My Music with Rhiannon Giddens: Grammy winner and MacArthur “Genius Grant” recipient Rhiannon Giddens hosts a PBS series of musical performance and conversation with outstanding guest artists—innovative and accomplished musicians and storytellers who have forged unconventional paths to find their voices. The first season’s featured guests are Allison Russell, Rissi Palmer, Charly Lowry, Adia Victoria, Joy Clark, Francesco Turrisi, Justin Robinson, Lalenja Harrington, and Laurelyn Dossett.
Premiering in 2015, Emmy-nominated David Holt's State of Music has been aired by PBS affiliates in all fifty states. Four-time Grammy winner David Holt hosts this series of performances and conversations with current masters of traditional music from the Southern mountains. Featured artists have included Taj Mahal, Keb' Mo', Rhiannon Giddens, Molly Tuttle, The Kruger Brothers, Steep Canyon Rangers, Sam Bush, and Jerry Douglas.
"Saving the Hansen House" is the story of Bob Hansen, a college professor from Minnesota who buys a dilapidated 18th-century farmhouse in the Moravian settlement of Bethania, NC. Originally he plans to just restore it and then maybe sell it and move on. But the house turns out to be something special, and the town is even more special. Before he knows it, he is putting down roots. The one-hour documentary chronicles the unique challenges and rewards of saving a 250-year-old house. UNC-TV first broadcast "Saving the Hansen House" in October of 2011.
"When the Water Goes Down," story and song. This was a project of the East Tennessee State Bluegrass Pride Band under the leadership of Dan Boner. Filmed at Echo Mountain Recording Studio in Asheville, NC. Cinematography by Jan Balster and Will McIntyre; Key Swing- Nick Iway; edited by Deni McIntyre.
The "Pandemic Arts" series of shorts was conceived and funded as a way to help performing artists keep a higher profile through streaming during the pandemic. See the whole series here: Pandemic Arts on YouTube
Documenting the makeover of a 1951 Farmall Cub tractor by the International Harvester Collectors Club, Appalachian Mountain Region Chapter 43, based in Henderson County, NC. The cutaway tractor was customized to give everyone from school kids to tractor enthusiasts a glimpse into the workings of 75-year-old farming technology.
This PSA was commissioned by Second Harvest Food Bank after a study identified northwest NC as "the hungriest place in America" based on the number of children who were "food insecure". Many people couldn't believe that a relatively prosperous area could be harboring so much nutritional need. Tomi Melson is the narrator, and her story is true.