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Entries Tagged as 'Spoke Digital Films'

VIDEO: Reporting Around the Election; A Year in Review

November 23rd, 2008 · No Comments

The video below is an overview of the past year I spent reporting for MTV News’ Choose or Lose campaign.  The video was originally posted here.
It was an extreme honor to spend the year reporting the fascinating work done by Tennessee’s youth over this past election cycle. I would like to thank MTV, the [...]

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Tags: MTV Street Team '08 · Spoke Digital Films · Tennessee

Jon Burge Arrested By Feds!

October 21st, 2008 · No Comments

Jon Burge, the ringleader of the Chicago Police Department’s history of Abu-Ghraib sytle torture from the 1970’s to the 1990’s, has been arrested and charged with perjury and obstruction of justice.  (I have embedded the trailer to Shielded Brutality below, which is the documentary I’ve been producing documenting this history.)

From chicagobreakingnews.com:
Retired Chicago police Cmdr. Jon [...]

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Tags: Chicago Police · Documentary · Jon Burge · Spoke Digital Films · Torture · abuse · civil rights · cops · police · social justice

VIDEO: The (gender) Politics of Palin

September 19th, 2008 · No Comments

(The following video was produced for MTV News where I contribute as an independent journalist.  The video was originally posted here.)
It’s been less than three weeks since John McCain chose Sarah Palin as his running mate, but she has dominated the news since that time. The self-described “hockey mom” to five children, moose-hunter, and [...]

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Tags: MTV Street Team '08 · Sarah Palin · Spoke Digital Films · Tennessee

The Rachel Maddow Show Set To Premiere As Host “On The Cusp Of Full-Blown Stardom”

September 8th, 2008 · No Comments

I am eagerly anticipating Maddow’s show. In my last post, I criticized Olbermann for his ego and crassness, even as I often agree with him. I’m hoping that Maddow brings a more level-headed, intellectual approach to her show, even as she presents the news with a point of view.
I’m embarrassed to say that I didn’t [...]

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Tags: Media Reform · Spoke Digital Films · journalism

VIDEO: Honky-Tonk Peace Protest

August 9th, 2008 · No Comments

(The following video was produced for MTV’s Choose or Lose Street Team ‘08. I work with this program as an independent journalist covering issues in Tennessee. The video was originally posted on think.mtv.com here: )
In Nashville, a small but dedicated group of anti-war activists took to the streets in downtown’s honky tonk district (and there [...]

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Tags: MTV Street Team '08 · Spoke Digital Films · Tennessee · defense budget · defense contractors · military budget · social justice

VIDEO - Uniform Dissent, Part II - The War Already Forgotten

July 22nd, 2008 · No Comments

In the second part of this story, two Iraq veterans from Tennessee discuss their frustration with the lack of coverage the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are getting. They are both members of Iraq Veterans Against the War, but show strong support for their colleagues still fighting overseas (as well as the innocent civilians caught in the struggle).

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Tags: Documentary · Iraq · MTV Street Team '08 · Media Reform · Spoke Digital Films · Tennessee · social justice

VIDEO - Uniform Dissent, Part I

July 10th, 2008 · No Comments

I recently spoke with two young veterans from the Iraq war. In this piece, they discuss their disillusionment with the war and their reasons for becoming involved with Iraq Veterans Against the War. This is the first of a two part series.

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Tags: Iraq · MTV Street Team '08 · Spoke Digital Films · Tennessee · defense budget · defense contractors · military budget · social justice

VIDEO - Who did your voting machine vote for?

May 22nd, 2008 · No Comments

I caught up with a father/daughter activist team in Nashville who are working to ensure that Tennessee elections are safe, fair, and reliable. They are members of a group, Gathering To Save Our Democracy, who have finally gotten the attention of Tennessee legislators.

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Tags: MTV Street Team '08 · Spoke Digital Films · Tennessee · social justice

Video: Green Party of TN

May 11th, 2008 · No Comments

The following video was produced for MTV’s Choose or Lose Street Team ‘08. It was first posted here.
Last weekend I attended the Green Party’s Tennessee Nominating Convention. I didn’t find a lavish affair, a swarm of lobbyists, or a bunch of fat cat power brokers. What I did find was a group [...]

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Tags: MTV Street Team '08 · Media Reform · Spoke Digital Films · Tennessee

Documentary Review - At the Death House Door

April 23rd, 2008 · No Comments

This quietly engaging film chronicles a retired Texas pastor who worked as a prison chaplain for fifteen years. Part of Pastor Pickett’s job was to counsel convicts on Death Row, though his responsibilities went further than that. One of Pickett’s duties was to counsel the men on the days leading up to their execution and make certain they wouldn’t fight as they were led to the gurney to be strapped down for lethal injection.

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Tags: Documentary · Filmmaking · Spoke Digital Films · civil rights · movie · prison · social justice