Hair: Bald/ Strawberry Blonde
Eyes: Green
Height: 6' 3"
Weight: 230 lbs.

Christopher Elst

Actor, Fight Director, Teacher, Programmer, Writer, Enlightened Being

1609 E. Pryor Avenue
Milwaukee, WI 53207
T 414.630.6512
chris@christopherelst.com

Profile

Christopher Elst is a well-rounded workhorse with both hard technical skills and soft communication skills. His talent in translating complex problems in simple terms lends directly to his superior organizational and problem-solving abilities. As a programmer, he is methodical and detail-oriented; as an actor and a teacher, he is collaborative and strongly principled.

Associations

Chay's Tae Kwon Do, Racine, WI - High Brown Belt
Society of American Fight Directors - Advanced Actor/Combatant, Member in Good Standing

Acting [PDF version] - Download

Experience

Carousel - Elkhorn, WI

Billy Bigelow

May 2008

Lakeland Players

Challenged by this complex character, Christopher Elst gave Billy Bigelow bravado and charm, while maintaining a sympathetic vulnerability.

Stay As Dead As You Are - South Milwaukee, WI

Joe Mamet

April 2008

South Milwaukee PAC

Christopher Elst kept this murder mystery fast-paced and funny as the hard-boiled film-noir detective Joe Mamet.

The Dead Guy - Racine, WI

Dougie, Camera Operator

October 2007

Over Our Head Players

Operating a live-feed camera on-stage, Christopher Elst managed to keep his fellow actors framed up while delivering scathing witticisms as Dougie.

Port Pirate Festival - Port Washington, WI

Featured Fighter

June 2007

Port Pirate Fest

Appearing as both a colonial and a pirate, Christopher Elst performed stunts and fights for the burgeoning pirate festival and barked events throughout the day.

Disney's Beauty and the Beast - Elkhorn, WI

Gaston, Narrator

May 2007

Lakeland Players

Christopher Elst performed as the vain, villainous Gaston and lent his voice as the narrator for this classic tale, re-envisioned as a musical.

Education / Training

Advanced Actor/ Combatant, proficient in 7 of 8 weapons, recognized by SAFD
UW-Parkside, Kenosha, WI -- majored in English Literature

Skills

Martial Artist (Tae Kwon Do, Krav Maga, Tai Chi)
Improvisation
Vocalist (Baritone-Tenor)
Percussionist (Drum kit)
Skilled writer and poet
Proficient in video/audio editing software (Final Cut Express, Adobe Creative Suite)
Expert Web Programming skills

Fight Directing [PDF version] - Download

Experience

Carousel - Elkhorn, WI

Fight Director

May 2008

Lakeland Players

All scuffles in this dark musical were choreographed for realism and maximum cathartic effect by Christopher Elst.

Hamlet, Kenosha WI

Fight Director

February 2008

Tremper High School

To emphasize the emotion of the Bard's most complex play, Christopher Elst directed, choreographed and taught a smallsword duel to the two leads.

Port Pirate Festival - Port Washington, WI

Featured Fighter

June 2007

Port Pirate Fest

Appearing as both a colonial and a pirate, Christopher Elst performed stunts and fights for the burgeoning pirate festival and barked events throughout the day.

Disney's Beauty and the Beast - Elkhorn, WI

Fight Director

May 2007

Lakeland Players

Christopher Elst applied his combat expertise for the mass battle scenes as well as smaller pieces of violence design.

The Merchant of Venice - Chicago, IL

Choreographer / Fight Director

October 2006

Red Tape Theatre

As pre-show entertainment, Christopher Elst staged a four person and two person fight sequence in Red Tape Theatre's Middle-Eastern-themed production of The Merchant of Venice. Thugs broke out into violence in the middle of the bazaar, smallswords flashing to the delight of the audience.

