C.V. - Erik Gernand

EDUCATION
 
Northwestern University, Evanston, IL
M.F.A., Writing for the Screen and Stage, Department of Radio-TV-Film

Ball State University, Muncie, IN
B.A., Telecommunications (Production) and German


STAGE (Playwright)

“The Kneeling Position,” full-length play
  • Finalist: National Playwrights Conference at The O’Neill Center, 2015
  • Play Lab Selection: Last Frontier Theatre Conference, Valdez, AK, 2015
  • Reading: Luna Stage, West Orange, NJ, 2015

“A Place in the Woods,” full-length play
  • PRODUCTION: Mercury Players Theatre, Madison, WI, 2018
  • PRODUCTION: The Fine Print Theatre, Chicago, 2014
  • nominated for a JEFF AWARD for Best New Work, 2015
  • Reading: New American Voices Festival, London, 2015
  • Reading: The Barrow Group, New York, 2015
  • Reading: Chicago Dramatists, 2014

“The Beautiful Dark,” full-length play
  • Publication: Dramatic Publishing, 2015
  • PRODUCTION: Mercury Players Theatre Company, Madison, WI, January 23-February 7, 2015
  • PRODUCTION: The Barrow Group, New York, April 23-May 18, 2014
  • PRODUCTION: Redtwist Theatre, Chicago, July 27-September 1, 2013
  • PRODUCTION: Premiere Stages, Union, NJ, September 5-22, 2013
  • Reading: The Barrow Group, New York, December 2012
  • Workshop & Reading: Redtwist Theatre, Chicago, November/December 2012
  • Award & Workshop Production: New Works Project Winner, T. Schreiber Studio & Theatre,
    New York, August/September 2012
  • Reading: Chicago Dramatists, Saturday Reading Series, April 2012
  • Finalist: Woodward/Newman Drama Award, Bloomington Playwrights Project, 2012
  • Semi-Finalist: Princess Grace Award, 2012
  • Workshop: American Theater Company, 2011

“What Remains of Youth,” short play
  • Publication: Smith & Kraus, 2015
  • PRODUCTION: Source Festival, Washington DC, June 2014
  • 2014 Heideman Award Finalist – Actors Theatre of Louisville

“Boy Talk,” short play
  • PRODUCTION: Actors Theatre of Louisville, The Tens, January 2013
  • 2012 Heideman Award Finalist – Actors Theatre of Louisville

“Locker Room,” short play
  • Staged Reading: Your Name Here—A Queer Theater, New York, 2012

“Egg Nog,” short play
  • PRODUCTION: Stage Q, Madison, WI, Queer Shorts 7, 2012

“North Polar Disorder” sketch comedy revue (co-writer/director)
  • PRODUCTION: Donny’s Skybox Theatre at The Second City, Chicago, November/December 2011

“Good Enough,” short play
  • PRODUCTION: Mercury Players Theatre Co., Madison, WI, 2010

“It’s a Girl,” short play
  • PRODUCTION: City Theatre, Miami, FL, Summer Shorts Festival, 2008
  • 2008 Heideman Award Finalist – Actors Theatre of Louisville

“Mantabulous!” sketch comedy revue (co-writer/producer)
  • PRODUCTION: Donny’s Skybox Theatre at The Second City, Chicago, 2007
  • TimeOut Chicago named a “#1 Don’t Miss”

“Do These Pants Make Me Look Fake?” sketch comedy revue (co-writer/producer)
  • PRODUCTION: Donny’s Skybox Theatre at The Second City, Chicago, 2006


SCREEN (narrative fiction)

