Emmy Award-winning television personality and talk show host Dick Cavett speaks with WNET Up Next host Elisa Lichtenbaum about Groucho & Cavett, an American Masters documentary exploring his profound and enduring friendship with iconic comedian Groucho Marx. The film, written, produced, and directed by Robert S. Bader (Ali & Cavett: The Tale of the Tapes), premieres Tuesday, December 27 at 8 p.m ET on PBS. (Check local listings.) It will also stream on the American Masters website (pbs.org/americanmasters) and the PBS App.

Cavett shares colorful stories of his adventures in show business: the serendipitous first time he met Groucho Marx (at playwright George S. Kaufman’s funeral in 1961); landing his first big break as a writer for Jack Paar on The Tonight Show; interviewing Bette Davis, Katharine Hepburn, and other Hollywood greats on The Dick Cavett Show; and much more.

WNET Up Next takes listeners behind the scenes of favorite public media programs, featuring conversations with the people who make them. Browse and enjoy past episodes at Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and wnet.org/podcast.

WNET Up Next is a presentation of the Design, On-Air Promotion, Fundraising, and Traffic Department of The WNET Group.

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Recorded: November 16, 2022

Audio Engineer: Josh Broome

Producer/Host: Elisa Lichtenbaum

Executive Producer: Daena McBride

Editor: Terence Taylor

Production Coordinator: Rita Graffeo

Special Thanks to Dick Cavett, Martha Rogers, Robert Bader, and David Clarke.

WNET UP NEXT is a presentation of the Design, On Air Promotion, Fundraising and Traffic Department of The WNET Group.

The post Dick Cavett On His Friendship With Groucho Marx appeared first on The WNET Group.

Filmmaker and co-producer Julia Kots speaks with WNET Up Next host Elisa Lichtenbaum about the making of Inez & Doug & Kira, her independent film about a bipolar woman who commits suicide and the impact of her death on her sister and her sister’s fiancé. The film, written, directed, edited, and co-produced by Kots and starring Tawny Cypress (Yellowjackets) as Inez, Michael Chernus (Severance) as Doug, and Talia Thiesfield (FBI) as Kira, premieres on Reel 13 Double Feature – THIRTEEN/WNET’s Saturday night film series – on Saturday, September 10 at 12:25 a.m.

Kots talks about the challenges of shooting the dramatic feature with a micro budget and tight schedule, its complex narrative structure, and its exploration of mental illness, suicide, and addiction. She also shares insights on the casting and audition process, and explains how her experience as professional TV and film editor – her credits include the public media series Great Performances, Reel 13, NYC-ARTS, Treasures of New York, and Treasures of New Jersey – informed how she directed the film.

WNET Up Next takes listeners behind the scenes of favorite public media programs, featuring conversations with the people who make them. Browse and enjoy past episodes at Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and wnet.org/podcast.

WNET Up Next is a presentation of the Design, On-Air Promotion, Fundraising, and Traffic Department of The WNET Group.

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Recorded: August 16, 2022

Audio Engineer: Josh Broome

Producer/Host: Elisa Lichtenbaum

Executive Producer/Editor: Daena McBride

Production Coordinator: Rita Graffeo

Special Thanks to Julia Kots.

WNET UP NEXT is a presentation of the Design, On Air Promotion, Fundraising and Traffic Department of The WNET Group.

The post WNET Up Next Welcomes “Inez & Doug & Kira” Filmmaker and Co-Producer Julia Kots appeared first on The WNET Group.

Oscar-nominated director Oren Jacoby speaks with WNET Up Next host Elisa Lichtenbaum about the making of On Broadway, his documentary that looks at the incredible way Broadway bounced back from the brink of bankruptcy and other challenges from the 1960s to the present. The film premieres on THIRTEEN — your New York City PBS station — on Tuesday, August 16 at 8 p.m., with encores on Sunday, August 21 at 2 and 7 p.m. (See THIRTEEN schedule). Check local PBS listings to find out when it’s airing on the PBS station near you.

Jacoby shares stories of interviewing Hugh Jackman, Ian McKellen, Christine Baranski, and other Broadway legends, working with Athol Fugard and August Wilson during his early days in the theater, and discusses other theater documentaries he created for PBS, including Great Performances: Sam Shepard: Stalking Himself, Stage on Screen: The Topdog Diaries (about playwright Susan-Lori Parks’ Tony-nominated play Topdog/Underdog), and The Shakespeare Sessions.

WNET Up Next takes listeners behind the scenes of favorite public media programs, featuring conversations with the people who make them. Browse and enjoy past episodes at Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and wnet.org/podcast.

WNET Up Next is a presentation of the Design, On-Air Promotion, Fundraising, and Traffic Department of The WNET Group.

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Recorded: July 19, 2022

Audio Engineer: Josh Broome

Producer/Host: Elisa Lichtenbaum

Executive Producer/Editor: Daena McBride

Production Coordinator: Rita Graffeo

Special Thanks to Cara White, CaraMar Publicity.

WNET UP NEXT is a presentation of the Design, On Air Promotion, Fundraising and Traffic Department of The WNET Group.

The post WNET Up Next Welcomes “On Broadway” Director Oren Jacoby appeared first on The WNET Group.

In observation of National Teacher Appreciation Week, WNET UP NEXT celebrates our local teachers with an in-depth look the WNET PBS Digital Innovators Program, which for the past two years has provided a unique online gathering place for 14 outstanding teachers from the tri-state New York City metropolitan region. These teachers have shared with each other fresh ideas that open new worlds for their students, a bold approach to their teaching, and a commitment to social justice to advance a more equitable and diverse outlook for K-12 education.

Hannah Dawe and Kristina Kirtley of The WNET Group’s Kids & Media Education Department relate the story of how the local chapter of the PBS Digital Innovators came to be.  We then hear from four teachers and their experiences with the program:  Jean Kim, an English Language Arts teacher at a New York City Gifted and Talented school in Queens;  Clemencia Acevedo,  a Special Education teacher in West Harlem;  Kimberly Dickstein Hughes, New Jersey’s 2020 Teacher of the Year, who teaches English Language Arts at Haddonfield Memorial High in New Jersey;  Jamie Cacciola-Price, who heads the Drama and Musical Theatre program at the Frank Sinatra School of the Arts High School in Astoria, Queens.

Known as “DIs”, each of the teachers shares with host Tom Stewart their personal stories as educators and the many challenges they face, particularly those brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic. They all feel that the DI program has been an invaluable addition to their professional lives; in addition to providing classroom materials from PBS Learning Media and other sources, the program also acted as a place where they could offer each other encouragement and support in a time of great stress.

Fun fact: In the United States, Teacher Appreciation Day was put forth by First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt in 1944 as the first Tuesday in May; it has now evolved into Teacher Appreciation Week.  Worldwide, nations honor their teachers on many different dates and times of year.

For more information, visit WNET.org/Education

Recorded: April 13, 14, and 19, 2022

Audio Engineering – Josh Broome

Host/Producer – Tom Stewart

Executive Producer/Editor – Daena McBride

Special thanks to Christina Knight

WNET UP NEXT is a presentation of the Design, On Air Promotion, Fundraising and Traffic Department of The WNET Group.

The post WNET Up Next Celebrates National Teacher Appreciation Week appeared first on The WNET Group.

How do we maintain a sense of possibility and moral purpose in age of unbearable loss? What lessons of history or visions of tomorrow can help us today in contending with hate and injustice, the Covid-19 pandemic, the climate crisis, the attacks on democracy, and the lethal march of war?  When facing personal or professional troubles, where do we turn for balance and resolve?……Brian Tate

Grace Under Pressure, An Examination of Mental Health in America, is the umbrella title of a series of  virtual town halls, public conversations and digital content to be presented by The WNET Group on five consecutive Thursday evenings from April 28 through May 26, 2022.

