THE NEW YORK TIMES
roles: casting, field producing, interviewing
Even the insiders are fed up with Washington. To understand why, NYT Opinion Video put the same eight questions to House and Senate members in both parties who are on the way out, looking for patterns and prescriptions to get a handle on the place.
As the project's producer, I cast and scheduled all 12 participating Congress members — and interviewed them in Washington D.C.
I talked about the project on TV and on the radio.
Video interactive and stub article
NYT newsletter I wrote about the project
Excerpts of my interviews in NYT Opinion print
THE NEW YORK TIMES
roles: pre-interviewing, (remote) field directing and producing
For two weeks, Dr. Samer Attar, an American surgeon, volunteered at local hospitals in Gaza. He was part of the first convoy of international doctors to embed in the north. He filmed video diaries throughout his trip, documenting the struggle among Palestinian medical workers to save lives amid extreme supply shortages.
I pre-interviewed Samer multiple times before and after his trip. Before he left, I traveled to his home in Chicago to train him on shooting video. I stayed in touch with him via WhatsApp during his trip, providing instructions and feedback on his footage — and reviewing all 10+ hours of it after he returned. I also conducted additional reporting.
THE NEW YORK TIMES
roles: casting, field producing, interviewing, scripting, archival research
A lot of people have weighed in on legacy admissions, the preferential treatment given to the children of alumni in the college application process: President Biden. Members of Congress. Supreme Court justices. But what about the legacy students themselves? Five shared their take on the issue.
I cast and pre-interviewed all of the subjects, conducted all the on-camera interviews, wrote the script with Alex Stockton, and found all the archival footage.
Video and stub article
NYT newsletter I wrote about the video
THE NEW YORK TIMES
roles: casting, scripting, archival research
Amid an enormous societal push to destigmatize mental illness, young people have been flooded with mental health information on social media and elsewhere. But much of it is unreliable and counterproductive. Is it possible all this mental health awareness is making young people feel worse?
I pitched this video idea based on my own observations on social media. I then cast academic psychologist Dr. Lucy Foulkes, who has been reaching this issue for years, and pre-interviewed her to conceptualize the argument. Adam Westbrook and I wrote the script with her. I found all the visual assets — TikToks, advertisements, and PSAs.
Video and stub article
NYT newsletter I wrote about the video
THE NEW YORK TIMES
roles: field producing, interviewing, editing, archival research
“The U.S. bombings that ended World War II didn’t mark the close of atomic warfare. They were just the beginning. From 1945 to 2017, nuclear nations carried out more than 2,000 explosive tests in the atmosphere, underground and underwater, mostly in remote places,” W.J. Hennigan wrote in a NYT Opinion interactive.
In video interviews I conducted, the descendants of atomic testing survivors described the fallout their families have continued to endure — displacement, illnesses, and deaths. Those interviews were featured in the interactive and the video I produced and edited.
THE NEW YORK TIMES
roles: post production, editing
We often measure the tragedy of war in the suffering of children, but rarely do we hear from them. In 2021, filmmakers asked Palestinian children in Gaza about their dreams. I discovered these interviews through Jordanian filmmaker Mohannad Abu Rizk's TikTok, then reached out to his team to propose a video juxtaposing these interviews (the children's dreams) with present-day footage of Israel's attacks on Gaza (the nightmare they're living).
I conceptualized the video, sourced the interview footage from the filmmakers, selected and pulled 2023 war footage, then edited the video with Jonah Kessel.
THE NEW YORK TIMES
roles: field producing, interviewing
New York Times Opinion columnists weighed in on the 2024 presidential election in a series of short videos — published on-site and on social media after Trump’s victory.
As field producer, I interviewed the columnists at the Times’s video studio, asking how Trump won and what we can expect from his second administration.
Video: Why Trump Won
Video: Worst Version of a Trump Administration
Video: Best Version of a Trump Administration
@nytopinion Donald Trump will return to the White House. How did he win in such a close election? Times Opinion columnists lay out how he achieved victory. #nytopinion ♬ original sound - New York Times Opinion
@nytopinion Donald Trump will return to the White House. @nytopinion columnists discuss what the worst version of a second Trump administration could look like. #election2024 ♬ original sound - New York Times Opinion
@nytopinion Donald Trump will return to the White House. @nytopinion columnists discuss what the best version of a second Trump administration could look like. #election2024 ♬ original sound - New York Times Opinion
THE NEW YORK TIMES
roles: archival research, editing
Sophomoric insults. Rudeness. Personal attacks. Cross talk. These have become the defining features of American political debates these days. But things haven't always been this way. Before Donald Trump changed the rules of the game — and debate rules literally changed, civility once had a place in the political forum.
I interviewed multiple presidential debate historians and watched six decades worth of presidential debates to select and pull all the archival footage. Then I edited the video with Jonah Kessel.
Video and stub article
YouTube Short I edited (~2 million views)
THE NEW YORK TIMES
roles: field producing, interviewing, archival research
There's already enough to worry about when you're pregnant. Your baby. Your own health. And then there's the pregnancy police: strangers who judge pregnant women for all of their choices — drinking coffee, eating dairy, and even exercising. That's what elite distance runner Stephanie Bruce discovered while pregnant with her third child.
