In 2001, conservative transgender podcaster Brianna Wu uploaded an elaborate online resume replete with superfluous information, exaggerations, and lies. The document gives insights into how Wu operates. Notable information includes:
Patent claims
- “I invented and patented a new digital animation technique”
- “Patented innovative technique for digital imaging (2 U.S. patents)”
- [false: there are no government records of any US patents held by Wu]
Socially Unconscious claims
- Includes Socially Unconscious panel where Wu’s feminine self-insert Brea Anatamata says men “have entire secret lives that you will never possibly know about”
- Claims the included Socially Unconscious panel is “A rare color reprint from the January 2001 issue of Laugh Factory, and the only second time in the magazineās prestigious 30 year history they reprinted a comic strip series.”
[false: Laugh Factory Magazine, Inc. was suspended in August 2000 after not publishing issues in years] - Socially Unconscious began as “a student comic strip at the University of Mississippi”
[unconfirmed] - Socially Unconscious was “syndicated to other college newspapers”
[unconfirmed]
School attendance claims
- Attended Millsaps College from “Fall 1998-Present”
[inaccurate: Wu attended Millsaps in Spring and Fall 1998, then left Millsaps in 1999 to found failed animation studio Socially Unconscious Productions, returning in Fall 2000 for one semester before dropping out again]
Work experience claims
- Contributed to Millsaps Purple & White student paper from “9.2000 – Present”
[inaccurate: actual dates September 28āOctober 12, 2000 (stopped after 6 weeks)] - “Socially Unconscious Productions 9/2000 – Present”
[inaccurate: LLC officially formed February 16, 1999 and āceased all operationsā in March 2000 per 2002 dissolution lawsuit by Wuās parents] - Contributed to Millsaps Purple & White student paper from “11.1998 – 2.1999 “
[inaccurate: actual dates January 22 ā April 24, 1998, then September 11 ā October 14, 1998] - “Managing Editor, The Post Newspaper 10.1998 – 12.1998”
[unconfirmed: likely reference to Taylorsville, MS Weekly Post] - “Congressional Intern, Senator Trent Lott 5.1997 – 8.1997”
[unconfirmed] - “Staff Writer/ Photographer Daily Mississippian Newspaper 6.1997 – 2.1998”
“Published the very first run on newspaper run [sic] of comic Socially Unconscious”
[1997 unconfirmed, no Daily Mississippian contributions found in 1998]
Miscellaneous
- Claimed multiple majors throughout ten years of college (1996ā2006), including engineering, political science, journalism, and business.
- Home page includes an autoplaying song from the James Bond films, suggesting that Wu sockpuppet “Lauren Milovy” was named after Bond character Kara Milovy
Background
Main page: Brianna Wu: education claims vs. facts
Brianna Wu sporadically attended college for ten years (1996 to 2006), leaving both University of Mississippi and Millsaps College twice. Wu stopped attending college for good at age 29 after 12 or 13 regular semesters without earning a bachelor’s degree:
- Wu attended K-12 schools in the Hattiesburg Public School District
- Wu reportedly had to repeat 7th grade
- Wu attended Hattiesburg High School, graduating in 1995
- Wu took over a year off before first attending University of Mississippi on August 19, 1996
- Wu left University of Mississippi in 1997 after two or three semesters
- Wu transferred to Millsaps College in Spring 1998
- Wu left Millsaps College after two semesters, following the Fall 1998 semester
- Wu founded animation studio Socially Unconscious Productions in early 1999
- Wu attempted to produce an animated feature titled The Cracker based on the masculine self-insert from the Socially Unconscious comic
- Socially Unconscious Productions ceased all operations in early 2000
- Wu returned to Millsaps College for two semesters in Spring and Fall 2000
- Wu dropped out again and moved to Washington, DC to work in Republican fundraising
- Wuās parents dissolved Socially Unconscious Productions in 2002 after receiving no payments on $170,000 in loans
- Both parents sent Wu to rehab for drug addiction in 2002
- Wu returned to University of Mississippi in Fall 2003, attending for six semesters
- Wu was listed as a senior in the 2006 Ole Miss Yearbook
- Wu left of University of Mississippi for the second time without earning a degree on July 29, 2006
Home page
This online resume autoplayed the James Bond disco-themed āBond 77ā by Marvin Hamlisch, featured in The Spy Who Loved Me. The 1987 film The Living Daylights features a character named Kara Milovy, similar to Wuās Socially Unconscious sockpuppet co-author āLauren MIlovy.ā
Text on the home page says:
Canāt wait for the mail? This temporary page will provide you access to my resume information. Of course, normal HTML would not be appropriate for these careful planned spreads, so youāll need the Adobe Acrobat reader (an absolutely imperative download if you donāt already have it).