Each livestream event will focus on a group of essential workers: healthcare workers, K-12 teachers, mental health providers, activists and journalists. The livestream events run 6-7:30 p.m. EDT. The project will serve as The WNET Group’s lead in the observance of National Mental Health Awareness Month in May.

Brian Tate, Director of Community Partnerships, and Jasmine Wilson, Community Engagement Specialist, visit with WNET UP NEXT’s Tom Stewart to talk about how the Grace Under Pressure project came to be and what it hopes to accomplish by examining mental health in our times.

“We met with about 150 nonprofit executives and community leaders to learn their thoughts on the top issues affecting New Yorkers. And mental health was among the top five topics that they cited,” says Brian Tate.

Learn more and register for Grace Under Pressure’s free, virtual town halls.

Stream programs and reports that highlight people who have found ways to improve mental health for themselves and others.

Recorded: April 5, 2022

Audio Engineering – Josh Broome

Host/Producer – Tom Stewart

Executive Producer/Editor – Daena McBride

Special Thanks – Christina Knight

WNET UP NEXT is a presentation of the Design, On Air Promotion, Fundraising and Traffic Department of The WNET Group

The post WNET Up Next Focuses on “Grace Under Pressure” in New Episode appeared first on The WNET Group.

In conjunction with the upcoming PBS premiere of Ken Burns’ four-hour biographical film BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, (Monday, April 4 and Tuesday, April 5, 2022 at 8 p.m.),  WNET UP NEXT welcomes Walter Isaacson, creative consultant for the film and author of Benjamin Franklin: An American Life.

“Just being interested in everything made him the quintessential, curious American,” Isaacson said of Franklin during his conversation with WNET UP NEXT.

Considered one of America’s most significant historical figures and founding fathers, Franklin has been influential in many fields with roles as printer, publisher, inventor, humorist, diplomat, and scientist. Known for his pragmatism, Franklin established early public libraries and schools in addition to his early “media empire” of  franchised printing establishments up and down the East Coast. He became internationally known for his experiments with electricity and creation of an early battery. As a diplomat, he was responsible for securing financial aid from France that helped defeat England in the American Revolution. As the witty writer of Poor Richard’s Almanack, he pioneered an American-style sense of humor that still exists today.

Like Franklin, Walter Isaacson has worn many different hats over the course of his career, from serving as Editor of Time,  to becoming CEO at CNN and The Aspen Institute.  Currently on the history faculty of Tulane University, he also serves as a co-host of Amanpour and Company on PBS.  In addition to Benjamin Franklin: An American Life, he has written many other books, including biographies of Steve Jobs, Leonardo DaVinci, Albert Einstein, and Nobel Prize winner Jennifer Doudna.

For more on BENJAMIN FRANKLIN: A Film by Ken Burns see the official film site.

Recorded: March 4, 2022

Audio Engineer – Josh Broome

Host/Producer – Tom Stewart

Executive Producer/Editor – Daena McBride

Special thanks: Jordan Lawrence of DKC and Christina Knight of The WNET Group

WNET UP NEXT is a presentation of the Design, On Air Promotion, Fundraising and Traffic Department of The WNET Group.

The post Walter Isaacson Joins WNET Up Next for a Preview of “Benjamin Franklin – A Ken Burns Film” appeared first on The WNET Group.

The acclaimed British series “Call the Midwife” comes back to PBS for its eleventh season on the evening of Sunday March 20th. To celebrate its return, WNET UP NEXT welcomes actor and author Stephen McGann, who portrays Dr. Patrick Turner. McGann shares with host Tom Stewart fascinating insights about the show, its history and production.

Adapted by series creator Heidi Thomas from the bestselling “Call the Midwife” books by Jennifer Worth, the program recounts the story of Nonnatus House, a fictional Anglican nunnery located in Poplar, a struggling area of London’s East End. The books were based on Worth’s own experiences as a nurse and midwife in the 1950’s. From the original story, Ms. Thomas has expanded the narrative and taken it through ten years of history, demonstrating profound changes in the program’s characters, its setting and the world at large.

McGann, who in real life is the husband of Heidi Thomas, has recently written a book on the show called “Call the Midwife – A Labour of Love” which offers an up-close and personal look at the show as told by cast members and production staff both past and present. There is a chapter for each of the ten years of the program (1957-1966) illustrating the themes, locations and technical challenges from each season.

Following season eleven, the program will continue to film at least two additional seasons taking the world of Call the Midwife into the turbulence of the late 1960’s.

For more information, go to the official Call the Midwife site.

Recorded: February 17, 2022

Published: March 11, 2022

Audio Engineer – Josh Broome

Host/Producer – Tom Stewart

Executive Producer and Editor – Daena McBride

Special thanks: Jordan Lawrence, DKC

WNET UP NEXT is a presentation of the Design, On Air Promotion, Fundraising and Traffic Department of The WNET Group.

The post Celebrate a New Season of “Call the Midwife” with WNET Up Next appeared first on The WNET Group.

In conversation with WNET UP NEXT host Tom Stewart, Mr. Mitchell, known informally as “Stokes,” explains his ongoing relationship with the Tabernacle Choir. His experiences with the Christmas Concerts date back to 2008, when he was that year’s featured soloist. For this production, he performs several songs, conducts a backstage tour of the vast theater from which the concerts originate, and introduces many highlights from past years. Performers include Laura Osnes, Rolando Villazon, Angela Lansbury, Kristin Chenoweth, Audra McDonald, Alfie Boe, Renee Fleming, Hugh Bonneville, Gladys Knight, Santino Fontana, Kelli O’Hara, Walter Cronkite, Tom Brokaw, and The Muppets!

Stokes also discusses his career in the Broadway theater, including his reflections on “Ragtime”, and why that show has such a special place in his heart. He also shares thoughts about his role as Chairman of the Board of the Actors Fund of America and his work as a founding member of Black Theater United. He is also currently hosting a livestreamed online talk show called “Crossovers Live”.

20 Years of Christmas with the Tabernacle Choir has its broadcast premiere on PBS on Monday, December 13 at 8:00PM ET and repeating  several times throughout the season. It will also be streaming on https://www.pbs.org  and can also be seen on BYUtv, BYUtv.org and the free BYUtv app Thursday, December 16 at 9:00PM ET. The DVD version of the concert is available for purchase and music  from the concert is also available on YouTube and Spotify.

Recorded: December 1, 2021

Published: December 5, 2021

Audio Engineer – Josh Broome

Producer/Host – Tom Stewart

Executive Producer/Editor – Daena McBride

Special thanks to the staff of GBH and McKenzie Hurst of Thatcher and Company

WNET UP NEXT is a presentation of the Design, On Air Promotion, Fundraising and Traffic Department of The WNET Group.

The post WNET UP Next Welcomes Brian Stokes Mitchell to the Podcast appeared first on The WNET Group.

The  four episode “American Veteran” documentary series has its PBS premiere on October 26th and will air on four successive Tuesday evenings and be available for streaming at  https://www.pbs.org. From the citizen soldiers of the American Revolution to today’s warrior class, it is a deeply moving story, highlighted by personal  remembrances which illuminate for civilian viewers an unfamiliar culture and explore the shifting relationships between Americans who have served in the military and those who have not.

In addition to the podcast and broadcast series, “American Veteran: Keep it Close” is a ten part digital series on the PBS Voices YouTube Channel continuing bi-weekly through January 11, 2022. Hosted by Shain Brenden, it considers the importance of objects that veterans carried with them in their service and brought back home.

Mr. Klay shares with host Tom Stewart many of his own observations about military life, including his thoughts on the recent exit of American forces from Afghanistan. He also expresses his hopes that “American Veteran” will provide new ways of thinking about the veteran experience and demystify the military to promote civic understanding.

Recorded: September 24, 2021

Published: October 22, 2021

Host/Producer – Tom Stewart

Audio Recording and Mixing – Josh Broome

Executive Producer and Editor – Daena McBride

Special thanks: Bara Levin of GBH and Cara White

WNET UP NEXT is a presentation of the Design, On Air Promotion, Fundraising and Traffic Department of The WNET Group.

