Making Media Now

On this episode, host Michael Azevedo is joined by Bill Lichtenstein and Brooke Lewitas, the team behind a documentary-in-process called "Broken," a film which intends to identify and expose the underlying systemic problems in the child welfare system, nationally, and more specifically in the state of MA.  "Broken" follows Brooke as she investigates and exposes the fatally-flawed child protection, foster care and family court systems in Massachusetts – where despite a $1.3 billion annual budget, hundreds of children have died in the care of the state child welfare system in recent years. Bill Lichtenstein previously worked for ABC News producing investigative reports for “20/20,” “World News Tonight” and “Nightline,” and has written extensively for the Huffington Post, Nation, New York Times, New York Daily News, Village Voice, and the Boston Globe on child welfare, health and media issues.   Bill's latest film, "WBCN and The American Revolution" and companion book on MIT Press/Penguin Random House, tells the untold story of the early days of the legendary Boston radio station to examine how media can create social change.  Both the film, which aired on PBS, and the book received multiple award.   Reporter Brooke Lewitas is a recent graduate of Boston University School of Journalism. Brooke’s master’s thesis involved identifying, interviewing, and forming journalistic relationships with families affected by the Massachusetts child welfare system, as well as experts in the field. Her thesis paper forms the approach and scope of the film. Brooke has worked in university, local, and national newsrooms, including a stint as a reporter and columnist for the Virginia-based Fairfax Times, and as the editor-in-chief of the Boston University News Service.   Making Media Now is sponsored by Filmmakers Collaborative, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting media makers from across the creative spectrum. From providing fiscal sponsorship to presenting an array of informative and educational programs, Filmmakers Collaborative supports creatives at every step in their journey.   About the host: www.writevoicecreative.com and https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-azevedo/   Sound Engineer: A.J. Kierstead

Host Michael Azevedo welcomes back journalist Susan Zalkind. Susan joined us back in late 2022 to talk about the Hulu documentary series, "Murders Before the Marathon," which she created, wrote, and co-produced. The springboard for that documentary series was actually a book proposal about a triple murder that took place in Waltham mass on 9/11/11 and that horrific crime’s eventual connection to the Boston Marathon bombing in April 2013.    Susan has spent more than a decade investigating the September 2011 murder of Brendan Mess, Raphael Teken, and her friend Erik Weissman in Waltham, Massachusetts and the connection between the officially still-open homicide case and the Boston Marathon bombing.  Her book The Waltham Murders: One Woman’s Pursuit to Expose the Truth Behind a Murder and a National Tragedy was published in March 2024. Library Journal hailed the book as “a definitive resource” in a starred review. Publishers Weekly called the book “gripping” and predicted that “readers will be captivated.” A true-crime memoir and the culmination of more than ten years of reporting, The Waltham Murders is an in-depth probe into a dark American underworld by a journalist coming to grips with both personal grief and the collective anguish of a nation in her tireless pursuit of the truth. Making Media Now is sponsored by Filmmakers Collaborative, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting media makers from across the creative spectrum. From providing fiscal sponsorship to presenting an array of informative and educational programs, Filmmakers Collaborative supports creatives at every step in their journey.   About the host: www.writevoicecreative.com and https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-azevedo/ Sound Engineer: A.J. Kierstead 

Joining host Michael Azevedo on this episode are Sarah Perkins and Josh Sabey, the co-directors of "The Basement Talks," a riveting documentary series now available on Amazon Prime and Apple TV  that tells the story of two murders, secret meetings, and impossible friendships. On December 30, 1994, a man carrying a black duffel bag entered an abortion clinic in Brookline, Massachusetts. By the day’s end, two women were dead, a manhunt was underway, a traumatized community was in mourning, and leaders on both sides of a divide wondered what they could have done to prevent it. It was at that juncture that a six year clandestine dialogue between enemies began. Set against the backdrop of the Salvi murders and the contentious court case that followed, "The Basement Talks," follows six women—leaders on opposing sides of the abortion debate—who meet secretly and under threat of violence in an effort to replace dangerous and divisive stereotypes, strategies, and rhetoric with empathy, tolerance, and genuine friendship.  Making Media Now is sponsored by Filmmakers Collaborative, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting media makers from across the creative spectrum. From providing fiscal sponsorship to presenting an array of informative and educational programs, Filmmakers Collaborative supports creatives at every step in their journey.   About the host: www.writevoicecreative.com and https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-azevedo/ Sound Engineer: A.J. Kierstead 

