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KERA Television Productions

KERA, the leading source of public radio, television and online media for North Texas, has a long history of award-winning original productions that showcase Texas and the Southwest to the nation.


 

Ongoing series:

The Shape of TexasFrame of Mind
 

Past productions:


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    A Conversation with Bill Clements: An ‘On the Record’ Special

    (2004)

      

    Produced in high-definition television, this half-hour special edition of "On the Record" featured a candid conversation between the former Republican governor and veteran political journalist Carolyn Barta and was broadcast on the twenty-fifth anniversary of Bill Clements' first gubernatorial inauguration.

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    A Conversation with Carlos Fuentes

    (1992)

      

    Lee Cullum interviews Mexico's leading novelist on subjects ranging from dreams and myth.

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    A Fight to the Finish: Stories of Polio

    (2003)

      

    This documentary chronicles the dramatic story of America's battle against the last of the deadly childhood plagues.  It features well-known individuals who have survived polio, such as former Washington Post Executive Editor Ben Bradlee and writer Geoffrey Ward.  The film also includes moving visits with doctors, therapists and researchers - including two Nobel Prize winners - who helped lead the march to victory over polio in the United States. "A Fight to the Finish: Stories of Polio" is a co-production of Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children and Ken Mandel Productions, Inc. and is presented by KERA-Dallas/Fort Worth. Co-producer/Director/Cinematographer: Ken Mandel; Co-producer: Tony Herring, M.D.; Writer: Ralph Myers; Original Music: John Bryant, Frank Hames, Tony Herring, M.D.; Sound Design: Marvin Hlavenka; For KERA - Executive Producer: Rob Tranchin; Executive in Charge: Sylvia Komatsu

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    After Goodbye: An AIDS Story

    (1993)

      

    "After Goodbye: An AIDS Story" looks at the impact of AIDS on the Turtle Creek Chorale, which lost more than 90 of its members to AIDS, and the grief recovery it experienced through music. The Chorale performs "When We No Longer Touch," a choral rendition of the stages of grief. Their powerful requiem is interwoven with profiles of individuals who are living with AIDS, individuals who have lost loved ones to the disease, and experts who help others through the grieving process. Production Credits: Producer/director, Ginny Martin; Narrator, Ruby Dee; Executive Producer, Yolette Garcia; Executive in Charge, Sylvia Komatsu

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    Albert Alcalay: Self Portraits

    (2008)

      

    Albert Alcalay is a ninety year old artist who learned to paint in a German concentration camp. His dramatic life story as a Serbian Jew persecuted during World War II and his development as an artist and Harvard professor provide the background for this lively examination of how human memory and emotion become reflected in abstract art. Produced by Rob Eustis, Allen Moore and Rob Tranchin.

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    Amazing Music

    (1999)

      

    An entertaining exploration of music and the symphony orchestra, "Amazing Music" features Music Director Andrew Litton interacting with children on stage and with well-known musicians such as Roy Hargrove and the Billy Taylor Trio. "Amazing Music" was produced by Bob Banner Associates, and presented by KERA 13 in partnership with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra.

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    Big D: Back When

    (1995)

      

    The distinct neighborhoods that grew up around downtown Dallas in the decades following the turn of the century and helped to create the city's unique character are the focus this KERA production. "Big D Back When" combines archival film footage, still photos and interviews with a wide range of Dallasites to create a portrait of the past that offers fascinating insights about how Dallas has evolved. Among the neighborhoods featured in "Big D: Back When" are Little Jerusalem - which later became Little Mexico - Deep Ellum, the Thomas and Hall community now known as State-Thomas, Old South Dallas and Oak Cliff - a separate city until it was annexed by Dallas in the early years of the century. The program also highlights La Reunion, a short-lived utopian colony along the Trinity that was settled by European immigrants. For new Dallasites and longtime residents alike, "Big D: Back When" offers an entertaining and informative look at how early neighborhoods grew up and changed in relation to downtown, the river and the railroads. Most of all, however, this is the fascinating story of the people themselves, the pioneers, the visionaries and the families who made something special out of Big D - back when. "Big D: Back When" is a production of KERA. Production Credits: Writer/producer, Andrea Boardman; Executive Producer, Yolette Garcia

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    Bob Wilson and the Early Years of KERA

    (2011)

      

    For our 50th anniversary in 2011, we premiered this half-hour documentary special, 'Bob Wilson and the Early Years of KERA.' It focuses on the defining impact of one of our first chief executives, Robert A. (Bob) Wilson, and the station’s national influence on public broadcasting. Bob -- father to actors Luke and Owen Wilson, and the KERA president who introduced Monty Python's Flying Circus to American audiences -- died May 5, 2017. You can read about his life on keranews.org: http://tinyurl.com/m7xmnsp.

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    Boyfriends

    (2009)

      

    Boyfriends is a multimedia project that examines the complex personal and cultural factors that contribute to the way adolescent girls form and maintain relationships. The project began with a series of radio reports about four teenagers coming to terms with pregnancy. KERA reporter Sujata Dand followed these teens and others for a year and updated her findings in the Boyfriends television documentary and web page, which made their debut in fall 2009. • Visit the website

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    Child Safety: It's No Accident

    (1998)

      

    Hosted by Judith Ivey, award-winning Broadway, film and television actress "Child Safety" is a timely and informative one-hour program that provides new and useful information for parents, children and their caregivers about keeping children safe. More American children die each year from accidental injuries than from all childhood illnesses combined. Produced by KERA-TV and WFAA-TV, Dallas.

