Kai Mantsch

Cell Phone: (512) 633-5031
Email: kai (at) jedi (dot) net
Austin, Texas

Objectives

To continue working, through my own projects and collaborations with others, to advance the more genuine, direct voice and soul that independent cinema makes possible.

Skills

  • HD and DV documentary style Camera Work
  • Production Sound Recording for film and video
  • Documentary Editing
  • Documentary Feature Direction
  • Docublogs

Film Projects

Note: This list is not comprehensive and does not include commercial work.

Director

New American Story w/Bill Bradley - 2007
Desc: Series of online videos following book tour
Code-A-Thon - 2006
Desc: Video blog from League of Technical Voters event
The Dicky Box - 2005 - 2008
Desc: Feature length documentary following boy sealed in plexiglas-walled yuppie apartment
T.T.D.S - 2004
Desc: Short spoof on medical fear films.
Ask America - 2001 - 2002
Producer: Kerry Glamsch
Desc: Doc style series working to create dialog between disparate cultures within America.
The Tao of Beer - 1998
Producer: Elaine Mark
Role: Director, DP
Desc: Video short about the oneness of... ALL things.

Producer

Blaze Foley - 2000 - 2008
Director: Kevin Triplett
Role: Co-Producer
Desc: Feature film about songwriter Blaze Foley who was shot in Austin in 1989
Pleasureland - 2000
Director: Bryan Poyser
Role: Co-Producer
Desc: 16mm short film commenting on the addictive nature of media and the loss of personal connection with the outside world.

Editor

The Dicky Box - 2005 - 2008
Director/Editor: Kai Mantsch
Desc: Feature length documentary following boy sealed in plexiglas-walled yuppie apartment
Glitter Monkey Rodeo - 2005
Director/Editor: Kai Mantsch
Desc: A glimpse of the Austin Burning Flipside experience
Dirt - 2004
Director: Jeff Bowden
Role: Post Production assistant
Desc: Follows group of stock car racers in small town Texas
Governor's Commission on Disabilities - 2002
Role: Editor
Desc: Instructional video for use in teaching high school media students how best to present persons with disabilities.

Camera

Of Dreams and Suicides (temp title) - 2008
Director: Harpreet Kaur
Camera: Kai Mantsch & Suzanne Matarazzo
Desc: Feature documentary following 12 children who shed light on farmer suicide issues in Punjab region of India
New American Story w/Bill Bradley - 2007
Director/Camera: Kai Mantsch
Desc: Series of online videos following book tour
Code-A-Thon - 2006
Director/Camera: Kai Mantsch
Desc: Video blog from League of Technical Voters event
SBC Blueroom - 2005 - 2008
Role: Camera
Desc: A series of interviews and live video of major label recording artists for SBC Blueroom online
The Dicky Box - 2005 - 2008
Director/Camera: Kai Mantsch
Desc: Feature length documentary following boy sealed in plexiglas-walled yuppie apartment
Ask America - 2001 - 2002
Director/Camera: Kai Mantsch
Producer: Kerry Glamsch
Desc: Doc style series working to create dialog between disparate cultures within America.
Musicals, Performances, Children's Recitals, Commercials, Weddings - 2003 - present
Desc: A variety of additional camera work

