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The Film

Filmmakers

Production

Joe Myers
Producer/Director

Joe Myers has had a broad career in the creative arts.

In 2005 Myers produced and directed A Road to Independence, a documentary about high school students with special educational needs who attend a college program—struggling with studies, relationships, employment and ultimately their independence. The film was distributed nationally via public television and won the 2006 Mid-Atlantic Chapter National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) Emmy award for Best Documentary.

In 2003, Myers produced and directed The Grange Fair: An American Tradition, a film which tells year-long stories of eight individuals, their extraordinary passion and preparations for competition and heartbreak as their lives converge at the last remaining agricultural encampment fair in the United States. PBS distributed the film, and it won a Silver Screen Award in the U.S. International Film and Video Festival and a 2005 Mid-Atlantic Chapter NATAS Emmy award.

In addition to documentary work, he has also won Mid-Atlantic Emmys, Tellys, and Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters awards for his short-form and commercial work. As an independent producer he has completed a body of award-winning documentary work in the areas of green building and environmental sustainability, as well as a broad portfolio of work for prominent non-profit and corporate clients.

In 2008 Myers was selected as one of only twenty people nationally to attend the annual PBS/CPB Producers Academy. He has taught Film production at Penn State, and regularly gives lectures on the power of storytelling to lawyers and law students. Myers began his career in the creative arts as co-owner of a successful graphic design firm in the mid 90’s, and is a 1998 graduate of the Pennsylvania State University with a B.A. in Film Production.

Myers has worked as professional radio talent, is a regular poetry slam competitor, has ridden his bicycle, unsupported, across the United States and has traveled to over thirty countries. He prizes his ability to bring empathy and a broad perspective to all of his work.

Stephen Stept
Consultant

Stephen Stept has enjoyed a long and versatile career as a writer-producer-director of both narrative and documentary television for network, cable, and public television. He has worked on award-winning programs for PBS’s American Experience, American Masters, and American Playhouse. He has also written and directed work for Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) luminaries Bill Moyers, David Grubin, and the late Henry Hampton.

Stephen’s list of honors includes the DuPont, Peabody, Emmy, Humanitas, and Writers Guild Awards.

Mark Cooper
Producer

Mark Cooper received his bachelor’s degree with honors in film and video from Penn State. He produced several projects for Penn State Public Broadcasting and fulfilled the role of writer/director for Liquid Assets.

Project Management

Lindsey Faussette
Project Manager

Lindsey Faussette, a Penn State graduate in arts and women’s studies, has been a part of the Penn State Public Broadcasting production and outreach teams for three years.

As a project manager, she assists with funding and manages public service media projects. She served as a production coordinator for Liquid Assets, is project associate for the Geospatial Revolution Project, and is responsible for the Telling Amy's Story community outreach initiative.

Melanie Doebler, D.Ed.
Project Director and Funding Executive

As the director of public engagement for Penn State Public Broadcasting, Melanie serves as project director and development executive for public media projects.