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    Concerto with James Conlon

    (2002)

      

    "Concerto with James Conlon" - a series of six 30-minute programs featuring the renowned conductor James Conlon and the six finalists of the Eleventh Van Cliburn International Piano Competition - offers a rare and dynamic look at the concerto as metaphor for life. "Concerto" focuses on extended musical segments of the great masterpieces by Mozart, Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff, Beethoven, and Prokofiev written for piano and orchestra performed during the Eleventh Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in June 2001. The camera captures the dynamic interplay of these exciting musicians and James Conlon as he rehearses with them, expertly guiding them through the challenges of blending individual personality and style with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra. "Concerto with James Conlon" was directed by Peter Rosen, produced by Peter Rosen Productions Inc. for the Van Cliburn Foundation and co-produced by KERA-Dallas/Fort Worth.

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    Conversation with Bill Lively

    (2008)

      

    As the founding President and CEO of the Dallas Center for the Performing Arts, Bill Lively is at the center of a project that will change the cultural complexion of the City of Dallas for generations. In this half-hour special, the former musician, NFL half-time show producer and consummate fundraiser talks with KERA’s Lee Cullum about his philanthropic success and the prevailing theme of music in his life.

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    Cowtown Memories – A History of Fort Worth

    (1994)

      

    The early days of the cattle industry that gave Fort Worth its enduring nickname, the promotional genius of Amon Carter, the 1936 Frontier Centennial and the birth of Texas Swing are just a few of the topics covered in this nostalgic and historically fascinating special. The program explores how oil, aviation, railroads, commerce, the media, an ethnically and culturally diverse populace - and, of course, cattle - helped to shape a growing city. Through vintage photographs, film clips and the recollections of those who were there, the special weaves a Texas tapestry as colorful as it is complex. "Cowtown Memories" was produced by KERA. Production Credits: Producer, Andrea Boardman; Executive Producer, Yolette Garcia; Narrator, Fort Worth rhythm and blues singer Delbert McClinton.  

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    Dallas Symphony Orchestra: Bernstein, Barber and Beethoven

    (1996)

      

    This two-hour KERA production for PBS featured the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, under the leadership of music director and conductor Andrew Litton, in a captivating performance of Leonard Bernstein's Fancy Free Ballet, Samuel Barber's Violin Concerto with special guest soloist Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg and Beethoven's Symphony No. 7. The broadcast included segments on the history of the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center and the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. Also featured are rare, personal interviews with Litton and Salerno-Sonnenberg, who were classmates at The Juilliard School of Music. Hosted by Andrew Litton, music director of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. Produced by KERA, Dallas/Fort Worth/Denton, in association with Brandenburg Productions Inc. and the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. Production Credits: Executive producer/director: Phillip Byrd; KERA executive producer: Lyn Ganz

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    Die and Let Live

    (1993)

      

    This powerful documentary takes viewers behind the scenes at Dallas' Baylor Medical Center on a day when doctors transplant the heart, liver and one lung of an 18-year-old woman who died in a car wreck. The video also documents the dramatic story of a potential liver recipient's life-and-death race against time - and money - and explores the complex reasons why donated organs are unavailable for nearly two-thirds of the patients in the United States who need them. Production Credits: Producer, Sheila Cooper and Terry FitzPatrick; Executive Producer, Sylvia Komatsu.

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    Encore! With James Conlon

    (2006)

      

    Maestro James Conlon explores the relationship between the concert pianist's internal world and the composer's score - with the finalists of the Twelfth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition as his examples - and examines what makes one interpretation so different from another. Encore! was directed by Andy Sommer and co-produced by Bel Air Media, the Van Cliburn Foundation, and KERA.

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    Feel it in My Bones

    (1995)

      

    A conversation between a contemporary journalist and the spirit of an African slave who died in America more than 3,000 years ago forms the framework of this powerful new KERA production. The subject of their dialogue and the focus of the program is the desecration and destruction of Freedman's Cemetery in Dallas and the African Burial Ground in Manhattan - both of which were "erased" to make way for urban growth. Production Credits: Producer, Sheila Cooper; Editor, Christine McConnell; Executive Producer, Yolette Garcia; Executive in Charge, Sylvia Komatsu

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    Finding Our Voice: The Dallas Gay & Lesbian Community

    (2000)

      

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DNB7LkOmys "Finding Our Voice" explores the memories and experiences of those who helped develop a thriving gay and lesbian community in the heart of the Bible Belt. Using archival news footage and vintage photographs that span more than six decades, "Finding Our Voice" tells the moving and powerful story of a community that stood up, spoke out and confronted crisis. The program features early activists - many of whom grew up in churches believing they were grievous sinners - who first went about the business of educating ministers and city leaders about gay rights. Other featured struggles include: the fight for a place at the mainstream table; learning compassion amidst the rampage of AIDS; coming out in the face of hatred and bigotry; and gaining a stronger political voice. Narrated by Kathy Najimy, award-winning television and film actress. Production credits: Executive Producer: Rick Thompson; Producer: Kay Vinson Executive-in-Charge: Sylvia Komatsu.

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    Fire! What You Need to Know

    (1996)

      

    "Fire! What You Need to Know" is an information-packed look at how fires break out, how they burn, how they kill, and how to save yourself and your loved ones from their searing heat and suffocating smoke. Hosted by Gloria Campos, news anchor for WFAA-TV in Dallas, "Fire!" also includes dramatic news footage and never-before-seen home videos of some of the most destructive fires of recent years, including the 1991 wildfire that destroyed hundreds of homes in Oakland, Calif.

