Academic CV

(917) 776-7139 · bsnagger@stanfordalumni.org · https://vimeo.com/betsynagler/videos

EDUCATION

M.F.A. in Film Production, New York University Tisch School of the Arts, Department of Graduate Film, New York, NY, 1995 

B.A. in Political Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 1990

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

Brooklyn College, City University of New York, Dept of Undergraduate Film, Brooklyn, NY
Adjunct Assistant Professor, Location Sound (Spring 2005, Fall 2006, Spring/Fall 2008, Fall 2013, Spring 2015, Spring/Fall 2016)
Adjunct Assistant Professor, Documentary Film (Fall 2009, Fall 2015, Spring/Fall 2016)

Katherine Gibbs School, Department of Digital Media, New York, NY
Adjunct Professor, Music Video Editing and Producing (Spring 2005) 

Columbia Grammar and Preparatory School After-School Program, New York, NY 
Children’s After-School Program Designer/Instructor (Spring 2005, Spring 2006)

Make A Movie Independent Children’s Film Instruction Program, New York, NY
Children’s After-School Program Designer/Instructor (Spring 2005, Spring 2006)

Hunter College Elementary School, New York, NY
Class Film Project Designer/Instructor(1992-2000)

New York University Tisch School of the Arts, Department of Undergraduate Film & Television, New York, NY
Adjunct Assistant Professor, Production Sound (Fall 1997, Spring/Fall 1998)

New York Film Academy, New York, NY
Instructor, Location Sound (1997-1998)

FREELANCE PRODUCTION AND POST-PRODUCTION WORK

Writer/Director/Producer/Editor, do Films/Rustle Works, New York, NY (1998-present) 
Freelance work for clients including the Creative Resistance and the Working Families Party (political videos), Cobble Hill Foundation and Code Liberation Foundation (promotional video for nonprofits), The Dodo (social media documentary), and Cataland Films/Nickelodeon (video letter segments for the popular children’s television show Blue’s Clues). Partner with musician/developer Damon Holzborn on Rustle Works, an independent studio for creative tech projects, including an educational media ethics game for the website of textbook Think/Point/Shoot: Media Ethics, Technology, and Global Change. Most recent project: co-director/editor of three videos for the successful New York State Senate campaign of candidate Alessandra Biaggi.

Digital Video Editor, New York, NY (2005-present)
Editing work utilizing Adobe Premiere to edit documentary work, industrials, advocacy pieces, and videos for the web. Clients include Muscular Dystrophy Association, New York Women’s Foundation, Brick Education (non-profit); Alessandra Biaggi for State Senate, Lauren Underwood for Congress, AAA Fund Georgia, APIA-Vote Michigan, Swing Left and Reform Austin (political work); the Perception Institute, NYU Law School’s Center for Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging, and Carnegie Hall’s Weill Institute’s LinkUp Series (educational pieces); and documentary directors Kristina Borjesson and Jennifer Dworkin (documentary trailers).

Location Sound Technician, New York, NY  (1994-present)
Work as sound mixer, boom operator and sound utility on hundreds of feature films, television shows, industrials, documentaries and commercials. List of credits includes Pose, Power, Mr. Robot, Elementary, Evil, The Good Wife, Girls, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Sisters, The Day-Trippers, Before Night Falls, Law & Order, and The Sopranos. More info at imdb.com.

FILMS/MEDIA PROJECTS

Mobilize Podcast (2017-present) Producer, Sound Recordist, Editor. Audio.
Audio pieces to encourage progressive political activism in the U.S., including interviews with activists and candidates. At https://www.mobilizehere.com/podcast/

The Halloween House (2021) Producer, Director, Editor, Cinematographer. 4K, 7:28 min.
A short documentary on the most Halloweeny house in Brooklyn, and the community that loves it. View at vimeo.com/betsynagler/halloweenhouse.

Flat Daddy (2011) Co-Director, Producer, Editor, Sound.  DV/HD, 82 min.
Independent feature documentary exploring the impact of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq on military families. Distributed by FilmBuff. Further information at flatdaddydocumentary.com.

‘do  (2005) Director, Producer, Videographer, Co-Editor.  DV, 46 min.
A mid-length documentary that follows five New Yorkers through five years and 14 hairstyles to explore the connection between appearance and identity. Further information at dofilms.com.

Fear of Dogs (1995)Writer, Director, Producer, Editor. 16mm film, 23 min.
Narrative short thesis film for the Graduate Film Program at NYU.

Dinosaurs are Different (1993) Writer, Director, Producer, Editor. 16mm film, 13 min.
Narrative short second year film for the Graduate Film Program at NYU.

