About Sachi Cunningham

Contact Sachi Cunningham

Education:

<b>University of California, Berkeley</b>, Graduate School of Journalism MJ Expected May 2005

Published Stories:

Chasing the Swell: Big Wave Surfing Through the Pacific

The Los Angeles Times

Sachi Cunningham, class of 2005 created a 3 part video/multimedia story for the Los Angeles Times about the growing sport of big wave surfing. Cunningham followed the top big wave riders in the world as they chased swells from Hawaii to California to Mexico during the 2010 season. The story gets into the minds of these dare devils as well as gets behind the science involved with forecasting giant waves.

They've struck oil, but they're not rich -- Cambodian shrimpers do BPs dirty work

latimes.com

Shrimping was Phan Plork's passion, and his livelihood -- until oil fouled the waters off Louisiana. Now Plork, 42, a Cambodian refugee, goes out on the Gulf of Mexico to help in the cleanup. "I'd rather shrimp," he said. "The sooner, the better." Video by Sachi Cunningham for the Los Angeles Times.

FRONTLINE/World video wins SAJA Award

FRONTLINE/World

Sachi Cunningham, class of 2005 and Singeli Agnew, class of 2007 have received a 1st place award for "Outstanding story on any subject: New Media" from the South Asian Journalists Association for the FRONTLINE/World story, "Nepal: A Girl's Life."

J-school Professor and Alum Nominated for 2008 Webby Award

The 2008 Webby Awards

Professor Mimi Chakarova and Sachi Cunningham, class of 2005 have been nominated for a 2008 Webby Award in the Online Film & Video, News and Politics: Individual Episode category for their FRONTLINE/World story, "Dubai: Night Secrets." Vote for the People's Voice Awards before May 1st.

Dubai Documentary Featured on 60 Minutes and Frontline/World

60 Minutes and Frontline/World

Professor Mimi Chakarova and Sachi Cunningham, class of 2005, travel to Dubai to investigate the sex trade for Frontline/World's "Rough Cut" series. Chakarova's photographs and a link to the documentary were also featured on 60 Minutes and 60 Minutes.com.

Nepal: A Girl's Life

Frontline/World

Sachi Cunningham, class of 2005, reports on a reading program in Nepal for Frontline/World's series on social entrepreneurs sponsored by the Skoll Foundation. The video was shot by Singeli Agnew, class of 2007.

Doc is YouTube/Yahoo/Good Morning America's Video of the Week

Good Morning America

Sachi Cunningham (class of 2005) is working on a documentary about a dancer with a hip disability. The work-in-progress was selected as YouTube's top "Featured Video" for October 10, Yahoo's "Top of The 9", and was also broadcast on ABC's Good Morning America.

Thesis Film selected for SF Ocean Film Festival

SF Ocean Film Fest

Sachi Cunningham, class of 2005, will screen her thesis film "Samurai Surfers" at the SF Ocean Film Fest January 14th at 7:30 PM in the Cowell Theater, Fort Mason Center. Camera and sound were done by Brent Huffman, class of 2005 and Daffodil Altan, class of 2004.

Puerto Rico Master's Project Film Wins Award

NYC Surfrider Organization

Samurai Surfers, a Master's project doc produced by Sachi Cunningham, class of 2005, camera Brent Huffman, class of 2005, and sound Daffodil Altan, class of 2004, recently won the National/International Surfrider Environmental Awareness Award at the 1st Annual NYC Surfrider Film Festival.

Samurai Surfers: Eco-Warriors in Puerto Rico

FRONTLINE/World

Sachi Cunningham, class of 2005, reports on a Puerto Rican surfer turned enviornmental activist who wins a case against the Army Corps of Engineers for FRONTLINE/World. The story was shot by Brent Huffman, class of 2005, and sound was recorded by Daffodil Altan, class of 2004.

Awards:

National Scholar, 1990-1994 University Scholar, 1990-1994 Grant from the Center for the Study of Race and Ethnicity for documentary, "Mixed Girls," 1994 Development grant from the Film Arts Foundation for documentary, "Crutch," 2003.

Work Experience:

<b>Director/Producer</b>, "Crutch," Paris, Montreal, Arizona, New York, Los Angeles and Pennsylvania, April 2002 to present. Documented dancer/choreographer Bill Shannon. 3-minute trailer screened in the Bay Area for the Hip Hop Film Festival, in Los Angeles at the LA International Shorts Film Festival, in New York at the H2O Film Festival and in Rotterdam at the Black Soil Film Festival.

<b>Behind the Scenes Videographer/Photographer</b>, "Bandits," MGM Studios, Directed by Barry Levinson, Oregon and California, September 2000 to September 2001. Shot and edited B-roll video featured on the DVD and photographed digital set photos used in the production of a CD-ROM.

<b>Associate Producer</b>, Untitled John Paul II Project, Fulcrum Films, Santa Monica, California, June 2000 to September 2000. Researched and met with writers, wrote the marketing plan and researched the history of JPII.

<b>In-house Coordinator</b>, Cognito Films, Santa Monica, California, June 1999 to July 2000. Wrote bids for clients including E-Trade, Wendy’s, McDonalds, Fisher Price, Ford and Toyota. Interviewed new directors and wrote Director’s treatments.

<b>Development Assistant</b>, Moving Pictures, Santa Monica, California, July 1998 to February 1999. Wrote coverage for Demi Moore’s development company and coordinated writer meetings.

<b>Marketing Director</b>, Cinema City Theaters, Tokyo, Japan, September 1996 to October 1997. Marketed six week sold out run of the "Special Edition Star Wars" and coordinated three-story/six theater premiere party. Conceived, wrote and art directed a monthly theater journal, "Cinema City Look."