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    First Steps

    (1992)

      

    This one-hour documentary features renowned pediatrician T. Berry Brazelton and local child development experts discussing the critical early stages of life. These informative interviews are combined with emotionally dramatic stories reflecting the struggles of local parents who want the best for their children. Production Credits: Produced and directed by Rob Tranchin

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    For a Deaf Son

    (1994)

      

    "For a Deaf Son," produced by Rob Tranchin - the father of a deaf son - offers an intimate look at the decisions that must be made by parents when a deaf child is born into a hearing family. The documentary features a touching selection of home videos taped by the Tranchins before and after they learned that their son, Thomas, was deaf, as well as interviews with deafness experts. The result is an unprecedented and intimate look at a situation faced every year by thousands of families. "For a Deaf Son" is a production of KERA-TV, Dallas/Fort Worth Production Credits; Producer/writer/director, Rob Tranchin; Editor, Ginny Martin; Executive Producer, Yolette Garcia; Executive in charge, Sylvia Komatsu

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    Fort Worth: Postcards from the Past

    (1996)

      

    "Fort Worth: Postcards From the Past" - Remember cheering for the Fort Worth Cats baseball team and listening to Bob Wills at Panther Hall? How about watching Saturday matinees at the Ridglea Theater and visiting Queen Tut the elephant at the Fort Worth Zoo? Viewers can re-live - or enjoy for the first time - these and other special moments in this KERA production. Using archival photographs, home movies, family photos and the personal memories of Fort Worth citizens, this one-hour special takes a lighthearted, colorful look at Fort Worth from the 1800s through the 1960s and highlights the people, places and history that make Fort Worth unique.

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    Freedman's Cemetery Memorial: A Place of Healing

    (2001)

      

    "Freedman's Cemetery Memorial: A Place of Healing," documents the transformation of a desecrated burial ground for former slaves and their descendents in Dallas into a monument to African-American heritage. An original production from KERA-Dallas/Ft. Worth, the documentary reflects the spirituality of Freedman's Cemetery Memorial and also offers a timeless message of hope. The local community's effort to rescue the cemetery from a forgotten past offers inspiration and motivation to other racially divided communities. Produced by Katie Sherrod; Directed by Joel Norman

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    High School: The Best and the Rest

    (2005)

      

    For years, Texas has been trying to come up with an equitable formula for funding public education. Although students are the key stakeholders in the school finance debate, they have had little input on this political issue. In High School: The Best and the Rest, teenagers from three economically diverse school districts in North Texas (Irving, Highland Park and Dallas) share candid stories with KERA reporter Sujata Dand about what they believe are the "missing" pieces in improving education. Watch it here.

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    In the American West: Photographs by Richard Avedon – A 20th Anniversary Special

    (2005)

      

    Richard Avedon's favorite images from his essay "In the American West" were on public display at the Amon Carter Museum in 2005 and 2006 to mark the 20th anniversary of the 1985 Fort Worth exhibition. KERA's documentary shares some of the remarkable stories gathered behind the scenes by Dallas photographer Laura Wilson, the project researcher for "In the American West" who arranged the shoots in 17 states and helped pick the 752 people to be photographed. Wilson recounts the experience working alongside her mentor and illustrates how she found her own voice and photographic style. Produced by Yolette Garcia and Rick Thompson.  

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    JFK: Breaking the News

    (2011)

      

    "JFK: Breaking the News" offers a close-up look at how reporters responded to a national tragedy. Through the lens of journalists working in Dallas in 1963, audiences will learn about the moment-by-moment experiences of those who covered one of the most significant events in U.S. history. Their reflections also allow us to witness the remarkable rise of television as a primary source for breaking news coverage. Narrated by Jane Pauley, the documentary also reveals the tremendous technical obstacles that had to be overcome and the immediate journalistic decisions that accompanied the initial live remote broadcasts generated by television four decades ago. "JFK: Breaking the News" is a co-production of The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza and KERA-Dallas/Fort Worth. Co-Producer/Writer: Krys Boyd Villaseñor; Co-Producer: Gary Mack; Executive Producer: Rick Thompson; Executive in Charge: Sylvia Komatsu

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    KERA InBox

    (2011)

      

    KERA's InBox is a freestanding, portable box similar to a mall photo booth. Participants enter the InBox to record their answers to thought-provoking questions on a range of topics in a private, intimate space. These innovative “Inbox” segments provide a forum for community voices that are often overlooked. Sample communities have included veterans, Latino musicians, firefighters, gang members, Katrina survivors, breast cancer survivors, rodeo riders, traffic cops and math teachers.

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    Larry v. Lockney

    (2002)

      

    Out of 2,000 residents in the West Texas town of Lockney, Larry Tannahill is the only one against the school board's new mandatory drug testing policy. Larry, a third-generation farmer, believes the testing is a violation of his son's Fourth Amendment right against unreasonable searches.  He sues to overturn the policy, forming an unlikely alliance with the American Civil Liberties Union.  In the battle over rights, Larry makes headlines around the country, loses his job and his family receives threats.  This documentary dramatically reveals the price of democracy in a small Texas town, when one man stands against the majority. "Larry v. Lockney" is a co-production of Mark Birnbaum, Jim Schermbeck and KERA-Dallas/Fort Worth and a co-presentation of the Independent Television Service (ITVS). Production Credits: Co-Producers/Co-Directors/Editors/Cinematographers: Mark Birnbaum and Jim Schermbeck; Executive Producer: Rob Tranchin, KERA; Music: James Neel

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    Learning to Walk

    (2001)

      

    "Learning to Walk" examined attitudes our society has about people with disabilities. It's estimated there are as many as 40 million in our country. KERA producers Susan Schewe and Sarah Perry are among them. As part of their "On the Record" special assignment, the two women offer their insights, observations, and self-revelations.