As the field producer, I traveled to Flagstaff, AZ to interview Stephanie and worked with our DP Elliot DeBruyn to shoot b-roll at a gym, doctor's office, and running trail. I also found all the archival sound.
THE NEW YORK TIMES
roles: archival research, post production
In the decades-long effort to resolve the Israel-Palestine conflict, the "two-state solution" has seemed like the least flawed among many imperfect ideas. It's become official policy of most governments around the world and the basis for peace talks. But it has also become one of the most hollowed-out phrases in the Middle East.
I researched the two-state solution's history to find the video's archival footage and worked with editor Adam Westbrook to conceptualize the final product.
THE NEW YORK TIMES
roles: associate producing, research
In the hours after Tim Walz and JD Vance squared off in the only vice-presidential debate of 2024, many journalists, pundits and citizens came forth to fact-check both candidates' assertions. But “Veep” star Tony Hale helped us check something of equal import: the vibes.
I helped associate produce this video by comedic, musical quartet The Gregory Brothers, including: monitoring the debate live, identifying noteworthy moments (and reactions online), and providing research support.
GOOD MORNING AMERICA
roles: casting, field producing, shooting, interviewing, editing
Danielle Boyer founded her nonprofit The STEAM Connection to provide technical and cultural educational opportunities among Native American communities, combining both in the form of robots that teach Indigenous languages.
I spent an afternoon with Danielle, interviewing her about her inventions and work at The STEAM Connection, as well as shooting footage of her demonstrating her robots. We also took a trip to the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian where Danielle showed me some of her tribal community's exhibits.
GOOD MORNING AMERICA
roles: casting, field producing, interviewing, scripting
A National Center For Education Statistics study showed test scores in math and reading hit new lows after the pandemic. I spoke with one family, fourth grader Yara Valerio and her mother Emma Mercado, about these results, their experiences with remote learning, and their hopes for the next school year.
As the producer, I booked Emma, Yara, and children's literacy nonprofit CEO Adeola Whitney. I then field produced the story, directing the crew in shooting b-roll of Yara's first day of fourth grade and conducting the in-person interviews with Yara, Emma, and Adeola. I also worked on writing the script.
ABC NEWS NIGHTLINE
roles: casting, producing
Minneapolis public school teachers negotiated a new contract after a strike, including a policy that protects underrepresented groups during layoffs. The policy is meant to "remedy the continuing effects of past discrimination" but has faced backlash.
I did the initial legwork on this segment for ABC News Nightline, which originated from my digital article. My contributions included booking guests, collecting elements and reportable editorial, and helping with producing the in-person interviews.
GOOD MORNING AMERICA
roles: casting, interviewing, (remote) field producing
Pastor Michael Jennings, a Black man, was arrested by local police while watering plants for an out-of-town neighbor. The encounter was captured on bodycam footage, sparking widespread outcry and allegations of racial discrimination.
As the lead producer, I booked the exclusive interviews with Pastor Jennings and his attorney (making ABC News the first outlet to interview Jennings since the bodycam footage release). I also remotely field directed the crew sent to shoot the in-person interview at Jennings' home and conducted it over Zoom. I also obtained the body camera footage featured in the package.
THE HARVARD CRIMSON
roles: (remote) field producing, interviewing, editing
Harvard announced all undergraduate classes in fall 2020 — the first full semester affected by the pandemic — would be virtual. Only a small number of students were allowed to live on campus that term, arriving at staggered, pre-assigned times.
I pitched a video about this highly unusual move-in week, reaching out to several students for interviews and guiding them through filming their lives — from traveling to Boston at the height of Covid-19 to concluding their mandated quarantine period. I regularly checked in with the students to provide further instructions and shot lists, then edited the video in its entirety.
THE HARVARD CRIMSON
roles: (remote) field producing, interviewing, editing
After Harvard sent students home to prevent the spread of Covid-19 on campus, the Class of 2020 lost innumerable traditions, farewells, and last memories. However, seniors reimagined the quintessential senior spring experience, trading spring break trips for service projects, final sports seasons for at-home gyms, and stage performances for virtual fans.
I asked several of them to share videos of how they spent their makeshift senior year. I guided them through recording the videos from afar and edited this final product.
THE HARVARD CRIMSON
roles: shooting, editing, interviewing
When the Science Center Plaza first opened in 2013, there were only five food trucks. Today, there are a total of 20 trucks that serve food in the space throughout the week. I interviewed several of the vendors that frequent the plaza to hear what it's like running a food truck at Harvard.
CHINESE SCHOOL: A DOCUMENTARY
Chinese schools are a nexus of Chinese community life in the U.S., offering childcare services, language and cultural enrichment, as well as academic support. Through an array of curricula, and programming, these schools strive to simultaneously prepare Chinese American children for success in American society while cultivating their connection to Chinese heritage.
A mosaic of vignettes capturing quotidian life at Kwong Kow Chinese School in Boston Chinatown, this verité documentary offers a glimpse into how the institution both shapes and symbolizes the identities of its students.
I directed, shot, and edited this film for my 2021 college course "The Art of Community-Based Filmmaking."
