COLIN RUGGIERO
245 Burlington Ave., Missoula, MT
(406) 570-9532
ruggiero.colin@gmail.com
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EDUCATION
MFA in Science and Natural History Filmmaking from Montana State University – May 2005
Graduated cum laude from the University of Montana in May 2001 with degrees in Cultural Anthropology and Spanish and a minor in Latin American Studies
University Honors Program at the University of Montana
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SELECTED WORK EXPERIENCE
Freelance Writing and Photography
Freelance photography for various organizations including the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, International Wildlife Film Festival, Inner Harmony Yoga, the Staniel Cay Yacht Club, Montana Headwall magazine and recording artist Bret Engels among others.
Regular contributions as a freelance writer and photographer for the Missoula Independent, a widely distributed Montana newspaper – (5/01-5/04)
Freelance writer, including cover stories, for the Bozeman Tributary, a monthly paper – (1/03-9/03)
Filmmaking
Currently producing an hour long independent documentary called “Exuma,” about the Exuma Islands in the Bahamas. Script, sound, editing and all principal and underwater photography/videography.
High-Definition Camera work including Primal Quest Adventure Race and Fly-Fishing the World for ESPN, The World Billfishing Series Championship Tournament for the Outdoor Life Network, L.L. Bean’s Guide to the Outdoors, numerous National Geographic television shows and footage for the Nature Conservany, the Predator Conservation Alliance, Providence Health Care and National Fire Safety Office among others. Experience operating the Panasonic Varicam as well as Sony f950 camera system with FLIR gyroscopic stabilizer from a helicopter. Extensive experience with motion-control and HDR time-lapses.
Director of Photography on a short promotional video for the Mexican Ministry of Tourism. (2011)
Camera operator on “Black Bears” for National Geographic’s “America the Wild.” (2011)
Camera operator on “Scavengers” for National Geographic’s “America the Wild.” (2011)
Underwater HD video work for National Geographic’s “Expedition Kodiak.” (9/10)
Missoula Medical Aid – 2008. 20 min film about a medical relief organization in Honduras. Winner of a 2008 Telly Award in the non-profit film category. Director, Camera, sound, original music, editor
World Music Shorts – 2008. A series of short 10 min profiles of world music groups including The Duhks, The Sierra Leone Refugee All-Stars and Drum Brothers. Producer, Principal Photography, sound, editor
The Jeni Fleming Trio Orchestrated Project. 2007. A promotional piece about the process of recording the album, We’ll Be Together Again, for which the entire String Orchestra of the Rockies was flown to Nashville to record. Producer, writer, director, camera, sound, editor
Promotional footage for episode of Wild Kingdom about wolverine. 2006. Produced by Tiger/Tigress Productions for the Discovery Channel. Director and camera
Swan Song. 2005. Hour long thesis film about lynx research and habitat loss in the Swan Valley. Winner of the Merit Award for Conservation Message at the 2006 Internatioanl Wildlife Film Festival. Director, camera, editor, and original score
Pardito: Fishing the Sea of Cortez. 2005. Independently produced film about a traditional fishing village in the Sea of Cortez. Camera, field translator, sound
Wolverines In Wild Places. 2004 Short film about the status of wolverine research in the Northern Rockies for the Wildlife Conservation Society for broadcast on National Geographic Television. Director, camera, editor
Teaching Dinosaurs. 2003. Profile of paleontologist Jack Horner for PBS. Director, additional camera, editor, sound
Strands of Consciousness. 2002. Short film about Montana artist Mark Strand. Runner-Up Best Short Documentary at the Element Film Festival and the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival, Official Touring Selection of the International Festival of Cinema and Technology. Co-director, camera, editor, sound, score
Music
Played professionally (percussion/guitar) with numerous Latin and African music groups including, Les Etudiants de l’Afrique , Los Rumberos, Forty Freedoms and Sambisho. And have played consistently for a variety of African, Brazilian, and Cuban dance classes over the last 12 years.
Toured as a percussionist with the international performing arts group La Caravana for five months in Venezuela and Brazil
Completed over 40 university credits abroad conducting independent studies of Music in Latin America with a focus on the influence of African musical traditions. Studies included trips to Cuba to study Rumba, Brazil to study Samba and Carnaval and 6 months studying traditional, folkloric guitar in Mexico.
Currently a member of West-African inspired performance and recording group, Drum Brothers. www.drumbrothers.com
Teaching Experience
Summer workshop Instructor for International Wildlife Media Center leading week long filmmaking workshops for students and teachers. Included designing curriculum and teaching week-long summer workshops for beginning and intermediate students. Also included filmmaking classes at various high schools as part of the Flagship program as well as filmmaking/media classes for educators. Summer ‘06
Filmmaking teacher for the Flagship Program at Sentinel and Hellgate Highchools in Missoula, MT. 1/06-08
Gymnastics Coach – toddlers through adults including boys and girls teams at Bitterroot Gymnastics and Rocky Mountain Sports and Gymnastics. Travelling gymnastics instructor at “Elite Cheerleading and Dance Camps” at universities across the country. 9/96-4/01
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ADDITIONAL SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE
- Spanish written and spoken fluently
- Finalist Judge for the CINE (Cultures and Issues of Nature and the Environment) film festival in 2007
- Extensive outdoor/mountaineering experience – Research Assistant on numerous wildlife field studies including wolverine, lynx, martin and snowshoe hare
- Extensive sailing and boating experience including deliveries as First Mate on sailboats from 32’-120’ throughout the Americas including New England, Florida, Cuba, BVI’s, Bahamas, Puerto Rico, Central America, West Indies, etc. Detailed experience available upon request.
- Cumulative GPA for undergraduate and graduate work of 4.0
- Outstanding Academic Achievement Award for ACT scores in the top one-tenth of one percent of the country
- Received Discovery Networks Scholarship for graduate filmmaking studies
- Two-time guest speaker on Mexican/American cultural relations at the Centro de Idiomas (Center for Language Studies) at the University of Oaxaca in Oaxaca, Mexico.
- SCUBA certified with over 60 dives logged
References available upon request