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    Letters from the Other Side

    (2006)

      

    Thousands of Mexicans immigrate to the U.S. each year, but what happens to the families and communities left behind? This documentary follows the lives of four Mexican women and their families, all of them affected by immigration in different ways. Filmed over two years in the state of Guanajuato, Mexico, the program interweaves their stories with cross-border video letters between loved ones and strangers. A co-production of Front Porch Films and KERA in association with the Independent Television Service (ITVS). Produced and directed by Heather Courtney.

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    Life in the Balance: The Health Care Crisis in Texas

    (2005)

      

    "Life in the Balance" is a one-hour KERA documentary that focuses on gaps in health coverage, regional ideas for improving the system, and the challenges faced by those who want to improve public health care in Texas. KERA reporter Sujata Dand follows the debate about reforming the state health care system and examines how political decisions touch the lives of patients.

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    Little Mexico: El Barrio

    (1997)

      

    "Little Mexico/El Barrio" - The rich cultural heritage of one of Dallas' oldest neighborhoods is the subject of this half-hour KERA production, which records and preserves some of the history of this important area and the people of Dallas. Prominent Mexican American community leaders interviewed include Pancho Medrano, Catalina Valdez Scott, Abel Sanchez, Gloria Rivas Alvarez, Joe Azcona and Belen Ortega. "Little Mexico/El Barrio" tells the story of the area where individuals and their families settled to begin their new lives after immigrating to the United States from Mexico. Using interviews, archival photographs, home movies and personal memorabilia, this program creates a historical record of this once-thriving community that encompassed what is Pike Park, and the Arts and Historic West End districts. • Watch the documentary

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    Living with the Trinity

    (2009)

      

    Whether as a commercial barge canal, environmental resource or potential riverfront tourism destination, plans for the Trinity River have been topics of considerable debate for generations of North Texans. With a renewed interest in the redevelopment of the Trinity River in North Texas, the need to balance public and private interests is once again in the spotlight. The documentary explores a fascinating chapter in the river's political history and looks at current plans to bring North Texans into closer contact with the river.• Watch the documentary

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    Magnificent Lovemaking: Seven Dimensions of Sexual Connection

    (2001)

      

    Dr. Lana Holstein, a nationally respected expert on sexuality, combines her expertise as a physician with 25 years experience as a sexuality counselor to provide positive, empowering and accessible information on how to become a better lover and enhance one's sex life. The program is based on Dr. Holstein's new book, "How to Have Magnificent Sex - The 7 Dimensions of a Vital Sexual Connection," (Harmony Books/January 30, 2001). Dr. Holstein shares with an adult studio audience the seven dimensions of a dynamic sexual relationship: biologic, sensual, and desire - relating to our bodies; the emotional dimensions - the heart and intimacy; and the soulful dimensions - aesthetic and transpersonal. Through her warm, engaging approach, viewers will learn new techniques for creating a multidimensional love relationship in which both partners contribute their strengths towards building an exceptional relationship. Production credits: Executive Producer: Betty Buckley; Producer: Linda Stogner; Co-Producer: Joe Bellotti; Executive in Charge: Sylvia Komatsu.  

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    Making the Modern

    (2003)

      

    Three years in the making, shot entirely in High Definition in nine cities and three countries, this compelling film captures the story of the extraordinary design and construction of the new Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth. The Modern opened its new building, designed by the Japanese architect Tadao Ando, to the public in December 2002. The Museum is Mr. Ando's largest project to date outside of Japan. The documentary features on-site construction footage of the Modern; the process behind Mr. Ando's signature concrete; his greatest buildings in Japan; the key to his Modernist and Japanese influences; and interviews with the architects Frank Gehry and Richard Meier and the artist Richard Serra. "Making the Modern" was produced by Trinity Films and presented by KERA-Dallas/Fort Worth.

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    Matisse & Picasso

    (2000)

      

    "Matisse & Picasso" offers a compelling portrait of two giants of 20th century art who inspired one another with a timeless dialogue that even death could not silence. The documentary, inspired by the Fort Worth (Texas) Kimbell Art Museum's exclusive exhibition, "Matisse & Picasso: A Gentle Rivalry," follows the interaction between the two artists and brings together for the first time several key, visually compelling examples of the ongoing "game of chess" between two masters. KERA's first high-definition television (HDTV) documentary combines spectacular photography of rarely seen paintings and sculpture with archival photographs and film footage of these two masters at work. "Matisse & Picasso" is a production of KERA in association with the Kimbell Art Museum, Fort Worth, Texas.

    Visit program's official website

    Production credits: Director/Co-Producer/Photographer: Ginny Martin; Director/Writer/Co-Producer: Rob Tranchin; Producer: Joe Bellotti; Executive Producer: Rick Thompson; Executive-in-Charge: Sylvia Komatsu.