The post WNET Up Next Welcomes Veteran & Author Phil Klay appeared first on The WNET Group.

In the current era of criminal justice reform, The Power of a Pardon examines the pardon and clemency process as it’s currently playing out in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.  Award-winning documentary filmmaker Jamila Paksima brings to WNET Up Next a behind the scenes look at the film and her creative  process.

The project is a five-part digital series presented under the umbrella of Chasing the Dream, The WNET Group’s Multiplatform Initiative that explores the human stories of poverty and showcases promising solutions. Each of the five episodes will be posted weekly on pbs.org/chasing_the_dream from September 7th through October 5th; a half-hour version will subsequently air on WORLD Channel.

Pennsylvania’s Lt. Gov. John Fetterman has recently spearheaded the reform of the state’s Pardon Board, including selecting the recently pardoned Brandon Flood as the Board’s Secretary. The series follows the journeys of five reformed and formerly incarcerated individuals as they seek pardons or clemency in order to pursue lives unencumbered by their past records.

In her conversation with host Tom Stewart, Ms. Paksima also reveals how as a young Iranian-American, she was first drawn to broadcast journalism as a viewer of Nightline. In addition to her earlier  work as a producer at NBC News, she has  since produced and directed films for PBS, BBC, VIACOM, MSNBC and BET,  among others. In addition, she has created several previous multiplatform series for The WNET Group, including Getting Off The Streets. She is also host of the audio documentary podcast series, Sounds  Like Hate, currently in production for its third  season. Honored with a Pew Fellowship, she  is the executive producer of Paksima Productions, an independent film and branded content production company headquartered in Exton, Pennsylvania.

Recorded: July 13, 2021

Published: August 30, 2021

Audio Engineering – Josh Broome

Host/Producer – Tom Stewart

Executive Producer – Daena McBride

Special thanks: Maria Stoian and Nina Joung of Multiplatform Initiatives; Miriam Fishman – Logo Design.

WNET UP NEXT is a presentation of the Design, On Air Promotion, Fundraising and Traffic Department of The WNET Group.

The post WNET Up Next New Season Launches with “The Power of a Pardon’s” Jamila Paksima appeared first on The WNET Group.

The centerpiece of MMI is a four-hour documentary series premiering on PBS stations on June 22nd and 23rd. Produced by Pangloss Films, it sets out to destigmatize mental illness by presenting a historical framework plus portraits of individuals facing many varieties of mental health challenges and the quest for modalities and treatments that can help them.

In addition to the broadcast series, which will also be available for streaming at PBS.org, a short form digital video series, Mysteries of Mental Illness: Decolonizing Mental Health has been produced by RADA STUDIO. Twenty episodes will  appear on digital platforms and public media’s WORLD Channel and will focus on how mental illness and the healthcare industry impacts communities of color.

An ambitious grasssroots community engagement campaign and a robust web presence at PBS.org have been created and will be augmented by educational materials created by PBS LearningMedia.

Ms. DiIanni has had a long career at GBH and was involved for many years in the creation and production of the award-winning NOVA series. In her conversation with host Tom Stewart, she shares both the challenges and satisfactions of working in  the world of documentary film  and offers an interesting suggestion to those who are considering joining the field.

Mysteries of Mental Illness is produced  by GBH Boston and  Pangloss Films:  Senior Executive  in Charge: Denise DiIanni; Co-Executive Producer: Laurie  Donnelly; Directors, Producers and Writers: Peter Yost  & Edna Alburquerque. Funding provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, Johnson & Johnson, the American Psychiatric Association Foundation and Draper, and through the support of PBS viewers.

Recorded: May 25, 2021

Published: June 15, 2021

Audio Recording – Jon Berman

Audio Editing – Josh Broome

Editor – Samantha Lobo

Host/Producer – Tom Stewart

Executive Producer – Daena McBride

Special Thanks – Jeffrey Elias, Marketing Manager, GBH Boston

WNET UP NEXT is a presentation of the Design, On Air Promotion, Fundraising and Traffic Department of The WNET Group.

The post Dive Into the “Mysteries of Mental Illness” with WNET Up Next appeared first on The WNET Group.

In its third partnership with THIRTEEN and The WNET Group, Films BYkids is presenting four new films: Against the Current takes us into the world of Daunette Moniz-Reyonne, who lives on a Native American Reservation in Nebraska. Semon Shabaev is the creator  of L’Chaim which examines the resurgence of Jewish life in Berlin, Germany. In Faith’s World,  Faith Guilbault shares her life as a teenager from Baltimore living with cerebral palsy. Rinzin Jurmey is a young monk  facing the challenges of globalization in Buddhism, Bhutan and Me. The series narrator is well-known actor and activist Ashley Judd.

Check your local listings for broadcast times and dates around the nation. In the New York area, Films BYkids will be aired  on Sundays April 18th and 25th at 7:00PM on THIRTEEN. Beginning May 1, the films will be seen at 10:30PM on four consecutive Saturday evenings on WLIW21.

There is an extensive collection of materials relating to the films on PBS Learning Media. Pen Pal Schools will connect students in over 150 countries to share perspectives. The films are available for streaming at thirteen.org/filmsbykids. For additional information go to BYkids.org.

Recorded: April 2, 2021

Published: April 15, 20212

Editor – Daena McBride

Audio Recording  – Jon Berman

Audio Mixing -Josh Broome

Host/Producer – Tom Stewart

Executive Producer – Daena McBride

Special Thanks: Suzanne Rose and the Kids’ Media & Education Department

WNET UP NEXT is a presentation of the Design, On Air Promotion, Fundraising and Traffic Department of The WNET Group.

The post Discover Holly Carter & The World of BYkids on WNET Up Next appeared first on The WNET Group.

First up on the schedule is the four part  My Grandparents’ War, which premiered on Sunday April 4th at 8:00PM and continues for three successive Sundays in April. British actors Helena Bonham Carter, Mark Rylance, Kristin Scott Thomas and Carey Mulligan each set out on a voyage of discovery to learn more about their grandparents’ lives in World War II. A combination of history and genealogy, the series is highlighted by emotional encounters with people whose lives were intertwined with their forbears.

Inside the Met, originally designed to coincide with the 150th Anniversary of the founding of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, instead looks at the Met in the context of a year where the museum needed to close due to the coronavirus pandemic; and how, in a year of unrest, the institution must reexamine its place in society. The three chapters of the program will air on Friday, May 21 at 9:00 and 10:00PM, with the third hour airing on Friday May 28 at 9:00PM.

Finally, Monday May 31 at 9:00PM is the premiere broadcast of Tulsa: The Fire and the Forgotten, the saga of the infamous Tulsa racial massacre of 1921 that decimated an African-American community, a story hidden from history for many years.

Lesley also shares with host Tom Stewart her responsibilities in bringing programs to fruition and why she enjoys the collaborative process, particularly working with producers. She also provides some valuable guidance for anyone considering a career in television and film.

Check your local listings for program broadcast times and visit PBS.org for information on streaming availability.

Recorded: March 8, 2021

Republished: April 6, 2021

Special Assistance – Hassan Williams

Editor – Samantha Lobo

Audio Recording & Mixing – Josh Broome

Additional Mixing – Jon Berman

Host/Producer – Tom Stewart

Executive Producer – Daena McBride

WNET UP NEXT is a presentation of the Design, On Air Promotion, Fundraising and Traffic Department of The WNET Group.

The post National Programming’s Lesley Norman Previews Spring Highlights for WNET Up Next appeared first on The WNET Group.

She praises the series and its ability to tell stories about the Asian American experience that have been forgotten or not widely known, and credits PBS for the high quality of  its documentary programming. She also shares her thoughts about the resurgence of racism in this country, particularly that directed toward Asian Americans in the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic.

ASIAN AMERICANS is available for streaming on THIRTEEN Passport.

