Documentary Director (Higher Ed in Prison)

Are you passionate about filmmaking, and ensuring incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people have access to educational opportunities? Join Roadtrip Nation as our next Documentary Director and help shed light on the transformative power of education in prison.

Roadtrip Nation is an innovative, regional-Emmy award-winning production company creating life-changing experiences, documentaries, online resources and education. We are on a mission to empower people with diverse backgrounds to create their own stories and define their own roads in life!

About This Project

Today, over 2.3 million adults in the United States are incarcerated—64% of which are eligible for postsecondary education. Yet, for most of them, formal education remains out of reach. Made possible with support from Ascendium, Roadtrip Nation is developing a Higher Education in Prison Storytelling Initiative for a group of formerly incarcerated individuals who have taken advantage of education opportunities while behind bars. The team will take a journey together to interview other formerly incarcerated individuals who have participated in higher education programs in prison and, as a result, have built successful careers since their release.

We aim to tell stories of resilience, transformation, and hope, while highlighting the broader systemic challenges incarcerated learners face. This film will inspire stakeholders to advocate for and increase access to these life-changing educational programs, showing that incarceration is not the end of someone’s professional or educational potential.

What does typical work in this position involve?

• Roadtripper Application & Selection: Reviewing applications to select "roadtrippers" to serve as project talent. Collaborating with the Producer and Talent Producer to narrow down applicants through interviews and calls, ultimately selecting the finalists.
• Pre-Production: Handling creative and logistical planning for the roadtrip, which includes developing story arcs, filming backstory, selecting interviews, scheduling, route planning, and conducting roadtripper training and onboarding. Working closely with the production team, especially the Producer, on concept elements like route planning, talent selection, scheduling, and storyboarding.
• Production: Facilitating the roadtrip experience by filming interviews, reflections, travel scenes, leading the crew in the field and living and working on the RV for a portion of the trip. Directing and shooting episodic documentary content for broadcast, online videos, promos, and other RTN and partner content per the creative brief. Overseeing technical operations, including camera equipment, audio, grip, and lighting, and supervising crew in these areas. Directing interviews and documentary scenes and creating detailed field notes.
• Post-Production: Create episode storyboards based on field notes and footage, highlighting interview transcripts for editors, providing review notes in screenings, directing editors through the initial assembly through final picture lock, color, and audio.

What will set me up for success in this role?

• A strong connection to the project’s themes, with a passion for providing educational opportunities for currently and formerly incarcerated individuals
• The ability to uphold cultural sensitivity to capture the experience of formerly incarcerated individuals
• Ability to think creatively but also follow direction and operate efficiently under project requirements
• Thorough knowledge of production equipment, such as camera, audio, lights, media workflow and capture settings
• Experience with common production elements including pre-production planning, camera operation, lighting, and audio
• Excellent storytelling, project management and organizational skills
• Excellent leadership, communication, and coaching skills to work with the crew and subjects
• Cultural sensitivity and an ethical approach to telling stories of vulnerable or marginalized populations
• 5+ years experience in directing with a background in roles such as: documentary, reality, video production, bachelor’s degree in broadcasting, or similar field. Emphasis on cinematography, a degree from a film academy, related area of study or similar work experience
• 1+ years of experience in employee or crew management, preferred
• Awards and/or previous film or video examples/samples is a plus 

Production Notes

• This job may require driving on occasion as an essential part of the role, which requires holding an active driver’s license, passing a DMV background check, and ability to take and pass RV drivers training (held by Roadtrip Nation).
• Your health and safety, and the safety of our team is our main priority. Roadtrip Nation has proactively addressed health and safety concerns by establishing a strict COVID-19 Filming Guidelines Manual and training our production crews on the standards and procedures therein.

Many routes, one journey

Roadtrip Nation is an Affirmative Action / Equal Opportunity employer. Our mission is to empower people to define their own roads in life. We are always looking to grow the diversity of our internal teams, in order to create richness and depth in our story-telling and fully represent the populations in which we serve. Every story and background adds richness to our culture, and we continually strive to mirror that diversity of stories on our own team. When we hire, we envision a workforce representing as many backgrounds, identities, and roads as possible. We can’t wait to hear more about your story.

Note: Research suggests that individuals identifying as Black, Latinx, Asian, Pacific Islander, Indigenous, members of the LGBTQIA community, women, and people living with disabilities may self-select out of opportunities if they don’t meet 100% of the job requirements. We encourage individuals who believe they have the skills necessary to thrive at Roadtrip Nation to apply for this role.

How do I apply?Please submit your cover letter and resume at https://www.roadtripnation.com/join-our-team