peaks, made by STAR School Peer Leadership Students. This film is an official selection of: The American Indian Film Festival in San Francisco, Link TV's Culture Unplugged Film Festival, The Red Nation Film Festival in Los Angeles, The Colorado Environmental Film Festival, and shown as a part of the Museum of Northern Arizona Navajo Show. This film was also featured in the documentary "Valdagno, Arizona" and screened at the 2011 Venice Film Festival in Italy.
Trading Post: Way Back When (5 min) A Docu-drama researched, written, filmed, and edited by Borrego Pass School Peer Leadership Students about a local landmark.
Nitsidigo’i’ - A Documentary Short by STAR School 7th and 8th graders about a Kindergarten class learning to make the Navajo heritage food, Kneel Down Bread. This film is an official selection of: AZ Student Film Festival - Winner of Grand Prize Grades 6 - 8 and 1st place Grades 6-8 Microshort. Link TV's Culture Unplugged Film Festival, The Red Nation Film Festival in Los Angeles, Cine Las Americas, Austin, The Flagstaff Mountain Film Festival, and shown as a part of the Museum of Northern Arizona Navajo Show. This film was also featured in the documentary "Valdagno, Arizona" and screened at the 2011 Venice Film Festival in Italy.
STAR Energy - A Documentary Short about Solar and Wind Energy use at the STAR School, made by 7th and 8th grade students. This film is an official selection of: AZ Student Film Festival: Winner of 1st place in Middle School Microshort and the Grand Prize for the Middle School Age Division The Colorado Environmental Film Festival in Golden, CO The Red Nation Film Festival in Los Angeles, CA The Flagstaff Mountain Film Festival, and shown as a part of the Museum of Northern Arizona Navajo Show. This film was also featured in the documentary "Valdagno, Arizona" and screened at the 2011 Venice Film Festival in Italy.
Coyote and the Stars - A Demonstration of integrating Native Literature and Place-Based Media Arts, a project with STAR School Pre-schoolers.
Volunteer Work and Community Involvement
I enjoy volunteering below are a few projects I am proud to have worked with:
Ambassador, Matika Wilbur’s Project 562.
Mentor and Collective Member, Outta Your Backpack Media
Executive Committee, Sierra Club Grand Canyon Chapter Plateau Group.
Director, It’s All Connected- It’s the Peaks A community collaborative play.
Director, Tolchaco: The Padre Canyon Incident. Arizona Promising Practices in the Arts Award Winner
Director, YOP Indigenous Youth Guerilla Theatre Project
Collective Member, Save the Peaks Coalition
Technical Assistant, Longhouse Media Superfly 36 hr Filmmaking Challenge
Support, Black Mesa