Location Sound

SBC Blueroom - 2005 - 2008
Role: Production Sound Mixer
Desc: A series of interviews and live video of major label recording artists for SBC Blueroom online
Slam Planet - 2004
Director: Kyle Fuller
Role: Production Sound Mixer
Desc: Following two teams of slam poets through nationals
Hotel Room - 2004
Director: Frederic Haubrich
Writer: Henrik Johansson
Role: Production Sound Mixer
Desc: A young man on a business trip checks into a hotel where things aren't quite what they seem to be.
Meat Market - 2003
Director: Chris Ohlsen
Role: Production Sound Mixer
Desc: High-Def short about selling out
Blank Pages - 2003
Director: Alan Klenk
Role: Production Sound Mixer
Desc: Short noir
Make A Wish - 2002
Director: Sharon Ferranti
Producer: Lauren Johnson
Role: Production Sound Mixer
Desc: Lesbian horror feature film shot on Super 16mm.
Hoover Girl - 2002
Director/Producer: Lori Marsh
Role: Location Sound Recordist
Desc: A woman comes to terms with memories of her dead father. Short.
Blaze Foley Documentary - 2001 - 2004
Director: Kevin Triplett
Role: Sound Engineer / Editor / Interviewer
Desc: DV documentary about an Austin musician and local character living in Austin in 70s and 80s
http://www.abraxasproductions.com
Dogs Bark - 2001
Director: Rebecca Fulton
Role: Location Sound Recordist
Desc: DV Feature. Ensemble comedy about mother-daughter relationships. Featured at 2002 New York International Independent Film & Video Festival
Out of Bounds - 2001
Director: Geoff Marslett
Role: Location Sound Recordist
Desc: DV short sports comedy for Austin filmmaker collection to be released as feature.
Princess Peanut - 2001
Director/Producer: Lori Marsh
Role: Location Sound Recordist
Desc: Short children's fantasy film set in 1930's.
Killa B's - 2000
Director: Daniella Masterson
Role: Production Assistant/Grip
Desc: Felicity meets Sex in the City in this web based comedy series. Digital production for web release.
Triple Threat - 2000
Directors: Joshua J. Smith, Wayne McClammy
Producer: Thomas Young
Role: Sound Recordist
Desc: 30 min digital short. 80's teen comedy with a Hong Kong action bent about a roller skating competiton.
Across the Room - 2000
Directors: Matthew Clark, Cody Lindsey
Role: Sound Recordist
Desc: Digital feature shot in Houston, Ft. Worth, and Austin Texas about a family coming together after a father's death.
A Burning Kind - 2000
Director: Greg Gilpatrick
Role: Sound Recordist, mouse wrangler
Desc: Digital short about a boy learning to cope with desire, rejection, and death.
A Common Confusion - 1999
Director: Spensor Parsons
Role: Sound Recordist, Grip
Desc: Short 16 mm film based on a Franz Kafka short story.
Appetite for Construction* - 1998
Director: Greg Gilpatrick
Producer: Angela Lee
Role: Sound Recordist
Desc: Short 16mm film about a suburban girl's seduction by the fantasy of the poor drifter.
*Currently showing on the Sundance Channel

Projection

Projection Manager for AGLIFF Film Festival - 2007
Created a complete set of procedures and technical solutions. Purchased, rented and managed equipment. Trained and managed staff. Repaired equipment as needed

Radio

WPGU Radio Champaign/Urbana 1991 - 1994
Role: Producer (Commercials/Promotions/Announcements)
Produced numerous commercials and promotions. Organized voice talent and production assistants. Wrote and edited copy.
WPGU Radio Champaign/Urbana 1991 - 1994
Role: Night Rock DJ
Answered phones, chattered endlessly and played from a wide variety of musical formats including CD, vinyl, cassette and cart.
WDBS College Radio 1991 - 1992
Role: DJ for local music show "The Garage" showcasing Champaign/Urbana talent.

Television

Austin Sessions 2000
Director: Jeff Shaevel
Producer: Kevin Triplett
Role: Audio Assistant, Production Assistant
Desc: Running project. On location multi-camera digital television show featuring Austin musicians, comics, etc.
The College Box 1992 - 1994
Role: Camera Op, Sound Editor, Assistant Producer
Desc: Music video show featuring VJs on location around campus and at Atlanta "Freaknik" Black College Spring Break.
Special Features 1992 - 1995
Role: Camera Op, Live Sound Mixing, Editing
Desc: A variety of live shows featuring muli-camera and multi-mic studio setups. Examples include an all-day telethon, a call in/interview show about the internet (in 1993) etc.

Organizations

  • SxSW Theater Manager 1996 - present
  • Cinemaker Coop
  • Austin Film Society
  • Austin Community Access Center Producer

Education

University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
Bachelor of Arts in Rhetoric / Computer Science: May 1995

Hobbies and Interests

  • Backpacking and Climbing, Korean Martial Arts, Beer Brewing, World Travel
  • Guitar and Dumbek, Unicycling
  • Writing (short stories, music, poetry, screenplays)
email: kai at jedi dot net