Host Michael Azevedo is joined by Stephen Ujlaki, the director of "Bad Faith," a new documentary exploring the roots and the growing reach of Christian Nationalism. It’s a film that Ken Burns has called  “a great and powerful and timely film," filled with the dread this moment engenders; the cynical misuse of religion to advance aims diametrically the opposite of Christianity’s mission.    BAD FAITH endeavors to reveal how Christian Nationalist leaders have spread fear and anger for decades, distorting political issues into Biblical battles between good and evil. Financed through the secretive Council for National Policy, Christian Nationalists have succeeded in taking over the Republican Party, turning it into a powerful weapon to demolish democracy from within. The film traces the origins of this organized grasp for power and the grassroots coalition of secular and interfaith leaders bravely confronting the unholy forces threatening democracy.   "Bad Faith" is now available to stream on demand.   Making Media Now is sponsored by Filmmakers Collaborative, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting media makers from across the creative spectrum. From providing fiscal sponsorship to presenting an array of informative and educational programs, Filmmakers Collaborative supports creatives at every step in their journey.   About the host: www.writevoicecreative.com and https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-azevedo/ Sound Engineer: A.J. Kierstead 

Host Michael Azevedo speaks with Ido Mizrahy, the director of "Space: The Longest Goodbye," which will be broadcast on PBS on May 6 as part of the Independent Lens series.    In 1994, with the building of the International Space Station under way, NASA formed a psychological unit. Now, NASA astronauts may soon embark on even longer trips into deep space. Long-distance relationships are hard enough on Earth. On a three-year, round trip trek to Mars, navigating the unparalleled separation from home could be one of the biggest challenges to a successful mission.    Space: The Longest Goodbye, follows the journey of mentally preparing astronauts for such an unprecedented trip and reflects on the history of the NASA psychological unit.   In addition to its May 6 PBS broadcast, the film is also currently available for streaming on demand.   Making Media Now is sponsored by Filmmakers Collaborative, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting media makers from across the creative spectrum. From providing fiscal sponsorship to presenting an array of informative and educational programs, Filmmakers Collaborative supports creatives at every step in their journey.   About the host: www.writevoicecreative.com and https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-azevedo/ Sound Engineer: A.J. Kierstead 

Joining host Michael Azevedo on this episode is former Olympian and award-winning documentary filmmaker Mary Mazzio to talk about her latest film, "Bad River."    "Bad River" chronicles the Wisconsin-based Bad River Band, which is a group within a tribe of native Americans, and their ongoing fight for sovereignty, which unfolds in a groundbreaking way through a series of shocking revelations, devastating losses, and a powerful legacy of defiance and resilience. This inspiring project brings us through the epic sweep of history into the present, with a David and Goliath battle over a 70-year-old pipeline on the brink of rupture into Lake Superior, the largest freshwater resource in America.  "Bad River" is currently enjoying a successful limited theatrical run and is available for streaming for Xfinity customers and is also available via Vimeo. Mary Mazzio’s credits include A Hero for Daisy, I Am Jane Doe, A Most Beautiful Thing, Ten9Eight, and Underwater Dreams. Her work “explores the concept of overcoming obstacles, whether it is a fight for social change… or issues of poverty and lack of opportunity...and sheds light on ordinary people doing extraordinary things – defying expectations and challenging assumptions of who and what they can achieve. Mazzio’s powerful new documentary Bad River is no exception. Making Media Now is sponsored by Filmmakers Collaborative, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting media makers from across the creative spectrum. From providing fiscal sponsorship to presenting an array of informative and educational programs, Filmmakers Collaborative supports creatives at every step in their journey.   About the host: www.writevoicecreative.com and https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-azevedo/   Sound Engineer: A.J. Kierstead 

Host Michael Azevedo speaks with Amanda McBaine and Jesse Moss, the co-producers and directors of “Girls State,” a revealing and inspiring documentary follow up to their award-winning 2020 film "Boys State." "Girls State" poses the question: What would American democracy look like in the hands of teenage girls? A political coming-of-age story and a stirring re-imagination of what it means to govern, “Girls State" follows young female leaders — from wildly different backgrounds across Missouri — as they navigate an immersive experiment to build a government from the ground up, form a Supreme Court, and debate the divisive issues of the day. Jesse Moss and Amanda McBaine have collaborated on several high profile film projects in addition to "Girls State" and "Boys State," including "The Mission," "The Overnighters," "Mayor Pete" and "The Bandit," among others. And they just so happen to be husband and wife.  "Girls State" is currently available on Apple TV+.    Making Media Now is sponsored by Filmmakers Collaborative, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting media makers from across the creative spectrum. From providing fiscal sponsorship to presenting an array of informative and educational programs, Filmmakers Collaborative supports creatives at every step in their journey.   About the host: www.writevoicecreative.com and https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-azevedo/   Sound Engineer: A.J. Kierstead 

