Episode 23 - Robert Y. Chang - “Tightrope”

Asian-American FilmmakerBroadcasterCoordinating ProducerLGBT Filmmakers

Jun 18

June 18, 2021

In this episode, I speak with Coordinating Producer at American Documentary/America Reframed, Robert Chang. During our conversation we chat about his Ph.D. in cultural anthropology, America ReFramed’s new season, navigating documentary in the soon-to-be post-COVID world, and get a lesson on how PBS works locally and nationally. Because keeping one’s balance in the documentary world and life is one of the keys to creativity, this week’s song is Janelle Monáe’s “Tightrope".

Photo Credit: Kenneth Pizzo

[Image Description: Robert is pictured from the chest up against a white background. He wears a black suit jacket and a button-down white shirt. His hair is cut short.]

Robert’s Bio

Robert Y. Chang is the Coordinating Producer of America ReFramed. As a member of the American Documentary's Programming & Production team, Robert contributes to series curation and assists in managing submissions, film evaluations, and filmmaker deliverables. He received his Ph.D. in Cultural Anthropology at New York Univistery for his research on the intersection of religion and media. Robert is also a documentary filmmaker whose work has screened worldwide at festivals and is distributed by Documentary Educational Resources (DER).

America ReFramed’s Mission

Through the lens of independent documentaries, America ReFramed brings to national audiences compelling stories that illuminate the changing contours of an ever-evolving America. Now in its 8th season, America ReFramed continues to present an array of personal voices and experiences, as well as social issues through which we learn from our past, understand our present, and are challenged to seek new frameworks for America’s future.