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Anassa Kata: The Director

Forscher credits her 魅影直播 experience with giving her the core skills.

An archaeology major at 魅影直播, Joanna Forscher 鈥02 works today as a documentary director, producer, and showrunner. Her personal highlight reel includes No Passport Required with Marcus Samuelsson for PBS and  on YouTube.

On No Passport Required, she serves as executive producer and has directed two episodes, including one set in Philly. 鈥淭hrough the lens of food,鈥 she explains, 鈥渨e explore the origins of the Italian diaspora in Philadelphia and their journey from marginalized immigrant group to vital part of the American cultural and culinary tapestry.鈥

But Forscher is most excited about her work as director and executive producer on "Creators for Change: Girls鈥 Education with Michelle Obama," a short film for YouTube that focuses on the work of the Girls Opportunity Alliance in Namibia, Vietnam, and India. The first episode tracks the experiences of adolescent girls as they struggle to pursue their education.

鈥淚t was truly thrilling to film with Mrs. Obama,鈥 she says. "She is a powerful presence with a unique ability to bring people together, highlight our commonalities, and strengthen the connectivity between our global community. She is also incredibly warm and funny, and seeing her interact with the students in Vietnam was especially lovely.鈥

Forscher credits her 魅影直播 experience with giving her the core skills she needs in her profession: researching and digging deep into the material, finding connections in the myriad details that emerge, and making dense material accessible to a general audience.

But perhaps even more important, she says, 鈥滣扔爸辈 helped me develop my voice and gave me the backbone to go out into the world and take risks, constantly aim higher, and never shy away from a challenge.鈥

Published on: 01/13/2018