Director/Writer, SUNDOWN, short film, 2019
  • LesGaiCineMad, Madrid (Spain)
  • Pink Life QueerFest, Istanbul (Turkey)
  • CinHomo, Valladolid (Spain)
  • Door County Short Film Festival, Sisters Bay, WI
  • Wicked Queer, Boston
  • KASHISH Mumbai International Queer Film Festival (India)
  • Reel Out, Charlotte, NC
  • River Bend Film Festival, Goshen, IN
  • OutSouth Queer Film Festival, Durham, NC
  • North Louisiana Gay & Lesbian Film Festival, Shreveport
  • Thessaloniki International LGBTIQ Film Festival (Greece)
  • Reeling: The Chicago LGBTQ+ International Film Festival
  • Long Beach QFilm Festival, Long Beach, CA
  • Bent Sacramento LGBTQ Film Festival

Director, NICE SHIRT, short film, 2011
  • German Language Distribution: Salzgeber & Co. Medien GmbH
  • TBS Presents: Just For Laughs Chicago **2nd Prize – Christopher Wetzel Award**
  • Iris Prize Festival (UK) **Shortlist**
  • Frameline: The San Francisco International LGBT Film Festival
  • Newfest: New York LGBT Film Festival
  • North Carolina Gay and Lesbian Film Festival
  • Some Prefer Cake Film Festival (Italy)
  • Pittsburgh International Lesbian and Gay Film Festival
  • Seattle Lesbian & Gay Film Festival
  • Southwest Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, Albuquerque
  • Hamburg International Queer Film Festival (Germany)
  • Oslo Gay and Lesbian Film Festival (Norway)
  • Milwaukee LGBT Film/Video Festival
  • Image + Nation: Montreal International LGBT Film Festival (Canada)
  • Reeling: The Chicago Lesbian & Gay International Film Festival

Co-Writer/Director, TECH SUPPORT, short film, 2010
  • North American Distribution: Frameline
  • German Language Distribution: Salzgeber & Co. Medien GmbH
  • DVD Distribution: First Run Features
  • Festival international du film gay et lesbien de Grenoble (France) **Best Short Film**
  • Pittsburgh International Lesbian and Gay Film Festival **Audience Award**
  • Fresno Reel Pride LGBT Film Festival **Best Short Film**
  • Hamburg International Queer Film Festival (Germany) **Best Lesbian Short**
  • Iris Prize Festival (UK) **Shortlist**
  • Out on Film, Atlanta **Opening Night Short**
  • Inside Out: Toronto Lesbian and Gay Film Festival (Canada)
  • Newfest: New York LGBT Film Festival
  • Frameline: The San Francisco International LGBT Film Festival
  • North Carolina Gay and Lesbian Film Festival
  • ImageOut: Rochester LGBT Film and Video Festival
  • Savannah Gay & Lesbian Film Society
  • Artful Thinking: Out at the Movies, Long Beach, CA
  • Spokane GLBT Film Festival
  • Reelout Queer Film & Video Festival (Canada)
  • Florida State Queer Film Series
  • Roze Filmdagen (Netherlands)
  • Q Fest, St. Louis
  • London Lesbian Film Festival (Canada)
  • Tel Aviv International LGBT Film Festival (Israel)
  • Mix Milan (Italy)
  • identities: Queer Film Festival, Vienna (Austria)
  • Philadelphia Qfest

