About @dcap

Bio
Hi! My name is Daniela Capistrano (@dcap on Twitter) and I am a multimedia producer, brand strategist and youth media consultant.

I am also a proud Chicana who recently managed immigration news coverage for MTV Tr3s, along with other cool initiatives. I continue to work with youth organizations on diversity and media literacy projects.

If you were exploring my site before reading this bio, you probably noticed the giant promo image that says I am a 2010 Webby Awards honoree. It feels good to know that I thrive in the borderlands of our rapidly converging media landscape.

If you just read that and went “WTF?” it’s OK. That just means I “get” traditional and new media systems, how audiences consume and interact with different kinds of content, and how integrated marketing can meet specific targets WHILE being an immersive, relevant, worthwhile, non-creepy experience. If this paragraph just confused you further, no worries. I care more about this stuff below:

I am a DIY activist and passionate about zine culture. I began the POC Zine Project in January of 2010 to promote diversity in DIY/punk communities as a catalyst for social change.

California is my home state but I gave up road rage and boredom in 2004 for the Big Apple. I consider myself a creative nomad and reside in an increasingly gentrified neighborhood in the South Bronx.

I have traveled to California (duh), Ontario, Colorado, Texas, Illinois and Paris. This fall I will go to Paris again, Hawaii and Mexico. My goal is to travel the world, doing what I love while meeting inspiring people.

Media Background
My credits are fairly comprehensive and include producer, director, 1st AD, editor, writer, camera lady and brand strategist. I am skilled in many facets of traditional and new media production and pride myself on my ability to successfully predict their points of convergence. Yes, I am a big geek and love to share ideas.

In addition to being a digital junkie, I am also a media studies major and Student Senate vet at The New School. I am also a supporter of the Edupunk movement because I taught myself most of my marketable skills and feel that education should be collaborative and free.

Activism
I have been a mentor for Big Brothers Big Sisters since 2006. I also provide consulting services and lead workshops for The LAMP NYC and Vision Education & Media (VEMNY), two amazing media resources for parents and educators.

Best of 2010
In collaboration with Uncensored Interview, I produced original content at SXSW in March, interviewing 15+ bands such as Bomba Estéreo, Surfer Blood, The Crystal Method and more. I made a video diary of my experience for my family:

I am very proud of my collaboration this past Spring with Phipps CDC on a youth-lead documentary addressing gun violence.

The Future
I’m looking forward to expanding my services through DCAP Media (new web site is in development, stay tuned!), shooting a documentary in Paris in September, and working on POC Zine Project. I love my life and I hope you love yours too.

If you’d like to know more about my past projects, keep reading! Otherwise here’s something you HAVE TO watch. Yes, you have to. After it’s over, come back and ask me why I wanted you to see it and I’ll tell you how it relates to something I’m super passionate about. You won’t regret it.

The rest of this will be written in the third-person because it cracks me up.

Best of 2009
In late November, Daniela wrapped a gig as 1st AD/producer for Ben Peyser’s film, ‘DIE CAST.’ It was shot on location in PA and NJ. Pics and a recap to come after she gets some sleep.

In July, Daniela was a panel speaker at BlogHer ‘09 in Chicago. It was her first time on a panel and the experienced rocked her socks off. During the conference, PBS interviewed her for the documentary ‘Digital Nation.’ Here is her segment:

From 2006 to July 28, 2009, Daniela was a staff Associate Producer at MTV News. Daniela made content for all screens and was damn good at it. Nevertheless, she recently made the difficult decision to say goodbye, in order to make films and face the abyss.

Being a creator is risky but Daniela suspects that it’s also extremely rewarding, so she’s going for it.

MTV Memories
Recent highlights include kicking off 2009 by working in D.C. as a shooter/digital producer during MTV’s coverage of the presidential inauguration, where she achieved her personal goal of being in the same room with President Barack Obama. She was also a technical adviser for MTV’s Street Team ‘08, 51 state-based youth journalists who provided local coverage during the 2008 presidential election.

You can read more about my MTV News adventures right here.

Call To Co-Conspirators
Yo! I am looking for opportunities to create art with other artists. I am also interested in short films, group projects, subversive street art and random acts of weirdness. If you are interested in collaborating on any of these things, or just want to say hi =) send me a message. You never know what could happen.