ANDI REISS

“With travel we see with fresh eyes.”

“All I do, and essentially have ever done, is wander about asking people about what they do, and why.”

Biography

Skeptic by nature and self-critical by profession, Andi Reiss is an award winning, independent practice-based documentarian and visual artist who works in a variety of contexts; a producer/director, cinematographer, editor, activist/campaigner and adjunct professor. He has written screenplays and reportage, been a war-zone video journalist, a photographer, creative director and media consultant. Additionally he has worked as an art director, digital artist, illustrator, cartoonist and muralist.

Many of his documentaries address political and social issues, shedding light on topics like reality checks of the country, poverty, discrimination and inequality and they have screened at BAFTA and AMPAS qualifying festivals and some have influenced government think-tanks and policy.

Festival screenings include: Cannes Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival, Slamdance Film Festival, South By Southwest (SXSW) Film Festival, Raindance Film Festival, Edinburgh International Film Festival, New York IFF, Telluride Film Festival, Taormina Film Festival, American Documentary and Animation Film Festival (AmDocs) and Queens World Film Festival. In addition to creative production he has devised and taught a number of film courses at University and High School level, both in the UK and the US.

He has lived in a dozen countries over the past 25 years he is a firm believer that lessons learned through travel are unmatched. With a background in Fine Art and film he received his Masters in 21C Digital Film and New Media from Coventry University and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA), a member of British Film Editors (BFE), Directors UK, BAFTA Connects, The Producers Alliance for Cinema and Television (PACT) and the International Documentary Association (IDA).

After re-locating from London to Palm Springs, California in July 2022 he has been teaming-up with filmmakers who share a similar sensibility and passion for wanting to bring to audiences well-produced, thought-provoking fiction and documentary films, whilst continuing to teach. He is currently also looking for doctoral degree opportunities.

“Reiss’ documentary work has a firm and immersive, yet upolished quality which only highlights the credibility of his subject matter, especially in an era of verite new media.”

James Christopher, The Guardian.

Education

Sept 1981 – July1986 : John Hampden Grammar School

Sept 1986 – July1989 : Amersham College of FE, Art and Design

Sept 1989 – July1992 : Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama

September – January 1992 : Vocational training at The National Film and Television School and Raindance.

Sept 2017 – July 2018 : University of Coventry, UK : Masters (with Distinction) in 21^st Century Media Practice

Contact

US: + 1 (760) 902 0497

UK + 44 (0) 777 571 3363

Professional Production

August 1992 – December 1995: Worked as a Media Producer at Natural Sound in London

Jan 1996 – Dec 1996: Lived and worked in New Zealand, firstly directing at The Court Theatre in Christchurch and then creating his own South Island media agency, making documentaries, commercials, corporate and educational content.

Jan 1997 – April 1999: Returning to the UK, freelanced as a filmmaker, video artist and designer in London and in Stratford Upon Avon, with the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Fringe Festival.

May 1999 – June 1999: Lived and worked in Hong Kong as creative producer/director of a multi-media, NASA sponsored project with astronaut Buzz Aldrin.

July 1999 – April 2012: Returned to London and created Yellow Media Group, becoming an independent creative polymath producing a festival winning feature drama, some award winning documentaries, many video journalism/reportage films, commercials, branded content, music videos, multi-cam events and shorts. In these twelve years he collaborated with leading agencies and production houses around the world which led to extensive international travel including in time in conflict zones in the Middle East, Africa and many third world countries. He also produced and directed multi-media verbatim theatre projects in Auckland, Hong Kong, London and Edinburgh. In 2008 he was commissioned to write 12 feature drama scripts.

May 2012 – August 2012: Lived and worked in Doha, Qatar as Creative Director for Resolution Productions.

Sept 2012 – Dec 2012: Lived and worked in Cebu, Philippines as Creative Director for Bigfoot Entertainment and then producing/directing independent documentary films, reportage and campaign content for news agencies around The Far East.

Jan 2013 – June 2022: Returned London and Oxford,UK and continued to steer Yellow Media Group as a consultancy whilst also working as a freelance/self employed writer, filmmaker and editor, multimedia video artist, cartoonist and associate lecturer. The consultancy business in the UK advised, oversaw and produced independent content on many varied media platforms. Lecturing included positions The London Academy of Media, Film and TV, The School of Audio Engineering (SAE), the MET Film School, Film Oxford, The Oxford Academy and other private institutions.

July 2022 – July 2023 : Relocated to Palm Springs, California for new adventures, initially working as an Adjunct Professor of Media at Idyllwild Arts Academy in California, which has been described as one of the most diverse arts communities in the US.

August 2024 – present: Has continued producing three independent documentary projects, all US focussed. Continues teaching online courses at Film Oxford and developing other multi-media work, photography and video art installations. Also developing three screenplays and a political campaign series.

Judge at the Queens World Film Festival, New York City and the London Independent Documentary Festival.
Trustee of ScreenTalk Oxfordshire (2016 – 2022)
Trustee of Oxfordshire Mind (2016 – 2022)
2004 – 2010 – served on Committee of Directors UK

Future Projects 2023–

Producer/Director – ‘Trans and.’ (Documentary)

Producer/Director – A Small Stone (Documentary)

Producer/Director – The Aya Experiment (Documentary)

Writer/Producer – If Only (Multimedia Stageplay)

Lead Artist Exhibition

Andi is experienced in writing, teaching and overseeing the following educational masterclasses, modules and courses:-

Tech Skills: Camera and Editing (Premiere Pro)
Writing for film and television: documentary
World of Journalism (with a focus on video journalism, reportage and short form documentary)
Writing for film and television: fiction (focussing on ‘how to read a script’, short visual narrative and feature script development)
Technical skills: lighting and sound
An introduction to photography

Advanced technical skills
Photography for Design, Advertising and Promotion: Editorial
The Media Business and creating business plans
Production Management
Music Video Production
Editing Print and Online Content
Media Lifestyle and Culture
Professional Preparation (Placement Plus)
Photography for Design, Advertising and Promotion: Campaign and Publicity
Art Film Production (focussing on the difference between art and experimental film and commercial film)
News Truth and Power (with a focus on video journalism, reportage and short form documentary)
Presentation for Broadcast Media

Social media marketing
Filming on mobile phones (with a focus on using specific apps that turn a phone into a DSRL kit)
Professional Preparation 2
Industry Practice Research Project (focussing on historical or social value and content analysis research methodologies)
Independent Script Project
Creative Portfolio Production
Placement Plus Work based project