Writer/Director, NON-LOVE-SONG, 16mm short film, 2009
  • SXSW
  • Cinequest
  • Chicago International Film Festival
  • Aspen Shortsfest
  • New Filmmakers – Anthology Film Archives, New York
  • Tel Aviv International LGBT Film Festival (Israel) **Best International Short Film**
  • Athens International Film and Video Festival **Honorable Mention, short narrative**
  • Iris Prize Festival (UK) **shortlist**
  • Cleveland International Film Festival
  • Atlanta Film Festival
  • Outfest: Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Film Festival
  • Inside Out: Toronto Lesbian and Gay Film Festival (Canada)
  • Maryland Film Festival
  • Fairy Tales Queer Film Festival (Canada)
  • Olympia Film Festival
  • Santa Cruz Film Festival
  • Melbourne Queer Film Festival (Australia)
  • Kashish-Mumbai International Queer Film Festival (India)
  • Bendigo Queer Film Festival (Australia)
  • Anchorage International Film Festival
  • Nashville Film Festival
  • Newfest: New York LGBT Film Festival
  • St. Louis International Film Festival
  • North Carolina Gay & Lesbian Film Festival
  • Macon Film Festival
  • Tropical Alternatives Film Festival (Australia)
  • Cineslam
  • Amelia Island Film Festival
  • Seattle Lesbian & Gay Film Festival
  • Southwest Gay & Lesbian Film Festival
  • Image + Nation: Montreal International LGBT Film Festival (Canada)
  • Santa Barbara LGBTQ Film Festival
  • Reeling: The Chicago Lesbian & Gay Film Festival
  • FilmOut San Diego
  • James River Film Festival
  • River Bend Film Festival
  • Dublin Lesbian and Gay Film Festival (Ireland)
  • Mix Milan (Italy)
  • Twin Rivers Media Festival
  • Provincetown International Film Festival
  • MIX Mexico: XIV Festival de Diversidad Sexual (Mexico)
  • Bronx International Film Festival
  • 1 Reel Film Festival – Bumbershoot: Seattle’s Music and Arts Festival
  • Copenhagen Gay & Lesbian Film Festival (Denmark)
  • Austin Gay & Lesbian International Film Festival
  • ImageOut: Rochester LGBT Film and Video Festival
  • Poppy Jasper Film Festival
  • Pink Screens Film Festival (Belgium)
  • Reelout Queer Film & Video Festival (Canada)

Writer/Director, GIRL PARTS, 16mm short film, 2008
  • National Broadcast: The Logo Channel (MTV Networks)
  • Florida Film Festival
  • TBS Presents: Just For Laughs – Gene Siskel Film Center, Chicago
  • Giggleshorts International Comedy Short Film Festival (Canada)
  • North Carolina Gay and Lesbian Film Festival
  • Free Range Film Festival
  • Annoyance Video Night – Annoyance Theatre
  • Johns Hopkins University Film Festival
  • New Filmmakers – Anthology Film Archives, New York
  • 2010 Short Story Showcase – Chicago Filmmakers
  • The Hexagon Free Wednesday 16mm Film Series/Magic Eye Cinema Events, Baltimore
  • Pink Screens Film Festival (Belgium)

Co-Writer/Director, CRAFTY, short film, 2008
  • National Broadcast: The Logo Channel (MTV Networks)
  • Distribution: Frameline
  • DVD Distribution: Strand Releasing
  • Palm Springs International Shortfest
  • Nashville Film Festival
  • Frameline: The San Francisco International LGBT Film Festival
  • Budapest Pride: Hungarian LGBT Film and Cultural Festival
  • London Lesbian Film Festival (Canada)
  • Modesto PFLAG Film Festival
  • Birmingham SHOUT LGBT Film Festival
  • Queertopia, Northwestern University
  • Q Cinema: Fort Worth’s Gay & Lesbian Film Festival
  • Reel Affirmations
  • Image Out/Rochester LGBT Film Festival
  • Indianapolis Lesbian and Gay Film Festival
  • Sacramento International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival
  • Long Island Gay and Lesbian Film Festival
  • Gallery Show: Love Never Dies, Form + Content Gallery, Minneapolis, MN

Writer/Director, THE KINDNESS OF NEIGHBORS, short film, 2008
  • Annoyance Video Night – Annoyance Theatre
  • Washougal International Film Festival
  • Planet Ant Film & Video Festival
  • Route 66 Film Festival

Writer/Director, PROMOTED, short film, 2007
  • Regional Broadcast: WPBA-Atlanta PBS
  • Chicago Short Comedy Film & Video Festival
  • First Sundays Comedy Film Festival, New York

Writer/Director, SHOP & SAVE, short film, 2007
  • National Broadcast: Independent Film Channel (IFC)
  • Regional Broadcast: WTTW-Chicago PBS “Image Union”
  • Cambridge Film Festival (UK)
  • Boston Comedy Festival
  • First Sundays Comedy Film Festival, New York ** Audience Award **
  • Palouse Short Film Festival **Audience Award**
  • Film Pop (Canada)
  • DC Shorts Fest
  • RadioAlice 3-Minute Film Festival
  • Chlotrudis Short Film Festival
  • Chicago Short Comedy Film & Video Festival
  • Second City Training Center Film Festival

