Debra Chasnoff
Debra Chasnoff (October 12, 1957 – November 7, 2017)
Early life and education
Debra Chasnoff was born October 12, 1957, in Philadelphia.[2] Chasnoff grew up in a secular Jewish family in a Maryland suburb of Washington, D.C., with her parents and younger sister, Lori.[3] She attended Wellesley College in Wellesley, Massachusetts, where she studied economics.[4][5] For a brief time after college Chasnoff worked as a telecommunications rate analyst representing clients with roles in the nuclear weapons industry.[4] Chasnoff quit the profession because her job was not in line with her social activism beliefs and aspirations, and began her career as a social activist and media producer.[4]
Professional career
Chasnoff was the senior producer and president of Groundspark. GroundSpark's mission is to "create films and dynamic education campaigns that move individuals and communities to take action for a more just world."[6] Groundspark's Respect for All Project (RFAP), "seeks to create safe, hate-free schools and communities" through documentaries and accompanying educational campaigns.[7][8]
She was a visiting scholar in public policy at Mills College and a frequent lecturer on college campuses across the country. She was a Woodrow Wilson Visiting Fellow. Chasnoff had been a member and owner of the film distribution company
Film career
Chasnoff has directed and/or produced twelve films in the United States since her filmmaking career began in 1984.[5] Chasnoff directed and co-produced Choosing Children in 1984 with her partner at the time, Kim Klausner.[5][9] This film explored same-sex parenting and helped launch a profound cultural shift regarding parenting in the LGBTQ community.[5][9] Choosing Children showcased six families composed of same-sex parents and children brought into the family through adoption, donor insemination, foster parenting, and through previous relationships.[9]
In 1991 Chasnoff directed and produced
Chasnoff Co-directed Homes and Hands—Community Land Trusts in Action in 1998 with Helen S. Cohen.[5][12] This film explores housing and community development in the United States and asks local communities to explore models of creating affordable housing.[5][12]
In 1999 Chasnoff directed and produced Wired for What? a film about technology in education.[5] An edited version of this film aired on PBS in 2000 in the PBS series Digital Divide—Teachers, Technology, and the Classroom.[13] This film examines computerization of education to see if technology is making education more efficient and effective or dulling student's creativity.[13]
Chasnoff directed and co-produced One Wedding and a Revolution in 2004 with Kate Stilley.[5] This nineteen-minute-long film details the political decision made by San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom to issue same-sex marriage licenses for a short time in early 2004.[14]
Chasnoff's organization Groundspark has produced several films as a part of its Respect for All Project.[8][6][7] The series includes the following films, all directed and produced by Chasnoff: Straightlaced—How Gender's Got Us All Tied Up, It's Elementary—Talking About Gay Issues in School, It's STILL Elementary, Let's Get Real, and That's a Family![8] It's Elementary—Talking About Gay Issues in School (1996) illuminates how all young people are affected by anti-gay stigma, and has helped schools all over the world address anti-gay prejudice in the classroom.[5][8] That's a Family! (2000) highlights a wide range of family structures such as multiracial families, families with same-sex parents, and single parent families.[8] This film examines diversity from a child's perspective and was screened at the White House to an audience of more than 100 leaders of national children's, family, education and civil rights organizations in December 2000.[5][15] That's a Family! has been widely praised by those supporting its role in diversity education but also widely attacked by conservative organizations that consider it to be gay propaganda and inappropriate for a young audience.[16] Let's Get Real is an exploration of bullying in middle schools released in 2003.[8] It's STILL Elementary considers the effects and political history of It's Elementary.[8] Straightlaced—How Gender's Got us All Tied Up explores the ways that teenagers are affected by pressures to conform to gender norms.[8]
Chasnoff also produced and directed Celebrating the Life of Del Martin which captures the moving memorial celebration for lesbian pioneer Del Martin who died in 2008. A Foot in the Door, directed by Chasnoff and produced with Kate Stilley Steiner, is a short (16 minute) documentary showcasing Kindergarten to College, the first universal children's college savings account program in the United States.
