Experience

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  Mad as Birds

  • Writer/Researcher/Producer

    • 2012 - Present

    Independent Film/Production Company. Corporate, commercial, documentary and feature projects. Writing, story research, production. We specialize in finding that perfect needle in the haystack: locating real people with real stories who can bring branded documentary content to life. Deep experience across the social media spectrum. Clients include Prudential, the California Milk Processor Board, Burt's Bees, McDonald's, Microsoft, PayPal, Alaska Airlines, Home Depot, many more. Work includes nationwide story research for the ambitious Prudential campaign "The State of Us," produced by RSA Films for the agency Droga5. Documentary-style pieces on location in cities and towns across America to create a multi-layered portrait of modern financial wellness. https://droga5.com/work/prudential-the-financial-wellness-census/"Kindergarten Reunion," for the California Milk Board, produced for Workhouse Creative/Wild Gravity. All aspects of pre-production and on-the-ground production in Gilroy, CA. It was fun. Harrowing but fun. Directed by Matty Brown. https://workhousecreative.com/work/kindergarten-reunion-tomo-leche/"Love Your Nature" campaign for Burt's Bees. Story/casting research for this campaign, gorgeously directed by Anna & Ewan for RSA films. https://adage.com/creativity/work/love-your-nature-mandy/47046?

• 

  Various Companies

  • Freelance Writer/Editor/Researcher

    • May 2006 - Present

    A wide variety of writing, editing, and research for a range of commercial advertising, social media, and documentary film projects. I particularly enjoy working on social justice documentaries. Notable recent example - Gilda Sheppard's searing "Since I Been Down," about the impact of mass incarceration and the so-called "War on Drugs" on Tacoma's Hilltop community. (I did archival and courthouse research, tracking down crime scene photos, police reports, interviews, witness statements, relevant tv news pieces). On the commercial front I wrote the copy for the original iPod Selector, worked with the UX team to launch the app and web site for Lifewise Health insurance, batted out literally hundreds of feature-benefit product video scripts for such companies as Home Depot, Bissell, Cisco, le Creuset, Bissell, LG, Electrolux. And many more brands, not all of them illustrious. In print and on the web, I love writing about film and was the original managing editor for Film.com

• 

  The Seattle Times

  • Seattle, WA

  • Editor

    • 2002 - 2006
    • Seattle, WA

    Editor in various roles primarily on the A&E side at the Pacific Northwest's largest daily paper. Ticket, MovieTimes, Arts Guides and seasonal special tabs, as well as the broadsheet. Wrote as needed; coordinated assignments with a large crew of freelancers and staff writers. Particularly enjoyed mentoring the cub reporters and interns being plunged into the icy cold waters at the deep end of 21st century journalism.Selected clips: https://www.seattletimes.com/author/mary-brennan/

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  RealNetworks (Film.com)

  • Executive Producer

    • 1997 - 2001

    Originally hired as managing editor of Film.com, then promoted to Executive Producer, taking the site from a small startup to one of the largest and most heavily trafficked movie sites on the Internet. Mapped and executed an ambitious content strategy, pioneering the use of streaming media online and assigning/producing thousands of reviews, interviews, original short films and video pieces. Forged collaborations with leading industry partners, including studios and independent production companies. Recruited and managed a large crew of freelancers and in-house staff. Film.com was eventually acquired by MTV.

• 

  before linkedin was invented

  • here and there

  • reasonably normal person walking around doing things

    • 1900 - 1986
    • here and there

    Getting dressed, reading the newspaper (deadwood edition), moving car once each day so as not to get any more tickets, typing words on sheets of paper, other similarly complex tasks requiring expert-level knowledge of the alphabet. And so forth.