BLAKE NAFTEL
Hello! I’m Blake, a multimedia artist, comedy writer, producer, entrepreneur and meteorologist based in Old Town Chicago, Illinois by way of my hometown of Kalamazoo, Michigan.
I earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Geosciences, a blend of geography, meteorology, geographic information systems and remote sensing from Western Michigan University in April 2006.
My life has been a storied mixtape of weather, television news, radio, independent cinema, documentary film production and web design since 1995 working with a variety of local, national and international media networks along the way. Nowadays I’m focused on the comedic side of the atmosphere! :)
Presently I am developing a LIVE episodic “stage to stream” sketch comedy show called THE WEATHER CREW ™ with additional actors and writers in Chicago for Summer 2025.
Thanks for visiting!
EXPERIENCES
EXPERIENCES
BLAKE NAFTEL | THREE REEL FILMS ®
1350 N. Wells Street
Chicago, IL. 60610
Phone: 616-643-7762
blakenaftel.com | threereelfilms.com
EXPERIENCE:
Sketch | Improv | Standup | Theatre:
February 2025 to Present
August 2024 to January 2025
Student Improv + Sketch Writer + Standup
The de Maat Theatre, Open Stages.
October 2020 to Present
The Weather Crew ™ Comedy Hour!
Creator | Executive Producer | Writer
Original live stage to stream weather sketch comedy show in presently in development.
August to November 2008
Madison, Wisconsin
MULTIMEDIA:
2012 to Present
Three Reel Films | Global | Chicago, Illinois + Kalamazoo, Michigan.
Founder | Developer | Multimedia Designer | Cinematographer | Director.
2020
Tracing the Path: The 1980 Kalamazoo Tornado
Multimedia Contributor | Historical Multimedia Online Installment.
2020
PBS WGBH | The American Experience | Rossi Films, Boston.
Archive Contributor | Production Consultant.
2018 to 2020
AccuWeather | National | Chicago, Illinois.
Weather Journalist | Executive Field Producer | Live Broadcast Storm Tracker + Streamer.
2017
WEWS TV News 5 ABC | Local | Cleveland, Ohio.
Multimedia Photojournalist | Field Producer | Live Broadcast Storm Tracker + Streamer.
2014 to 2016
The Storm Chasing Anthology Documentary | Stormchasinghistory.net | United States & Canada.
Premiere at The National Weather Center | University of Oklahoma School of Meteorology.
Funded by Kickstarter with a $10,200.00 backer goal met in 7 days for a two year production budget.
2014 to 2016
The Weather Network | International | Canada & United States.
Freelance Multimedia Video Journalist | Great Lakes | Storm Tracker.
2015
Alpine Township Historical Society + National Weather Service Grand Rapids, Michigan
April 11, 1965: The Palm Sunday Tornadoes in West Michigan
Documentary Producer | Premiere: April 11, 2015 | Walker, Michigan
2013 to 2014
WWMT CBS & CW 3 | Local | West Michigan.
Grand Rapids Bureau Photojournalist | Field Producer | Archivist | Live Storm Tracker + Streamer.
2010 to 2012
WZZM ABC 13 | Local | West Michigan.
Multimedia Journalist | Live Storm Tracker & Streamer | Producer | Archivist | Production.
2010
NOAA: The National Weather Service | Grand Rapids, Michigan
Documentary Producer | The 1980 Kalamazoo Tornado: A Retrospective
2010
WXMI FOX 17 | Local | West Michigan.
Documentary Producer | The Kalamazoo Tornado: 30 Years Later, May 2010 | Wx + News.
2009
WWMT CBS & CW 3 | Local | West Michigan
Part-Time Relief Photojournalist | Field Producer | Editor | Archivist | Live Storm Tracker.
2008
WEYE | Wisconsin Eye Public Affairs | Statewide | Madison, Wisconsin.
Multimedia Political Journalist | Podcaster | Editor + Field Producer.
2006 to 2008
WLFI CBS 18 | Local News + Weather | West Lafayette, Indiana.
Multimedia Journalist | Editor | Weather Producer | Storm Tracker | Production.
2004 to 2006
89.1FM WiDR Kalamazoo | Radio Evolution | Local | Kalamazoo, MI.
Program Creator + Radio Free Kalamazoo Host + News & Weather + DJ + Volunteer Production Manager.
2002 to 2024
Breaking News Video Network | BNVN + Storm Chasing Video, LLC | National | St. Cloud, MN.
Freelance Video Journalist | Multimedia Field Producer | Storm Tracker
ABC, CBS, NBC, The Weather Channel, CNN, Telemundo, MSNBC, FOX News.
2002 to 2008
Tempest Tours | Storm Chasing Expeditions | National | Arlington, TX.
Senior Tour Guide | Forecaster | Driver.
1999 to 2006
WWMT CBS 3 | Local News + Weather | West Michigan.
Production + News + Weather Assistant | Creative Services | Live Broadcast Storm Tracker.
1998 to 1999
WNDU NBC 16 | Local Weather |
Freelance Weather Videographer | South Bend, Indiana.
1995 to 1997
Movie Cameras U.S.A. | Original Website Business | Mattawan, Michigan.
HTML, SHTML, JavaScript coding. Multimedia design = Adobe PS 2.5.1 + Page Mill 3.0 + Dreamweaver 3.0.
ACADEMICS:
Western Michigan University | Kalamazoo, Michigan | 2001 to 2006.
Bachelor of Science: Geography + GIS + Meteorology, Communications, April 2006.
Advisor: Dr. Elen Cutrim (deceased).
THE “MAJOR” AWARDS:
2001: NOAA Mark of Excellence Award | Production of “A Spotters’ Guide to Michigan Convective Weather.” NWS Grand Rapids, MI.
2008: Associated Press | Spot News | Lafayette, Indiana. WLFI CBS 18.
2019: Silver Telly Award w/ co-producer Cheryl Nelson. Alaska Climate Series. AccuWeather TV.
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION:
2002 to Present: Technician and Morse Code Amateur Radio Communications License | KC8VPG
References available upon request.