Assistant Director
Resume:
Puja Bhalerao Having solid experience in the realm of visual storytelling with
specialization in video production for documentary, advertising &
P ortfolio: http://www.pujabhalerao.com marketing, an artist, a filmmaker and a photographer with an upbringing
[ Firefox, chrome, safari] in the analogue-digital culture; contributing to the workforce not only with
5 71. 243. 7648 [ mobile] the technical skills, but also with an experience of working in challenging
conditions, and an unique ability of being able to connect with people from
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varied walks of life.
E DUCATION
MA 2012 Film &Video at American University
[Washington DC, USA]
Diploma 2003 Applied art; major- Photography & Advertising at Raheja School of Art
[Mumbai, India]
MFA 2009 Fine Arts and Culture [Mumbai, India]
Certificate 2006 Digital film production/ Digital cinematography
A reas of Specialization: Photography, Videography [DSLR and Professional video cameras], Documentary Filmmaking,
Studio & Location Lighting (for both Video & Still), Sound Recording, Graphic design, Non- linear editing, Web/mobile video
formats, Script development/ writing, Direction, handling all aspects of production [proposal writing, releases to buying music],
Maintaining a strong working rapport with Client.
P ROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Producer, Director, Writer, Camera, Research
2011- Present
Pura Vida: Pure Life?
- A documentary; visual inquisition into sea- turtle conservation of Costa- Rica
- Writing funding proposals, creating awareness through social- media. Produced a zero budget
YouTube video, intended to transcend technological barriers [from smartphones to webcams], to
spread the message of save sea- turtles. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MzWC8qOQK_w
Producer, Director, Research
May 2013- Present
Dance in Rural India
- An upcoming documentary currently in research and pre- production
Video [intern] - Clean Currents
2012- June 2013
- Planning & execution of videos to strengthen the Clean Currents brands through customer
testimonials as well as to promote local businesses in the community. Put together 10 videos.
- http://www.cleancurrents.com/commercial-wind-power/
Video Journalist [intern] – TVASIA
2012
- Production co-ordination, research stories, ranging from political, to community based initiatives and
events. Conducted interviews of several delegates and members of the Congress independently.
Video Journalist [intern] - Washington Post
2011
- Coordinating & planning assignments. Researching on the subjects.
Shooting & editing stories, writing tag lines, publishing content online as a one-man band.
Videographer, Production Assistant – AU communications & marketing
2010- 2011
- Film PSAs, lectures, scripted productions, on- campus events to advance the goals of American
University for website, social media, and more. Produced the award winning Holiday video card along
with the Director of Video. Successfully carried out duties of production coordination, shooting green
screen, editing the story and graphics. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ex0RECSWDLs
Production assistant intern [intern] - Spark Media
2010
- Manage logistics, research potential partners for promotion of the film in production. Assisting on field
and during postproduction.
Checkers at 9th & S - A short documentary about a Checkers club, run by a group of African American
2010
men in DC. Writing treatment of the story, camera, lighting and sound on location.
Link
Production & Post- Production Assistant - Dusty Foot Productions
2004- 2006
- “The Wildmeat trail”: Shooting in challenging conditions in the rain forests of Arunachal Pradesh in the
foothills of the Eastern Himalaya. Involved with the filming of the Himalayan black bear rehabilitation
story, in the core of jungle.
“Right to survive”: Post- production assistant http://dustyfootindia.com/?page_id=3
Graphic Designer/ Visualizer - Vishwa: Advertising, Film, and Exhibitions
2006-2008
- Assisting on ad campaigns, Logo & symbol design, Video production & writing. [Website under
maintenance]
Freelancer on various mainstream Bollywood Projects & documentaries [for presentation at UN to socially relevant subjects],
worked with award winning directors in Mumbai, India as the Director of making, DOP, 3rd AC, 2nd AD between 2006- 2009.
A W ARDS & A CHIEVEMENTS
Bronze at 31st Telly award
2010
Holiday video card [Assistant Editor & Production assistant, American University]
Winner of Best mini- documentary at Our City Film Festival.
2010
Outstanding Short Documentary and Best Sound Recording at Visions 2010: The American
University Student Film Festival. Accepted at Amsterdam CINESTUD
Checkers at 9th and S [lights, camera, sound]
Raheja School of art, India: Outstanding work throughout second year- Ad campaign
2002
Raheja School of art, India: Best black and white photography
2002
S CREENING RECORD
Stringed at The Guitar Shop – Backpack documentary
2012
Featured article on SAHITYA SANSKRUTI [Online Magazine in Marathi language]
http://www.sahityasanskruti.com/node/178
Seven published Stories on The Washington Post - Video Journalist
2011
http://thepujabhalerao.appspot.com/vprof - portfolio
12 stories telecast on TVASIA’s community roundup - Video Journalist
2011
Checkers at 9th and S- Camera & Light
2010
CINESTUD, International Student Film Festival, Amsterdam, Netherlands
OUR CITY FILM FESTIVAL, Washington, D.C
http://vimeo.com/9742450
National Association of the Blind – Videographer/ production coordinator
2007
Screened across High schools in Mumbai, to raise awareness for acceptance of visually impaired among
sighted.
P RESS R ELEASES
2 010 H oliday Video: http://www.american.edu/americantoday/campus-news/20101208-AU-holiday-card-
2010.cfm
Interviews & Write- ups in newspapers on upcoming documentary Pura Vida: Pure Life? :
2013
- La Nacion http://www.nacion.com/2013-01-07/Entretenimiento/nuevo-documental-promovera--mejor-
trato-para-las-tortugas-marinas.aspx
- deleFOCO.com http://www.delefoco.com/Default.aspx?action=news-view&id=2302
- La Republica http://www.larepublica.net/app/cms/www/index.php?pk_articulo=533295116
- 89 decibeles http://www.89decibeles.com/noticias/por-las-tortugas-marinas-un-documental
A travel diary of encounters & experiences while filming Pura Vida: Pure Life?
B LOG
http://puravidadoc.blog.com
S OFTW ARES Final Cut Pro, Sound track pro, Adobe- After effects, Audition, Photoshop, InDesign & Illustrator,
QuarkXPress, MS Word, MS PowerPoint, MS Excel, IDVD, DVD studio pro, Mac OSX 10, MS
Windows 7, understanding of compressions, basic Html, JQuery, familiar with Pro tools.
- Currently on F1, looking for H1-B sponsorship.
Contact this candidate