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    Million Dollar Monarch

    (2008)

      

    It's not easy for us who live in heavily landscaped urban areas to remember a time when magnificent trees on the rolling North Texas prairie were the source of stories and legends. Through present-day footage and the use of historical photographs, moving images and sound, Million Dollar Monarch tells the story of a beautiful 143-year-old pecan tree that was once a landmark on the Preston Trail. Produced and directed by Rob Tranchin. Update: The tree was deemed unsafe due to age and disease by Highland Park town officials in October 2019, and plans have been made to remove it. Read more from KERA News. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mOw7zLnd5E

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    Nellie Connally: The Last Passenger

    (1998)

      

    Twenty-five years after the assassination of President John Kennedy, Nellie Connally remembers what happened. Production credits: Produced and directed by Rob Tranchin.

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    New Tastes From Texas with Chef Stephan Pyles – Season I

    (1998)

      

    Internationally known Chef Stephan Pyles welcomes amateur and gourmet cooks from across the country into his kitchen to learn the art of Southwestern-style cooking. In each episode, Chef Pyles invites viewers to learn more about his culinary creations from the very Texas Cowboy Bone-in Rib Eye with Red Chile Onion Rings to Molasses-grilled Quail with Corn Pudding Tamales. Viewers will also learn about Lone Star history and the multiple cultures--from San Antonio and Palo Duro Canyon to the Texas Gulf Coast and beyond--that have influenced Chef Pyles' brand of cuisine. Production Credits: Producer: Jana Sims; field producer: Lyn Ganz; executive producer: Rick Thompson; executive-in-charge: Sylvia Komatsu.  

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    New Tastes From Texas with Chef Stephan Pyles – Season II

    (1999)

      

    In the second season of the series, Host Chef Stephan Pyles takes viewers on location in Mexico to sample regional culinary and cultural traditions. Viewers will absorb a new understanding of the Mexican spirit and way of life, while gaining insight into preparing the complementary dishes Chef Pyles creates. Production credits: Producer: Jana Sims; Executive Producer: Rick Thompson; Executive-in-Charge: Sylvia Komatsu.

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    New Texas Cuisine

    (1996)

      

    "Stephan Pyles: New Texas Cuisine" features this internationally acclaimed Dallas chef exploring the culinary cultures that have influenced his unique recipes and style. He invites viewers into the kitchen of his renowned Star Canyon Restaurant for step-by-step demonstrations of how to prepare his one-of-a-kind creations.

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    Nowhere But Texas

    (2007)

      

    Family farmers in high-flying circus acts, “cowboys of color” bulldogging their way to become rodeo legends, and members of the British Royal Air Force winning hearts in Terrell, Texas, are among the collection of engaging stories featured in this nostalgic look back at fascinating but seldom-heard accounts of Texas communities and their people. Producer/Director: Linda Stogner; Co-Producer: Therese Powell; Executive Producer: Rick Thompson

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    Nowhere But Texas 2

    (2008)

      

    Country music at the Big D Jamboree, women pilots who flew for the Air Force generations before they were accepted members of the military and a group of fatherless boys from Fort Worth who raised the visibility of high school football and the spirits of the nation during the Great Depression. These are the stories presented in Nowhere But Texas 2, KERA's second collection of extraordinary stories about ordinary Texans. Producer/Director/Editor: Linda Stogner; Producer: Therese Powell; Executive Producer: Rick Thompson

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    On Stage at the Backdoor

    (2002)

      

    Is East Dallas the secret center of the known comedy universe? This is the thesis of two green extra-terrestrials in this program, which examines one night in the life of local stand-up comedians. Combining performances, interviews, and behind-the-scenes footage, producer Linda Stogner has crafted a light-hearted foray into the world of Dallas' own Backdoor Comedy Club. A stand-up comedienne herself, Stogner uses her craft and connections to figure out what makes stand-up comedians click as she explores how they got started, their influences, their relationship with the audience, and why they continue to do it.

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    On the Record

    (1997)

      

    "On the Record" was a weekly half-hour public affairs program featuring insightful analysis of local and statewide issues. Each program also showcased the "KERA InBox," featuring an array of community voices. Subjects record their thoughts on an issue inside the InBox - a recording structure that resembles an old photo booth - thus providing a sense of privacy that encourages people to speak openly and frankly.

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    Orozco: Man of Fire

    (2007)

      

    From early hardship and toil as a political cartoonist, Jose Clemente Orozco became a leading painter of the Mexican Mural Renaissance. His murals would adorn Mexico's most revered public spaces, inspire African-American contemporaries and move President Franklin D. Roosevelt to put artists to work during the Great Depression. Narrated by Anjelica Huston with Damián Alcázar as the voice of the artist, Orozco: Man of Fire is a co-production of Paradigm Productions, KERA and the Independent Television Service (ITVS), in association with Latino Public Broadcasting. It is directed, written and produced by Laurie Coyle and Rick Tejada-Flores.Orozco: Man of Fire premiered nationally in September 2007 as part of American Masters.

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    Parents, Kids & Books

    (1993)

      

    There's no telling how many children have begun lifelong love affairs with books and ideas while being read to on a parent's lap, but the number surely will increase, thanks to this video. "Parents, Kids & Books" not only champions the act of reading to children but also offers tips for making the process more valuable for kids and adults alike. With reading expert Bill Teale and award-winning children's author Patricia Polacco. Production Credits: Producer, Andrea Boardman; Executive Producer, Yolette Garcia.

