About the Producers

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For over 20 years, Lumiere Productions has been creating a diverse array of films that engage hearts and open minds. Using film and video to encourage dialogue about the issues that unite us and those that divide us, Lumiere is dedicated to exploring complex subjects in a way that will stimulate insight and encourage meaningful dialogue. Award-winning and critically acclaimed, Lumiere Productions are distributed around the world in broadcast TV, cable, and movie theaters.

Cal Skaggs

Cal Skaggs
Producer/Director

Skaggs has produced or directed over 30 dramas and documentaries for television and theatrical exhibition. His first theatrical feature, ON VALENTINE'S DAY, was the official American entry in the 1986 Venice Film Festival; his hip-hop drama Fly By Night won the Sundance Filmmakers' Trophy in 1993.

For PBS he was Series Producer of THE AMERICAN SHORT STORY SERIES and produced or directed several films for American Masters and American Playhouse, including the award winning GO TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAIN and THE WASH for the latter. He has executive produced two major documentary series for PBS—WITH GOD ON OUR SIDE and LOCAL NEWS—and produced numerous films for Discovery, PBS, HBO and Channel 4 UK.

Jay Freund

Jay Freund
Editor

Freund has edited dozen of films for television or theatrical distribution. His films have won numerous awards, including a Best Actress Oscar for Geraldine Page (THE TRIP TO BOUNTIFUL) and a Best Actress Emmy for Vanessa Redgrave (PLAYING FOR TIME). For PBS he has edited many individual films as well as the series AMERICAN LOVE STORY and LOCAL NEWS.

Tom Hurwitz

Tom Hurwitz
Director of Photography

Hurwitz is one of America’s most-honored documentary cinematographers. Four of his films have won Oscars for Best Documentary feature (HARLAN COUNTY, U.S.A; THE TEN YEAR LUNCH; AMERICAN DREAM; and DOWN AND OUT IN AMERICA), and many have won Emmys in various documentary categories. Hurwitz himself has won two Emmys for cinematography and the Sundance Cinematography Award for WILD MAN BLUES.

Evan Morris, composer
John Morris, musical supervisor

John Morris has composed scores for 58 films for television and theatrical distribution, and his son Evan has orchestrated or co-produced most of these. Starting with THE PRODUCERS in 1968, Morris was the “house composer” on every film directed or produced by Mel Brooks until 1991. His scores for BLAZING SADDLES (1974) and THE ELEPHANT MAN (1980) earned Oscar nominations. If Morris was the “king of comedy” on the West Coast, he leaned toward “documentary and sensitive drama” (in his words) on the East Coast, where he makes his home. Since John Morris is officially “retired,” he and his son, Evan, split the work on this project.