Combined High Schools Madrigal Feaste (Fencing Program), Kenosha WI

Director / Head Instructor

1995 - present

Kenosha Combined High Schools Madrigal Feaste Fencing

Performing in the program as a student and advancing to Fight Captain through high school, Christopher Elst took over directing the Madrigal Feaste Fencing Program in 1995 as a college freshman. He directs and instructs 20 students a year, writes the fencers' scripts and fights, manages equipment and costumes, and has filmed, produced and edited a short documentary on the subject.

Education / Training

Advanced Actor/ Combatant, proficient in 7 of 8 weapons, recognized by SAFD
Quarterstaff training with Fight Master Chuck Coyl, March 2008
Intern, Winter Wonderland Workshop 2008
National Stage Combat Workshop, IACW Las Vegas 2007
National Stage Combat Workshop, ACW Las Vegas 2006
Winter Wonderland Workshop 2006 and 2007
UW-Parkside, Kenosha, WI -- majored in English Literature

Skills

Martial Artist (Tae Kwon Do, Krav Maga, Tai Chi)
Improvisation
Vocalist (Baritone-Tenor)
Percussionist (Drum kit)
Skilled writer and poet
Proficient in video/audio editing software (Final Cut Express, Adobe Creative Suite)
Expert Web Programming skills

Technology [PDF version] - Download

Portfolio Site URLs (many more available upon request)

With Hanson Dodge Creative:

Trek Bicycles: http://www.trekbikes.com/
Alterra Coffee: http://www.alterracoffee.com/
180s: http://www.180s.com/
House of Carrington: http://www.houseofcarrington.com/

Freelance:

Moda3 Online: http://www.moda3.com/
BelCanto Chorus: http://www.belcanto.org/
Cyren Gear: http://www.cyrengear.com/

Objective

To continue to grow in the areas of web design, programming, database creation and management and flash design and maintenance. To further the cause of web usability and its presence in superior web design. To work with and for people who understand the value of communication through design.

Experience

GS Design, Milwaukee WI

Web Developer

2007 - present

Produced HTML/CSS/JS, Flash, and PHP for such clients as Mercury Marine, SRAM Bicycle Components, Harley-Davidson Motorcycles, and Avent America. Worked closely PHP programmers, often creating custom code. Strategized with marketers and information architects to create elegant solutions.

Hanson Dodge Creative, Milwaukee WI

Web Developer

2000 - 2007

Produced HTML/CSS/JS, Flash, and PHP for such clients as Trek Bicycles, Credit Suisse Asset Management, Burton Snowboards, Alterra Coffees, Transamerica LLC. Worked closely with ASP.NET and PHP programmers, often creating code in these environments. Collaborated with Flash programmers and designers to implement cutting-edge designs and techniques. Strategized with marketers and information architects to create elegant solutions.

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee, Milwaukee WI

Continuing Education Instructor, Information Technology

2004-2006

Created curriculum for Web Graphics and Web Usability courses and taught day-long seminars on the subjects. Received praise from students and faculty on clarity of concepts as well as depth of knowledge.

Kenosha News, Kenosha, WI

Pre-press Clerk/ Web Programmer

1995-2000

Helped create early web presence for online news and advertising. Managed pre-press area for daily newspaper, including pagination, photo correction and traditional mock-up techniques including ruby-lithe knockouts and plate and negative handling.

Skills

XHTML/CSS/Javascript expert
Adobe Photoshop/ImageReady expert
Flash proficiency
ASP.NET, PHP, ColdFusion and JSP proficiency
Experience with multiple e-Commerce solutions
Experience modifying open-source applications to client specifications
Usability Advocate
Superior proofreading and editing skills

Education

UW-Parkside, Kenosha, WI -- majored in English Literature / Creative Writing

Referrals (contact information upon request)

Bjorn Nelson, Software Architect, Breakthrough Technologies
Tim McKee, Interactive Creative Director, World Domination Design Group (WDDG), NY
Christina Rinaldi, Designer, The Wonderfactory, NY
Anne Stibor, Web Production Artist / Archivist, Hanson Dodge Creative