Hi! My name is Daniela Capistrano (@dcap on Twitter and YouTube) and I am a multi-platform producer and journalist, content strategist and youth media consultant. Right now I occupy three worlds: 1) as CEO and Founder of DCAP Media LLC, 2) as the Swing Producer for Digital Content and Community at Current TV, and 3) as founder of POC Zine Project.

My project history at Current TV includes supporting digital production and strategy for all programming, producing & managing the multi-platform extensions for the docu-series “4th and Forever” and managing the launch/production of Scion’s Urban Mobility hub. Before joining Current, I worked for MTV Networks, Discovery, Bravo, A&E, other media companies and non-profits.

I am also a proud Chicana and identify as Queer. While managing Tr3s.com‘s site relaunch and supporting the Tr3s: MTV, Musica y Mas rebrand, I led immigration news coverage for MTV Tr3s in 2010, along with other cool initiatives.

I continue to work with youth organizations on diversity and media literacy projects. Inspired by Lance Weiler, I like to think of myself as a Story Architect.

You might have found my site through a post about being a 2010 Webby Awards honoree for my work with Uncensored Interview, or through my Games for Change Festival coverage. 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 New York City, several cities in California, Washington D.C., Portland, Austin, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Denver, Detroit, several cities in Illinois, New Orleans, Columbus, among many other American cities. I’ve also been to Ontario, Mexico, Jamaica, and lived in Paris for 30 days during a 2010 DIY artist residency. In 2013 I will do more traveling for work, POC Zine Project’s second tour, and my own pleasure. My overall goal in life 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, camera lady and content 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 former 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 was a mentor for Big Brothers Big Sisters from 2006 – 2009. From 2009 – 2010, I provided consulting services and lead workshops for The LAMP NYC and Vision Education & Media (VEMNY), two amazing media resources for parents and educators. I am currently taking foster parent training through You Gotta Believe. For me, the process of becoming a foster-to-adopt parent is the most radical, life-changing form of activism that I have ever experienced (I blog about it at fuckyeahfosterparentsforteens.tumblr.com/).

Best of 2012

Some highlights (you can read a rundown of the past year here):
— Wrote/produced a guide for women seeking careers in video games, based on interviews with over 20 women in the industry.
— Co-produced and participated in a 14-city, 20-event tour for POC Zine Project’s Race Riot! Tour. This included booking and coordinating speaking engagements at six participating universities.
— Made it to the second round of the Sundance Screenwriters Lab with my feature-length script, “Luz,” which I wrote in early 2012. I didn’t make it to the final 12, but this experience was invaluable and inspiring.

Best of 2011

In collaboration with the Barnard Zine Library and For the Birds Collective, POC Zine Project sponsored a zine reading/panel at Barnard on 11/16 called “Meet Me at the Race Riot: People of Color in Zines from 1990 – Today.” I helped coordinate speaker selection/temp housing, moderated the panel and designed the event flyer, which incorporated the cover of RACE RIOT #1. The entire event was dope and inspired me to do more as POC Zine Project this year. Stay tuned …

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 my new role with Current TV, expanding my services through DCAP Media LLC (new web site is in development, stay tuned!), fleshing out my multimedia project about female graffiti artists around the world and their activism, and supporting 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! 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.

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 made the difficult decision to say goodbye, in order to make films and face the abyss. She continues to provide digital and editorial support for specials such as the MTV Video Music Awards, MTV Movie Awards, and Sundance Film Festival coverage.

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 her MTV News adventures right here. For Daniela’s full work history, check out her LinkedIn profile.

Call To Co-Conspirators

Yo! Back in first-person again. 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.

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