Industry leaders Chris Albert, executive vice president of global communications & talent relations for National Geographic; Miura Kite, senior vice president of narrative television at Participant Media; and Hayley Pappas, head of RYOT Films, gathered on Saturday afternoon at a panel titled “Film + Storytelling in a Politically-Charged Era” to discuss how they are using storytelling through film to ignite political discussion.
Moderator Wendy Cohen of Picture Motion jump-started the discussion by asking the media executives to share how their respective companies are promoting social discussion during these politically divisive times.
Kite said that while “the mission of filmmakers has not changed, the messages they choose to convey are much more pertinent now.” Creators like Kite can bring a first-hand perspective about issues to those who would otherwise never know about them.
Often times there is no money to be made in telling these important stories; Albert said the drive to create these films comes from the desire to spark important social discussions. With over 60 million viewers, Before the Flood (2016) was one of the most viewed documentaries in history. Albert said that, although the movie lost money, it succeeded in sparking a global discussion about climate change.
The subject of how viewers choose to consume media was also discussed. Pappas said she hopes the upcoming documentary On Her Shoulders, screening at SXSW this week, will provoke viewers and creators to evaluate the state of our media as it relates to current politics.
The panel concluded by encouraging the audience and those interested in documentaries to open the discussion of politically driven films to those who otherwise would not see them. “It’s important to have dialogue that features multiple points of view, open the discussion to a wider range of perspectives.”
Film + Storytelling in a Politically-Charged Era
Saturday, March 10, Austin Convention CenterThis article appears in March 9 • 2018.