Melissa Ulto Bio
http://multo.com/multovideos/Melissa_Ulto_Reel.flvMelissa Ulto is a multidisciplinary artist who utilizes modern and traditional mediums to create her works. Melissa currently resides in New York, working professionally as a photographer, filmmaker, designer, VJ and artist. She has performed as a guest video artist at the MoMA and the Brooklyn Museum of Art, and continues to show her work internationally. She is a published writer and poet.
As a filmmaker, Melissa produces, directs, writes, shoots and edits documentaries and experimental films. She began her career in music videos and working for MTV in production. Melissa honed her documentary skills at Columbia University’s Center for New Media Teaching and Learning. As Senior Digital Video Specialist, her team was a one-stop shop, creating short and long form documentary pieces for online learning environments. In 2005, Melissa edited the film “The Art of Love & Struggle”. As a director of photography, Melissa shot for the documentary, “Art & Apathy”, on location in Israel. In 2006, Melissa edited “Death Before Dishonor”, a documentary exploring the anti-snitching movement, and “The Mighty Humble Blueberry”, a documentary about Elizabeth White. In 2007, Melissa went on tour with G Love & Special Sauce, as VJ and live video tech. In 2008, the film “Mandatory Service”, for which Melissa was the director of photography, won best short at the Tribeca Film Festival. Her pieces on Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton were featured on the front page of “The Huffington Post”, through her urban reporting site, UrbNews.tv. She also shot and edited over 400 pieces of webisode content for a variety of new .tv sites, including Broadway.tv.
In 2008, Melissa built a $250k full service production studio, based in the Fashion District of New York City. She produced & directed some incredible webisodes with interview subjects Arturo Vega, Ken Aretsky and many other city insiders.
In 2009, Melissa’s projects included EPKs for artists, websites for docs, and WCBS spots. She edited the B Girl doc “All The Ladies Say”, working closely with director Ana Rokafella Garcia. Melissa also directed and produced “From 0 to 90″, a doc about Obama’s first 90 days in office. Melissa launched a eco filmmaking web effort called the Lifeline, focusing on blog development, video content creation, streaming technologies and sponsorship materials.
In 2010, Melissa’s work in short form video and blog/streaming technologies garnered new clients looking to extend their content online and in live presentations. Aquila Productions contracted Melissa (as VJ Miixxy) to create custom animations and run the visuals for Chevy Volt reveal at the 2010 Detroit Auto Show. Her work with Bader TV News extended to a complete company technology overhaul and streaming media strategies for their clients, including streaming live from the 2010 Washington DC Auto Show floor.
Melissa has also produced the live streaming show Morning Glory with Danny Boome, through Crash Bang Boome Productions (a collaborative effort between Boome and Ulto), and live streaming events for churches, performances and concerts. Her skills a streaming expert are in demand as the streaming becomes viable to more people at a lower price point. Melissa has been riding the bleeding edge of streaming technologies for over 10 years and is thrilled to see the medium finally gaining traction.
In 2011, Melissa live streamed for the United Palace Cathedral, prepping them to broadcast on their own. She also live streamed for Apartment Therapy’s Design Talks, an international dance festival at the Baryshnikov Arts Center and for several digital media conferences. She also became a VCAM Outreach Representation for Current TV’s ad sales department, recruiting producers to created ads for brands. She continues to work with non-profits and activist groups on their media and online presence, working to make their processes easier and more efficient. She officially joined the board of RememberWilliamson.org, and is the organization’s web and media expert, helping found an effort with Kobelah Bennah to combat big business and union busting by supporting union media outreach.
Melissa also created, with Seema Kalia, a scathing parody of District Attorney Cy Vance’s handling of the DSK case and Wall Street corruption, in hopes to point out the deeper issues with the D.A.’s office: http://vimeo.com/25966892
What happens when you follow the money? RAZZLE DAZZLE!!!!
Legal memorandum as depicted through toys.
created by M. Ulto/multo.com
Melissa is currently editing her footage from her performance art tour in October 2010 of Europe, raising finishing funds and finishing up post production on “From 0 to 90″, planning her next documentary about women shaman in the Amazon (if she ever gets a free moment). Looking forward, Melissa is developing ROKU and other set top device channels for her clients and activist activities.
Melissa is also an educator, having taught seminars on democratizing media, critical thinking, social activism, vodcasting and production processes. She enjoys sharing her knowledge and experience with aspiring filmmakers. Melissa is featured in several books & documentaries, including “The VJ Book”, “Women by Women”, “Art or Something Like It”, “Video Out”, and in the upcoming book “Fresh, Bold, and So Def: Women in Hip-Hop Changing the Game”.
Awards:
“Mandatory Service”
WiNNER Best Short Documentary
Tribeca Film Festival – 2008 – Director of Photography
“The Mighty Humble Blueberry”
WINNER Best Home Grown Short
Garden State Film Festival – 2007 -Editor/Writer/Animator
WINNER Codes Pro Media ReelHeart Award
ReelHeart International Film Festival – 2007 – Editor/Writer/Animator
Official Selection
Gloria Film Festival – 2007 – Editor/Writer/Animator
Official Selection
NJ International Film Festival – 2007 – Editor/Writer/Animator
“The Art of Love & Struggle”
Official Selection
Pan African Arts & Film Festival – 2008 – Editor/Writer/Animator
Official Selection
Hip Hop Odyssey Film Festival – 2007 – Editor/Writer/Animator
“SheStory.tv”
Official Selection
Olhares Pocket Film Festival – 2007 – Producer/Director/Editor
