Cynthia Neely

Houston, TX USA
Contact

Professional Experience

The hardest part about being a writer is that your head and your heart will never leave you alone. Wake up and an idea comes that's so irresistable your plans for the day get screwed. Research "for just a little while" and the next thing you know hours have flown by - but an awesome article results. Watch the evening news and a deeper story beckons about the little girl whose lemonade stand was robbed by a couple of serious creeps. Hear a politician and disagreement bubbles into a letter to the editor. Writers need a switch to turn ourselves off so we can go on vacation or get a little rest from ourselves. But then again, today I heard a report about a new study proving we humans have specific gut bacteria - just like we have a specific blood type - that when considered in medical treatment can make the difference between life and death. Now, what more can I learn and share about this incredible revelation? The grocery list can wait.

Expertise

Copywriter
20 Years
Producer (television)
10 Years
Promotions
5 Years

Specialty

Arts & Humanities
10 Years
Entertainment
20 Years
Family, Children & Teenagers
10 Years

Industries


Broadcasting - Ent - TV (Local)
5 Years
Magazine - Local/Regional magazines
2 Years
Nonprofit
10 Years

Total Media Industry Experience

25 Years

Media Client List (# assignments last 2 yrs)

Create Magazine (6-10), LAT TV (1-2), Locke Bryan Productions (1-2)

Corporate Client List (# assignments last 2 yrs)

CultureMap.com (10+), Women in Film & Television (10+), Bartlett Communications (3-5)

Other Work History

President, Women in Film & Television/Houston, nine years (non-profit); Writer/Producer for "Good Morning Houston," a daytime talk show (now off the air) on ABC TV affiliate in Houston. It was the number one local talk show in the country of its time; Writer/Producer KTRK TV's early morning "6 AM Edition" (now off the air)

Computer Skills

Word, Excel, Windows XP, Social Networking: Facebook, Twitter, etc.

Equipment

Laptop, digital cameras (Rebel 35 & Cannon), audio recorder

Work Permits & Visas

U.S. passport

References

Camille Bryan, partner/owner of Locke Bryan Productions; Patricia Torres-Burd, director of programming, Houston PBS Television; Neal Hamil, former EVP Ford Models in New York

Awards

First place screenplay awards from Gulf Coast Film Festival, and (two) Rice University screenplay competitions; multiple 2nd and 3rd place awards from other national competitions; first place awards for Broadcast Promotions from BPA, presented in Washington; service award for nine years as president of a Houston non-profit for women who work in the media, Women in Film & Television.

Associations

Women in Film & Television, American Advertising Federation/Houston, Greater Houston Women's Chamber of Commerce, Southwest Alternate Media Project, Only in Houston (creative professionals; founding committee member), Cinema Arts Society (founding member of mayor's task force), Cinema Arts Film Festival Houston (advisory board member), Houston Community College Video/Filmmaking & Audio School (chair, advisory board and former adjunct instructor,writing courses), Indie Film Club (independent filmmakers). Former affiliations: CREATE Magazine (advisory board member and national contributor; the magazine was bought out); Women in Communications Inc (president, Charlotte, NC chapter); American Red Cross (disaster reporter and newsletter editor, Charlotte, NC); American Women in Radio & Television (board member, Charlotte, NC); Broadcast Promotions Association (Charlotte, NC), Charlotte Society of Communicating Arts (president, Charlotte, NC)

Showcase

Arts & Entertainment

Article for online magazine about Big Bang Theory's star's big pay raise
Online magazine news story about the creator and stars of TV's Bones series being honored at Austin, Texas film festival and conference

Real Estate

Article for online magazine about the plight of the unused, neglected "Eighth Wonder of the World," the Houston Astrodome.

Starring Texas!

"Starring Texas!" column for online magazine about independent filmmakers' U.S. debut after their vampire film's world-premiere at Bram Stoker Festival in England. For all columns by Cynthia Neely go to www.culturemap.com and click on her name in the contributors listing