Audio Engineer – Josh Broome

Host/Producer – Tom Stewart

Guest Producer – Terence Taylor

Executive Producer – Daena McBride

WNET UP NEXT is a presentation of the Design, On Air Promotion, Fundraising and Traffic Department of The WNET Group.

The post WNET Up Next: In Conversation with Connie Chung appeared first on The WNET Group.

For a fundraising broadcast of the series, actor, author and activist George Takei was interviewed by series narrator Tamlyn Tamita. Takei, best known for his role as Hikaru Sulu, helmsman of the USS Enterprise in the original television series Star Trek and several sequels, spent his early years in two Japanese internment camps operated by the United States government during World War II.

He shares his history and how his time in the camps came to be a major defining moment for himself and his family. In addition to his acting career he has been a long-time activist in the LGBTQ community, and in fighting racism of all kinds. He is the author of “They Called Us Enemy,” a graphic novel  based on his  story and was also involved with the Broadway musical production “Allegiance.”

ASIAN AMERICANS will receive an encore broadcast Sunday, May 12, 2022 from 12 to 3:30 p.m. (see full schedule) and is available for streaming on PBS Passport.

Producer/Editor: Terence Taylor

Host/Producer: Tom Stewart

Audio Engineer: Jon Berman

Executive Producer: Daena McBride

WNET UP NEXT is a presentation of the Design, On Air Promotion, Fundraising and Traffic Department of The WNET Group.

The post WNET Up Next Speaks with George Takei appeared first on The WNET Group.

Now in its 33rd year of production, POV continues to present award-winning documentary films with a “point of view” on PBS. Executive Producer Justine Nagan, who is also the Executive Director of parent organization American Documentary, joins WNET Up Next host Tom Stewart to share  a behind the scenes look at the series. She has been in her positions with the organization for five years, following over a decade of experience with Chicago’s Kartemquin Film which she led for six years.

Justine discusses the history of the series and the special position it holds in the world of independent film and PBS. Since 1988, POV has presented more than 500 films to the public television audience, in that time winning 25 Peabody Awards, 38 Emmy Awards, 14 duPont-Columbia Awards, three George Polk Awards, and three Academy Awards, among others.

This season includes the multi-part series, And She Could Be Next, a look at the movement of women of color to transform politics from the ground up; We Are the Radical Monarchs, a group of young girls of color at the front lines of social justice. Also In My Blood It Runs, about an aboriginal boy in Australia, plus many long form and short form films over the course of the current season.

In addition to POV, AMDOC produces America Reframed, a series produced and aired in association with the WORLD Channel in conjunction with WGBH. Interactive efforts are centered on POV Spark which features a new series called  Otherly, produced with the National Film Board of Canada and made on Instagram Stories.

For more on POV and AMDOC and America Reframed visit POV.org or AMDOC.org.

Recorded: August 12, 2020

Mixed: September  4, 2020

Editor – Samantha Lobo

Audio Engineering and Mixing – Evan Joseph

Host/Producer – Tom Stewart

Executive Producer – Daena McBride

WNET UP NEXT is a presentation of the Design, On Air Promotion, Fundraising and Traffic Department of The WNET Group.

The post “WNET Up Next” Sits Down with POV Executive Producer Justine Nagan appeared first on The WNET Group.

Work also continues on Cyberchase, the long running children’s math series, and the online project Mission US. Sandra credits both her team for making all of these things possible and WNET with providing the resources to make working from home relatively seamless. She also reflects on the positive aspects of this challenging time, referencing new relationships forged with educators and other partners.

For more information log on to wnet.org/education.

Recorded: May 21, 2020

Mixed: June 9, 2020

Audio Engineering and Mixing – Josh Broome

Editing – Samantha Lobo

Host/Producer – Tom Stewart

Executive Producer – Daena McBride

Special thanks: John McGowan and Bob Morris

WNET UP NEXT is a presentation of the Design, On Air Promotion, Fundraising and Traffic Department of The WNET Group.

The post WNET Up Next: Kids’ Media & Education with Sandra Sheppard appeared first on The WNET Group.

Naima Smith, Create TV Program Manager and a founding member of its team, shares with WNET Up Next host Tom Stewart the story of the channel, its history, its mission, its audience, and its development and evolution over the years.

Now in 239 markets with an audience of more than 40 million, Create TV features a wide array of programming with iconic public media hosts from Bob Ross and Rick Steves to Martha Stewart and Lidia Bastianich. These stars of Create TV are  joined by many other programs such as Cook’s Country and This Old House. The channel also features interstitial segments from Chef Mike Colameco called The Bite, about the world of food and restaurants.

In the New York area, Create TV is available on digital broadcast 21.2. On cable, the station is featured on Spectrum 1277, Optimum 133 and Verizon 471

For more about Create TV log on to www.CreateTV.com.

Recorded: February 6, 2020 at WNET’s Audio C

Audio Engineering  – Josh Broome

Editor – Samantha Lobo

Host/Producer – Tom Stewart

Executive Producer – Daena McBride

Special Thanks: Jennifer Pane-Abrahamson

WNET UP NEXT is a presentation of the Design, On Air Promotion, Fundraising and Traffic Department of The WNET Group.

The post Enter the World of Create TV with WNET Up Next appeared first on The WNET Group.

Updated January 31, 2022.

In conjunction with the broadcast premiere of American Masters‘ presentation of Stanley Nelson’s film Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool in 2020, WNET Up Next paid a visit to New York’s famed Apollo Theater. During an Apollo Open House “Celebration of Cool,” the film had a preview screening followed by a panel discussion led by the anchor/host of WBGO-FM’s Newark Today and NJ Spotlight News correspondent Michael Hill (now WNYC’s Morning Edition host). Participants included filmmaker Stanley Nelson and a group of musicians and associates of Miles including Keyon Harrold, James Mtume, Angeleisha L. Rogers and Davis’ nephew, drummer Vince Wilburn.

The panelists reflected on their associations with Miles Davis and the film, which had its nationwide broadcast premiere on PBS on February 25, 2020. The film is now available for streaming via the American Masters website (pbs.org/milesdavis) and the THIRTEEN Explore app (thirteen.org/explore). The conversation also continues on social media by using the hashtag #MilesDavisPBS.

Recorded: February 1, 2020 at the Apollo Theater

Editor – Samantha Lobo

Audio Engineering – Josh Broome

Producer/Host – Tom Stewart

Executive Producer – Daena McBride

Special Thanks: Mary Burke, Director of WNET Public Programs and Community Engagement

WNET UP NEXT is a presentation of the Design, On Air Promotion, Fundraising and Traffic Department of The WNET Group.

The post “WNET Up Next” Takes Show on the Road to The Apollo Theater appeared first on The WNET Group.

Douglas Chang, who began his broadcast career at WNET with the arts show City Arts, has had a varied career in public media including stints at POV and at KCET in Los Angeles. He has been with LFLC since 2012 and shares with WNET Up Next host Tom Stewart stories about the many challenges and exciting process of capturing live performances on video.

On December 31 at 8pm, Live From Lincoln Center will present a special New Year’s Eve concert with the New York Philharmonic from David Geffen Hall. The evening, hosted by Bernadette Peters is called “Celebrating Sondheim” and will feature vocal performances by Tony Award-winning actress Katrina Lenk, and orchestral suites of Sondheim’s music from Sweeney Todd, Into the Woods, Assassins, and Sunday in the Park with George, among others.

www.pbs.org/live-from-lincoln-center/home

Recorded: November 21, 2019 at WNET’s Audio D

Audio Engineers – Josh Broome, Jon Berman & Evan Joseph

Editor – Samantha Lobo

Host/Producer – Tom Stewart

Executive Producer – Daena McBride

WNET UP NEXT is a presentation of the Design, On Air Promotion, Fundraising and Traffic Department of The WNET Group.

The post A Look at “Live From Lincoln Center” on WNET Up Next appeared first on The WNET Group.

