Rodney Vance

Education: 

  • M.F.A., Playwriting, The Catholic University of America, 1988
  • M.A., Religion, Andrews University, 1981
  • B.A., Ministerial Studies, Loma Linda University, 1978

Principal Research Interests

Rodney Vance, writer/director/producer of the giant screen film "Napa Valley Dreams," recently completed "The Butterfly, the Harp and the Timepiece," a short film starring Oscar-winner Melissa Leo and Golden Globe-winner Alex Ebert. He’s an active member of the Writers Guild of America, West, the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, and, ahem, MENSA. Mr. Vance has worked as head writer on two multi-award-winning television series ("Lifestyle Magazine," "The Evidence"), sold or was hired to write several screenplays and stage plays, one of which, "Token," won the Judge’s Choice Award in the Edward Albee International Playwriting Competition. He also wrote a children’s book called "De’Monte Love" published by Visikid Books. He produced more than 30 stage plays and events, including an event for the Pan American Youth Congress at the Mexico City Sports Palace and one for a World Congress of Seventh-day Adventists at the New Orleans Superdome. He worked as an expert consultant in writing for the Government Accountability Office in Washington, D.C. and as a classical announcer for WGTS-FM in Washington D.C. and NPR member station WAUS-FM in Southwestern Michigan.

Academic Interests/Research Area: 

  • Storytelling
  • Religion and Spirituality
  • Media
  • Film
  • Theater

E-mail: rvance@lasierra.edu
Phone: (951) 785-2620

AWARDS

 

  • Writer/Director of "Napa Valley Dreams" a giant screen documentary film that has received worldwide distribution with Big and Digital Films, Sony Network Entertainment, Nanotech, and Principal Media

  • Wrote screenplay "Token" based on his stage play, finalist, Sundance Writers Lab, 2006
  • Winner/Chosen for Participation in Film Independent Screenwriters Lab, 2006
  • Head Writer for the television series “The Evidence," Platinum, Best New Religion and Ethics Show, and Bronze, Best New Pilot, Houston Film Festival, 2001
  • Head Writer television series “Lifestyle Magazine,” hosted by Clifton Davis, Gold, Best Health Show, Houston Film Festival, 2001, and two Telly Awards
  • Stage play "Token," Judge's Choice Award, Edward Albee Theater Conference National Playwriting Competition
  • Awarded membership based on achievement in the Writers Guild of America, West, the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, the Dramatist's Guild, Who's Who in America, and MENSA
 

REPRESENTATIVE WORK

Hired to write the feature screenplays:

  • "The Finish"
  • "Operation Babylift"
  • "Under Cover of Darkness"
  • "Angel in Chains" (short)
  • Feature screenplays optioned: "Raven Chase," "Token"
  • Children's book "De'Monte Love," published by
    Visikid Books
  • Lyricist for produced opera, "Immanuel"