J. RYAN PARKER Los Angeles, CA jamesryanparker@gmail.com EDUCATION ACT ONE, Los Angeles, CA May 2013- Aug. 2013 Producing and Entertainment Executives Program Participated in a ten-week series of intensive lectures, workshops, and discussions that provided a comprehensive overview of film-finance, creative development, production, marketing, distribution, and exhibition. Examined the intersections of faith and film and the spiritual journey of a Christian in the entertainment industry. Established connections with top producers and executives working in the industry. GRADUATE THEOLOGICAL UNION, Berkeley, CA Aug. 2006- May 2011 Doctor of Philosophy Enrolled in the Arts and Religion area focusing on the relationship between film and religion. Awarded a Newhall Grant to update and co-teach Religion and the Cinema with Professor Michael Morris, Fall 2008. Art and Religion Area Assistant, 2008-2009. Student Member of Sacred Texts Committee, Fall 2008-Spring 2011. Center for Anglican Leadership and Learning Media Fellow, Fall 2009-Spring 2011. Center for the Arts, Religion and Education Associate, Fall 2009-Spring 2010. Completed Comprehensive Exams in Spring 2009. Topics included contemporary religious cinema, representations of Jesus in film history, the aesthetic parallels between the westerns of John Ford and the landscape paintings of Caspar David Friedrich, and the creation of a documentary short film, The Fair. February 2, 2011, Successfully defended dissertation (no revisions), Ministers of Movies: Sherwood Baptist Church and the New Christian Cinema, which was subsequently published by McFarland & Co. WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY, Winston-Salem, NC Aug 2002- May 2005 Master of Divinity Spent a semester abroad studying spirituality and the arts and British Baptist history and interning at Bloomsbury Central Baptist Church in London, England. Research assistant for Dr. Bill Leonard s book, Baptists in America. Completed senior thesis, Awakened to Life: Finding Our Identities in Contemporary Film, examining the relationship between faith/theology and film in the areas of identity and vocational call.
MISSISSIPPI COLLEGE, Clinton, MS Aug 1998- May 2002 Bachelor of Arts in English Participated in a study abroad semester in London, England. Completed minor in history. Honors Thesis: A Sense of Belonging: Regionalism in Willie Morris s North Toward Home. Graduated Cum Laude with Honors. EMPLOYMENT WIT PR (FILM), Los Angeles, CA March 2015-present Marketing and Development Created and implemented marketing strategies for independent and studio films, wrote faith and family study guides to accompany films, organized advanced screenings of films for faith leaders, press, and bloggers, and organized and lead set visits for faith leaders and press on domestic and international productions. Developed new film and television content for production and sourced scripted content for development and completed independent films for distribution. ASPIRATION MEDIA & DIFFERENT DRUMMER (FILM), Los Angeles, CA Manager of Operations and Content Development Feb. 2014-Feb. 2015 For Aspiration Media, sourced independent films for acquisition and distribution, covered scripts for potential production investment, and planned distribution strategies for acquired films. For Different Drummer, created and implemented marketing strategies for independent and studio films, wrote faith and family study guides to accompany films, organized advanced screenings of films for faith leaders, press, and bloggers, and organized and lead set visits for faith leaders and press on domestic and international productions. LOITER SQUAD (TV), Burbank, CA Oct. 2013-Feb. 2014 Creative Assistant Tracked pitches from the writers room to weekly producers meetings and on to production. Created and compiled treatments and beat sheets for weekly episodes. Tracked communication between the network and legal representatives and executive producers. SKYDANCE TELEVISION, Paramount Pictures, Hollywood 2013-Oct. 2013 Intern Script coverage and book summaries. Extensive research into the state of television development. Covered assistants desks. Aug.
