RESUME
Elam S. Stoltzfus
25362 NE Charles Pippen Road,
Blountstown, FL 32424
EDUCATION:
Received a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Communications/Media from Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida. - 1988
SPECIAL INTEREST:
Committed to a life of personal integrity and excellence. This same commitment is the impetus for any video/film and multimedia production I will be involved in.
Member of Suncoast Chapter of National Academy of Television and Sciences
Member of Independent Film Producers, New York, NY
Member of International Documentary Association, Los Angeles, CA
Member of Florida Outdoor Writers Association, Tampa, FL
Member of Better Business Bureau – Northwest Florida
Member of National Association of Professional Photoshop Users
Member of Filmmakers for Conservation
Member of the Silver Council for the National Telly Awards
Calhoun County Chamber of Commerce, Chairman of the Board
PRESENT:
Producer/cinematographer/director of film documentaries and educational programs featuring environmental issues, educational/corporate training programs, and developing projects utilizing various formats of media such as DVD, web design, social media, etc. Educational programming and design consultant. Manager and owner of Live Oak Production Group, Inc. a High Definition professional broadcast video production company and freelance for film/video productions. Freelance projects over the years included capturing video footage for the Weather Channel, MTV, Inside Edition, HGTV, ABC, Travel Channel, Jefferson Pilot, Public Television programs and other corporate productions.
Worked in all aspects of video & film productions such as: camera operator, lighting designer, audio engineer, researcher/writer, graphic design, illustrations, video editing, director and producer.
AWARDS:
9- Telly Awards - cinematography, music and best in content for nature
5- Louis Wolfson Awards - awards of best in artistic expression
3- Ava Awards - cinematography and nature based content
3- Aurora Awards - cinematography and documentary
5- FMPTA Crystal Reel Awards - best in cinematography, documentary and composition
2- Emmy nominations - cinematography and music
2- EmPixx Awards - cinematography and content for education.
2- Video Producers Awards - documentary and content
1- Davey Award - award for excellence
3- Communicator’s Award - best in style
BIO:
Elam Stoltzfus is the creative force behind a dynamic media company known as Live Oak Production Group. Elam brings a broad array of skills and experience as a cinematographer, editor, producer, and director of this film studio which showcases the great outdoors. He is a graduate of Florida State University with a degree in media communications.
As the oldest boy in a family of nine children, Elam was born and raised in an Amish/Mennonite home near Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The austerity of his surroundings nurtured a passionate love and respect for nature, in all of its wild, unfettered, and continually changing beauty. Even as he tended his farm chores, he dreamed of art instead of cattle and crops. The absence of outside media allowed him to develop fresh and creative perspectives as an artist; today he uses his lens as his paintbrush, capturing rich images of nature that are full of light, color, and texture.
For the past fifteen years Elam has documented diverse aspects of Florida's natural resources which include estuaries, rivers, swamps, and aquatic preserves. He has spent countless hours filming Florida wildlife, such as: fledgling sea turtles, endangered panthers, delicate roseate spoonbills, fierce alligators, and graceful dolphins. Not only is Elam a gifted cinematographer; as executive producer of several documentaries, he combined his love of nature with his love of art. That was the impetus for collaborative productions with other Florida artists such as fine art landscape photographer, Clyde Butcher, musician Sammy Tedder, and many others.
Elam is also a talented educator and has been invited to speak at special events, high schools and universities, film festivals and numerous opening nights as a guest speaker at exhibits and screenings.
SAMPLE OF RECENT PROJECTS:
2009 - Director of Photography for a series of public service announcements featuring “Green Ideas for Florida”. Produced by Florida State University Department of Communications, FSU Film School, Department of Theatre and Department of Geology. Program will be featured across Florida on TV stations, sports events and web sites.
2009 - Producer, Cinematographer and Director of “Big Cypress Swamp: Western Everglades” 56:00 minute documentary and 7 minute trailer featuring the Big Cypress National Preserve and surrounding public and managed lands. For this production Elam Stoltzfus was joined with many of the public land managers, local experts, hunters, orchid lovers, artists and many great people. The expedition across the swamp in airboats, hiking, mucking about, aerial views, canoes and swamp buggies gave the HD video crew ample opportunities to capture breathtaking images. Its a collection of stories on how the Big Cypress Swamp preservation almost didn’t happen, how the lands are currently being managed, an overview of animal behaviors, stunning landscape scenes and a cacophony of sounds blended into a musical score. The 1 hour HD documentary is being distributed nationally on Public Television Stations. The program has been awarded 2- Telly Awards, for use of HD video, excellence in cinematography, best in content for nature and music score. 2- EmPixx awards for superior in cinematography and use of nature documentary. 2- Communicators awards for best in cinematography and use of environmental content. 2- Aurora Awards, best in cinematography and nature theme, 2- AVA Awards, superior in cinematography and nature story, 2- Crystal Reel Awards by Florida Motion Picture and Television Association for best cinematography and composition in sound. Trailer was featured at the 2009 International Wildlife Film Festival in Missoula MT. Documentary will be featured at the Naples International Film Festival in November 09.
2009- Camera operator and producer for Crews Control - on location HD production agency.
2008 - Producer and editor for “America the Beautiful” DVD. A collection of large format images by fine-art photographer Clyde Butcher edited to the music scored by Sammy Tedder. Featured with a traveling museum exhibit that is touring the country. Managed by the College of William & Mary, Williamsburg, VA.
2008 - Producer for a 8 minute promotional fundraising HD video for E.O. Wilson Biophilia Center in Bruce, FL. Captured a series of interviews from local leaders, educators, researchers and Dr. E.O. Wilson along with b-roll of Nokuse Plantation.
