INDUSTRY NEWS

CONTENT DEVELOPMENT PRODUCER, W+K STUDIOS, WIEDEN+KENNEDY

Serita Wesley is a 2004 graduate of Howard University’s School of Communications; with a bachelor of arts in radio, television and film production. Serita got her start in the entertainment industry as executive assistant to the President of MTV Networks Group, and a production assistant traveling with the season 4 auditions of American Idol. She began her decade-long career in reality television casting on ABC’s “Wife Swap,” and went on to work for networks such as; Fox, MTV, HGTV, TLC, OXYGEN and VH1.

As a lifelong comedy fan, Serita studied sketch comedy writing and improv performance with The People’s Improv Theater (The PIT) of New York, and Chicago’s Second City, from 2008 – 2011.

Now in Portland, Oregon; Serita is the Content Development & Podcast Producer for W+K Studios, the entertainment division of, Wieden + Kennedy. Serita is also the co-founder, host and producer of the 2019 iHeart Radio Podcast Award nominated, On She Goes the podcast, A travel and lifestyle podcast for women of color. As Wieden + Kennedy’s only podcast producer, she also produces two other agency podcasts, La Receta and Affinity Talks, both focused on giving the spotlight to under-represented voices.

As a writer, Serita enjoys writing and developing comedy series where the main characters are people of color, primarily, women of color; with relatable cross-cultural humor.

ANIMATION DIRECTOR, INSTRUMENT

Nic A is an Animation Director from Portland, Oregon. He spent a decade in the craft as a motion designer and video editor working throughout the creative industry. He currently focuses on directing and facilitating animation and motion design projects.

Nic A graduated from the University of Oregon College of Design with a B.S. in Digital Art where he focused on video art & design. His list of collaborators & clients includes Dropbox, Google, Sonos, Nike, Adidas, Patagonia, and more.

Nic A currently runs the Visual Craft team at Instrument in Portland, Oregon. Visual Craft is responsible for elevating the visual output of Instrument and oversees all motion design, animation, video editing, and illustration.

FILM DIRECTOR

Chad Murdock is a film director, writer, editor, and composer currently based in Portland, Oregon, as a filmmaker with Wieden + Kennedy. He recently graduated from the School of Visual Arts in New York with his BFA in Film Directing, where he completed his senior thesis film Fathers & Sons (2019), and worked with major brands such as Nike, Valentino, Facebook, and The Break. Chad's short films have played in festivals and cities around the world, and his films have recently been featured in Free the Work, No Budge, and other online platforms.

FOUNDER, WRITER & DIRECTOR, NOCTURNAL UNIFORM PRODUCTIONS

Based in Portland, OR, Alberta Poon is a first-generation Chinese-American writer and director. The creative aura surrounding her work emanates from years of fronting musical acts, developing shorts for her comedic web series Scorpiono, and working with her hands as a metalsmith. Alberta’s process begins with lived experience and is filtered through a fantastical, comedic lens. Her eye for detail and ability to bring out the best of her subjects are key elements of her work -- whether she is directing live action or developing stories in post. On principle, Alberta strives for diversity and the incorporation of powerful female characters to tell their exceptional stories. A common thread that ties her work together is inclusivity within underrepresented communities, both in front and behind the camera. Alberta’s films have been screened in the Tacoma Film Festival, SPLIFF, Local Sightings Film Festival, and her work has been featured in Vogue (twice), Broccoli Magazine, Ads of the World, Campaign US, and The Portland Mercury.

FOUNDER & EXECUTIVE CREATIVE PRODUCER, REVERY

Davis Priestley is Founder and Executive Creative Producer for Revery, a storytelling studio based in Portland, Oregon. Over two decades, his work across commercial, narrative, and documentary projects has been guided by bringing diversity of stories and storytellers to the screen.