WHITAKER ENTERTAINMENT, Disney Studios, Burbank July 2013- Oct. 2013 Intern Heavy script coverage and book summaries. Participated in weekly staff meetings. Covered assistants desks. Editorial Assistant Finalized production documents for the documentary film series, Project Rebirth. DICKHOUSE PRODUCTIONS, Paramount Pictures, Burbank June 2013- Aug. 2013 Intern General office runs. Script coverage. Completed, edited, and filed production paperwork. Production Assistant Snackdown (television pilot for MTV) Bad Grandpa (feature for Paramount) ONE YEAR OF WORLD TRAVEL Jan. 2012-Dec. 2012 Began in Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, and Laos visiting historical and religious sites. Traveled back west through Turkey, Germany, Czech Republic, Hungary, France, and England. Volunteered at the International Baptist Theological Seminary in Prague. Gained extensive cross-cultural and interreligious experience while improving flexibility in budgeting, planning, and communication skills. Authored a travel blog during this time abroad: www.parkersandrecreation.com. GRADUATE THEOLOGICAL UNION, Berkeley, CA Sep. 2006- Jan. 2011 Mailroom Assistant and Coordinator Oversaw the delivery of incoming and outgoing mail for the administrative offices of the Graduate Theological Union and its nine member schools. ACTIVE VOICE, San Francisco, CA Sep. 2007- Sep. 2008 Project Coordinator Project Coordinator for RENEWAL, a documentary focusing on the religious environmental movement. Coordinated religious and secular screenings to link environmental, civil, and NGO groups with religious communities to effect positive change in their communities.
JOURNAL OF PASTORAL PSYCHOLOGY, San Anselmo, CA 2006-Aug. 2008 Associate Editor Proof-read and organized submissions for publication. Oct. WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY, Winston-Salem, NC Summer 2004 Development Office Assistant Cooperative Baptist Fellowship representative for the Wake Forest University Divinity School. Wrote grant requests for divinity school assistance. Contacted donors for stewardship campaigns. BLOOMSBURY CENTRAL BAPTIST CHURCH, London, England June 2003; Spring 2004 Ministry Intern Provided ministry support for a c. 200-member Baptist church in central London. Preached in and helped lead Sunday worship. Ministered to the homeless, outside groups using the church s facilities, and visitors to the church s Welcome Center. Lectured on depictions of Jesus in the arts. Dialogued with ministers in an ecumenical setting about similarities and differences between urban ministries in the United Kingdom and the United States. HOSPICE OF FORSYTHE COUNTY, Winston-Salem, NC Fall 2003 Chaplain Intern Intern for Hospice s Community Partnership for End of Life Care. Planned and implemented Community Partnership programs in new churches to minister to the bereaved. Ministered to the terminally ill, the dying, and their loved ones. Created a resource pack for ministers with discussion questions around films that include themes of death and dying. NORTHSIDE BAPTIST CHURCH, Clinton, MS Aug 2001-Aug 2002 Youth Ministry Intern Organized ministries in partnership with the youth minister for a church youth group of approximately 30 students. Planned and implemented summer missions program in the community and state. Organized and helped supervise a summer trip to Passport and a weekend Disciple Now youth retreat. Developed and led Bible and theology studies. PUBLICATIONS Books
Parker, J. Ryan. Cinema as Pulpit: Sherwood Pictures and the Church Film Movement. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Co. Publishers, 2012. Mills, Tony, John W. Morehead, and J. Ryan Parker, eds. Joss Whedon and Religion: Essays on an Angry Atheist s Explorations of the Sacred. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Co. Publishers, 2013. Articles Borderline Funny: Comedy Eases Tension in Mid-East Films. Jewish Film World 3.2 (Summer 2008): 9, 14-15. Imagining a Better Way: Ben X and Marjorie Suchocki s The Fall to Violence: Original Sin in Relational Theology, in Light Shining in a Dark Place: Discovering Theology Through Film. Ed. Jeff Sellars. Eugene, Oregon: Pickwick Publications, 2012. Negotiating (Non)Existence: Justifications of Violence in Robert Kirkman s The Walking Dead, in The Undead and Theology. Ed. John W. Morehead and Kim Paffenroth. Eugene, Oregon: Pickwick Publications, 2012. Mel Gibson s The Passion of the Christ, in Encyclopedia of Religious Controversies in the United States, 2 nd edition. Ed. Jill Y. Crainshaw and Bill J. Leonard. ABC-CLIO, 2012. Motion Pictures and Religious Controversies, in Encyclopedia of Religious Controversies in the United States, 2 nd edition. Ed. Jill Y. Crainshaw and Bill J. Leonard. ABC-CLIO, 2012. As It Ever Was...So Shall It Never Be: Penal Substitutionary Atonement Theory and Violence in The Cabin in the Woods, in Joss Whedon and Religion: Essays on an Angry Atheist s Explorations of the Sacred. Ed. Tony Mills, John W. Morehead, and J. Ryan Parker. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Co. Publishers, 2013. On-line March 2007-Present: Creator and editor of and main contributor to Pop Theology (www.poptheology.com), a website that explores the intersections of religion, theology, and popular culture. Film Review: No Country for Old Men. The Journal of Religion and Film 11.2 (October 2007). Available from: http://www.unomaha.edu/jrf/vol11no2/reviews/nocountry.htm. Film Review: Wendy and Lucy. The Journal of Religion and Film 13.1 (April 2009). Available from: http://www.unomaha.edu/~jrf/vol13.no1/reviews/wendylucy.htm. Forgiveness and Human Existence: A Superhuman Power? Patheos (May 25, 2009). Available from: http://www.patheos.com/resources/additional-resources/forgivenessand-human-existence.html. Manipulating Time and Constructing Memories: Cinema as a Sacred Site for Reflection on Traumatic Experiences. Cinemascope Independent Film Journal. (Fall 2013). Available from http://www.cinemascope.it. Fury s Director Explains the Film s Theology: An Interview with David Ayer. Relevant Magazine. (October 24, 2014). Available from http://bit.ly/1v6vzwk. ACADEMIC CONFERENCES AND PRESENTATIONS Using Film Clips in Worship, A Seminar for Introduction to Christian Worship, Graduate Theological Union, April 2009.
Faith-Based Film History and Film-Based Faith History: An Integrative Pedagogy of Religious Studies and Film History. Visual Literacy and Faith-based Education Conference, Graduate Theological Union, October 10, 2009. Life After Death: Independent Religious Filmmaking in a Post-Passion World, American Academy of Religion Annual Conference, Montreal, November 2009. Filming Revolutions: Faith-based Filmmaking After Google, Theology After Google Conference, Claremont School of Theology, Claremont, California, March 2010. True Blood, Real Life?: Religious Fundamentalism, (Non)Violence, and the American South in True Blood, Open Graves, Open Minds: Vampires and the Undead in Modern Culture Conference, University of Hertfordshire, Hertfordshire, England, April 2010. Film-watching and Filmmaking as Spiritual Practice, Alliance of Baptists Annual Convocation, Pacific Grove, California, July 29-August 1, 2010. Choice Matters: The Evolution of Video Games as Locations for Ethical and Theological Reflection, American Academy of Religion Annual Conference, Atlanta, Georgia, November 2010. Behind the Scenes, on the Screen, and Behind the Camera: African Americans and Film History, Black History Month Forum, Lakeshore Avenue Baptist Church, Oakland, CA, February 2011. It s So Easy, a Church Can Do It: Independent Filmmaking and the Church Film Movement, Pop Culture Association Annual Conference, San Antonio, Texas, April 2011. Religious Liberty and Social Media, Pacific Coast Baptist Association, Walnut Creek, California, May 2011. Film History and Church History, Saint Ignatius College Preparatory Faculty Continuing Education Forum, San Francisco, California, November 2011. The Church Film Movement, Doctoral Seminar, International Baptist Theological Seminary, Prague, Czech Republic, October 2012. TEACHING EXPERIENCE Teaching Assistant for Religion and the Cinema, Fall 2008. Teaching Assistant for Theological Reflections on Contemporary Cinema, Spring 2009. Theological Crises and the Development of American Cinema, Fall 2009. Religion and the Cinema, Spring 2011. REFERENCES Available upon request.