Writer/Director, DO YOU HAVE A MINUTE?, short film,  2006
  • National Broadcast: Independent Film Channel (IFC)
  • Chicago International REEL Shorts Festival
  • First Sundays Comedy Film Festival, New York ** Audience Award **
  • DC Shorts Film Festival
  • East Lansing Film Festival
  • RadioAlice 3-Minute Film Festival
  • Longbaugh Film Festival
  • Boston Comedy Festival

Writer/Director, HURRICANE GRACE, short film, 2001
  • Port Townsend Film Festival
  • Bearded Child Film Festival
  • Colossal Film Crawl
  • Dahlonega International Film Festival
  • Locals Only, IMAGE Film and Video

Writer/Director, DANCING WITH INDIANA, short film, 2000
  • Starving Artist Film Festival **Best Dramatic Short & Best of Festival**
  • Colossal Film Crawl **Best Screenplay**
  • New Orleans Film Festival
  • Atlanta Film Festival
  • Digidance Digital Cinema Festival
  • Rural Route Film Festival, New York
  • Ohio Independent Film Festival
  • Port Townsend Film Festival


SCREEN (non-fiction, selected)

Director/Editor, THE NIGHT MINISTRY - OUTREACH, short documentary, 2014
Short form piece about a Chicago non-profit

Director/DP/Editor, TOO MUCH LIGHT, short documentary, 2009
Short form piece about Chicago theatre company The Neofuturists

Writer/Director/DP/Editor, RECONCILING VOICES, short promotional, 2008
Nationally commissioned and distributed video in advocacy of LGBT people

Co-Director/DP/Editor, CHICAGO 360, feature documentary, 2006
Documentary commissioned by Split Pillow, directed segment titled “The Spirit Within”
Screenings – Chicago Filmmakers, Intuit: The Center for Intuitive and Outsider Art

Director/DP, KADASHA IN SOUTH AFRICA, short promotional, 2003
Short form piece following the music group on their visit to South Africa

Writer/Director/DP, THE JOURNEY, short promotional, 2002
Nationally distributed video promoting Youth Service Fund including segments on a homeless shelter for youth in Seattle, and a youth music program in Los Angeles

DP/Editor, AMERICAN INDIAN EDUCATION FOUNDATION, short promotional, 2001
Promoting the importance of higher education, shot throughout U.S. Southwest

Director/DP, TEARING DOWN FENCES, short promotional, 1999

Shot throughout Northern Ireland, follows a group of U.S. college students to Corrymeela, a reconciliation initiative between Protestants and Catholics

Co-Producer/Videographer, A TEAM FOR LIFE, short documentary, 1995
A short documentary broadcast on Indiana Public Television about two blind subjects and their guide dogs


TEACHING

Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 2009-present
Senior Lecturer, Film Production
Galbut Outstanding Faculty Award, 2012
Faculty and Administrator Honor Roll (2009-2010 & 2010-2011)
  • Foundations of Screenwriting
  • Media Topics: Discovering Voice through Genre
  • Topics in Production: Serial Webisodes
  • Media Construction
  • Producing
  • Topics in Production: Satire
  • Sitcom Production
  • Voice of the Satirist

The Second City Training Center, Chicago, IL, 2010-2012
Faculty (part-time)--Comedy Writing Program
  • Comedy Writing 1, 2, 3, and 4

Media Start!, Chicago, IL, 2006
Media Counselor – Assisted in teaching editing and video production to middle school students at the Academy for Communications Technology

West End Performing Arts Center, Atlanta, GA, 2005
Instructor – Taught multiple eight-week filmmaking courses for middle and high school students, resulting in a finished short film

IMAGE Film and Video, Atlanta, GA, 2005
Instructor – Created and taught multiple sections of introductory video production seminar