Chriss worked directly with Julie Taymor, MacArthur 'Genius Grant' winner and Tony-winning director of THE LION KING, as her Casting Assistant, on the PBS production of FOOLS FIRE. Chriss also served as Casting Assistant on the CBS Movie, SEPARATE BUT EQUAL, which won an Emmy Award for casting. Chriss also served as Assistant to Director Spike Lee on his film, CROOKLYN.
Chriss' first feature, ASBURY PARK, had its premiere at Lincoln Center’s "Independent's Night" series. The film won the Gordon Parks Award for Directing and was screened at Palm Springs and Atlanta film festivals.
Chriss’ second film, BELLCLAIR TIMES, won the Prestigious Newark Black Film Festival.
Professional Interests
Film education. Law. Writing.
Degrees
Specialization
Film
Licenses and Certifications
Admitted to the NJ Bar 2005 (Licensed to practice law in NJ),
Representative Publications
"Appetites And Anxieties: Food, Film, And The Politics Of Representation," by Cynthia Baron, Diane Carson, and Mark Bernard;
Volume
Representative Presentations
"Screenwriting for Tablets & Devices," Panel title: Traditional Formulas and Shifting Contexts: From Scriptwriting to Gaming,
“How We Teach Directing,“ Panel Title: Acting Like a Director: The Benefits of Student Directors Studying Acting,
“Just In Time Instruction: A New Model of Film Pedagogy,” Panel Title: Pedagogy & Collaboration: Creating Teachable Moments & New Models For Pedagogy,
“Your Film Is Too Long,” Panel Title: Frameworks for Training the Next Generation of Filmmakers
“Underground,” Juried Script Presentation
Awards and Honors
05/04/2022
Notable Courses Taught
Filmmaking 1, 2, 3
Visual Effects
Screenwriting
Writing the TV Drama
Film as a Medium
Films of Diversity & Justice
Film andCivic Engagement
Film as Cross Cultural Communication
