Nerd Nite Orlando returns to the legendary Stardust Video & Coffee on Thursday, October 12th at 7pm. Nerd Nite is free and all are welcome.

Before the presentations we will be hosting trivia and giving away a special prize. Make sure to arrive on time!

PRESENTATION #1: 

“The Cost of War: The Death of Fandoms & Writer’s Rooms” J.D. Casto

A critical analysis of the streaming model of TV/Movies where I will examine how Streamers have slowly killed Fandoms and traditional Writer’s Rooms and how this has all come to a head during the current WGA and SAG strikes. 

J.D. Casto is an Orlando-based photographer that specializes in capturing Queer Joy. First published at only 13, J.D.’s photography has been seen worldwide. With an award-winning film and photography career that spans nearly two decades, there’s not much that J.D. hasn’t done. As a multi-passionate creative, J.D. has most recently worked in the video game industry, helping produce the NBA, WWE, and PGA video games at 2K Go. In his off time, J.D. writes for the Watermark Magazine, photographs concerts for Orlando Weekly, and mentors the next generation of Central Florida writers, filmmakers, and photographers.

PRESENTATION #2: 

“An Insiders Guide to Responsible Giving” by Julie Holt

Giving season is just around the corner and soon every nonprofit will be asking for some sort of donation. You want to give but the question you are now presented with is how to make sure your hard earned dollars does the most good. Good thing for you is that transparency is a main pillar of any good nonprofit management. Hear an insider’s guide how you can evaluate your favorite nonprofits just like a professional to make sure your dollar does the most amount of good!

Julie Holt is certified to change the world! Her two passions in life are social good and storytelling with data. She has a BS in Nonprofit Management from the University of South Carolina Upstate and an MBA from Crummer School of Business. She is a Certified Nonprofit Professional having served on multiple boards nationally and in the Central Florida area. Currently she is the Vice President of Florida Destination Imagination, a STEAM challenge based learning competition. Her day job includes playing data at Disney Publishing. When she’s not out and about volunteering, you can find her either at any of the theme parks or at the library!

PRESENTATION #3:

Skateboarding and the Silent Spaces of Capitalism” by Zach Moldof

Skateboarding is readily accepted as a sport, and its inclusion in the Olympics has amplified narratives that explain skateboarding as a sport. Skateboarding is also commonly regarded as an evolution of surfing, with distinct origins in California. But what if I told you that skateboarding’s history in Florida suggests a wholly other way of thinking and talking about skateboarding–one that draws parallels to dance and other art forms that took hold in hip hop culture? In my talk for Nerd Nite I’ll explain how skateboarding as we know it today starts in Florida, and I’ll provide examples that illustrate why the tools for discussing art–especially breakdancing and graffiti–yield more complete descriptions of skateboarding than the tools for discussing sport.

Zach Moldof is the executive director of Skate Bud 501c3: a nonprofit that increases skateboard accessibility for all people while prioritizing disenfranchised communities. He earned a BA in Liberal Studies at UCF, and an MA in Performance Studies at NYU. He is the author of the world’s first cannabis column for a national news outlet, the author of two books about skateboarding, a web developer, and a lifetime skater. Zach works with Florida DoS Division of Arts and Culture as an expert on skate culture and architecture, and he works with municipalities to design skateparks and repeal skateboard prohibition. He is married to Tiffany Moldof and they are always doing their best to be intentional parents for their 4 year old son Luchien.