With climate change becoming an ever-more important issue and with recent events like the Global Climate Strike and the United Nations sessions on global warming, Peril and Promise has been at the forefront of reporting fact-based journalism across all platforms of public media.

Right now the team is partnering with Climate Nexus on the five-part digital series Freedom to Breathe, which follows the route of 1961’s Freedom Riders to examine how climate change is affecting those areas.

Twitter, Facebook and Instagram: @perilandpromise

For more, visit: PBS.org/perilandpromise

Recorded: September 26, 2019 at WNET’s Audio D

Audio Engineers  – Evan Joseph and Josh Broome

Editor – Samantha Lobo

Executive Producer – Daena McBride

WNET UP NEXT is a presentation of the Design, On Air Promotion, Fundraising and Traffic Department of The WNET Group.

The post WNET Up Next Visits the World of Multiplatform Initiatives appeared first on The WNET Group.

Community Engagement’s Jasmine Wilson takes us behind the scenes of THIRTEEN’s Summer of ’69 project and outlines the station-wide collaboration that made it all happen. She and host Tom Stewart set the stage for the recollections of eight tri-state area residents, who can each honestly say, “I was at Woodstock.” Included is musician Ira Stone, who played onstage on Woodstock’s opening night.

To learn more about the “Summer of ’69” project log onto thirteen.org/summer69. And don’t forget to tune in to American Experience — Woodstock: Three Days That Defined A Generation premieres tomorrow, Tuesday, August 6 at 9pm on THIRTEEN.

Recorded: July 30, 2019 at WNET Audio C

Audio Engineering: Josh Broome

Editor: Samantha Lobo

Host/Producer: Tom Stewart

Executive Producer: Daena McBride

WNET UP NEXT is a presentation of the Design, On Air Promotion, Fundraising and Traffic Department of The WNET Group.

The post WNET Up Next Takes You Back to Woodstock, 1969 appeared first on The WNET Group.

WNET’s Senior Director of Community Engagement Chris Czajka reflects on the importance of the moon landing and PBS’s Summer of Space program lineup. In addition, we hear the stories from several New Yorkers about Apollo 11: Mike Massimino, a NASA astronaut, who at age seven watched the moon landing with his family on Long Island; Great Performances Executive Producer David Horn, whose father worked for NASA; NYU Astronomy Professor Gereceida Jones, who has had a life-long passion for the “night sky;” and Producer Mike Kostel, who attended the ticker tape parade in New York for the returning Apollo 11 heroes. The interviews were conducted by WNET’s Katie Young.

Next month the series will conclude with a look back at the iconic Woodstock Music Festival.

To learn more about THIRTEEN Celebrates Summer of ’69, log onto thirteen.org/summer69.

Recorded: June 18, 2019 at WNET  Audio C

Audio Recording and Mixing: Josh Broome

Additional Audio Mixing: Evan Joseph

Editing: Samantha Lobo

Host/Producer: Tom Stewart

Executive Producer: Daena McBride

WNET UP NEXT is a presentation of the Design, On Air Promotion, Fundraising and Traffic Department of The WNET Group.

The post WNET Up Next Reaches for the Moon! appeared first on The WNET Group.

The centerpiece of the podcast  offers  recollections of four New Yorkers,  then and now,   whose lives were intimately involved with  Stonewall.   Martin Boyce, Tom McLoughlin,and Victoria Cruz were all  participants and witnesses to the actual event.   Graeme Davis was just a youngster, but his life was also deeply affected .    Each of the subjects reveals where they were in the summer of 1969, and how Stonewall  changed their lives and the quest for gay rights.   WNET’s  Katie Young conducted the original interviews which will also be featured in “Summer of ’69” segments for broadcast and social media.

To learn more about the “Summer of “69”  log on to:

http://thirteen.org/collection/summer-69

Recorded at WNET’s Audio C on June 18, 2019

Audio recording and mixing:  Josh Broome

Editing:  Samantha Lobo

Producer/Host:  Tom Stewart

Executive Producer:  Daena McBride

WNET Up Next is a presentation of the Design and On-Air Promotion Department of WNET New York Public Media

The post WNET Up Next: “Summer of ’69 – Stonewall” appeared first on The WNET Group.

In addition, the conversation featured Nobel Peace Laureate Leymah Gbowee, the protagonist of the first series’  film Pray the Devil Back to Hell.  She currently serves as the Executive Director of the Women, Peace and Security Program at Columbia University.  Abigail E. Disney, the executive producer of Women War & Peace II also took part and opened the discussion.

Women War & Peace II is executive produced by Abigail Disney and Gini Reticker for Fork Films, and Stephen Segaller for Thirteen Productions LLC for WNET.  Its broadcast premiere on PBS is scheduled for Monday,  March 25th  and Tuesday, March 26th from 9-11PM.  For more information about the films and streaming of the episodes, log onto PBS.org/womenwarandpeace.

Recorded at The Forum, Columbia University, New York, NY –   March 12, 2019

For WNET UP Next:

Audio Editing & Mixing –  Jon Berman, Josh Broome & Evan Joseph

Host/Producer – Tom Stewart

Executive Producer – Daena McBride

Special Thanks to Kate Legg

A presentation of the Design and On Air Promotion Department of WNET New York

The post WNET Up Next: Women War & Peace II appeared first on The WNET Group.

Diane details the history of the development of the service, which goes back several years.  With funding available from a generous donor,  the decision was made to create a “single place for everything that makes your heart beat, your mind expand, and your spirit explore”.  She describes the goal and mission and shares insights about the role of the Artistic Director of the project, Jorn Weisbrodt and what special talents he brings  to the new venture.

Joe Harrell speaks of the many aspects of ALL ARTS, whose online component ALLARTS.org has been in place since last summer and has already proved itself a major resource for those looking for content  and engagement.  An e-newsletter is also available to keep the audience up to date on everything happening in the arts.  Joe also shares how has background as an actor and singer, and lifeline afficianado of the arts has informed his current production role.

ALL ARTS is currently accessible on the Web, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram plus streaming apps on iOS and Android smartphones an tablets, Roku, Apple TV, and Amazon Fire TV.  In the New York  Metropolitan area, it’s available from all the major cable services

Recorded at WNET’s Audio C on January 11, 2019

Audio recording and mixing:  Josh Broome

Editing:  Samantha Lobo

Additional mixing:  Gerard Collins

Producer/Host:  Tom Stewart

Executive Producer:  Daena McBride

A presentation of the Design and On Air Promotion Department of WNET New York Public Media

The post WNET Up Next: ALL ARTS – Diane Masciale & Joe Harrell appeared first on The WNET Group.

Co-Executive Producer Gina Kim  sits down with Tom Stewart and WNET Up Next to provide a behind the scenes look into how the program is created.  She also shares  the arc of her career in the world of media, including stints with filmmaker Michael Moore, broadcaster Phil Donahue, and journalist Bill Moyers.  Earlier this year, she was Executibe Producer  of #Me Too, Now What? for PBS.

Recorded at  WNET Audio C – November 20, 2018

Producer/Host:  Tom Stewart

Editor:  Samantha Lobo

Recording and Mixing Engineer:  Josh Broome

Additional Mixing:  Gerard Collins

Executive Producer:  Daena McBride

WNET Up Next is a presentation of the Design and On Air Promotion Department of WNET New York Public Media

The post WNET Up Next: Gina Kim, Amanpour & Company appeared first on The WNET Group.

“Secrets of the Dead”  will begin its new season on PBS on Wednesday evening October 3rd at 10PM.  “The Woman in the Iron Coffin”  is a fascinating story  combining many elements to reveal the identity of an African-American woman from Queens, New York who died of smallpox in 1850.

Stephanie also talks about one of her favorite “Secrets” episode from past seasons:  “Resurrecting Richard III”.  The king’s body was discovered a few years ago buried in what is now a parking lot in England.  The film presents  evidence, that despite his spinal curvature,  Richard III could, indeed, have been an armed  warrior on horseback.   Other new episodes coming up will focus on the use of amphetamines in World War II and seeking the historical basis for King Arthur.

