Elizabeth Starkey

Freelance Creative Director, Art Director, Videographer, Animator, Designer, and Artist ⚡ Creative Director and Founder at Blazing Fig

New York, NY, USA
I'm an award winning freelance Creative Director, Art Director, Designer, Videographer, Animator, and Artist with eighteen years of experience in creative. My client roster encompasses NBCUniversal, Paramount brands including Comedy Central and MTV, AMC Networks, Food Network, the New York Post, People, Entertainment Weekly, the Upright Citizens Brigade, Edelman, AKA, Situation, VidMob, and many other entertainment and media brands and agencies. My experience includes key art, print and digital design, stop motion and experimental video, motion graphics, content creation, and everything in between. I'm a strong collaborator who enhances visual and narrative projects with personality, spirit, character, and humor. I'm in the process of launching Blazing Fig, a stop motion and experimental video studio that embraces analog creative processes as fresh and unique creative approaches within evolving modern landscapes. Work samples are available at www.elizabethstarkey.com.

Work Experience

Freelance

Freelance Creative Director, Art Director, Videographer, Animator, Designer, and Artist

• Lead and collaborate upon original creative solutions across television, social media, print, out-of-home, and experiential projects, including key art, content creation, motion design and animation, and advertising design
• Execute multifaceted video projects from conception to completion with experience directing, producing, writing, animating, and editing award-winning, engaging short-form videos, including stop motion animation, live action, and motion graphics for use on-air and for social media platforms
• Captivate audiences and propel engagement through custom video and animation content that embraces personality, spirit, character, humor, and strategic experimentation
• Fulfill diverse creative needs of notable clients: NBCUniversal, Paramount brands including Comedy Central, MTV, and Nickelodeon, AMC Networks, Food Network, the New York Post, People, Entertainment Weekly, Edelman, Movement Strategy, AKA, Situation, VidMob, and many other entertainment and media brands and agencies
January 2004 - Present New York, United States

Blazing Fig

Creative Director and Founder

• Establish a solid foundation for an unconventional and subversive video studio through research, strategy, leadership, and an arsenal of creative knowledge and hands-on experience
• Develop custom creative, from attention-grabbing social content and unusual ads to mesmerizing music videos, bumpers, and more, tailored to the unique goals and needs of each client while incorporating best practices for evolving media platforms
• Empower partners to bravely but delightfully stand out in a crowded media landscape by producing disruptive, memorable short-form video content that embraces stop motion animation, experimental live-action, unexpected analog techniques, captivating practical effects, and playful humor to entertain, engage, and build valuable, lasting relationships with fans and followers
December 2020 - Present New York, New York, United States

NBC Universal

Freelance Designer

• Elevated Oxygen’s millennial-driven reality series through compelling key art, logos, video, and photography
• Supported the network’s re-format to true crime with provocative creative, emphasizing emotional connections
• Amplified on-air and social creative by producing and directing inventive crime-themed stop motion animation
May 2016 - April 2017 New York, New York, United States

The Doctor Oz Show

Freelance Art Director and Designer

• Maintained momentum for ongoing projects and spearheaded new endeavors as interim Creative Director
• Strengthened the design and experience of DoctorOz.com through enhanced layouts, features, and capabilities
• Augmented digital franchises and on-air creative with design for ad units, video graphics, social media, and more
April 2015 - May 2016 New York, United States

NBC Universal

Digital Designer

• Supported Bravo as an influential entertainment brand by executing creative for Emmy and Webby-winning digital exclusives, capturing event and talent video, and designing and animating engaging web, social, and on-air content
• Modernized and improved Bravo’s digital experiences by contributing to the network’s responsive site redesign
• Fulfilled sponsors’ expectations with co-branded design and video creative, including ad units and microsites
December 2010 - March 2015 New York, New York, United States

Upright Citizens Brigade

Director and Director of Photography

• Boosted the quality and volume of content for UCB Comedy by directing, shooting, and pitching ideas for original sketch videos, collaborating on scripts, and providing constructive ideas and support throughout each production
December 2011 - December 2013 New York, New York, United States

Gawker Media

Freelance Designer

• Enhanced Gawker, Jezebel, Gizmodo, Lifehacker, and other brand websites with captivating and original content including co-branded interactive experiences, digital ads, video, and motion graphics
March 2010 - December 2010 New York, New York, United States

