KATIE SPONSELLER

SKILLS

EXPERIENCETIMELINE

PLACES

STORY

WORK

SKILLS

EXPERIENCETIMELINE

PLACES

STORY

WORKSTORY

Katie Sponseller is an energetic artist and filmmaker who believes in taking risks - If you win, you will be happy. If you lose, you will be wise. But never taking a risk, means you will never achieve your dreams.

Katie has dedicated herself to making every risk worthwhile and is driven by creativity and innovation. In the last two years alone, she has completed her graduate studies, served as an Amassador for Columbia College Chicago, judged for two international film festivals, collaborated on over thirty film projects, and traveled abroad to Italy, India, and Lebanon to broaden and diversify her studies and experience.

Among several grants and scholarships, her films have screened in festivals across the country, her work is both Telly Award-winning and Emmy-nominated. Katie has worked with Walt Disney Parks & Resorts, where she collaborated on a number of projects for the Magic Kingdom theme park and Downtown Disney. Always curious with a passion for learning, she obtained her B.A. in Mass Media Communication from The University of Akron in 2010 and her M.F.A. in Creative Producing from Columbia College Chicago in 2015.

Katie is presently in development on several projects and hopes to become influential in the entertainment industry through innovative and immersive storytelling.

SKILLS PLACES

HONORS WORDSFollett Merit Scholarship RecipientProduction Fund Award RecipientArt + Activism Award RecipientWalt Disney Quarterly AwardWalt Disney Legacy Award Selection CommitteeThe University of Akron Honors College ScholarThe University of Akron Dean’s ListStudent Success ScholarshipCinemark Merit ScholarshipTelly Award-Winning Student ProductionPixley Communication ScholarshipEmmy-Nominated Student News Production

Leadership

Project Management

Storytelling & Development

Guest Service

Budgeting

Scheduling

Writing

Organization

“I have 3 words for you if you are considering hiring Katie Sponseller: Hire Her Now... In short: If you don’t hire Katie, your competition will. And she will make them more successful.”

“She’s hard working. She meets deadlines. She values quality work and tries to make sure that everything she does is targeted to making a quality product. She will question the process, and try to find ways to improve both the process and the product. She’s a team player who respects others and is able to compro-mise.”

“Katie is extremely reliable, hard working and intelligent.”

“I witnessed Katie turn obstacles and setbacks into learning experiences and applied what she learned to create prob-lem-solving opportunities.”

“Organized, sensible and mature, she is creative and intelligent and able to accomplish any challenge coming her way.”

2010

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2011 201220092008

Received B.A. inMass Media CommunicationThe University of Akron

Moved to Orlando

Magic KingdomProjects TeamWalt Disney Parks & Resorts

WZIP-FM & ZTVProgrammingThe University of Akron

Senior ManagerCinemark, USA

First trip to Disneyland

Traveled to UK

Traveled to Puerto Rico

Ran first 1/2 Marathon

Wild Africa TrekWalt Disney Parks & Resorts

Fell in love with film

Ran first 1/2 Marathon

First trip to Disney World

TIMELINE

Magna Cum Laude & Honors Scholar

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Moved to Chicago

Received M.F.A. inCreative ProducingColumbia College Chicago

Downtown DisneyBusiness RelationsWalt Disney Parks & Resorts

Creative ProducingAmbassadorColumbia College Chicago

Moved to Los Angeles

Traveled to Italy

Traveled to India

Traveled to Lebanon

Skiied for the first time Drove across the countryalong Route 66

Produced first short film

WORK

WORK

AA

AT

P P S’d a v i d k r a v i t z

m a r y m i k v a

l i a s u l l i v a n

a drive down memory lane

written by E M I L Y R A I L S B A C K and J A M E S H E I N E R

starring L I A S U L L I V A N D A V I D K R A V I T Z and M A R Y M I K V A

director of photography I A N M C A V O Y production designer S E A N H I L L S

edited by K Y U S I K G A M and O M A R M O U J A E S

produced by K A T I E S P O N S E L L E R directed by E M I L Y R A I L S B A C K

When her grandfather’s frequent spells of day dreaming become apparent to eleven-year-old Meg, she discovers his ongoing battle with dimentia. She watches as he is restricted by medication, grounded from a drink with dinner, and stripped of the thing he cares about most - his freedom to drive. Meg decides to take a ride on the ‘greaser’ side of things and follows her grandfather’s lead by tossing out the directions. What she finds is that life is all about balance.