I understand that many resumes are a fog of poorly written information, and that is of course the point. These graphical pages have been custom made with you in mind. They will not waste your time with any doublespeak and irrelevant data. Here are the facts about my education and skills, so you can make your own hiring decision.
Do not hesitate to contact me for further information.
The home page includes links to five single-page PDFs, including Page A (front cover) and Page B (back cover). Page F duplicates Page E.
Page C
* Facts, Notes, and FAQās
Just the Facts
Name: [deadname redacted]
Age: 24
Major: Business
Areas of Expertise: Marketing, Finance, and Management
Secondary Skills: Media Production (Web, Television, and Newspaper)
Technical Skills: Graphics Arts [sic], Network installation and repair
Frequently Asked Questions
Full Time or Part Time? Full Time.
Whatās your target salary? 32k-40k, depending on city and benefits.
Do you mind working extra nights and weekends? Of course not.
Do you have any problem putting in extra hours for deadlines? Not a bit.
Are you married? No.
Do you have any dependents? No.
Are you immediately available to employ? Yes.
Are you willing to travel/relocate? Not a problem.
Are you willing to travel/relocate outside the U.S? Absolutely.
backup_stats
Making the leap from comic page to the big screen
Socially Unconscious has taken many forms over the years. Originally starting as a student comic strip at the University of Mississippi, it was soon syndicated to other college newspapers. As computers allowed more and more sophisticated work, the art of the series was constantly evolving.
After I invented and patented a new digital animation technique, plans were put into place to develop the comic strip as an animated pilot. The film cost 150,000$ to produce, and took up the better part of two years. You can read much more about in [sic] the pages ahead.
[Allison]: Brea and I, we know things! Because we came out with the movie, we have āwow statusā
[Brea]: All the guys you think you knowā¦ are not the guys you think you know. They have entire secret lives that you will never possibly know about. Just forget about it, let it go.
[Lani]: So what youāre saying is there are secret lives of men?
[Brea]: Very secret, baby!
A rare color reprint from the January 2001 issue of Laugh Factory, and the only second time in the magazineās prestigious 30 year history they reprinted a comic strip series. The following is from E1X11, āThe Minuete.ā
[false: California Franchise Tax Board shows that Laugh Factory Magazine, Inc. was suspended in 2000 after not publishing issues in years]
Page D
Business Major very heavy on Media Production and Computer Skills
OBJECTIVE
To work for a company that will allow me to bring creative solutions to problems. As you look through this resume, you might notice that my skills are extremely diverse. Iāve created computer networks from scratch, but Iāve also syndicated a successful comic strip. Iāve personally financed and managed a $150,000 film project, and Iāve interned for Senator Trent Lott. The reason for such an eclectic mix of skills is Iām an extremely goal-oriented person. Once I have an objective, I will learn whatever is necessary to accomplish my objectives. This is what I consider to be my biggest strength. My more immediate skills revolve around digital media. I have worked on innumerable projects in newspapers, television, music, photography, and web sites. Secondary is my vast amount of technical knowledge. From repairing crashed machines to helping implement new software, I can be your companyās āSwiss Army Knifeā, helping to reduce expensive outsourcing jobs. What I feel makes me unique is my strong education in business. Millsaps College is renowned for the āElse School of Managementā. I am well educated in the fields of marketing, economics, accounting and finance. Iāve worked hard outside the classroom to implement what Iāve learned. Unlike many other people with technology skills, I understand the big picture of what a business has to do to succeed
āI will learn whatever is necessary to accomplish my objectivesā
EDUCATION
MILLSAPS COLLEGE
Business Major US-MS-Jackson
Fall 1998-Present
[inaccurate: Wu left Millsaps in 1999 to found failed animation studio Socially Unconscious Productions, returning in Fall 2000 for one semester]
The Else School of Business at Millsaps is widely known to be one of the best business schools in the South, as evidenced by a decade of U.S. News rankings. Students of the Else school of Business are highly educated in Marketing, Economics, Finance, Accounting, and Legal Environment.
