About DCAP

My name is Daniela Capistrano (@dcap on Twitter) and I am a storyteller,Â journalist, content strategist and media consultant. I founded DCAP Media LLC to work on creative projects with inspiring folks around the world.

My most recent staff gig was supporting digital content and communityÂ at Current TVÂ from 2010 – 2013. I stayed on to assist its transition into Al Jazeera America, contributing to production and information architecture needs.

My project history at Current TV includes contributing to and advising on strategy for all programming, co-producing & managing the multi-platform extensions for the docu-series “4th and Forever” and managing the launch/production of Scion’s Urban Mobility hub. I worked on original content and community initiatives, as well as integrated marketing campaigns.

Before joining Current, I worked for MTV Networks, Discovery, Bravo, A&E, other media companies and nonprofits. Most folks usually find me online through my work with MTV News, where I Â supported digital production, broadcast and community needs from 2006-2009.

I like to work with a wide range of people, particularly on creative projects and in the interest of social good. In 2010, while managing Tr3s.com‘s site relaunch and supporting the Tr3s: MTV, Musica y Mas rebrand, I led immigration news coverageÂ andÂ covered music, film festivals, politics and more.

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. Here’s some other stuff:

I am a DIY activist and passionate about independent media. I began the POC Zine Project in January of 2010 to promote diversity in DIY/punk communities as a catalyst for social change and to help make zines by people of color easy to find, distribute and share.

California is my home state but I gave up road rage and boredom in 2004 for the Big Apple. I left NYCÂ in 2013 to join my family in New Orleans, where I eat delicious meals every day and appreciate local talent, music, community and the emerging startup and independent film industries.

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. My only bucket list item is to travel the world and doing what I loveâ€”while meeting inspiring people!

Media Background

My credits are fairly comprehensive and include associate producer, digital 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 completed foster parent training through You Gotta BelieveÂ and plan on adopting an older child someday.

I continue to work with youth organizations on diversity and media literacy projects. Inspired byÂ Lance Weiler, I like to think of myself as a Story Architect. I founded the POC Zine Project in 2010, which is an experiment in activism and community through materiality.

Best of 2013

What a year of transitions! I primarily did digital production, content and community strategy from Current TV’s studio in NYC and remotely. IÂ also traveled from NYC to S.F. a few times to support staffing and workflow changes. Current was saying goodbye and my existing and new colleagues were preparing the world for Al Jazeera America. I decided to stay on until September to help launch, and then departed to work on my own creative projects. I’m grateful for my time with Current TV, an innovative media company and community I dreamed of working for since its launch in 2005!

I’m most proud of producing and booking POC Zine Project’s second â€” and first national â€” tour, which took us through 20 cities and was comprised of over 20 community events and 7 university speaking engagements.

If everyone in the POCZP community gave $10, we would more than meet our fundraising goal for 2014. If you have it to spare, we appreciate your gift. All funds go to ongoing advocacy costs, theÂ Legacy SeriesÂ and the poverty zine series.

DONATE to POC Zine Project (tax-deductible) through Fractured Atlas

My scenery has definitely changed and my quality of life has dramatically improved. After living and working in NYC for almost 10 years, I made the decision to move to New Orleans in November of 2013. That decision has transformed my life in many ways.

In the midst of this, I found time to curate a list ofÂ 50 zinesÂ for Autostraddle andÂ co-presented a workshop on zine-making and history atÂ Allied Media Conference.Â Much more happened in 2013 and at some point I’ll write about it.

Best of 2012

Some highlights (you can read a rundown of the past year here):

â€”Flew from NYC to SF to assist Current TV’s POTUS election coverage. I felt really comfortable returning to supervise 20+ temp employees, despite feeling really stressed about Hurricane Sandy. I received positive feedback about my performance and management style directly from those I managed, as well as from my supervisor.

â€”Flew to L.A. for the second time in 2012 to support the launch of the â€œFull Court Press with Bill Pressâ€ and â€œTalking Liberally with Stephanie Millerâ€ show sites, as well as new hire training

â€”Flew from Chicago to SF to support staff training and digital production for “The War Room with Jennifer Granholm”

â€”Wrote/produced a guide for women seeking careers in video games, based on interviews with over 20 women in the industry

â€”Made it to the second round of the 2013 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. I am applying again in 2014.

â€”Co-produced and participated in aÂ 14-city, 20-event tour for POC Zine Project. This included booking and coordinating speaking engagements at six participating universities.

â€”Celebrated my 31st birthday with free drinks at Honest Johnâ€™s Bar & Grill in Detroit

â€”Participated in a Samsung launch event in NYC for the Galaxy Note II and stayed at YOTEL, a hotel in midtown. I received my Galaxy Note II phone as a gift for participating, which is now my default phone and a rad productivity tool for me!

â€”Presented during a paid speaking engagement at Wellesley College (on behalf of POC Zine Project)

â€”Spoke on a panel at the first-ever Social Curation Summit in NYC, produced by mediabistro

â€”Attended the 2012 Games for Change Conference (my second time) and covered it for Current TV

Best of 2011

In collaboration with the Barnard Zine Library and For the Birds Collective, POC Zine ProjectÂ co-sponsored a zine reading/panel at Barnard College on 11/16.Â I helped coordinate speaker selection and housing, moderated the panel and designed the event flyer, which incorporated the cover of RACE RIOT #1. The event inspired me to do more as POC Zine Project.

Best of 2010

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

I am very proud of my 2010 collaboration with Phipps CDC on a youth-lead documentary addressing gun violence.

The Future

I will be (once again!) relocating in Â 2014 (to Atlanta), but will continue to travel for work between NOLA, LA., SF, NYC and ATL.

Right now I’m looking for opportunities to collaborate with creative and geeky folks. I interested in multimedia/interactive storytelling for all screens, #edtech initiatives that leverage digital tools to make knowledge-gathering and sharing accessible, short films, group projects, subversive street art and random acts of weirdness and geekery. If you are interested in collaborating on any of these things, or just want to say hi =) send me a message through my contact form or to daniela AT dcapmedia DOT com. You never know what could happen.

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.

This is where thoughts become things.

About DCAP