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    Peacemaker

    (1995)

      

    The daily climate of potential violence faced by many urban teens, as well as some possible solutions, are explored in "Peacemaker," a unique combination of TV drama and documentary starring students at an inner-city middle school in Dallas. The documentary segments of "Peacemaker" focus on the daily lives of several students from Thomas A. Edison Learning Center in West Dallas, one of the city's poorest and most violent neighborhoods. The program follows the students as they prepare for their roles in a 25-minute drama written - with their input - by Dallas screenwriter Victor San Miguel. The students, many of whom relate poignant and moving stories about their own experiences with violence, were all voluntary participants in an innovative, 11-week anti-violence workshop conducted at the middle school. "Peacemaker" was produced by KERA, Dallas/Fort Worth, (in association with Junior Players of Dallas). Production credits: Executive Producer Yolette Garcia; Producer/Director Rob Tranchin

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    Race and Class in Schools: An 'On the Record' Special

    (2003)

      

    KERA, D Magazine and CBS 11 pooled resources to present an examination of race and class in North Texas schools. This television documentary, produced by KERA in association with its two media partners, includes video segments that explore the history behind court-ordered busing in North Texas - and the attitudes that continue to haunt and challenge public education in North Texas. "Race and Class in Schools" includes vintage footage regarding North Texas desegregation efforts. "Race and Class in Schools" is a production of KERA-Dallas/Fort Worth. Production Credits: Kay Vinson, Producer/Writer; Rick Thompson, Executive Producer; Sylvia Komatsu, Executive in Charge

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    Race is the Place

    (2005)

      

    Funny, angry and profound, this is a visual and verbal riff on race in America from the point of view of a wide variety of artists, poets, rappers, performance artists and stand-up comedians. From a bit by comic Ahmed Ahmed on the "joys" of flying as an Arab American to Puerto Rican slam champ Mayda del Valle, from Hawaiian poet Haunani-Kay Trask to Kate Riggs' funny and explosive diatribe against the stereotyping of Asian American women, "Race Is the Place" yanks off the muzzle of political correctness to speak the often ugly truths that lie beneath the rosy talk of "multiculturalism" and "diversity."  A co-production of Paradigm Productions and KERA, in association with the Independent Television Service (ITVS). Co-produced and directed by Rick Tejada-Flores and Ray Telles.

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    Read with Me: A Ready for Life Special

    (2006)

      

    Research shows an increased awareness of reading and language skills before children start school forms the basis for later reading success. KERA's Read with Me (TM) literacy initiative is a new approach to helping parents, teachers and caregivers expose children to reading during their first years of life. Literacy expert Dr. Dorothy Strickland gives parents and caregivers strategies and tools that will help children acquire language and literacy skills starting at birth. • Visit the Ready for Life website for much more on early childhood development

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    Ready for Life

    (2000)

      

    "Ready for Life" is an intimate look at six Texas families as they struggle to provide an emotionally healthy foundation for their children. The program weaves real-life footage of children and their families with observations by experts like Dr. Bruce Perry, Chief of Psychiatry at Texas Children's Hospital (Houston). Narrated by Ruby Dee, Emmy Award-winning television, stage, and film actress. Production credits: Executive Producer: Rick Thompson; Co-producers: Rob Tranchin, Ginny Martin; Segment Producers: Claire Chiappetta, Alexis Yancey George, Shelley Kofler; Writer: Peter Freundlich; Executive-in-Charge: Sylvia Komatsu. Visit the Ready for Life website for much more on early childhood development

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    Remember When – A History of Dallas

    (1995)

      

    In a city like Dallas, that takes pride in being one of the most progressive urban centers in America, the relentless focus on tomorrow can make it difficult to remember yesterday. For those who have forgotten what Dallas used to be like - and for those who never knew - this KERA special offers a nostalgic look at what life was like in the Dallas that existed 30, 50, even 60 years ago. The program combines archival film footage - including home movies - with still photos and interviews with a wide range of Dallasites to recreate the days when every plane at Love Field had a propeller and Pegasus was the highest point on the city skyline. Narrated by Dallas native Ray Wylie Hubbard, "Remember When" is full of moments that will change the way viewers feel and think about Dallas. Production Credits: Producer, Sheila Cooper; Executive Producer, Yolette Garcia

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    Roy Bedichek’s Vanishing Frontier

    (2003)

      

    "Roy Bedichek's Vanishing Frontier" is a one-hour documentary that explores the relationship between human beings and the natural world. Photographed in wide-screen high definition and based in part on a 1947 classic work of nature literature, Adventures with a Texas Naturalist, this modern-day road trip combines the poetry of Bedichek's writing, the natural beauty of Texas locations and a cast of real-life characters, including noted writer John Graves, author of Goodbye to a River.  The result is a compelling exploration of our relationship with the world of nature. Watch it here. Producer/Director/Writer: Rob Tranchin | Photographer/Editor: Ginny Martin | Executive Producer: Sylvia Komatsu

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    Sharing the Power

    (2008)

      

    Twenty years have passed since two African-American activists filed a federal lawsuit and changed the way Dallas elects its city officials. At issue was the election of some city council members to "at large" seats, in which all voters could cast their ballots. The lawsuit contended that the cost of campaigning city-wide diluted minority voting strength. Federal Judge Jerry Buchmeyer agreed and ordered elections to be held under an all single-member district system. KERA examines the impact of Roy Williams and Marvin Crenshaw v. The City of Dallas in the television special Sharing the Power: A Voter's Voice Special.  

    Watch Sharing the Power on PBS. See more from KERA Specials.