2008- Director/eCinematographer of “Coastal Dune Lakes: Beaches of South Walton” a 13 minutes overview of the 15 dune lakes along the coast line of Walton County, Florida. Captured on High Definition 1080i format and edited on HD 1080i master. Used tracking system, jib arm, Gheenoe with camera mounts, RC controlled low altitude helicopter and aerial photography to capture the spectacular beauty of the lakes along the Gulf of Mexico. Featured in trade shows, commerce lobbies, special interests groups and local Beach TV. Received two national Telly Silver awards for cinematography and content of nature educational material. Received two Crystal Reel Awards from Florida Motion Picture and Television Association for best in dp/cinematographer and best documentary. Received the AvaAwards for superior cinematography and gold for the nature based content. Received the Aurora Awards, Gold and Platinum Best of Show for cinematography and content. Nominated for a Suncoast Region Emmy for cinematography.
2008 - Producer/cinematographer/editor of “Calhoun County, Florida” short DVD for the Chamber of Commerce featuring the history of the Calhoun County, local business, school system and highlights local business opportunities. Featured at the Chamber’s annual banquet. Distributed on DVD format and websites.
2007 - eCinematographer/Editor for a promotional fashion package for Michael Belk Photography/Caribbean Joe apparel company. Worked under fashion photographer Michael Belk to create a wide screen HD video featuring Belk’s photography and HD video footage featuring Caribbean Joe’s summer fashion line of apparel.
2007 - Director/Cinematographer/Editor/Writer of “Will McLean: Songs about Florida” a 12 minute mini-documentary about the music and life of Florida folk musician Will McLean. Restored old archive video footage, still photos, newspaper articles and super 16mm film footage to an educational program. Featured on a big screen in the March Will McLean Music Festival at the Sonamo Ranch, FL.
2007 - Director/Cinematographer/Editor for “E.O.Wilson Biophilia Center” 10 minute DVD promo to inform potential partnerships of educational institutions and funding sources about a new outdoor learning center located in Bruce, Florida. Used super 16mm film to document the natural beauty of the Nokuse Plantation.
2007 - Photographed a collection of images of Calhoun County for Visit Florida. Used 35mm cameras to create a library of images to promote eco-tourism. Images featured in several promotional brochures and websites.
2006 - Director/Cinematographer/Editor of “Our Legacy: Florida Communities Trust” Florida Department of Community Affairs. A 12 minute educational film documentary to educate Florida Legislators and Senators about the impact of Florida Forever and Preservation 2000 programs. Featured six FCT projects across the State of Florida. Images were captured on super 16mm film and mastered to digibeta. Music score by Sammy Tedder and mastered by Pete Winter. Released on DVD and Florida Crossroads/The Florida Channel.
2006 - Executive Producer/Director/Cinematographer/Editor of “Apalachicola River: an American Treasure” an one hour documentary. A media odyssey down the Apalachicola river system which meanders 107 miles through Florida’s panhandle to the port town of Apalachicola on the Gulf of Mexico. Exploring the rich history of the area, meet people who live and work along its waterways, including botanists, beekeepers, ecologists, politicians, oystermen and townsfolk. The film uses a wide variety of film techniques… interviews, historical reenactments, nature photography and still photographs from renowned artists Richard Bickel and Clyde Butcher. The music scored by Sammy Tedder. Included are lively discussions about current issues impacting the river, such as dredging, water wars between the states, new development, as well as some unique future visions one of the most biologically diverse wild places left in the United States.
Awards include 2006 Emmy nominee in the Suncoast Region, Davey Award for standard of excellence, Aurora Award for cinematography and original music, Napa-Sonoma Wine County Film Festival - Eco Cinema GAIAA award, Florida Choice Award - Tampa Independent Film Festival, and Worldfest Houston International Film Festival - Ecology/Environmental/Conservation Bronze Remi award. Distribution on DVD, local PBS-TV stations, Florida Knowledge Network, PAEC-DishNetwork, local civic organizations and environmental groups for educational purposes.
2005 - Director/Cinematographer/Editor of “Our Signature: the Wild and Scenic Loxahatchee River” using super 16mm film, mastered to digibeta video tape. Music scored by Sammy Tedder and audio mastered by Pete Winter. The Loxahatchee River watershed is unique in South Florida because of the amount of natural areas that sill remain intact. This 20 minute program was designed to bring awareness and an update to the local citizens concerning the progress of restoration program on the river. Awards: two Telly awards for environmental education and cinematography. Distribution on DVD and local government access cable channels.
2004 - Producer/Director of “Living Waters: Aquatic Preserves of Florida” a Super 16mm film documentary featuring 12 of the 41 Aquatic Preserves of Florida. To increase awareness and appreciation of Florida’s aquatic preserves, the Department of Environmental Protection’s Office of Coastal and Aquatic Managed Areas, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, provided funding sources for the “Living Water” production. Cinematographer/Producer Elam Stoltzfus, located in Ochesee, musician Sammy Tedder residing in Sopchoppy, and Florida’s world renowned nature photographer, Clyde Butcher living in Ochopee, have teamed up to create a unique educational and artistic presentation that included a 56:00 minute film documentary released to Public Broadcast Stations in Florida, a traveling museum exhibit, a coffee-table book by Butcher, a 25x36 poster, and CD by Tedder featuring original music for the sound track. Received the Louis Wolfson Film & Video Award for Best Artistic Expression and national Telly Award for superior quality. Distribution on DVD, local PBS-TV stations across Florida, Florida Knowledge Network, local civic organizations and environmental groups for educational purposes.
