WNET Up Next: Abigail Disney “The Armor of Light”

05/04/16 • 22 min

Filmmaker Abigail Disney returns to public media with The Armor of Light. In this conversation with WNET’s Tom Stewart, Ms. Disney takes us behind the scenes of the creation of this documentary, her film directing debut. It tells the stories of longtime anti-abortion activist and Evangelical minster, Rev. Rob Schenck and Lucia McBath, whose teenage son was the victim of a “stand your ground” shooting in Florida. She describes the film as a work of the heart and a cry of conscience, meant to open the door to a conversation touching several important and controversial issues of our time. In addition we hear the history of her earlier film, Pray the Devil Back to Hell, which chronicled the efforts of Liberian activist Leymah Gbowee. The attention the film brought to Gbowee contributed to her later selection as a recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, which Ms. Disney calls “better than as Oscar”!

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.

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Ken Burns, Filmmaker: Jackie Robinson

Ken Burns talks with Tom Stewart about his new film on the life of Jackie Robinson and recounts the personal history that’s led to his over forty-year career as a filmmaker. We learn about the elements that comprise his style, what he refers to as the “the authentic application of technique” and hear about his collaborators such as cinematographer Buddy Squires and writers Geoffrey Ward and Dayton Duncan.

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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WNET Up Next: “The Armor of Light” Discussion at Schomburg Center

WNET, in association with Independent Lens and Fork Films, recently hosted a screening and followup discussion of “The Armor of Light” at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in New York City. The film, the directorial debut of activist and filmmaker Abigail Disney, follows Evangelical pastor and anti-abortion activist Rev. Rob Schenck as he questions the morality and inconsistency of being at the same time both “pro life” and “pro gun”. It also profiles Lucy McBath, the mother of an unarmed teenager whose life was taken in a “stand your ground” shooting in Florida.

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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