John Leben • Media Producer/Director/Writer

321 Lakeshore Drive • PO Box 611 • Douglas, MI 49406 jleben@lebenproductions.com

269-857-4780 (Voice)• 269-857-3905 (Fax)

Website: http://www.LebenProductions.com

Statement:

I’m a creative type with a knack for managing complex projects, motivating a production team and finding unusual ways of delivering messages to difficult audiences. I know how to get things done and how to find the right resources for the projects I tackle. Much of my video work in recent years has been targeted to a teen audience... an audience I respect and relate to at an instinctive level

Education:

Animation Studies– 1974 - University of Illinois/Chicago

MFA/Painting– 1971 - School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture - 1968

BFA/Painting –1968 - University of Illinois/Champaign

Employment:

Working artist/writer – 1977-present

Owner/president - Leben Productions, Inc. – 1980-present

Owner/President – Leben Design – 1977-80

Video Instructor – Grand Valley State University – 1998-99

Art Director – Deltak, Inc. – 1973-77

Drawing Instructor – Prarie State College – 1972-73

Art Supervisor – Blue Island, Illinois Schools K-8 – 1969-71

Art Teacher - St. Anne High School, St. Anne, Illinois – 1968-69

Honors & Awards:

2004 - Communicator: Crystal Award of Excellence for Careers of Counseling

2003 – MI Public Relations Assn: Communications Award for The Road Taken

2001 - ArtServe Michigan Creative Artist Grant

$8000 grant. One of 25 Michigan artists to receive this grant. I produced a video installation piece called “The Haircut” and exhibited it as part of a one-man show at the South Haven Center for the Arts in autumn, 2001.

2000 - Michigan Humanities Council Video Production Grant

$5000 grant for research and scripting of The King of Beaver Island, a 60-minute public television documentary on the life and times of Mormon zealot, James Jesse Strang who, in the 1850’s declared Beaver Island a sovereign kingdom and himself it’s king.

2000 - Cine Golden Eagle Award for Get It Done! Video documentary

1997 - Bronze “Telly” Award for The Lighthouse Keepers documentary

1997 - Honorable Mention: Grand Rapids Film Festival – Lighthouse Keepers

1997 - National “Vision” Award for Painting on Location TV Series

1997 - Bronze “Telly” Award – Painting on Location TV Series

1996 - National “Vision” Award for The Eaton-Bosch Alliance video

1995 - Finalist: Dance in Film – Steps in the Right Direction documentary

1995 - Best Documentary – Grand Rapids Film Festival – Steps in the Right Direction

1994 - Honorable Mention: Infocom Chicago – OUR TOWN: The Making of a Ballet

1994 - Bronze: Worldfest Houston – OUR TOWN: The Making of a Ballet documentary

1994 - Finalist: Danse ’94, Lyon, France – OUR TOWN: The Making of a Ballet

1993 - Gold: Worldfest Houston – Secrets of Successful Innkeeping documentary

1986 - Silver: Houston Int’l Film Festival – Adapt or Die documentary film

1985 - Emmy Nomination – WTTW-Chicago – Art Fair documentary

1971 - Raymond Post Graduate Fellowship – Art Institute of Chicago

$3000 post graduate fellowship for study abroad

1969-71 - Scholarship – School of the Art Institute of Chicago – Full 2-year MFA

1968 - Kunioshi Fellowship - Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture

Fellowship for post BFA study at the Maine summer art school

Television and Video Productions:

I have produced over 200 television programs and videos as head of Leben Productions, Inc. using an ever-evolving collection of media production tools from 16 and 35mm film animation to today’s digital video. I’ve produced numerous videos on social topics for State and government agencies as well as many documentaries for public television including a 26-part series that has aired on over 100 public television stations in the U.S. and Canada. Following is a selection of my productions:

2004 - Careers in Counseling – Writer/Director/Producer – A 15 minute documentary-style video to promote careers in Rehabilitation Counseling.

2004 – Choosing the Right Road - Writer/Director/Producer – A 15 minute documentary-style video to encourage college students to study counseling.

2003 – Adventures in Career Pathways – Writer/Director/Producer - Documentary-style video to encourage Michigan Jr. High students to focus on career planning.

2003 - The Road Taken - Writer/Producer/Director - Lively recruitment video to promote programs at the Van Buren Technology Center.

2003 – The ABCs of Life – Writer/Producer/Director – Inspirational video commissioned by Michigan Family Services to encourage incarcerated youth to mend their ways.

2002 – Career Pathways – Writer/Producer/Director – Documentary commissioned by the State of Michigan to encourage career planning for high school students.

2001 – Choosing Your Future – Writer/Producer/Director – Documentary commissioned by Michigan Rehab Services to encourage the disabled to pursue careers.

2000 - Get It Done! – Writer/Director/Producer – A 15-minute motivational video for the State of Michigan to encourage disabled youth to seek training and careers.

1998 - The Sound of March – Writer/Director/Editor – A 60-minute broadcast

documentary funded by the Holland Zeeland Foundation on the importance of art and music in our schools and community. Broadcast on Michigan public television.

1997 - The Eaton-Bosch Alliance –5-minute corporate image video dramatizing a strategic alliance by staging a near truck collision on a rain-swept highway.

1996 - The Lighthouse Keepers – Writer/Director/Producer – A 60-minute documentary on the evolution of lighthouse keepers in Michigan from guardian to preservationist. Broadcast nationally on public television and The History Channel

1996 - Painting on Location: The Lighthouses of Michigan -Writer/Producer – 13 30-minute programs on the art of watercolor painting with a focus on 13 Michigan lighthouses. Broadcast nationally on public television.

1995 - Painting on Location: The West Michigan Series -Writer/Producer – 13 30-

minute programs on the art of watercolor painting with a focus on Michigan historical and environmental themes. Broadcast nationally on public television.

1995 - OUR TOWN: The Making of A Ballet –Writer/Director/Editor/Producer – 60-minute documentary goes behind the scenes of Grand Rapids Ballet during the

production of this ballet based on the Thornton Wilder play.

1994 - Evolution – Writer/Director/Producer – Nine 3-4 minute videos on the evolution of Motorola’s wireless radio products. Uses IMC Cameramover shooting video in real time on mechanical models made of plexiglass and foam.

1994 - The Test of Time – Director/Producer – 20-minute video produced for Eaton Corporation illustrating the company’s shift from gears to microchips. Features an elaborate scale model shot on 35mm film using an IMC Cameramover combined with live action sequences.

1993 - The Ludington Carferry – Writer/Director/Editor/Producer – 60-minute

historical documentary on the demise and rebirth of the carferry service crossing Lake Michigan between Michigan and Wisconsin. Broadcast on Michigan and Wisconsin Public Television and The History Channel.

1985 - Art Fair – Writer/Director/Editor – 30-minute documentary exploring the motivations and ambitions of art fair artists in Florida. Broadcast nationally on public television.

1985 - Adapt or Die – Designer/Director – 20-minute animated film documentary

dramatizing the importance of adaptability in the Electronics industry.

1980-86 - The Computer Training Library – Director/Producer – Over 100 training videos consisting of 90% animation for IBM mainframe and computer networking training.

For more information and to see samples of my work in video as well as other media, go to my website at: www.LebenProductions.com