BROADCAST

Flat Daddy
PBS America, 2014-2016

FESTIVAL EXHIBITIONS, AWARDS AND HONORS

Flat Daddy  
Fallbrook Film Festival, 2013
Oceanside International Film Festival, 2012
California Independent Film Festival, 2012 
Montclair Film Festival, 2012
Maine International Film Festival, 2012
Las Vegas Film Festival, 2012 – Winner, Best Educational Film,
Atlanta Film Festival, 2012
DOC NYC Festival, 2011 – Premiere
Advance Screening, GI Film Festival, 2011

‘do
Honorable Mention, Bronx Independent Film Festival, 2005

Fear of Dogs
Student Film Silver Plaque, Chicago International Film Festival, 1995 

Dinosaurs are Different
Seattle International Film Festival, 1993
Philadelphia Film Festival, 1993

GRANTS, FELLOWSHIPS AND AWARDS

Flat Daddy
Individual Artists Grant, New York State Council on the Arts, 2008
Filmmaker Project Assistance Program, Women Make Movies, 2008
IFP Independent Film Week Spotlight on Documentaries Program, 2008

‘do
Community Arts Regrant, New York State Council on the Arts/Brooklyn Arts Council, 2004

Priceless (pilot screenplay)
Selected Project, The Writers Lab, November 2023
Selected Project, Stowe Narrative Lab, June 2023
Finalist, 2023 writersXwriters Screenplay Competition
Semifinalist, 2023 Atlanta Film Festival Screenplay Competition
Quarterfinalist, 2023 Vancouver International Women’s Film Festival Screenplay Competition, ScreenCraft Screenwriting Fellowship
Quarterfinalist, 2022 Big Apple Film Festival, Female Voices Rock Film Festival

Not Having It (pilot screenplay)
Quarterfinalist, 2023 Vancouver International Women’s Film Festival Screenplay Competition

Guys You Meet On the Subway (feature screenplay)
Quarterfinalist, 2012 Cynosure Screenwriting Awards

SELECTED REVIEWS, ARTICLES AND INTERVIEWS

Flat Daddy
Print:
“Plymouth Public Library: ‘Flat Daddy’ draws capacity crowd,” Wicked Local: Plymouth, 7-11-12
“Mon papa plat, ce héros,” Le Monde, 12-31-11 
DOC NYC, 2nd Edition: More is More,” International Documentary Association, December 2011
Film Festival Reviews, DOC NYC: ‘Flat Daddy,’” Variety, 12-6-11
DOC NYC: Directors Nara Garber & Betsy Nagler on ‘Flat Daddy,’” Filmmaker Magazine: The Filmmaker Magazine Blog, 11-4-11
“Off Duty: Life-size cutouts are keeping families connected,” Military Times, 4-28-11
“Slice of Life: ‘Flat Daddy,’” Stanford Magazine, January/February, 2011

TV & Radio:
“Leaving and Reintegration: ‘Flat Daddy’ and the Story of Military Parents” — Live radio interview with director Betsy Nagler, subject Marina Vance, and Professor Howard Markman of the University of Denver’s Center for Marital and Family Studies on public radio program KNPR’s State of Nevada, 7-19-12 
Sign off – Montclair Film Festival” — Stephen Colbert plugs Flat Daddy and the 2012 Montclair Film Festival on The Colbert Report, Comedy Central, 4-26-12 
Brian Kilmeade speaks with directors Nara Garber and Betsy Nagler about their documentary, ‘Flat Daddy’” — Live radio interview on the nationally syndicated news program, Kilmeade & Friends, 11-8-11
“‘Flat Daddy’ is a new movie about the struggle of military families” — A live TV interview with Betsy Nagler and Nara Garber on the national news program, America’s News HQ, Fox News, 5-15-11

INVITED SCREENINGS & PRESENTATIONS

Flat Daddy
Community screening, East Brunswick Public Library, East Brunswick, NJ, 2013
Community screening and fundraiser for military families, Sun City Anthem, Henderson, NV, 2013
Community screening, US Army Heritage and Education Center, Carlisle, PA, 2012 
Paper Moon Art Exhibition, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, GA, 2012
Princeton University, hosted by Princeton ROTC and Mathey College, Princeton, NJ, 2012
Community screening, Plymouth Public Library, Plymouth, MA, 2012
Prescott Film Festival Screening Series, Prescott, AZ, 2012
Borough of Manhattan Community College, 2012
Community screening, Law Students for Veterans’ Rights, Brooklyn Law School, Brooklyn, NY, 2012
Community screening, Bergen County Harley-Davidson BMW, Rochelle Park, NJ, 2012
DocuClub Work-in-Progress screening, hosted by Arts Engine and Women Make Movies, 2010

‘do
Shades of Femininity Art Exhibition, Local Project, Long Island City, NY, 2005
Community screening, Park Slope Neighborhood Family Center, Brooklyn, NY, 2005