Personal life and death
Married to Nancy Otto, a glass blowing artist and a non-profit fundraising consultant,[4] Chasnoff had two sons, by her former partner, Kim Klausner: Noah Klausner Chasnoff (born 1988) and Oscar Chasnoff Klausner (born 1994).[4][17]
Chasnoff died on November 7, 2017, at her San Francisco home, aged 60, from breast cancer.[18]
Filmography
- Choosing Children (1984) Director/Producer/Editor*
- Deadly Deception: General Electric, Nuclear Weapons and Our Environment (1991) Director/Producer*
- It's Elementary: Talking About Gay Issues in School (1996) Director/Producer
- Homes and Hands: Community Land Trusts in Action (1998) Co-director
- Wired for What? (1999) Director/Producer
- That's a Family! (2000) Director/Producer
- Let's Get Real (2003) Director/Producer
- One Wedding and a Revolution (2004) Director/Producer
- It's STILL Elementary (2007) Director/Producer
- Straightlaced: How Gender's Got Us All Tied Up (2009) Director/Producer
- Celebrating the Life of Del Martin (2011) Director/Producer
- A Foot in the Door (2012) Director/Producer
- Prognosis: Notes on Living (2021) Co-director (released posthumously)
Awards, honors, and nominations
For Let's Get Real:
- Best Short Documentary, Columbine Award, Moondance International Film Festival (Finalist, Best Short Documentary)
- International Family Film Festival (Certificate of Merit, Rochester International Film Festival)
- 2005 Notable Children's Video, American Library Association
- 2005 Parents' Choice Silver Award
For That's a family:
- CINE Golden Eagle Master Series Award, Non-Broadcast Films
- First Place, National Council on Family Relations Media Awards
- Best Documentary, San Francisco International Lesbian and Gay Film Festival
- Audience Award, Best Short Film, Barcelona Gay and Lesbian Film Festival
- Best Short Documentary, Santa Clarita International Film Festival
- Best Short Documentary, Burbank International Children's Film Festival
For It's Elementary:
- CINE Golden Eagle
- Outstanding Film Documentary, GLAAD Media Award
- Multicultural Media Award, National Association for Multicultural Education
- Best Documentary, Chicago International Lesbian and Gay Film Festival
- Best Documentary, Pittsburgh International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival
- Best Documentary, Santa Barbara Lesbian and Gay Film Festival
- Best Documentary, Santa Fe Lesbian and Gay International Film Festival
- Best Documentary, San Francisco Lesbian and Gay International Film Festival
- Best Documentary, Turin (Italy ) International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival
- Juror's Choice Award, Charlotte Film Festival
- Audience Award, Austin Gay and Lesbian International Film Festival
- Best Educational Film, Northern Lights (Alaska) International Film Festival
- Best Feature Audience Award, Barcelona International Lesbian and Gay Film Festival
- Silver Apple, National Educational Media Network
- Silver Spire, Golden Gate Awards, San Francisco International Film Festival
- Honorable Mention, Milan Lesbian and Gay Film Festival
- Honor Award, Skipping Stones
For One Wedding & A Revolution:
- Best Women's Short, Cleveland International Film Festival
- Special Jury Prize, Barcelona International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival
- Best Short Documentary, Fire Island Film and Video Festival
- Audience Favorite, Fresno Gay and Lesbian Film Festival
- Audience Favorite, Pikes Peak Lavender Film Festival
- Audience Favorite and Best Short Film, Santa Barbara Gay and Lesbian Film Festival
- Best Short Documentary, Long Island Gay and Lesbian Film Festival
For Home and Hands:
- CINE Golden Eagle
- Silver Apple, National Educational Film and Video Festival
- Certificate of Creative Excellence, US International Film and Video Festival
For Deadly Deception:
- Academy Award, Best Documentary Short Subject
- Red Ribbon, American Film and Video Festival
- CINE Golden Eagle
- Grand Prize, Ambiente-Incontri International Film Festival on Nature & Environment
- Gold Hugo, Chicago International Film Festival
- Best of Category (Issues of War and Peace), Best of Festival and People's Choice, EarthPeace
- International Film Festival
- Jury Award, New York Expo of Short Film and Video
- First Place (Independent), Marin County National Film and Video Festival
- Silver Apple, National Educational Film and Video Festival
- Promotional Prize, City of Freiburg, Okomedia International Ecological Film Festival
- Honorable Mention, Black Maria Film Festival
- Honorable Mention, Louisville Film and Video Festival
- Honorable Mention, Golden Gate Awards, San Francisco International Film Festival
For Choosing Children:
- Red Ribbon, American Film Festival
- Best Documentary, New England Film Festival
- Best Short Documentary, New York Gay and Lesbian Film Festival
- First Prize, National Educational Film Festival
- Second Place, National Council on Family Relations
References
- ^ Guthmann, Edward (November 11, 2017). "Debra Chasnoff, Oscar-winning artist and activist, dies". SFGATE.
- ^ "Chasnoff, Debra, 1957–2017". id.loc.gov. The Library of Congress.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: others (link) - ^ SpiderEdit. "Debra Chasnoff's 'Straightlaced' | SF360". www.sf360.org.
- ^ a b c d e f Burns, N. (2009). Debra Chasnoff. Lesbian News, 34(9), 18.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Filmmakers". New Day Films. Archived from the original on February 20, 2022. Retrieved August 4, 2008.
- ^ a b Q&A with Debra Chasnoff, documentary filmmaker. (2008). American School Board Journal, 195(5), 8.
- ^ a b Rudolph, D. (March 26, 2008). Talking with Debra Chasnoff. Windy City Times. p. 9.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "About The Respect For All Project". Groundspark. November 11, 2008. Archived from the original on May 17, 2021. Retrieved May 6, 2013.
- ^ a b c Chasnoff, D. (December 15, 2006). Welcome to the revolution, Grandpa. Washington Blade. p. 28.
- ^ Knoll, E. (March 1993). Conflict of interest. Progressive. p. 4.
- ^ Out/Look, Summer1992, Vol. 5 Issue 1, p 31-34.
- ^ a b "Homes and Hands". New Day Films. Archived from the original on June 20, 2018. Retrieved May 6, 2013.
- ^ a b "Wired for What?". Groundspark. December 1, 2008. Archived from the original on April 12, 2021. Retrieved May 6, 2013.
- ^ Swietek, F. F. (2005). One Wedding and a Revolution. Video Librarian, 20(6), 61.
- ^ Chasnoff, Debra. Subject:White House screening of That's A Family! Huge Success Archived March 4, 2016, at the Wayback Machine. Message to Sue Rochman. December 21, 2000. E-mail.
- ^ Kiritsky, L. (March 20, 2003). Chasnoff's films continue to change schools. Bay Windows. pp. 1–17.
- ^ Ford, Dave (April 2, 2004). "Battling the bullies / S.F. filmmaker turns her lens on schoolyard tyrants in an effort to change a painful culture". SFGate. Retrieved May 6, 2013.
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved March 29, 2022.
External links
- Debra Chasnoff at IMDb
- Groundspark
- New Day Films biography Archived February 20, 2022, at the Wayback Machine
- Person of the Week: Debra Chasnoff