Workshop: Working with PBS

Co-Presented by Filmmakers Collaborative SF and Re-Present Media

There are many ways independent filmmakers can work with PBS to get their film broadcast. This is a practical workshop covering:

• Working with local stations.

• Evaluating opportunities for independent films through multiple channels.

• Acquisition opportunities with Common Carriage and existing series.

• Co-production opportunities with organizations that program on PBS.

• Working with aggregators such as National Educational Telecommunications Association (NETA), American Public Television (APT), and PBS Plus.

• Develop strategies to pitch and secure sponsors when possible.

• How to help facilitate a successful carriage of your program on PBS.

• How to get metrics on your PBS carriage.

Facilitated by Jennifer Crystal Chien and Kevin White, with special guests filmmaker Stephen Talbot (who has had films on PBS American Experience, Frontline, and Independent Lens) and former Vice President of Program Management at PBS, Donald Thoms (POV, Independent Lens, and VOCES).

Questions? Email info (at) filmmakerscollaborative (dot) org.

About the Speakers

Stephen Talbot has produced, written, reported and directed over 40 documentaries for PBS, KQED in San Francisco, and the PBS series FRONTLINE in a career of more than 40 years in public broadcasting. His most recent film, The Movement and the “Madman,” about Richard Nixon, Henry Kissinger and the anti-Vietnam war movement, aired in 2023 on the PBS series American Experience. His work has garnered numerous awards, including Emmys, Peabodys and DuPonts. Most of his experience has been working within the system at a station or series.

He was the series editor for FRONTLINE World, commissioning and supervising stories for 30 episodes, and he was the senior producer for short docs at ITVS / Independent Lens. But he has also worked as an independent, producing two hour-long musical specials for PBS in 2010 and 2012, Sound Tracks: Music Without Borders, as well as his “Madman” film which he produced through his own company and was partly financed by PBS and acquired by American Experience.

Donald Thoms is a seasoned broadcaster, journalist and leader in media. He has been an executive member of several national broadcasting networks, and a staunch supporter for independent and BIPOC producers and filmmakers. In his recent position at PBS, Donald was the Executive in charge of Arts and Performance programs, as well as Drama, Cultural and lifestyle programming, which included Development, production, acquisition, scheduling and budgeting. Thoms also oversaw three long running national series based on the works of independent and filmmakers of color-POV, Independent Lens and VOCES. This was Donald’s second stint at PBS.

Thoms served as Vice President of Program Management at PBS where he was responsible for overseeing the packaging and delivery of PBS’s programming services. In addition, Thoms developed and evaluated programming projects as well as helped to develop on-air promotional initiatives for key programs. While at PBS, he was the face and liaison for independent and minority producers coming to public television. He created the original PBS’s Independent Lens which features the curated works of independent filmmakers; And established standard program lengths for all PBS programs. He’s been called Mr. 56:46!

Jennifer Crystal Chien is a documentary filmmaker with a focus on personal storytelling from immigrants and people of color. In 2017, she co-founded Re-Present Media, a grassroots nonprofit that advocates for personal storytelling in documentary film and nonfiction media. In addition to presenting films with community dialogues by established filmmakers, Re-Present Media also offers professional development for emerging filmmakers and coordinates field-wide advocacy campaigns to support and elevate voices from underrepresented communities. Jennifer is the Board President of Filmmakers Collaborative SF.

Kevin White is an award-winning documentary filmmaker with a focus on environmental and social issues. He has more than a dozen films that are in distribution, including his most recent film, Wilder than Wild: Fire, Forests and the Future, which has had 450+ community screenings and more than 850 broadcasts on PBS, plus educational distribution with Video Project. Kevin is the Co-Founder and Executive Director for Filmmakers Collaborative SF, and frequently consults with filmmakers on story approach, fundraising, and distribution. He is also on the Board of several media nonprofits.