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Taryn Southern is an American storyteller, public speaker, artist, and brand strategist who works with emerging technologies. She was formerly known for her work as a TV host, actress and YouTuber.
Taryn Southern | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1986 (age 37–38)[1] Wichita, Kansas, U.S. |
| Education | University of Miami (BS, BA) |
| Occupation(s) | Tech artist, advisor, filmmaker and speaker |
| Years active | 2004–present |
| Website | www |
Southern grew up in Wichita, Kansas and landed her first starring role in a pre-Broadway theatrical production at the age of 10.[2] As a teenager, she co-hosted a regional teen talk show for WB Kansas .[3] At 20, Southern graduated from the University of Miami, earning a B.S. in Anthropology and a B.A. in Journalism. While in school, she competed in American Idol and received a grant to travel to Peru to study the shamanic use of ayahuasca among rainforest communities.[4]
Emerging technology and storytelling
In 2017, Southern received a grant from the Google Creator Lab to create experimental VR content. One piece, New World, won AT&T's 2020 Film Award [5] and another, Life Support, was nominated for a Streamy Award.[6][7] Southern was also chosen to be an ambassador for The Geena Davis Institute Gender in Media #ShesGotDrive campaign to promote female voices in media.[8]
Southern's immersive content work led her to begin producing music with AI-based musical composition tools. In 2018, she released a music album titled I AM AI, where the instrumental backing music was generated using a variety of AI-based tools including Amper, an open source product which allows users to create music based on user generated inputs, IBM Watson Beat, Google Magenta and AIVA.[9][10] Her first single, "Break Free", was released in August 2017, and features music generated using Amper.[11] Her song "New World" was tokenized using blockchain technology to enable hundreds of collaborators to split backend royalties on sales and streams of the track.[12] The album received international attention, and radio play in the US.[13]
In April 2019, Southern debuted her first full-length feature documentary, I AM HUMAN, which explored the co-evolution of the human brain and technology. I AM HUMAN had its worldwide premiere at the 2019 Tribeca Film Festival in New York and was co-directed and produced by Southern.[14] The Winner of four Best Feature awards following its premiere, I AM HUMAN chronicled the journey of three real-world pioneers with implantable brain-computer interfaces. I AM HUMAN won numerous awards including Best of the Fest at the 2019 El Dorado Film Festival,[15] Audience Choice for Best Feature at the 2019 Eastern Oregon Film Festival,[16] Outstanding First Feature at the Tallgrass Film Festival, Best Feature at Other Worlds Austin[17] and Best Director at the Oslo Film Festival.[18] I AM HUMAN was released on March 10, 2020 on video-on-demand platforms.[19]
Digital media and YouTube
On July 2, 2007, Southern released her first YouTube video, which garnered more than a million views and appeared on FOX and MSNBC's Hardball with Chris Matthews.[20]
Shortly after, Southern was appointed the face of AT&T U-Verse's entertainment channel and Cosmopolitan's first daily online series.[21] In addition, she starred in the first online series for The WB, Sorority Forever[22]
In 2009, Southern wrote/produced her first comedic musical web series, which later sold to MTV as a half-hour comedy pilot, with David Zuckerman as co-writer/executive producer.[23]
In 2013, Southern released a musical comedy album, which reached #20 on the iTunes comedy chart and was recognized by Billboard.[24] The song “Crush”, which was on the album, made it to the Top 100 in radio play that August.[25] Southern ultimately released more than 50 original songs and covers as well as an 80's inspired album, Flashback Friday.[26]
Southern launched her YouTube channel in 2012 by releasing one video per week for a year. In 2014, Southern's YouTube Channel was listed on New Media Rockstars Top 100 Channels, ranked at #52.[27] As of 2015, she had more than 450,000 subscribers.
By 2017, Southern had stopped posting regular content on her YouTube channel. She cited the YouTube algorithm as problematic for the digital community, and a desire to focus on other creative endeavors and experiments with emerging technology.[28]
TV hosting, radio, acting, singing
When Southern was seventeen, she was part of American Idol season three's Top 50.[29] She went on to host and executive produce DirecTV's first original series, Project My World, before landing other jobs in the entertainment industry and building a YouTube channel.[30] She was later a live correspondent on the US version of The X Factor.,[31] a correspondent on Discovery Channel's Shark After Dark Live, which earned the #1 ratings spot in its time slot.[32] Southern was later hired to continue her role as correspondent for Naked After Dark on Discovery Channel, a companion late-night show to Naked and Afraid.[33] She also debuted a series with Marriott that was later renewed for a second season,[34][35] and launched a digital talk show with Maker Studios.[36] The series, which launched in 2015 and 2016, was an exploration of internet culture, and featured guests ranging from celebrity/science enthusiast Seth MacFarlane and King Bach to psychedelic advocate Zach Leary and activist musician Kate Nash.[37]
Southern's television acting roles included: a recurring role in the fifth season of the CBS comedy series Rules of Engagement, as well as guest starring on New Girl, American Dad!, The League and Guys with Kids.[38][39]
In 2019, Southern was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer. She completed a year of treatment in the summer of 2020, and has raised funds for an organization that provides cold cap medical treatments to young women with breast cancer.[40][41]
Film/TV
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Project My World | Taryn | Nine episode documentary |
| 2007–2008 | The Heavy Show | Various characters | |
| 2008 | Senior Skip Day | Isha | movie |
| 2008 | Sorority Forever | Taryn Monaghan | 31 episodes |
| 2009 | Woke Up Dead | Debbie | |
| 2010 | Pound of Flesh | Dyonesia Cosa | movie |
| 2010 | Rules of Engagement | Allison | Guest Star in 5 episodes |
| 2010 | The Temp Life | Nancy Roder | 8 episodes |
| 2010 | Battle Los Angeles | Reporter on beach | movie |
| 2011–2012 | It's Fred | Judy Munsley, Fred's Mom | 9 episodes |
| 2012 | New Girl | Megan | Guest appearance in Season 2, Episode 3 "Fluffer" |
| 2012 | Guys with Kids | Erica | Guest appearance in Season 1, Episode 12 "Marny's Dad" |
| 2014 | Last Man Standing | Rachel | Guest appearance in Season 3, Episode 15 "Tasers" |
- I AM AI (2018)
- "Break Free" (2017)
- I Love You, But (2016)
- Flashback Friday (2015)
- On My Face (2012)
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