Name: Tom Russell

Title: Teaching Professor

Email: thomas_russell@byu.edu

Division: Media Arts Fiction Production

Office Hours: F-347 HFAC, Thursdays 12pm – 3pm online

Phone: (801) 422-1887

Education
BA, Cum Laude, Brigham Young University, 1988. Emphases: Film and Media Production, Screenwriting.

Profile
Upon graduating with a screenwriting degree, Thomas Russell began working in the advertising industry as a copywriter and director. After working as a senior copywriter and creative director at a regional agency in California, he became a managing partner of his own agency. During that time he received over 40 Addy Awards, four Auroras, and five Silver Microphones for television, radio, and print. His work in film and screenwriting has been recognized by the Sundance Film Festival, the Slamdance Film Festival, the Maryland Film Festival, The Heartland Film Festival, CineVegas, the Mendocino Film Festival, the Omaha Film Festival, The Sonoma Film Festival, and the American Screenwriters’ Association. He has executive produced student films which have been recognized by over 30 international film festivals including the student Emmys. Feature film credits as writer and director include Mental, mr. dungbeetle, Diantha’s Crossing, and For Robbing the Dead. Four of his screenplays: Tokens, The Lovely Obscure, The Heavenly Country, and Tinhorn have received prizes from eight international screenwriting competitions. He also co-directs the biennial Writer’s Conference at Timp Lodge, bringing in guests including Pulitzer Prize winning writer Margaret Edson, Showrunners Mike Scully and Julie Thacker, Director Carroll Ballard, and Writer/Directors Jared and Jerusha Hess, Jonathan Krisel, Paul Schrader, and Michael Schur. Thomas Russell is currently a Teaching Professor of Media Arts at Brigham Young University where he teaches introductory, intermediate, and advanced media and screenwriting courses.

Courses Taught
TMA 102
TMA 341
TMA 319
TMA 475

Curriculum Vitae: Thomas Russell