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Director
A seventh-generation Oregonian, McCluskey is deeply rooted to the diverse stories of the region. At the age of 17, McCluskey volunteered for the US Forest Service to give presentations in the 1936 WPA project Timberline Lodge. The power of the grandeur, craftsmanship, and Northwest sprit made a lasting impression. Seeing first-hand the impact of an organized collaborative work of skilled and unskilled professionals, volunteers, and community, McCluskey has applied this historic model to documentary storytelling. Organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, US Forest Service, Korean Society of Oregon, and the Native American Youth Association, have called on McCluskey’s passion and talents to create meaningful documentary projects. His work has been broadcast by PBS, featured in numerous film festivals, and recognized by more than two dozen national awards, including the NW Emmy Award, the Chicago Film Festival’s Hugo Award, two CINE Golden Eagle Awards, and six Telly Awards. Using today’s digital technology while borrowing from the traditions of photography, literary non-fiction, and documentary, his work reflects the people, place and personality of his native Northwest.
Committed to the continuance of storytelling, McCluskey created and instructs the popular NW Documentary Workshop where first-time filmmakers make their own documentary shorts and present them publicly in a special première at a historic theatre. McCluskey has also served as a judge for regional film festivals and the Academy Awards, student documentary category. He regularly contributes his time to schools and other community organizations to share his passion for meaningful stories.
McCluskey's academic background includes undergraduate study in Creative Writing (Colorado College, Suma Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa), the University of Montana's prestigious Writing Program, and the University of Oregon (M.S. Journalism, Kappa Tau Alpha). His writing has been published in national magazines and was included in the anthology, "Best Essays NW."