(917) 776-7139 · betsy@rustleworks.com · https://vimeo.com/betsynagler/videos
Accomplished filmmaker with extensive experience in writing, producing, directing, editing, cinematography, and location sound.
FILMS
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.
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 four military families from across the United States. 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 thesis film for the Graduate Film Program at NYU.
Dinosaurs are Different (1993) Writer, Director, Producer, Editor. 16mm film, 13 min.
Narrative second year film for the Graduate Film Program at NYU.
BROADCAST
Flat Daddy
PBS America, 2014-2016
FESTIVAL EXHIBITIONS 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
Best Educational Film, Las Vegas Film Festival, 2012
Atlanta Film Festival, 2012
Premiere, DOC NYC Festival, 2011
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
Official Selection, Seattle International Film Festival, 1993
Official Selection, 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
She Done It (feature screenplay)
Semifinalist, 2024 Screencraft Screenwriting Fellowship
Quarterfinalist, 2024 Cinestory Feature Retreat and Fellowship
Priceless (pilot script)
Selected Project, The Women’s List, 2024
Selected Project, Nostos Screenwriting Retreats, 2024
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: 2024 Cinestory Retreats and Fellowship, LA International Screenplay Awards Diversity Initiative, WeScreenplay Diverse Voices Fellowship, ISA FastTrack Fellowship, Moonshot Pilot Accelerator, 2023 Vancouver International Women’s Film Festival Screenplay Competition, ScreenCraft Screenwriting Fellowship
Not Having It (pilot script)
Quarterfinalist, 2023 Vancouver International Women’s Film Festival Screenplay Competition
Guys You Meet On the Subway (feature screenplay)
Quarterfinalist, 2012 Cynosure Screenwriting Awards
PUBLICATION
Personal Essays
Fresh Yarn – “I Want My RNC”(2004)
Revolving Floor – “What’s for Chicken,” “Shit Happens,” “Naked, With a Nagra,” (2009); “Second Hand Fame,” “The Identification of Uncle Irving” (2010)
EXPERIENCE: CREATIVE PRODUCER/DIRECTOR-FOR HIRE
Rustle Works LLC (2014-present) Director, Producer, Cinematographer, Editor.
Work for hire including short documentaries (The Dodo), promotional videos (Cobble Hill Health Center, Code Liberation Foundation), game trailers (A Numbers Game), and interactive projects (Think/Point/Shoot: Media Ethics, Technology, and Global Change educational game), as part of studio partnership with developer Damon Holzborn. Conduct interviews, live action filming and iPhone screen capture, edit in Adobe Premiere. Conducted lighting, filming, sound recording, and interviewing of subjects; edited finished piece and created graphics in Adobe Premiere; sound edit and color-correction.
Conducted interviews, filmed b-roll, and edited a fundraising piece for the annual gala and website of a local nursing home.
Mobilize Podcast (2017-present) Episode Producer, Sound Recordist, Editor. Audio.
Conducted, recorded and edited audio interviews about progressive activists seeking to create positive change in the U.S.
Alessandra Biaggi for State Senate (2018) Producer, Co-Director, Video Editor. 4K/HD, distributed on social media.
Three videos for a successful state senate campaign, made in conjunction with non-profit Creative Resistance. Conducted interviews, filmed b-roll, animated still images, titles and graphics, combining all with music to reach final cut.
Bring Them Home (2006) Producer, Director, work for hire. DV, 2 min.
Anti-war video commissioned for the website of the Working Families Party, a growing third party in New York State. Strategized with clients; created and refined budgets for approval; hired freelance crew; directed non-actors and two-camera crew; collaborated with editor to refine cuts to client specs and deliver completed project.
The WFP: Making Things Happen (2005) Co-Director, Producer, Co-Editor, Location Sound, work for hire. DV, 12 min.
Fundraising and educational piece commissioned by the Working Families Party to explain its workings and history. Strategized and developed concept with clients; created and refined budgets for approval; conducted all interviews; refined cuts to client satisfaction in FCP 7 and delivered completed assets to client.
Blue’s Clues Video Letters (1998-1999) Writer, Director, work for hire. Betacam, 30 sec.
Short narrative stand-alone segments starring young children, aired as part of educational television show for ages 2-5. Produced by Cataland Films for Nickelodeon/Viacom Networks. Developed ideas, created scripts and storyboards; cast child actors; directed performances and supervised crew; collaborated with editor on finished pieces.
EXPERIENCE: FREELANCE VIDEO EDITOR (2005-present)
Work as editor for hire in Final Cut Pro, Adobe Premiere, and After Effects including
- Dir. Jennifer Dworkin. Videos for the Perception Institute educating lawyers about racial bias; fundraising trailers for documentaries on New York State gubernatorial candidate Zephyr Teachout and the Epic Theater Company, which works with adults on the autism spectrum (2017-present).
- Collective Agency. Scripted and doc-style social video, combining archival images/video, interview and b-roll footage, music and graphics for Brick Education, Family Equality, the NYU Law School Center for Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging, #CheckYourBiasAmerica, Swing Left, Reform Austin, the Muscular Dystrophy Association, NYC Makes PPE, and the New York Women’s Foundation (2018-2022).
- Voter Empowerment Project/AAA Fund-GA. Voter education and GOTV videos for 2020 election and GA runoff (2020-2021).
- Wake Up & Vote Consortium/AIPAVote_Michigan. Videos in support of campaign to GOTV and count all votes in the 2020 election (2020).
- Local 52 IATSE. Doc-style videos showcasing new sound and video technology at the NAB Conference (2017).
- Eyeview Digital Advertising. Videos for in-house consumption (2014).
- Dir. Kristina Borjesson/Lions Gate/EPIX. Fundraising trailer & additional editing for feature documentary TWA Flight 800 (2011-2012).
- Topiary Productions/Weill Music Institute. Doc-style pieces for Carnegie Hall LinkUP! Series online curriculum (2010).
- SEIU/BerlinRosen PR. SHAME, satirical piece featuring members of the comedy group Billionaires for Bush (2007).
- Driving for Surviving. Promotional piece for nonprofit that teaches pony driving to child cancer survivors (2005).
EXPERIENCE: LOCATION SOUND TECHNICIAN, New York, NY (1994-present)
List of credits as sound mixer, boom operator and utility at imdb.com, includes
- Feature Films: If Beale Street Could Talk, Oh Hello on Broadway, Sisters, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 1 & 2, The Day-Trippers, Walking and Talking, Before Night Falls, Happiness, Family Name.
- TV shows: Mr. Robot, Pose, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Billions, Power, Sneaky Pete, The Blacklist, The Good Wife, Elementary, Gossip Girl, The Following, Law & Order, The Sopranos.
- Commercials: TD Bank, Capital One, Apple, Google, Samsung, Bud Light, Stella Artois, Optimum, Verizon, ESPN, Match.com, Cadillac, Expedia, L’Oreal, Maybelline, Nike, Starbucks, E*Trade.
EDUCATION
New York University Tisch School of the Arts, Department of Graduate Film, NY, NY.
M.F.A., Film Production.
Stanford University, Stanford, CA.
B.A., Political Science.