Joining host Michael Azevedo on this episode is Charlie Sadoff, the director of a documentary called "Against All Enemies," which explores the critical role of military veterans in domestic violent extremist groups.   Through gripping personal perspectives from all sides of this ongoing crisis, "Against All Enemies" goes deep inside the violent extremist movement in America, alongside the Proud Boys, 3 Percenters, and with never-before-seen footage of the Oath Keepers. These groups, organized and led by highly trained military veterans, pose one of the greatest threats to the United States today.   The film explores the historical roots of the insurrectionist cause, its conspiracy-fueled draw for today’s veterans, and the ways that coming powerful politicians, like Donald Trump, and highly decorated former military officers, like former general Michael Flynn employ disinformation to manipulate these former vets.   Charlie Sadoff is a producer, director and editor. Documentaries he has produced include The Mind of Mark Defriest which aired on Showtime, Dream Riders for Discovery, and the 10-part series The Rites of Autumn for ESPN. Making Media Now is sponsored by Filmmakers Collaborative, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting media makers from across the creative spectrum. From providing fiscal sponsorship to presenting an array of informative and educational programs, Filmmakers Collaborative supports creatives at every step in their journey. About the host: www.writevoicecreative.com and https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-azevedo/   Sound Engineer: A.J. Kierstead 

Making Media Now host Michael Azevedo speaks with documentary filmmakers Anna Moot-Levin and Laura Green about the second in their 3-film Matter of Mind series. Their first film looked at ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s disease. Their latest film, which debuts on PBS’s Independent Lens on April 8, tell the story of  Three people—a political cartoonist, a mother turned boxing coach, and an optician—as they navigate their lives with resourcefulness and determination in the face of a different degenerative illness, Parkinson’s disease. Anna Moot-Levin is an award-winning documentary filmmaker, producer, and editor with a passion for stories about health and healthcare. Her debut documentary, The Providers, aired on PBS’s Independent Lens in 2019. She is also an associate producer of the Academy Award-winning documentary Inside Job (2010). She is based in Brooklyn.   Laura Green is an award-winning documentary director and editor based in San Francisco. She collaborated with Anna on The Providers and is an assistant professor at San Francisco State University.   Making Media Now is sponsored by Filmmakers Collaborative, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting media makers from across the creative spectrum. From providing fiscal sponsorship to presenting an array of informative and educational programs, Filmmakers Collaborative supports creatives at every step in their journey.   About the host: www.writevoicecreative.com and https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-azevedo/   Sound Engineer: A.J. Kierstead 

On this episode, host Michael Azevedo chats with Noam Osband & Sebastián Díaz, the co-directors and co-producers of a documentary called "A Thousand Pines." Wood and wood products are the biggest natural resources used and produced in America. Every year, hundreds of crews travel the country to plant pine trees. A considerable amount of those crews are made up of Latino workers, here on temporary visas. "A Thousand Pines" documents the stories of one of these Latino crews.   The film, which will be broadcast on the PBS series Independent Lens on April 1, documents the lives of migrants who depend on the controversial guest worker visa program. The film follows a crew of workers from Mexico over the course of a season planting trees throughout the United States. The crew struggles to balance the job’s physical demands and its extreme isolation while remaining connected to their families back home. As the season progresses, they become a small family, cooking and caring for each other in order to endure the punishing work.   The film centers on the crew foreman, Raymundo Morales, who is in his 19th season working for the largest reforestation company in the US. When he began, he was single and had few responsibilities. Now, however, he must balance his obligations to his wife, his children, and his elderly mother with a heart condition, while also tending to the needs and emergencies of the planting crew. Spending only three months at home during the off-season, Raymundo’s job is both the family’s salvation and its heartbreak.   Making Media Now is sponsored by Filmmakers Collaborative, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting media makers from across the creative spectrum. From providing fiscal sponsorship to presenting an array of informative and educational programs, Filmmakers Collaborative supports creatives at every step in their journey.   About the host: www.writevoicecreative.com and https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-azevedo/   Sound Engineer: A.J. Kierstead