Rocketdog Creative Studio

Freelance Artist and Designer

• Strengthened numerous successful branding, marketing, and advertising campaigns and pitches through playful motion graphics, imaginative brand and event videos, innovative stop motion animation, and engaging digital ads
March 2010 - December 2010 New York, New York, United States

Clear Channel Radio

Producer and Designer

• Elevated and modernized web experiences, digital ads and promotions, video content, and other co-branded and sponsored media for Clear Channel’s New York radio stations, partners, and sponsors
October 2008 - January 2010 New York, New York, United States

Hannon Hill

Video and Multimedia Producer

• Promoted brand awareness and strengthened client relationships by producing marketing videos and podcasts, documenting events, and creating product training videos and animations
September 2006 - September 2008 Atlanta, Georgia, United States

Whole World Theatre

Audio, Lighting, and Camera Technician

• Produced quality live theatre experiences by directing audio, video, and lights while collaborating closely with directors, actors, and crew
February 2007 - September 2008 Atlanta, Georgia, United States

Atlanta College Of Art

Equipment Cage Manager and Video Department Monitor

• Supported faculty by coaching students with video and audio equipment and software, assisting instructors with classes, and maintaining production gear
January 2004 - May 2006 Atlanta, Georgia, United States

Partizan

Music Video Production Intern

• Provided hands-on support by embracing music video pre-production, camera, and casting responsibilities while gaining valuable on-set experience with notable directors, producers, and crew
June 2005 - September 2005 Los Angeles, California, United States

Education

Atlanta College Of Art

Bachelor of Fine Arts, Film and Video

• Summa cum laude, GPA: 3.8097
• Numerous scholarships and student awards
• Artist residency at the Experimental Television Center
September 2002 - May 2006 Atlanta, Georgia, United States

Languages

English (Native),

Awards

New York Foundation For The Arts

New York City Artist Corps Grant

Final Draft

Final Draft Big Break Screenwriting Contest (finalist)

Academy Of Television Arts & Sciences

Interactive Emmys (contributed), various

Webby Awards

Webby Awards (contributed), various

Paper Magazine & Jack Spade

Paper Magazine & Jack Spade Un-Hollywood Digital Film Contest

Atlanta College Of Art

Student Artist Book Competition, Rich Foundation Merit Scholarship, Nannie Boyd graduating senior award, various juried screening awards, etc.

Skills

Adobe After Effects, Adobe Creative Cloud, Adobe Dreamweaver, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Indesign, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Premiere, Advertising Design, Animation, Art, Art Direction, Cinematography, Comedy, Content Creation, Creative Direction, Digital Art, Digital Design, Dragonframe, Entertainment, Facebook, Final Cut Pro, Graphic Design, Illustration, Infographics, Instagram, Key Art, Lighting, Logic Pro, Logo Design, Mixed Media, Motion Graphics , Music Video Production, Photography, Post Production, Print Design, Pro Tools, Screenwriting, Snapchat, Social Design, Social Media, Stop Motion, Storyboarding, Television, Tiktok, Twitter, Video, Video Direction, Video Editing, Video Production, Web Design,

Professional Development

• Queens Economic Development Corporation: Comprehensive Small Business Training Program
• NYC Department of Small Business Services: FastTrac NewVenture for the Female Entrepreneur
• PhotoUno Photography School
• 92Y School of the Arts
• Academy of Television Arts & Sciences
• NBCUniversal In Development: A Cable Entertainment Mentor Program
• 90 Day Business Launch
• The Peoples Improv Theater: Professional Writing
• Magnet Theater: Sketch and Improv
• The Upright Citizens Brigade: Advanced Study Writing, Sketch Comedy, Improv, Character Development, Career Development
• Television writing workshops including sessions with writers of Saturday Night Live, Monty Python, the Tonight Show, the Late Show, the Daily Show, and more
• Whole World Theatre: Improv
• Dad’s Garage Theatre: Improv

Recognition

• Contributed to projects honored with Emmy Awards, Webby Awards, Telly Awards, Cablefax Awards, Promax Awards, and more
• Selected by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs and New York Foundation for the Arts for a 2021 New York City Artist Corps Grant with a public showcase of work
• Prizes, honors, and scholarships include the Final Draft Big Break Screenwriting Contest, Paper Magazine & Jack Spade Un-Hollywood Digital Film Contest, and various juried awards
• Screenings of film and video work at national film festivals, venues, and on television networks
• Articles about work have appeared in publications including Paper Magazine, SPIN Magazine, Performer Magazine, ARTnews, and the Toronto Star