AT PAPA’SShort Film 2015Dramedy

Producer & Co-Writer

Inspired by the real-liferelationship with my own grandfather, this story is about living with someone struggling with dimentia.It was tough to watch my grandfather get lost in his own thoughts. It was worse to watch others lose their patience with him in those moments. The film explores how such a relationship can change and grow when loved ones encourage and engage in these moments instead of judge.

2015 Production Fund Award Recipient

2015 Arts + Activism Grant Recipient

Tobin is on a mission to fix the broken pipes in his kitchen. While searching for a plumb-ing reference, he comes across an odd sexual instruction book. Even more odd, he finds an image of his wife plopped right in the center. Tobin lets his insecurity get the best of him and when he goes home to confront her, he finds that things aren’t nearly as broken as they seem.

Based on the short story “Figure 2.1” by Gino Orlandi.

FIGURE 2.1Short Film 2014Comedy

Producer

Figure 2.1 is a film that is equal parts odd and sentimental. Based on a short story of the same title, what attracted us to the story was the way we were dropped right into the shoes of the charac-ters. Insecurity verging on self-hatred can be a plague, but the humorous tone that the material brought helped make a very serious story heartfelt and sincere.

2015 Production Fund Award Recipient

2015 LEAFF Official Selection

2015 Chicago International REEL Shorts Selection

Figure 2.1George Elliot Mary Mikva Guy Wicke

WRITTEN BY James Heiner & Christine Doherty PRODUCED BY

Katie SponsellerDIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY

Connor Weitz PRODUCTION DESIGNER Hendrick OnderdonkEDITED BY

Jordan Nelson SUPERVISING SOUND EDITOR Brad MeyerDIRECTED BY James Heiner

BASED ON THE SHORT STORY “FIGURE 2.1” BY GINO ORLANDI

After recently losing her brother, Maria finds an unlikely friendship in an American traveler. When at times we are afraid to open our own hearts, someone comes and opens it for us. In the same city, Antonino finds inspiration from a local street artist. Amidst all his self-doubt, he comes to learn that beauty is truly in the eye of the behold-er and what better city to discover it than Firenze, Italia?

RINACITADELLA TELAShort Film 2014Drama

Producer

Over the course of an entire summer in Florence, Italy, this film was made using the landscape, people, and culture not only as the props and set pieces but as inspiration for our story. The experi-ence was entirely unique and allowed the opportu-nity for our production team to discover diverse, new perspectives.

Written and produced entirely in Florence, Italy.

In association with the Lorenzo de Medici school and the Global Theatre Project.

Like most middle-schoolers, Reggie is working on his confidence, his French homework, and his luck with the ladies. When a bully at school gets in the way of Reggie asking a girl out, he enlists the help of Pierre - an imaginary Frenchman, romancer, and overall useless mentor. Once he realizes that he doesn’t need anyone but himself, he is able to impress his crush.

USE YOUROUI OUIShort Film 2015Comedy

Producer

The best part of this film has been gearing the story toward a younger audi-ence in order to speak out against school-aged bullying. Behind the scenes, we have been fortunate enough to work with Chicago inner-city youth to provide mentor-ship and educate about team-driven art forms such as film production.

2015 Production Fund Award Recipient

2015 Weisman Award Winner

In association with The Beverly Arts Center

Kiara is a journalist with tunnel vision. Driven by her own selfish needs, her world is rocked when she finds an infant orphaned in an alleyway. She hands the child off and avoids all responsibility but the decision haunts her until she seeks redemption.

Based on a true story and filmed entirely in Mumbai, India.

WITHOUT SOUNDShort Film 2015Drama

1st Assistant DirectorAssociate Producer

One of the most gratifying storytelling experiences I have had to date. Sub-mersed in a new culture and environment, our production team faced several hurdles but came out with an amazing visual product.

2015 Production Fund Award Recipient