Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
In this episode, we are joined by Third World Newsreel (TWN) and a talented group of filmmakers who create work that continues to live, connect, and spark meaningful conversations long after the final cut.
We begin with a 30-minute conversation about the craft of storytelling, how to find the story, and the care it takes to bring a vision to life in a way that resonates with audiences. Afterwards, we are excited to share a curated selection of short films supported by TWN.
These films explore grief, emotional safety, community, identity, and belonging, taking on difficult stories we often shy away from and telling them with care and intention. Together, they explore how storytelling can create space for healing, protection, connection, and understanding. Since 1968, TWN has supported filmmakers in telling their own stories, in their own voices.
Catch the full showcase on CUNY TV and right here on YouTube from Aug 14 th- Sept 10th
đŹ Featured films include â En ComĂșn, Right to Exit, Reciprocity:Summer, Broken Whole, Who Told YouâŠYou Were Free?, Harlem Love, Spells for Safety
Chapters
00:00 Meet the Filmmakers
01:50 Broken Whole: Telling the Stories We Often Shy Away From
06:47 El ComĂșn: Beyond Books, Creating a Space for Community
11:28 What Does It Mean to Feel Emotionally Safe?
17:06 TWN: Helping Filmmakers Tell Their Own Stories
21:48 What's Next? | Advice to the Future FIlmmakers
đ„ Meet the Guests
JT Takagi is our host for this engaging and inspiring conversation. JT is an award-winning filmmaker and sound recordist whose films focus on Asian/Asian-American and immigrant communities, with work that has aired on PBS. Her sound work includes Emmy-winning and Oscar-nominated films, including Strong Island and Tell Them We Are Rising. JT is the executive director of Third World Newsreel (TWN). Founded in 1967, TWN supports historically marginalized filmmakers through training, distribution, fiscal sponsorship, and preservationâhelping creators tell their stories in their own voices and use media as a catalyst for cultural and social change.
Danielle S. Mooney is a Black queer filmmaker and storyteller whose intimate, experimental work explores memory, grief, intergenerational healing, and self-discovery. Drawing from her background in psychology and social work, she reimagines connection, lineage, and identity. Danielle is the director of the narrative short Broken Whole.
Ăngel Jacinto Escalante is a NY-based Mexican multidisciplinary artist working at the intersection of sound, image, and language. Theyâre the director of the short documentary film En ComĂșn.
River ç©ç© Dandelion is a New York born poet, filmmaker, educator, and healing arts practitioner. River weaves poetry and filmmaking to connect with the unseen and unspoken so we can feel and heal. River is the director of the poetic short film Spells for Safety.
Follow CUNY TV:
Facebook: facebook.com/CUNYTV
Twitter: twitter.com/cunytv
Instagram: instagram.com/cuny.tv
youtube.com/@cunytv
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/cunytv
Find more from CUNY TV at https://tv.cuny.edu
"Frame by Frame: NYC Filmmakers in Focus" brings the cityâs filmmakers front and center, celebrating creativity and unique storytelling. Discover remarkable films, engage with the creators, and explore the energy of New York Cityâs film world.Â
Watch more Frame by Frame at https://tv.cuny.edu/homepage/show/framebyframe/
Subscribe to the CUNY TV channel: bit.ly/2GmGb13
FRFM01061
In this episode, we are joined by Third World Newsreel (TWN) and a talented group of filmmakers who create work that continues to live, connect, and spark meaningful conversations long after the final cut.
We begin with a 30-minute conversation about the craft of storytelling, how to find the story, and the care it takes to bring a vision to life in a way that resonates with audiences. Afterwards, we are excited to share a curated selection of short films supported by TWN.
These films explore grief, emotional safety, community, identity, and belonging, taking on difficult stories we often shy away from and telling them with care and intention. Together, they explore how storytelling can create space for healing, protection, connection, and understanding. Since 1968, TWN has supported filmmakers in telling their own stories, in their own voices.
Catch the full showcase on CUNY TV and right here on YouTube from Aug 14 th- Sept 10th
đŹ Featured films include â En ComĂșn, Right to Exit, Reciprocity:Summer, Broken Whole, Who Told YouâŠYou Were Free?, Harlem Love, Spells for Safety
Chapters
00:00 Meet the Filmmakers
01:50 Broken Whole: Telling the Stories We Often Shy Away From
06:47 El ComĂșn: Beyond Books, Creating a Space for Community
11:28 What Does It Mean to Feel Emotionally Safe?
17:06 TWN: Helping Filmmakers Tell Their Own Stories
21:48 What's Next? | Advice to the Future FIlmmakers
đ„ Meet the Guests
JT Takagi is our host for this engaging and inspiring conversation. JT is an award-winning filmmaker and sound recordist whose films focus on Asian/Asian-American and immigrant communities, with work that has aired on PBS. Her sound work includes Emmy-winning and Oscar-nominated films, including Strong Island and Tell Them We Are Rising. JT is the executive director of Third World Newsreel (TWN). Founded in 1967, TWN supports historically marginalized filmmakers through training, distribution, fiscal sponsorship, and preservationâhelping creators tell their stories in their own voices and use media as a catalyst for cultural and social change.
Danielle S. Mooney is a Black queer filmmaker and storyteller whose intimate, experimental work explores memory, grief, intergenerational healing, and self-discovery. Drawing from her background in psychology and social work, she reimagines connection, lineage, and identity. Danielle is the director of the narrative short Broken Whole.
Ăngel Jacinto Escalante is a NY-based Mexican multidisciplinary artist working at the intersection of sound, image, and language. Theyâre the director of the short documentary film En ComĂșn.
River ç©ç© Dandelion is a New York born poet, filmmaker, educator, and healing arts practitioner. River weaves poetry and filmmaking to connect with the unseen and unspoken so we can feel and heal. River is the director of the poetic short film Spells for Safety.
Follow CUNY TV:
Facebook: facebook.com/CUNYTV
Twitter: twitter.com/cunytv
Instagram: instagram.com/cuny.tv
youtube.com/@cunytv
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/cunytv
Find more from CUNY TV at https://tv.cuny.edu
"Frame by Frame: NYC Filmmakers in Focus" brings the cityâs filmmakers front and center, celebrating creativity and unique storytelling. Discover remarkable films, engage with the creators, and explore the energy of New York Cityâs film world.Â
Watch more Frame by Frame at https://tv.cuny.edu/homepage/show/framebyframe/
Subscribe to the CUNY TV channel: bit.ly/2GmGb13
FRFM01061
