​RAJIV SMITH-MAHABIR
Los Angeles, CA || rajiv.smithmahabir@gmail.com

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WORK EXPERIENCE

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Movement Strategy                                                                                                    October 2019 – Present

Video Director

• Lead the post-production team of editors in creating social content for campaigns and online for our clients

• Concept ideas, work on pitches, and edit the content for clients such as Netflix, HBOMax, Bravo, and Amazon's The Boys

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Pickle Juice Productions                                                                                                 May 2013 – Present

Editor/Cinematographer

• Shooting, editing, and producing videos for companies such as Copa Airlines, Pepsi, A Great Big Story, UCLA, Sinai Akiba Academy, Vertical Blue, and Blue Element.

Mohawk Digital/MoPro.com, Santa Monica, CA                                         September 2008 – May 2013

Lead Editor

• Shot, produced, and edited video pieces on people, organizations, events, concerts, etc... for external vendors such as VEVO, Reebok, DIESEL, AEG, Stoli, TJ Maxx, Hyatt, Clorox, Hennessy, Don Julio and QVC.
• Edited short features on the best restaurants, shopping, and nightlife venues in the biggest cities around the world for InTheMO.com and MoPro.com.

Big Brother 9/10, Studio City, CA                                                                           February – July 2008

Post Production Assistant
• Digitize, dub, deliver show tapes for broadcast, for the vault and various executives.
• Oversee the change of opening credits and show graphics with Design on the Fly effects company.
• Upkeep of the post facility and edit bays, editor scheduling, and general office/PA duties.

USC Digital Imaging Lab, Los Angeles, CA                                           January 2005 – December 2007

Lead Digital Imaging Specialist

• Digitize, post-process, and assist in quality assurance of converting rare materials to digital format using an array of technologies and techniques.
• Performed research and provided technical advice for digitization of time-based materials such as motion-picture film, video, and audio.
• Conduct hands-on training of digitization process to incoming student assistants.
• Provide technical support and maintain imaging lab equipment.

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EDUCATION
University of Southern California, B.A. in Cinema-Television Production.

Graduated 3.46 GPA, December 2007


TECHNICAL EXPERIENCE
Equipment:
Proficient use of Canon 5D, AH-1, Panasonic GH5s, Blackmagic, Sony A7s, DJI Phantom 4 drone, Arri-S 16mm, Arri-SR II 16mm, Bolex 16mm, Mitchell High Speed 35mm, Aaton LTR 16mm cameras.
Advanced knowledge in using high-resolution digital imaging tools and processes including digital SLR cameras, 4x5 cameras, lenses and scanbacks, film scanners, flatbed scanners and related software and computer hardware.

Software:
Adept usage of digital audio/visual editing hardware and software such as Adobe Creative Cloud, Final Cut, Avid, DaVinci Resolve, ProTools, Final Draft, and Microsoft Office.

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FILMOGRAPHY

Cinematographer/Asst. Editor: Strangers to Peace (dir. Noah DeBonis) February 2016 - December 2020, A feature length documentary about 3 ex-FARC guerrillas re-integrating into Colombian society after the signing of a historic peace accord which ended 53 years of armed conflict.

Editor: Blindspot: Illusions of Justice (dir. Dawn Sinclair Shapiro) September 2015, A feature length documentary about the horrific practice of Eugenics in the United States and the fight for victim compensation in the state of North Carolina.

Editor: The Lima Affair (dir. Jeremy Dickie-Clardy) March 2014, A 25-minute short film about a girl in an abusive relationship, struggling to find her place in the world.

Cinematographer: Romeo is Bleeding (dir. Jason Zeldes) August 2012 – September 2014, A feature length documentary about a youth arts program putting on a performance of Romeo and Juliet set in the city of Richmond to bring awareness of the gun violence plaguing the community.

Editor: Pancakes (dir. Kelly Stuyvesant) June - December 2009, A 12-minute HD short.
Editor: Man in the Wall (dir. Satori Snow) January - June 2008, A 81-minute HD feature independent film with $15,000 budget.
Editor: In the Forest (dir. Joseph Tamas) October 2007 - April 2008, An 18-minute HD short children’s film directed by a USC graduate.
Editor: Paradise (dir. Kelly Parker) August - December 2007, A 85-minute feature film directed by a Cal Arts University graduate.
Editor: Spring Eternal (dir. Sofia Shinas) January - May 2007, A 12-minute, 16mm sync-sound film directed by USC student.

Writer/Director/Sound Designer: Timeless August - December 2006, A 6-minute, 16mm non-sync sound film for USC film class.
DP/Editor/Producer: Ageless (dir. CJ Laursen) August - December 2006, A 6-minute, 16mm non-sync film for USC film class.
Cameraperson: CU@USC, Platforum, Visual Frequency August - December 2004, Three live TV shows on Trojan Vision.

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AWARDS
Romeo is Bleeding (25 awards in film festivals across the U.S.)

Ageless accepted into Short Film Corner of Cannes Film Festival, 2007
Spring 2006 – December 2007 Dean’s List, University of Southern California
2004 Fine Arts Award, Head-Royce School
2004 Berkeley Film Festival Grand Festival Award, Best of Festival Award, and Award of Excellence