H.D. Motyl

H.D. Motyl is an Associate Professor in the Radio, Television, and Digital Media program at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, specializing in media production and television writing. His creative work bridges academic instruction with professional industry experience.

His educational background includes:

• B.A. in English from Pennsylvania State University (1979)
• M.F.A. in Film/Video Production and Screenwriting from Northwestern University (1990)

Motyl's research centers on documentary storytelling, experimental video techniques, and narrative structures in non-fiction media. His projects often explore cultural themes through innovative visual approaches, such as his rodeo documentary Cowboy Christmas and the Nudes Descending a Staircase video installation series.

His accolades include:

• Best Feature Documentary at the Madrid International Film Festival for Cowboy Christmas
• Best of the Fest for Faculty Documentary at the Broadcast Education Association’s Festival of Media Arts