Chriss Williams Professor • Department of Communication View CV Website Chriss Williams graduated from NYU’s Graduate Film Program. His thesis film, BLOODS ON THE MOON, starred two Tony Award Nominees and won the Time Warner/Warner Bros. Fellowship. It screened at the American Film Institute (AFI) Film Festival.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 JD , Rutgers University Newark, NJ MFA Film and Television, New York University New York, BS Business/Marketing & Management, Montclair State College Montclair, NJ Specialization Film Licenses and Certifications 12/31/2005 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 69, Issue No. 1 2017 Representative Presentations "Screenwriting for Tablets & Devices," Panel title: Traditional Formulas and Shifting Contexts: From Scriptwriting to Gaming, 2014 University Film & Video Association Conference University Film & Video Association Bozeman, MT 2014 “How We Teach Directing,“ Panel Title: Acting Like a Director: The Benefits of Student Directors Studying Acting, 2015 University Film & Video Association Conference University Film & Video Association Washington, DC 2015 “Just In Time Instruction: A New Model of Film Pedagogy,” Panel Title: Pedagogy & Collaboration: Creating Teachable Moments & New Models For Pedagogy, 2013 University Film & Video Association Conference University Film & Video Association Orange, CA 2013 “Your Film Is Too Long,” Panel Title: Frameworks for Training the Next Generation of Filmmakers 2015 University Film & Video Association Conference University Film & Video Association Washington, DC 2015 “Underground,” Juried Script Presentation 2013 University Film & Video Association Conference University Film & Video Association Orange, CA 2013 Awards and Honors 2022 Partner in Hope Partners for Women and Justice 05/04/2022 Notable Courses Taught Filmmaking 1, 2, 3Visual EffectsScreenwritingWriting the TV DramaFilm as a MediumFilms of Diversity & JusticeFilm andCivic Engagement Film as Cross Cultural Communication Email 973 720 2431 106 Hamilton Hall Tues. 12:10pm – 1:10pm; 2-3p (email 24/7)