Jocelyn B. Millana

Department

Communication, Media, Journalism and Film

Role: Faculty
Campus: Springfield

Postal mail

Missouri State University
Communication, Media, Journalism and Film
901 S. National Ave.
Springfield, MO 65897

Biography

Jocelyn B. Millana is an award-winning producer and director known for Profiled aka Premeditated (2014), Dojo Girl (2018), Bird (2019), Jacob, Broken by God (2022), and When Three Become One (2024).
 
Prior to directing feature films she produced and directed national commercials, and was even the international director for Gibson Guitar Corporate in Nashville, TN. Her proudest moment was working for her childhood hero Sir Ridley Scott at RSA whilst in graduate school.

Millana approaches storytelling by investigating culture, exploring transformational moments, and curiosity about conventional paradigms. Her current and future objectives - for her motion picture producing and directing bodies of work - are about emotional journeys, personal growth, and social movements. Mllana aims to inspire, inform, and entertain audiences by incorporating universal themes within visual narratives about anthropology. She brings out the tension between cultural norms and what is usually hidden or untold. She aims to unveil potential connections to the characters or the story, creating a new view of their lives.

Details

Education

  • MFA, Motion Picture & TV - Academy of Art University, 2007
  • BFA, Film/Video/Animation - Columbus College of Art & Design, 2004

Teaching

  • Editing For Film & TV
  • Color Theory: The Push To Visual Storytelling
  • Digital Film and Media Production
  • Principles of Cinematography
  • Independent Study in Electronic Media
  • Digital Filmmaking (Graduate/Undergraduate)
  • Producing the Feature Film (Graduate/Undergraduate)
  • Independent Study in Media
  • Directing the Short
  • Senior Project in Electronic Arts

Professional experience

  • University Film & Video Association (UFVA)
  • The Broadcast Education Association (BEA)
  • Northeast Modern Language Association (NMLA)
  • Carbon Trace Productions- Advisory Board Member
  • Internet Movie Data Base Pro (IMDb)

Research and professional interests

  • Inclusion and diversity
  • Representation of underrepresented groups in media
  • Women of color in film (Bechdel Test)
  • LGBTQ+ and BIPOC studies
  • Critical race theory (intersectionality)
  • Ethnic, cultural, generational, sexual and gender contrast

Awards and honors

Film Distribution

  • Distribution: Domestic and Worldwide - Leomark Studios ‘When Three Become One’ 2024 -Producer/Director - Streaming Platforms Pending
  • Distribution: Domestic and Worldwide - Summer Hill Films ‘Jacob, Broken by God’ 2024 - Producer/Director - Vudu, Prime Video, Tubi, Amazon Video, FlixFling, Hoopla
  • Distribution: Domestic and Worldwide - ITN Distribution ’Bird’ - Producer 2019 - Roku, Prime Video, AppleTV, YouTube
  • Distribution: Domestic and Worldwide - Vision Films ‘Breaking Legs’ 2017 - Associate Producer - Tubi, Pluto TV, Sling TV, Roku, Fandango, Prime Video, Google Play, Apple TV, YouTube
  • Distribution: St. Louis TV ‘Dojo Girl’ 2019 - Producer/Director
  • Distribution: Domestic and Worldwide - Leomark Studios ‘Premeditated aka Profiled’ 2014 - Producer/Director - Prime Video, Tubi, Redbox, Family Video, Walmart Video, YouTubeTV
  • Distribution: Domestic and Worldwide - Breaking Glass Pictures ‘Capital Games’ 2013 - Assistant Director - Netflix, Prime Video, Tubi, Roku, Plex, Kanopy

Selected Awards and Honors

  • Winner Best Director ‘When Three Become One - The Indie Gathering International Film Festival 2024
  • Winner Best Drama Feature ‘When Three Become One’- The Indie Gathering International Film Festival 2024
  • Semi-Finalist - LA Film Awards ‘When Three Become One’ 2024
  • Official Selection - LA Film Awards ‘When Three Become One’ 2024
  • Official Selection - Greater Cleveland Black Film Festival ‘When Three Become One’ 2024
  • Official Selection - The Indie Gathering International Film Festival ‘When Three Become One’ 2024
  • Official Selection - International Black Film Festival ‘When Three Become One’ 2024
  • Official Selection - Detroit Trinity International Film Festival ‘When Three Become One’ 2024
  • Official Selection - 14th Annual Charlotte Black Film Festival ‘When Three Become One’ 2024
  • Winner Accolade Global Film Competition ‘Jacob, Broken by God’ 2022
  • Winner Gold Telly ‘Jacob, Broken by Gadd’ 2022
  • Winner Best of Competition BEA Festival of Media Arts ‘Unmanned’ 2021
  • Official Selection to the UVFA Conference Screenings and Script Competition 2021
  • Winner Silver Telly ‘Dojo Girl’ 2020
  • Winner Silver Davey Award ‘Dojo Girl’ 2020
  • Winner IndieFEST Film Awards -Award of Merit - ‘Jacob, Broken by God’ 2022
  • Winner Communicator Awards -Award of Distinction- ‘Jacob, Broken by God’ 2022
  • Winner Silver Award ‘Dojo Girl’ 2020

Grants / Fellowships / Equity Funding

  • Private Equity Funding for Producing/Directing ‘Untitled,’ 2024
  • Private Equity Funding for Producing/Directing ‘Jacob, Broken by God,’ 2021
  • Missouri State University Faculty Research Grant, 2018
  • National Association of Television Producers and Executive Faculty Fellowship, 2018
  • Missouri State University Faculty Diversity Fellowship, 2018
  • Missouri State University First-Year Faculty Summer Grant, 2017
  • Missouri State University College of Arts & Letters Peer Mentorship Fellowship, 2017

 

Additional resources