Chris Rettstatt

Current

Game Story Writer / Concept Developer (freelance) at Veil Entertainment
Social Media Manager (freelance) at Living Earth Television
Author at Self Employed (Self-employed)

Youth Media Consultant at Self-Employed

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Past

Director of Story Development at Star Farm Productions
Executive Producer, Online at Star Farm Productions
Co-Founder at Kidfu

Managing Director, Online Community at The Thomson Corporation
Director of Online Community at The FreeZone Network
Trainer: English Language and American Culture at Self-employed

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Recommended

18 people have recommended Chris

Connections

262 connections

Industry

Media Production

Websites

Chris Rettstatt’s Summary

I'm a published children's book author with 3+ years in publishing and 10+ years as a specialist in youth-focused virtual community and online marketing.

Expertise:

* Developed transmedia entertainment properties for kids and teens
* Online marketing techniques and practices (SEO, WOM, grassroots, viral)
* COPPA, CARU, children's privacy and safety
* Built and managed teams as large as 30, including designers, editors, web developers, and online community staff
* Extensive social media user and strategist
* Tons of hands-on experience, from building and maintaining drupal communities to creating and running marketing campaigns

Examples:

* Created epic fantasy property called Kaimira, including five-book deal with Candlewick Press and Walker Books & "360-degree development deal" with BBC Worldwide
* Managing Director, Interactive for a branch of Thomson Corporation
* Developed MMOG story bibles for a Toronto-based nonprofit
* Contributed a chapter on "kids and digital ownership" for Settlers of the New Virtual Worlds
* Developed online safety e-learning modules for schoolteachers
* Regular conference speaker on "kids online" topics
* Performed online community consulting for Fox Kids Online
* Editor for the Online Directory Project
* Online privacy (COPPA) consulting for Back Yard Jungle, funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting
* Director, summer computer camp for kids
* Published "kids online" articles
* Judge, Digital Communities category, Prix Ars prize
* Judge, Fantasy / Science Fiction category, 2007 Cybils award

Chris Rettstatt’s Specialties:

creation of and early-stage development of transmedia entertainment properties; using the internet to extend storytelling and brand; creating entertainment properties with strong online and gaming tie-ins; expertise in legal, safety, and privacy issues concerning youth-oriented online strategies, including online marketing

Chris Rettstatt’s Experience

Game Story Writer / Concept Developer (freelance)

Veil Entertainment

(Media Production industry)

July 2009 — Present (6 months)

I'm doing transmedia story development for an online game that's in development. This includes world building, character creation, and development into other media such as publishing and television.
Social Media Manager (freelance)

Living Earth Television

(Non-Profit; Media Production industry)

May 2009 — Present (8 months)
Author
Self Employed (Self-employed)

(Self-Employed; Writing and Editing industry)

August 2004 — Present (5 years 5 months)

In addition to my other work, I'm a published author of books for young adults.

I'm creator and lead writer of a five-book fantasy series called Kaimira. The series is being published by Candlewick Press and Walker Books. The first book, The Sky Village, hit bookstores July 2008.

Here's what VOYA had to say:

"With strong characters of both genders, terrifyingly unpredictable villains, frightening futuristic settings, and wonderfully written action sequences, this book, first in a planned series of five, should have crossover appeal for fans of adventure, science fiction, and fantasy."
Youth Media Consultant

Self-Employed

(Media Production industry)

August 2000 — Present (9 years 5 months)

I do occasional consulting and freelance work for projects relating to youth media, particularly safe online community and transmedia storytelling.

Examples:

Earth Rangers: I created three transmedia strategy bibles that focused on youth-oriented massively multiplayer online (MMO) gaming. The bibles included strategies for television, publishing, and alternate reality gaming (ARGs).

Fox Kids Online: I provided online community consulting, complete with evaluation and recommendation of tools, staffing plans, and online safety & privacy audit.

Forum One Communications: I provided online safety and privacy consulting for Backyard Jungle, funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
Director of Story Development

Star Farm Productions

(Privately Held; Entertainment industry)

June 2006 — January 2009 (2 years 8 months)

* Spearheaded creation of story development process, resulting in 20+ new property ideas, 3 of which have moved into development
* Created and developed a children’s entertainment property to the point of global publishing contracts and a multi-platform development deal with BBC Worldwide
* Created and developed two children’s properties (one animated and one unscripted live action), complete with TV pitch bibles and Web strategies
Executive Producer, Online

Star Farm Productions

(Privately Held; Entertainment industry)

August 2002 — August 2004 (2 years 1 month)

* Developed edgarandellen.com into a robust Web site complete with games and user-generated content
* Managed Flash and Web design contractors and technology providers
* Created, executed, tracked, and reported online marketing campaigns
* Oversaw Star Farm’s privacy and safety policies, including drafting privacy and contest rules documents
Co-Founder

Kidfu

(Media Production industry)

2001 — 2002 (1 year )

* Developed content and policy strategies for children’s online community
* Worked with youth experts to define policies and practices; acquired CARU Director for Advisory Board
* Worked with national and international organizations to further youth online safety education
Managing Director, Online Community

The Thomson Corporation

(Public Company; TOC; Information Services industry)

2000 — 2001 (1 year )

* Developed and directed business strategies for online community business unit of Flywheel Media, a branch of Thomson Corporation
* Selected and implemented online communication tools
* Hired, trained, and managed staff of 30, including online community managers, editors, artists, and producers; managed production schedules
Director of Online Community

The FreeZone Network

(Media Production industry)

1998 — 2000 (2 years )

* Directed and lead planning, development, and execution of online community activities for FreeZone, a branch of Thomson Corporation
* Set industry standard for safe online community for kids and teens
* Managed staff of 25 and $500,000 annual budget
* Explored and managed strategic partnerships
* Successfully restructured department to create revenue streams from departmental products and services
* Developed and executed content strategies for chat, including a schedule of chat events
Trainer: English Language and American Culture

Self-employed

(Education Management industry)

October 1997 — December 1998 (1 year 3 months)

Provided English and American Culture training to adults in Suzhou, China. Created my own teaching materials. Provided conversational English classes for children.