I’m Hayden Startzell! I'm a lifelong writer and filmmaker interested in subversive, engaging stories with social impact-driven themes at heart. I'm also a gaming hobbyist with a wide breadth of knowledge of the history and industry of video games. My time as a writing consultant for both plays and films has informed my own personal writing and the creation of a number of interactive experiences--both narrative and experimental. I look forward to bringing what I've learned to projects with a similar understanding of the impact that narrative experiences can have.…

Hayden Startzell

I’m Hayden Startzell! I'm a lifelong writer and filmmaker interested in subversive, engaging stories with social impact-driven themes at heart. I'm also a gaming hobbyist with a wide breadth of knowledge of the history and industry of video games. My time as a writing consultant for both plays and films has informed my own personal writing and the creation of a number of interactive experiences--both narrative and experimental. I look forward to bringing what I've learned to projects with a similar understanding of the impact that narrative experiences can have.…

Available to hire

I’m Hayden Startzell! I’m a lifelong writer and filmmaker interested in subversive, engaging stories with social impact-driven themes at heart. I’m also a gaming hobbyist with a wide breadth of knowledge of the history and industry of video games.

My time as a writing consultant for both plays and films has informed my own personal writing and the creation of a number of interactive experiences–both narrative and experimental. I look forward to bringing what I’ve learned to projects with a similar understanding of the impact that narrative experiences can have.

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Work Experience

Event Technician at Emerson Campus Centers
September 1, 2021 - December 1, 2023
Efficiently ran events (comedy shows, film shoots, etc.) in blackbox theaters; troubleshot with and supported clients using technical knowledge; organized digital (A/V files) and physical (cords, PA system) technical material.
Crew Member at Trader Joe’s
September 1, 2022 - Present
Organizes and orders for the frozen section; communicates with management to ensure customer satisfaction.
Writing Consultant/Production Assistant at The Dyon Collective
February 1, 2022 - November 1, 2022
Conceptualized characters and provided diligent script feedback; researched cultural inspirations for plots and characters; organized research and promotional material for project.
Writing Consultant / Lighting Department Head at Other Brotha Productions
September 1, 2025 - January 1, 2026
For Invulnerable, provided in-depth script feedback informed by writing experience; on set, efficiently built over seventy lighting setups.
Game Designer at The Engagement Lab
September 1, 2022 - December 1, 2022
Worked with the Center for Teen Empowerment to develop a narrative role-playing game focused on preventing gun violence by identifying its human roots.

Education

B.A. Media Arts Production (with a minor in Philosophy) at Emerson College
September 1, 2020 - December 1, 2023
High School Diploma at Scituate High School
September 1, 2016 - May 1, 2020

Qualifications

Add your qualifications or awards here.

Industry Experience

Media & Entertainment, Education, Retail, Professional Services
    paper Peace or Piece

    For the development of [Peace or Piece](https://www.twine.net/signin I worked closely with the Center for Teen Empowerment in Roxbury, MA to create a narrative role-playing game focused on preventing gun violence by identifying its human roots. This project required intimate collaboration to create, and, when finished, took intimate collaboration to play. Peace or Piece tasked player-groups to make decisions based on a given character and the roll of a die, all in service of a narrative about the risks of gun usage among young people in Roxbury.