Recorded at WNET Audio C  – August 14th, 2018

Audio Recording – Josh Broome

Audio Mixing –  Jon Berman

Editing – Samantha Lobo

Host/Producer –  Tom Stewart

Executive Producer – Daena McBride

WNET Up Next is a presentation of the Design and On Air Promotion Department of WNET New York Public Media

The post WNET Up Next: Stephanie Carter, Secrets of the Dead appeared first on The WNET Group.

Time for School: 2003-2016, produced,  directed and co-written by Nina Chaudry, puts a human face on the issue of education for millions of children in developing countries.  The film shines a light on this issue by telling the stories of five children:  Nanavi in Benin; Jefferson in Brazil; Neeraj in Indea;  Joab in Kenya and Shugafa in Afghnistan.  We trace their lives from five-year olds entering school in 2003 to the time of what should be their high school graduations.

The film was inspired by the Millennium Development Goal of “Education for All”,  a promise made by 189 nations to the United Nations in 2000, namely to provide every child around the world with a basic education by the year 2015.   Though progress has been made, there are still 58 million children not attending school worldwide.

In her conversation with Tom Stewart, Nina takes us behind the scenes of the production including the financial and cultural challenges that the filmmakers met along the way .  She also shares her passion for storytelling  and the ability this project provided  to follow the children as well as their families  and teachers over a twelve year period.

The film was originally broadcast in the autumn of 2016 and is being re-broadcast  on WNET Thirteen on Tuesday, March 6th, 2018 at 9:30PM

It can also be viewed on the PBS website, PBS.org.

WNET Up Next is a production of the Design and On Air Promotion Department of WNET – New York.

Interview recorded August 31, 2016 and repackaged on March 2, 2018

The post WNET Up Next: Encore: Nina Chaudry, Producer of Time For School: 2003-2016 appeared first on The WNET Group.

Nelson’s films have often been showcased on PBS:  Freedom Summer, Freedom Riders, and the Murder of Emmet Till, among others. He has been the recipient of a National Humanities Medal, Lifetime Peabody Award,  Lifetime Emmy Award, and a recipient of a McArthur Foundation’s “Genius”  Grant plus many other honors.

He describes his early experiences, his desire to have his own company (Firelight Films) the steps and challenges encountered in  taking his work from the idea state to the finished film, and the processes  that lead to commercial release as well as community engagement and multiple screenings across the country.  With the growth of new avenues for a film’s release, he is “platform agnostic” and seeks to make his work widely available in theaters, online as and on broadcast.  A Kickstarter campaign proved to be valuable not only as a fundraising effort, but also as a vehicle to expand the film’s community of supporters and ambassadors. Part of his work under the non-profit  banner of Firelight Media serves to champion young filmmakers in their efforts to make films about underrepresented stories.

WNET Up Next is a presentation of the Design and On Air Promotion Department of WNET New York Public Media

Recorded at WNET Audio C – March 17, 2016

Audio Recording – Jon Berman

Audio Mixing – Josh Broome

Original Editing – Dylan deJongh

Host/Producer – Tom Stewart

Executive Producer – Daena McBride

The post WNET Up Next: Stanley Nelson, Filmmaker appeared first on The WNET Group.

Jack was “discovered” after being interviewed about a court case by WCBS-TV in New York.  That occasion  led to his becoming a legal analyst for the station and, in turn, to many additional  assignments in cable and network news. His current work with MetroFocus has turned out to be “one of the great joys” of his career: he relishes the opportunity to have in-depth conversations with his guests. He also has high praise for the MetroFocus production team,  considering them to be among the best in the industry, passionately  invested in promoting the mission and high standards of public media. In a world where news is now disseminated 24-7 over the air and online, he feels that MetroFocus, has a very special and important role to play in providing background and context, truly “media with impact”.

MetroFocus is seen daily on Thirteen, WLIW21, and also airs on NJTV. It’s available online at MetroFocus.org and on the MetroFocus app for mobile devices. The MetroFocus podcast is a recent addition to their platforms.

WNET Up Next is a presentation of the Design and On Air Promotion Department of WNET New York Public Media.

Recorded at WNET Audio C – December 7th, 2017

Audio Recording and Mixing – Jon Berman

Post-Production Assistant – Dylan deJongh

Host/Producer – Tom Stewart

Executive Producer – Daena McBride

The post WNET Up Next: Jack Ford, Host of MetroFocus appeared first on The WNET Group.

Rafael relates how his background as both a community and labor organizer led to  his career in broadcast journalism.  A long time presence on-the-air at WNET,  Rafael began working at the station as the anchor of Channel Thirteen’s “Bulldog Edition”,  a nightly news summary.  Later he anchored New York Stories, a weekly news series.  He has been involved with MetroFocus since its inception as a weekly broadcast in 2010 to its more recent  metamorphosis into a daily program. The show now airs on  WNET, WLIW21,  and  NJTV.

He shares his ideas on the elements that go into making a  successful interview and his  thoughts on journalistic neutrality. He has been particularly fond of his opportunities to interview notable subjects ranging from broadcaster Dick Cavett to Broadway Producer-Director Harold Prince, as well as actors  such as Monty Python members, John Cleese and Eric Idle.

In addition  to its broadcast schedule the content of MetroFocus is available online at www.MetroFocus.org., and in the form of the MetroFocus app, and MetroFocus podcast.

Previously,  WNET Up Next spoke with Rafael’s colleague Jenna Flanagan.  Coming soon,  a visit with the program’s third host, Jack Ford.

WNET Up Next is a presentation of the Design and On Air Promotion Department of WNET New York Public Media

Recorded at WNET Audio C – December 7th, 2017

Audio Recording and Post Production – Jonathan Berman

Host/Producer – Tom Stewart

Post-Production Assistant – Dylan deJongh

Executive Producer – Daena McBride

The post WNET Up Next: Rafael PiRoman, Host of MetroFocus appeared first on The WNET Group.

Born on New York’s Long Island,   Jenna reveals the public television program that made an early impact on her decision to become a journalist,  and talks about how living upstate in the Hudson Valley sustains her in the intense world of broadcast and online journalism.

She shares the kinds of activities that go into her  typical working day, her views on what makes a good interview, and the stories she’s been working on that have been the most challenging and rewarding.

We also hear a brief excerpt of Jenna’s  interview with  former Good Morning America anchor Joan Lunden regarding her work empowering women in the support of outreach related to breast cancer.

MetroFocus is seen daily on Thirteen, WLIW21 and also airs on NJTV.  Online it’s available at www.MetroFocus.org  as well as through the free MetroFocus app for tablet or smart phone.

In additon to her role with the program, Jenna has recently begun providing additional content for the MetroFocus podcast.

In upcoming episodes, WNET Up Next will profile MetroFocus hosts Rafael PiRoman and Jack Ford.  WNET Up Next is a presentation of the Design and On Air Promotion Department of WNET New York Public Media.

Recorded at WNET Audio C – December 7th, 2017

Audio Recording and Mixing – Jonathan Berman

Host/Producer – Tom Stewart

Executive Producer – Daena McBride

Post-Production Assistant – Dylan deJongh

The post WNET Up Next: Jenna Flanagan, Host of MetroFocus appeared first on The WNET Group.

A long time producer of  arts programming for WNET,  Joan shares with host Tom Stewart an inside look at the series, its on-air talent, and how it all comes together every week when  it  airs on Thirteen on Thursday evenings at  8:00PM and Sundays at 12:00Noon. The program also airs on WLIW-21 on Tuesdays at 5:30PM and 7:30PM.

The hosts of NYC-ARTS, Philippe Montebello and Paula Zahn bring complementary skills and backgrounds that offer viewers great interviews with visual and performing artists, and introduce segments which focus on many of the of the area’s outstanding  cultural institutions.  The on-air team also includes  Christina Ha, who  reports on upcoming exhibitions and cultural events and Rafael PiRoman, who tells of the latest happenings at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts.

