Don Zirpola

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Full Professor Don Zirpola, is an award winning professional in the entertainment industry for over thirty years as a director, writer, and editor working for many companies including Universal, PBS and ABC TV. His work has garnered many awards in documentaries, short film and commercials. As a producer, he is currently in pre-production on his third international feature where he is involved in international co-productions in Asia and Europe and South America.
He was actively involved in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Student Academy Awards for over 14 years as the Western Regional Coordinator. He continues to give professional workshops on international producing, directing, and advanced production in over 14 countries. He is also the enduring Director of the prestigious Universal Summer Producing and Directing Workshop Program at USC attracting students worldwide.
He received a Rockefeller Foundation Grant to support his work along with his colleagues in international distance media education. Don served over the years developing programs to national and international prominence as chair and acting director of the School of Film and Television at LMU and has held office as the President of the University Film and Video Association in the US, served as the Dean of a new Television and Film school he designed for the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts and as Acting President of CILECT. He currently serves CILECT – the international professional association of the film and Television schools headquartered in Brussels as the newly elected President.
Don is committed to storytelling, the audience and students both at home and internationally.