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    South Dallas Pop

    (2008)

      

    This documentary explores the social and musical context surrounding the South Dallas Pop Festival, held in June of 1970 at the height of the youth-oriented pop festival craze. Dallas musicians Wendell Sneed and Roger Boykin recall their efforts to showcase the best African American funk bands in Dallas at the time. Produced and directed by Rob Tranchin. • Visit the website

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    Sweet Tornado: Margo Jones and the American Theater

    (2006)

      

    Although few know her name today, theater producer-director Margo Jones left a rich cultural legacy. During the 1940s and ’50s, Jones – nicknamed the “Texas Tornado” for her larger-than-life personality – pioneered the regional theater movement, championed the work of new playwrights, including Tennessee Williams, and crusaded against the commercial domination of New York theater. But despite her idealism, energy, warmth and salesmanship, Jones struggled with loneliness, frustration and doubt. Her untimely death at age 43 came just six months following her triumphant world premiere of the play, Inherit the Wind. Sweet Tornado: Margo Jones and the American Theater captures the remarkable life and times of this American visionary by weaving together theatrical representations and excerpts from three plays with interviews, archival photographs and rarely seen film footage. The powerful performance documentary, narrated by Academy Award-winner Marcia Gay Harden, stars Judith Ivey as Jones and Richard Thomas as Williams. Production credits: Co-produced and directed by Kay Cattarulla and Rob Tranchin. It first aired in 2006 on PBS stations across the country.

    • Visit the program website for more about Margo

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    Texas and the Latino Vote

    (2000)

      

    Presidential front-runners in both political parties are making special efforts to court Latinos - and for good reason: Hispanics could play a critical role in Texas, California, New York and Florida, which carry the largest blocs of electoral votes. "Texas and the Latino Vote" - a joint project by WFAA, KERA 13, KERA 90.1 and KUVN (Univision) - focuses special attention on the opportunities and challenges confronting Hispanics in 2000. Disputing the myth that Latinos don't vote and presenting historical and cultural perspectives on civic engagement, the documentary will be made available to an extensive television and radio audience that will reach prime-time viewers and listeners of Texas public broadcasters, Univision and Belo affiliates in the state's largest cities. Co-produced by KERA and independent producer Hector Galán. Production credits: Hector Galán, Producer; Rick Leal, Field Producer; Rick Thompson, Executive Producer; Sylvia Komatsu, Executive in Charge

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    Texas Trailblazer: Barefoot Sanders

    (2009)

      

    With a career in public service that spanned a half century, Judge Harold Barefoot Sanders is remembered for his role in the desegregation of Dallas public schools and for the indelible mark he left on the entire country. As Assistant Deputy Attorney General in the Justice Department under President Lyndon Johnson, Sanders guided passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 that ended a history of discriminatory voting practices. The documentary examines his career as a state lawmaker, member of the Johnson administration and 27 years as a federal judge. Watch video and learn more

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    Texas Trailblazer: Louise Raggio

    (2008)

      

    In 1950s America, married women in most states could not open their own bank accounts, sign contracts or control their own paychecks. Women in Texas needed their husband’s permission for most legal and business matters. Attorney, Louise Ballerstedt Raggio changed all that. She didn’t set out to become an icon in the struggle for women’s rights. She became one along the way. Visit the website

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    Texas Trailblazer: Vivian Castleberry

    (2009)

      

    Vivian Castleberry became the first female editor of the Dallas Times Herald in 1957. She transformed the content of the paper’s Living section from coverage of high society and weddings to include stories of social significance including child abuse, depression and women’s rights. Castleberry retired from the Dallas Times Herald after 28 years to pursue a second career as a peace activist. She co-founded the Women’s Center of Dallas and The Dallas Women’s Foundation, and founded Peacemakers Incorporated. She was inducted into the Texas Women’s Hall of Fame in 1984. Watch video and learn more

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    Texas: The State of Water

    (2003)

      

    Will Texas run dry? Can other Texas regions learn from the cautionary tale of the over-taxed Rio Grande? How can the state provide enough clean water for wildlife and the environment, as well as for cities, industry and agriculture? These are some of the questions explored in "Texas: The State of Water," a one-hour video documentary from KERA and the Emmy Award-winning producers of the Texas Parks & Wildlife television series. Produced in high definition, the program aired on all 13 Texas public TV stations on the same night. "Texas: The State of Water" is a production of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department in association with KERA-Dallas/Fort Worth.

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    The Chip That Jack Built

    (2009)

      

    A short film from KERA profiling Nobel Prize Winner Jack Kilby, the Texas Instruments engineer who co-invented the integrated circuit (more commonly known as a microchip). On February 6, 1959, Kilby filed for his milestone patent. His innovation spawned a technological revolution that has made our modern way of life possible, and is found in almost every electronic device we use. Watch it here. Additional resources: • The History of the Integrated Circuit (nobelprize.org) • Jack Kilby mini-autobiography (nobelprize.org) • Jack Kilby information page (Texas Instruments - ti.com)

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    The Cliburn: Playing on the Edge

    (2001)

      

    The Cliburn: Playing on the Edge examines the day-to-day experiences of the young pianists taking part in one of the world's most prestigious music festivals. Emmy award-winning producer Peter Rosen takes PBS viewers behind the scenes to provide a rare look at the physical, mental and emotional demands on the participants, as they strive to create unforgettable performances. The program examines the relationship between the pianist as a person, and as a performer. It also provides insight into the world of classical music by combining cutting-edge digital technology with an intimate look at the lives of the participants during the 17 days of competition that took place in Fort Worth, Texas in May-June 2001. This production was awarded a George Foster Peabody Award, the broadcasting industry's equivalent of the Pulitzer Prize, in 2002.

