Face To Face is up against five other videos in the 51. Short Format Program category. The winner will be announced during a virtual ceremony on Saturday, November 21.
The video shows Dr. Wesley Robinson-McNeese performing his poem Face To Face on location at the archaeological site of a row of houses burned in the race riot that took place in Springfield, Illinois, August 14 to 16 in 1908.
It was produced through the University of Illinois and funded by the University of Illinois Presidential Initiative To Celebrate The Impact Of The Arts & Humanities and created as a part of The Humanities Innovating New Knowledge (T.H.I.N.K.) Project.
Devin Hunter in the Department of History at the University of Illinois approached The Storyteller Studios when the video company was documenting the archaeological work of Fever River Research and the City of Springfield at the Race Riot site about creating something unique and memorable with it. It was Devin who connected Storyteller with Dr. Wesley Robinson-McNeese and his powerful poem.
Josh says it’s an honor for The Storyteller Studios to be shortlisted for a Mid-America Emmy Award. “We strive to make every video our very best work, whether for a tv ad, social media marketing campaign, or video on a company landing page, because that’s how we can best serve our clients and their stories, but to be recognized in this way is an endorsement from the best in the industry, and that feels great.”
Josh launched The Storyteller Studios in 2013 and services clients in Springfield, Illinois, and across the country. Chris joined the company in 2015.
“I’m both humbled and honored to be recognized in this way. Being nominated for an Emmy is on every filmmaker’s list of hopeful accomplishments but of course, none of this would have been possible if it weren’t for Dr. Wesley Robinson-McNeese putting pen to paper and telling his story of being black in America,” said Chris. “What makes me most proud is the trust that Dr. Robinson-McNeese put in me to tell his story to the world, and I will be forever grateful for the opportunity to do so. This project holds a very special place in my heart.”