Segments from NYC-ARTS  are also seen across the country as a part of WNET’s Major Marketing Group (MMG)  initiative which shares material with many public media stations.  Another way to access the program’s content is through its website  at www.nyc-arts.org, where  a library of complete episodes  and featured  stories can be found.

While difficult for her to choose a single favorite among the  many stories that NYC-ARTS  has presented,  Joan describes several she is particularly fond of  including a focus on pianist Jeremy Denk, another on dancer,  choreographer and activist Bill T. Jones, as well as an interview Philippe Montebello conducted with the noted architect Moshe Safdie.  She also has several “go-to” recommendations for our listeners, including the American Folk Art Museum’s “War and Pieced” exhibit, a new exhibition on the Wiener Werstatte movement  at the Neue Galerie, and “Michelangelo: Divine Draftsman and Designer”, which is now on view  at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Recorded on October 25, 2017 at WNET Audio C

Audio recording – Jonathan Berman

Audio  mixing – Josh Broome

Producer/Host – Tom Stewart

Executive Producer – Daena McBride

A presentation of the Design & On-Air Promotion Department of WNET/New York

The post WNET Up Next: NYC-Arts with Joan Hershey appeared first on The WNET Group.

On this episode of WNET Up Next Sandra shares with Tom Stewart her thoughts on the history and mission of her area, as well as what it takes to get a program on the air.  Currently,  WNET is involved in the production of a number of production strands including Cyberchase, Bob the Builder, Thomas and Friends, Oh, Noah!,  Mission US and Films By Kids.

The initiatives vary  from broadcast to online, including apps and interactive games. Bob the Builder and Thomas and Friends are both long running series which serve younger children; Cyberchase, a pioneering animated multimedia series that teaches math and problem solving skills was created at WNET and has been a proven success for more than fifteen  years. Oh, Noah! has a focus on language, while Mission US is devoted to history.  Films By Kids, as the title suggests is a series of films made by children around the world.

A self-described “lifer” in public media, Sandra also shares the challenges and rewards that come with her work.  She is particularly proud of the proven educational impact of her projects and their positive effect on young viewers.

Recorded August 16, 2017 at WNET Audio C

Audio Recording and Post Production – Jonathan Berman

Producer/Host –  Tom Stewart

Executive Producer –  Daena McBride

A Presentation of the Design and On Air Promotion Department of WNET New York

The post WNET Up Next: Sandra Sheppard, Director & Executive Producer, Children’s and Educational Media appeared first on The WNET Group.

Raised and educated in China where she earned  multiple degrees,  Ms. Ma relates her  personal journey from China to North America, first to Canada where she was involved in a program about digital imaging and collecting sponsored by Toronto’s Ryerson University and Rochester, New York’s George Eastman House.  This training led to her current position at MOCA, which she has now held for ten years. At MOCA, she has been involved in many projects including The Chinese Life in America and Waves of Identity: 35 Years of Archiving.  The museum is currently preparing Fold, an exhibition of paper folding sculpture which will open in September.

Ms. Ma offers a positive endorsement  of  Wood’s The Story of China and is particularly pleased that the film emphasizes the importance of family to the culture and that it includes material relating to  China’s more recent history.   More information can by found about MOCA at www.mocanyc.org.  For more on The Story of China, go the www.pbs.org, where there is a wealth of ancillary material about the series and the ability to stream individual episodes.

WNET Up Next is a presentation of the Design and On Air Promotion Department of WNET New York

Interview recorded June 15th, 2017 at WNET – Audio C.

WNET – New York Public Media

The post WNET Up Next: The Story of China – A Personal Take with MOCA’s Yue Ma appeared first on The WNET Group.

Michael also talks about the creation of American Masters Pictures, designed to showcase films for theatrical release.  Earlier this year AM premiered Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise which led to  year long initiative called #Inspiring WomanPBS  which invites viewers to post their own stores of women who have inspired them.  In another area, Michael talks about his role as host of  the American Masters Podcast ,  as well news about  In Their Own Words: The American Masters Digital Archive  featuing previously unreleased interviews originally filmed for the documentary series.

Michael shares with  host Tom Stewart his thoughts about presenting more living masters, which this season will include violinist Itzak Perlman and filmmaker Richard Linklater.   This year will also showcase films devoted to Lorraine Hansberry, Chinese-American artist Tyrus Wong, Edgar Allan Poe and Bob Hope.

Celebrating its 31st year, American Masters has been the winner of 28 Emmy awards, 12 Peabodys, an Oscar, three Grammys, two Producers Guild Awards and many other honors.  The American Masters website is at pbs.org/americanmasters.

WNET Up Next is a presentation of the Promotion and On Air Promotion Department

WNET New York Public Media

Recorded at WNET’s Audio C on April 20 2017

The post WNET Up Next: American Masters 2017, Michael Kantor, Exec. Prod. appeared first on The WNET Group.

“Treasures of New York” has produced over 30 original episodes over the past five years, and is slated to bring eleven new episodes to air this year.  The program,  a production of WLIW/21,  is also seen on Thirteen/WNET.  A new series, “Treasures of New Jersey” is slated to begin production this year, following in the successful path of “Treasures of New York.”  

Recorded at WNET  Audio C on March 16th and 17th, 2017

WNET Up Next is a production of the Design & On Air Promotion Department

WNET New York Public Media

The post WNET Up Next: “Treasures of New York” appeared first on The WNET Group.

After outlining the meaning of the expression “the talk”,  Sam takes us behind the scenes of the two-hour film that premiered on PBS in 2017.  “The Talk – Race in America”  tells six primary stories whose common thread is the importance of the conversation that  African-American families have with their children, particularly boys, on how they should behave if confronted by police in order  to avoid tragic results. In addition, a number of celebrities tell their own stories of how this issue has afffected them in their personal experiences.

As someone who is passionate about all aspects of filmmaking, Pollard, whose extensive film career began at New York Public Television’s Channel Thirteen in the 1970’s,  tells host Tom  Stewart about the importance of documentary films that deal with stories designed to  tell truth to power. He explains why a film like this is so well suited to the goals and responsibiliities of public media and  expresses his  hope that “The Talk – Race in America”  will stimulate a massive conversation all over the country; to aid in that  effort, an extensive outreach campaign is being undertaken,  in addition to  social media efforts including Twitter, Facebook and Tumblr;   additional  content relating to the film  is  available at PBS.org/thetalk. 

Please leave a comment for us at UPNEXT@WNET.org

Recorded at WNET Audio C – February 1, 2017

WNET Up Next is a presentation of the Design & On Air Promotion Department

WNET New York Public Media

Republished on June 11, 2020

The post WNET Up Next: “The Talk – Race in America”, Part Two with Director Sam Pollard appeared first on The WNET Group.

In this episode of WNET Up Next, the focus is on The Talk – Race in America, a two-hour film that premiered in 2017.

In the first of a two-part WNET Up Next series, Executive Producer Julie Anderson discusses the meaning of “The Talk”, which refers to the conversation African-American families have with their children, particularly boys, on how they should behave if stopped by the police to make sure the child is not perceived as a threat or is carrying a weapon. Over the course of two hours and six main stories, the documentary The Talk – Race in America hopes to create a safe space for a national conversation on the complex issues of race in America.

Anderson traces the history of the project to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), who came to her to create a program that would address this issue.  After doing extensive research  and putting together a filmmaking team including award-winning director Sam Pollard, the filmmakers set out to tell untold, unheard stories that illustrate the issue, including perspectives from parents, children, law enforcement, and individual communities.

Julie also shares with host Tom Stewart her journey as a filmmaker which began in television sports for ABC, ESPN, and HBO, and evolved into the world of documentary film. At WNET, Julie serves as the Executive Producer of Documentaries and Development. In our following episode, WNET Up Next looks at additional aspects of “The Talk – Race in America” with the film’s director Sam Pollard.

