Jeff Watson is a PhD candidate in Interdivisional Media arts and Practice (iMAP) at the University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts. His research and art practice focuses on investigating how game mechanics, pervasive computing, and social media can enable new forms of storytelling, participation, and civic engagement.
Jeff has consulted and produced commissioned work for a variety of institutions and companies, including the USC School of Cinematic Arts, Intel, BMW/Mini, Take Action Games, Los Angeles World Airports, and the Institute for Multimedia Literacy. He is a designer at the Mobile and Environmental Media Lab (MEML), and is the co-founder of Pervasive and Environmental Gaming LA (PEG-LA), a Los Angeles-based design exchange and mobile games play testing group.
Jeff’s work has been presented at festivals and conferences such as IndieCade, DIY Days, the Game Developers Conference, the Digital Media and Learning Conference, and ARG Fest. His most recent project, Reality Ends Here, has received coverage from Henry Jenkins, ARGNet, Engine29, Culture Hacker, and Wired, among others.
Jeff’s writing has appeared in various publications, including the International Journal of Learning and Media (forthcoming), the Journal of Transformative Works and Cultures, Confessions of an Aca/Fan, Jawbone.tv, and In Media Res. He also maintains a blog at remotedevice.net where he publishes interviews, theory, media making resources, and other ephemera.
Jeff is a recipient of the Annenberg Graduate Fellowship in Cinematic Arts. In 2011, his work designing Reality Ends Here was recognized with both the 2011 USC Provost Teaching Award and a grant from the Center for Educational Technology. Jeff received an MFA in Film and Video from York University in 2002, and a BA in Cultural Studies from McGill University in 1998.
Jeff also maintains a filmmaking and screenwriting practice. In 2005, he attended the Canadian Film Centre as a Screenwriting resident. His film and video work has received support from the Canada Council for the Arts, BRAVOFact, and Telefilm Canada, and been exhibited internationally at film festivals and on major US, Canadian, and European cable networks.
[updated 1/22/2012]