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    The Creek Runs Red

    (2007)

      

    The town of Picher, Oklahoma, was once home to the world’s richest lead and zinc mining field. But since the area was declared a Superfund site in 1981, Picher’s residents have been forced to choose between preserving their image of the American dream and preserving their health. Produced and directed by Bradley Beasley, Julianna Brannum and James Payne.

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    The Tenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition: Hearing Ear to Ear with James Conlon

    (1999)

      

    This documentary captures American-born and -educated Maestro James Conlon, principal conductor of the Paris Opera and general music director of Cologne, Germany, at work with the six finalists of the Tenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition and the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra. The program offers an up-close look at the complex interactions among soloist, conductor and orchestra when performing a concerto. A presentation of KERA in association with the Van Cliburn Foundation. Production credits: Dominique Lasseur & Catherine Tatge, Producers; Catherine Tatge, Director; Richard Rodzinski, Executive Producer

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    The Twelfth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition: In the Heart of Music

    (2005)

      

    French filmmaker Andy Sommer gives you an up-close examination of the Twelfth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition and the competitors' experiences from the screening process through the 17-day competition. He got to know almost all of the 35 competitors, probing what he describes as "the best and rarest moments of the pianists' search for truth," revealing their inner world of emotions, sacrifices, and motivations. "How do they prepare? What are they communicating?" Mr. Sommer asks. "The film tells the story of a few of the people who are immersing themselves deeply into the heart of music."Ê This film is a co-production of The Van Cliburn Foundation, Bel Air Media, and KERA.

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    The U.S.-Mexican War – 1846-1848

    (1998)

      

    The war between the United States and Mexico was a defining event for both nations - transforming a continent and forging a new identity for its peoples. Although the United States gained almost half of Mexico's national territory and became a continental power, most Americans have a profound lack of knowledge about this war and our neighbor to the south. This series looks at the both sides of this conflict and how it affected each side. "The U.S.-Mexican War" was honored with a national Emmy Award. Production credits: Executive/Series Producer: Sylvia Komatsu; Director: Ginny Martin; Writer: Rob Tranchin; Senior Producer: Paul Espinosa.

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    Think TV

    (2006)

      

    Think was a topic-driven weekly interview program hosted by Krys Boyd covering a wide variety of topics ranging from history, politics, current events, science, technology and trends to food and wine, travel, adventure, and entertainment. The Art&Seek segment focused on arts and cultural works and events, both in North Texas and abroad.

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    Tornado Alert

    (1994)

      

    "Tornado Alert: What You Need to Know," is a one-hour program that examines the harsh realities of these natural phenomena, explores the latest in cutting-edge tornado-tracking technology, and explains proven rules of family emergency preparedness.The special - the result of a collaboration between Channel 13 and WFAA-TV - is hosted by Troy Dungan, chief weather forecaster at WFAA. "Tornado Alert" features some of the nation's top tornado research scientists and meteorologists, as well as first-hand testimony from tornado survivors. Viewers will witness real-life tornado footage, and they will ride along with "tornado chasers" who put themselves in harm's way to study these funnels that can snake down from the sky and, within seconds, destroy everything in their paths. "Tornado Alert: What You Need to Know," is a co-production of KERA Channel 13, Dallas/Fort Worth, and WFAA-TV. Production Credits: Executive producer, Yolette Garcia; Producer, Tim Dickey; Director, Joey Spurlock; Executives in charge, Sylvia Komatsu, KERA and Marty Haag, WFAA

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    Voices

    (1999)

      

    A presentation of KERA, this documentary offers an intimate look at the women of post-communist Europe and the many challenges they face in their countries' transition to democracy. Hosted by Lynn Redgrave, 1999 Golden Globe winner and Academy Award nominee.

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    Voter's Voice 2004: Frost – Sessions Debate

    (2004)

      

    On October 20, 2004, KERA produced a broadcast debate between Congressional candidates Martin Frost and Pete Sessions that focused heavily on the candidates' perspectives on the economy. Simulcast on KERA 90.1 and rebroadcast on Telemundo affiliate KFWD, the bilingual debate was one of four televised debates between these candidates.

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    Water

    (1995)

      

    The increasingly complex economic factors that affect the distribution of much of the world's fresh water are explored in "Water," a provocative and eye-opening special. "Water," hosted by actor James Earl Jones, is the result of a unique international co-production agreement involving Dallas/Fort Worth public television KERA, Television New Zealand Ltd., the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and Mexico City's Canal Once XEIPN. Production Credits: Producer, Terry FitzPatrick; Executive Producer, Sylvia Komatsu

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    Who Cares About Kids? With Maya Angelou

    (1992)

      

    This award-winning special looks at an innovative social program that temporarily transplants gang members and other at-risk urban teens to a survival camp in rural East Texas where they learn teamwork, self-respect and self-esteem. Special guest Maya Angelou visits with the young men in the program and shares with them her inspiring poetry. Production Credits: Producer, Rob Tranchin; Executive Producer, Sylvia Komatsu; Videographer, Joey Spurlock.

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    Your Toxic Trash

    (1993)

      

    This half-hour video hosted by Ed Begley Jr. features eight quiz questions that allow viewers to test their knowledge of such topics as which household items pose the greatest threat to the environment, the safest methods of disposing of hazardous wastes, and the regulations governing the handling of toxic chemicals by private citizens. "Your Toxic Trash" also offers environmentally sound tips for purchasing, using and disposing of hazardous household products. Production Credits: Producer, Terry FitzPatrick; Executive Producer, Sylvia Komatsu.