Please leave a comment for us at UPNEXT@WNET.org

Recorded at WNET Audio C – February 1, 2017

WNET Up Next is a presentation of the Design & On Air Promotion Department

WNET New York Public Media

Republished on June 11,2020

The post WNET Up Next: “The Talk – Race in America”, Part One with Julie Anderson, Executive Producer. appeared first on The WNET Group.

In his conversation with Tom Stewart, David reveals how the the series grew out of an earlier idea for a documentary on Civil War medicine.  With his collaborator Lisa Q. Wolfinger, the idea evolved into  a full fledged multipart historical drama with the support of Beth Hoppe, Chief Programming Officer of PBS.  He speaks of the joy of writing for a PBS audience and has high praise for his actors, who are a cross section of Broadway stage performers (many TONY award winners) as well as those from film and television. Viewers will be captivated by  the great atttention to accurate period detail, made possible by historical experts in many fields including medicine, women’s health, Southern gentility, and Civil War battles.  Not only did the location shooting in Virginia provide authentic settings and a unique look for the series, but the input of the Virginia crews on the film provided  a special degree of sensitivity and context  for the filmmakers.

David has had a long career in television with previous long runs on dramatic series such as ER , but he has particularly enjoyed his relationship with PBS and its ability to entertain, educate, inform, and stimulate the audience’s thirst for finding out more about the subject at hand.  If they get the go ahead, he has many stories ready for a third season.

Recorded at WNET’s Audio C on January 6, 2017

A presentation of the Design & On-Air Promotion Department of WNET New York Public Media

Special thanks to Jordan Lawrence of DKC

The post WNET Up Next: Mercy Street, Exec. Prod. David Zabel appeared first on The WNET Group.

David also describes the December 23rd and 25th Great Performances special, Shakespeare Live! From the Royal Shakespeare Company,  recorded in London earlier this year as a part of the  commemoration of the 400th Anniversary of Shakespeare’s death. Another local  special slated for December 13th celebrates NYC-Arts,  the weekly series devoted to the arts in New York.  On New Year’s Day, Great Performances, in a long standing tradition,  presents Julie Andrews hosting From Vienna:  The New Year’s Celebration 2017 with the Vienna Philharmonic conducted by Gustavo Dudamel.

In his conversation with Tom Stewart, David pays special tribute to his team of collaborators and producers who make these programs possible,  including Joan Hershey, Bill O’Donnell, John Walker and Mitch Owgang.

This episode with David Horn is a sequel to an episode published in December of 2015.

WNET Up Next is a presentation of the Design and On Air Promotion Department of WNET New York Public Media

Production:  Daena McBride

Audio:  Jonathan Berman

Recorded at WNET Audio C  on  November 17th, 2016

The post WNET Up Next: David Horn, The Wars of the Roses & Theater Close-Up appeared first on The WNET Group.

The filmmakers share with host Tom Stewart their feelings about working on such an important and timely project, and how for both of them it was a great privilege to meet and interview the subjects involved and tell their story. The program first airs on PBS on Wednesday, November 9th, 2016.

Recorded on October 17th, 2016.

WNET Up Next is presentation of the Design and On Air Promotion Department of WNET New York Public Media

The post WNET Up Next: Sally Garner & Ally Gimbel, Military Medicine: Beyond the Battlefield appeared first on The WNET Group.

In his conversation with Tom Stewart, Ed also points the way toward two “Chasing the Dream” documentaries which are appearing on PBS on Friday evening, October 7th.  “Getting Ahead” takes host Tavis Smiley on an investigation of the issue of  the minimum wage with a look at life in Northern California.  “Dream On”,   a film by Roger Weisberg, follows comedian John Fugelsang as he retraces the journey made famous by Alexis deTocqueville  recounted in his “Democracy in America”.  We also learn about an online series from NJTV, “Voices from Atlantic City”, which is an example of content that has found a home on many other websites and will soon, itself, become a television broadcast.

With a extensive career ranging from print to broadcast to cable, and now online,  Ed appreciates that public media is not driven by “monitizing”,  but is devoted  to getting  important information into the world and stimulating  public discourse.   He also has some great advice for anyone considering a career in the world of media!

Recorded on September 22, 2016

A Presentation of the Design and On Air Promotion Department WNET – New York Public Media

The post WNET Up Next: Ed Hersh, Chasing the Dream: Poverty & Opportunity in America appeared first on The WNET Group.

The book focuses on the New York of the late forties, from the end of World War II to the Korean War.  Reid writes about the city’s important figures, cultural accomplishments, and political climate during that fascinating period of New York City history.

WNET Up Next is a presentation of the Design and On Air Promotion Department of WNET – New York Public Media.

Special support for this episode from MetroFocus.

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In a conversation with Tom Stewart, Scott takes us inside PBS Newshour Weekend  and describes both the mission and the process that goes into making each broadcast happen.  Airing on Saturday and Sunday evenings the PBS Newshour Weekend has extended  PBS Newshour  coverage to  seven day service.  The  program provides updates on breaking news as well as longer “Signature Segment”  pieces that shine a light on stories often overlooked by other media outlets.

WNET Up Next is a production of the Design and On Air Promotion Department of WNET –  New York Public Media.  (Recorded June 30, 2016)

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Among this season’s highlights have been  Stanley Nelson’s “The Black Panthers:  Vanguard of the Revolution”  as well as two film perspectives on the gun culture, Abigail Disney’s “The Armor of Light” and Scott Christopherson & Brad Barber’s “Peace Officer”.    Lois also reveals a bit about next season which will include films on the Sandy Hook tragedy and the University of Texas shootings of 1966.

On August 2nd, a few days prior to the Olympic Summer Games, Independent Lens will present Dave Cooper & Zachery Canepari’s “T-Rex: Her Fight for Gold”, the story of Claressa Shields,  who became the world’s first Olympic women’s boxing gold medal winner in 2012, who will again be seeking gold this year in Rio.

She also reveals the surprising parallels between filmmakers and farmers!

WNET Up Next is a presentation of the Design and On Air Promotion Department of WNET – New York Public Media.

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Ken  describes his films as “hand made…labor intensive” and stresses the importance of the time he spends in the editing room.  We learn how WNET made an important contribution to getting his first films on the air, and hear advance word about upcoming projects including Vietnam, Country Music and Ernest Hemingway.

WNET Up Next is produced by the Design and On Air Promotion Department of WNET New York, with the special assistance of the WNET Community Relations Department.

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Jack Ford, of WNET’s MetroFocus  moderated a discussion of the film’s issues with Ms. Disney, Rev. Schenck and Ms. McBath with the additional participation of Rev. A.R. Bernard of the Christian Cultural Center of New York and New York City Civil Service Commissioner Rudy Washington.

The conversation was recorded by the WNET Community Relations Department.

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Growing up in a famous filmmaking family, Abigail learned at an early age the essential story-telling nature of film, which ultimately led to her commitment to telling stories that can change the world.  In addition to filmmaking, she is an advocate for women’s issues and heads up Peace is Loud, an organization which shines a spotlight on women leaders promoting peace around the world.

WNET Up Next is a presentation of the Design and On Air Promotion Department of WNET in New York; this episode made possible with the special assistance  of the WNET Community Relations Department.  A follow-up edition of WNET Up Next will feature a panel discussion featuring Ms. Disney, Rev. Schenck and Ms. McBath, recorded at the  Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in New York.

The post WNET Up Next: Abigail Disney “The Armor of Light” appeared first on The WNET Group.

Ken  describes his films as “hand made…labor intensive” and stresses the importance of the time he spends in the editing room.  We learn how WNET made an important contribution to getting his first films on the air, and hear advance word about upcoming projects including Vietnam, Country Music and Ernest Hemingway.

WNET Up Next is produced by the Design and On Air Promotion Department of WNET New York, with the special assistance of the WNET Community Relations Department.

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