ABOUT THE FILMMAKER
Chuck Olsen is a cofounder of The UpTake, a non-profit dedicated to training and distriibuting the work of video-based citizen journalists. He is also the founder of Minnesota Stories, called one of the best videoblogs by the New York Times. He is the producer-director of "Blogumentary," the first documentary film about the rise of political and personal blogs. His work has screened at the Walker Art Center, Get Reel Documentary Film Festival, Harvard University, and on renegade laptops all around the world. He is the Minneapolis correspondent for Rocketboom and works as a freelance producer, videographer, editor and educator.

Chuck was the first credentialed blogger at Minnesota's state DFL convention in 2004. He produced a successful online campaign ad for Keith Ellison, now the first Muslim congressman in the United States. He was also involved in Sen. John Edwards YouTube announcement of his 2008 presidential bid, and documented citizen journalists on the Edwards campaign trail.

In a previous life, Chuck was Senior Web Producer at Twin Cities Public Television where he managed the design, technology, and strategy of the corporate web site serving many audiences. He was an early proponent of online video and helped produce companion web sites for numerous PBS programs including American High and Liberty! The American Revolution. More recently, Chuck worked as a media specialist at Clockwork Active Media Systems.

Chuck's personal blog was nominated for Best Weblog at South By Southwest Interactive Festival in 2004.

Chuck has spoken about blogs, videoblogs, and journalism around the country, including: SXSW 2006, Vloggercon, Woods Hole Film Festival, International Symposium on Local E-democracy, International Symposium on Online Journalism, Preview Forum, Twin Cities Citizen Media Fair, Minnesota Public Radio, Twin Cities Public Television, and numerous colleges.

EMAIL: chuckolsen [at] gmail [dot] com
PHOTOS: Flickr
CAT: mookiTV