University of Mississippi US-MS-Oxford
Fall 1996-Summer 1998
Attended the school for two and a half years as an engineering major. During these two years I took an extremely wide variety of classes ranging from Japanese to Chemistry. Eventually I decided to transfer to the more prestigious Millsaps College, to better pursue my goals
Page E
Business skills
The Else School of Management seeks to provide management education leadership in the South, bringing to business the broad perspectives, global awareness, and intellectual exploration that characterizes Millsaps College.
Academic expertise
FINANCE
Else School Students are given a most challenging curriculum.
ECONOMICS
Within the Business Major, my specialty is Economics.
MARKETING
Advanced classes put the emphasis on consumer Psychology.
ACCOUNTING
Classes are taught in small groups that solve business problems.
JAPANESE
I plan to continue my study of this challenging Language.
Senior Political Writer
Millsaps Purple and White Newspaper 9.2000 – Present
[inaccurate: actual dates September 28āOctober 12, 2000 (stopped after 6 weeks)]
Ā§ Wrote articles covering the 2000 Presidential Campaign
Ā§ Illustrated original cartoons for college newspaper
Ā§ Trained less experienced staff members Quark Express, Photoshop, and Illustrator
Digital Animator
Socially Unconscious Productions 9.1999 – 12.2000
[false: company āceased all operationsā in March 2000 per 2002 dissolution lawsuit by Wuās parents]
Ā§ Personally created hundreds of animations sequences, using my artwork
Ā§ Patented innovative technique for digital imaging (2 U.S. patents) [false]
Ā§ Worked to bring this video to post-production, using Avid and AfterEffects
Voice Actor
Socially Unconscious Productions 2.1999 – Present
[false: company āceased all operationsā in March 2000 per 2002 dissolution lawsuit by Wuās parents]
Ā§ Voice acted a main role in production
Ā§ Acted hundreds of takes
Ā§ Personally auditioned and cast 12 actors for the series
Majority Stockholder
Socially Unconscious Productions 9/2000 – Present
[false: LLC officially formed February 16, 1999 and āceased all operationsā in March 2000 per 2002 dissolution lawsuit by Wuās parents]
Ā§ Formed limited liability company for production of digital animated series
Ā§ Personally managed our $150,000 budget, including salaries, taxes, and equipment purchases
Ā§ Hired and trained our staff of background artists, animators to use equipment
Staff Cartoonist
Millsaps Purple and White Newspaper 11.1998 – 2.1999
[false: actual dates January 22 ā April 24, 1998, then September 11 ā October 14, 1998]
Ā§ Cartoonist for Millsaps College newspaper
Ā§ Began writing pilot script for animated series
Managing Editor, The Post Newspaper 10.1998 – 12.1998 [unconfirmed]
Ā§ Made editorial decisions on content, editing, layout, and pre-print
Ā§ Managed a staff of over dozen
Ā§ Researched and wrote articles for publication in newspaper, The Post
Congressional Intern, Senator Trent Lott 5.1997 – 8.1997 [unconfirmed]
Ā§ Clerical responsibilities, including communicating Sen. Lottās ideas to his constituents
Ā§ Learned how to work with Goverment [sic] bureaucracy, directing people to resources
Staff Writer/ Photographer
Daily Mississippian Newspaper 6.1997 – 2.1998 [unconfirmed]
Ā§ Senior position gave me the chance to interview many University leaders
Ā§ Learned about professional photography, including how to shoot sports, and traditional darkroom techniques
Ā§ Published the very first run on newspaper run [sic] of comic Socially Unconscious
Resources
note: deadname is redacted in url.
Netdoor (netdoor.com)
- http://www2.netdoor.com/~XXXXXXX/ [archive]