Episode 41 - Jennifer Crystal Chien, Anne Schroeter, & Dr. Lauren Walsh - “Revolution”
Photo Credit: Jennifer Crystal Chien
[Image Description: Jennifer, pictured from the chest up, wears a black sweater, a grey, knitted winter cap, and a pair of black framed glasses. She looks directly into the camera.]
In this episode, I speak with Jennifer Crystal Chien, Anne Scherter, and Dr. Lauren Walsh. Together, we dive deep into the urgent conversation around ethical accountability in nonfiction visual media—whether documentary, photography, or video journalism. We explore the origins of the “Cause No Harm” initiative, the gaps in current industry standards, and their collaborative effort to develop a comprehensive guide to protect participants’ rights and dignity. From informed consent and trauma-informed practices to the broader application of human rights law, this discussion is both a call to action and a blueprint for change. The spirit of this episode is captured in our song of the week: “Revolution” by Arrested Development—a reminder that transformation is not only necessary, but possible.”
Episode 20 - Victoria Thomas - “Survivor”
[Image Description: Victoria is pictured from the torso up and sits in front of a starry, black background that is just out of focus. Her hair is slightly longer than shoulder length. She wears a red and black blouse and red lipstick. She smiles at the camera.]
In this episode, I speak with filmmaker and educator Victoria Thomas. In our conversation, we chat about her latest project, Born in New York, Raised in Paris, her teaching at the London Film School, the production company she founded, the Polkadot Factory, and the challenges of navigating a documentary and narrative film industry rooted in a white supremacist work culture that is resistant to change. Because just like many Black women, Victoria finds being in these spaces can be taxing and exhausting, to say the least, this episode’s song is Destiny Chid’s “Survivor.”
Episode 13 - Denise Hamilton - “We Shall Not Be Moved”
[Image Description: Denise Hamilton is pictured from the torso up. She was an aqua colored button down shirt, tortoise-shell glasses, and a black folded scarf around her head that has white lettering and pink, blue, and yellow graphics. She smiles slightly as her chin rest on her hand.]
In this episode, I speak with educator, filmmaker and former co-chairperson of BADWest: Black Association of Documentary Filmmakers - West, Denise Hamilton, In our conversation we talk about BADWest, her latest doc/interactive project Race Relay, and what it’s like to be educating the next generation of international documentary filmmakers at the New York Film Academy. Because Denise and her family has deep ties to the Black liberation movement that go all the way to Mary McLeod Bethune, the song for this episode is Mavis Staples rendition of the gospel classic, “We Shall Not Be Moved.”