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Concept


The Concept

Hear the backstory and find out what that little yellow flower is all about

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Concept


The Concept

Hear the backstory and find out what that little yellow flower is all about

 

Democracy is founded on robust dialogue

 
 

But somewhere along the line, politics replaced sex as the one thing in America we don't discuss in mixed company – even amongst friends and family. Segregating ourselves into political silos is toxic to democracy. Bring It to The Table encourages Americans to stop bickering about politics, examine their own assumptions, and truly engage in civil discourse to help move our democracy forward.

This project is a short documentary, webisode series, online platform, and community engagement campaign aimed at bridging political divides and breaking down partisanship. For people who are tired of hyper-partisanship, pull a chair up to The Table and join us in making politics an acceptable topic for dinner conversation again!

Bring It to The Table is produced by Talking Eyes Media, a non-partisan, non-profit organization with extensive experience producing films, books and multimedia on pressing social issues.

How it works

The Table is a citizen’s antidote to political ranting. From barbershops to ball fields, the locations are all familiar settings and the participants are randomly selected. (We swear we don’t use coercion, bribery or lobbying.) Anyone game enough to sit at The Table is invited to discuss pressing national issues, such as taxation, the economy, same-sex marriage, civil rights, abortion, religion, and immigration. People are asked to explain the roots of their beliefs so we understand WHY they believe WHAT they believe.

We’re interested to learn which of our beliefs cross over to the other side of the political spectrum? How have our opinions evolved over time? What does the other side get right? At The Table, ”ordinary” citizens are given an opportunity to speak their minds, openly and authentically. No ranting. No rhetoric. Just straight, honest talk that reveals the value systems behind our personal political views.

Hear Julie Winokur present her work with Bring It to The Table at the Mackinac Policy Conference

Everything's Personal

In 2012, filmmaker Julie Winokur’s 17-year-old son called her “the most intolerant person” he knows when it comes to politics. He said that whenever someone’s politics didn’t agree with hers, she dismissed what they had to say. Winokur was shocked.  The accusation stopped her in her tracks. She realized that she had been called out on something that many Americans refuse to recognize: that we all contribute to divisive politics in America when we rely on assumptions rather than discourse. In fact, Winokur realized that she was as much to blame for the divisive tone of politics as the people whom she blamed. Rather than continuing to be part of the problem, she decided to become part of the solution.

Recognizing that it would be difficult to get people of different political persuasions around her own kitchen table, Winokur decided to bring her table to them. On a personal sojourn to unravel divisive politics in America, Winokur and her crew visited bookstores and barbershops, public parks and county fairs, Baptist churches and college campuses, inviting people to sit down and discuss the roots of their political beliefs. This project is as much about listening as it is about politics, perspectives and personal reflexes.

That Yellow Flower

Every participant who sits at The Table is seated in the same place and is filmed using a wide-angle lens. The effect is to make the viewer feel as though he/she is sitting at The Table with the participant.

A small yellow flower in a red vase is positioned at the center of The Table. At the beginning of each Table Talk, Winokur asks the participant to move the flower along the spectrum between conservative and liberal. From the participant’s perspective, Winokur makes conservative the extreme left and liberal the extreme right (which is reversed from the camera’s perspective). From the start, the participants’ assumption about right and left has been upended, while the viewer has an immediate visual cue to determine how each person self-identifies politically. This piece of information plays a critical role in shattering stereotypes and challenging semantics.

The consistency of The Table allows for creative license in bringing together diverse voices. While they have never met each other, the people at The Table speak to many of the same issues and lend themselves to a constructive dialogue. 

 

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Team - gallery


Meet the Team

Team - gallery


Meet the Team

 

The Team

 

JULIE WINOKUR, PRODUCER + DIRECTORJulie Winokur, Executive Director of Talking Eyes Media, has been a storyteller for over two decades, first as a magazine writer and then as a documentary filmmaker. She launched Talking Eyes in 2002 as a way to foc…

JULIE WINOKUR, PRODUCER + DIRECTOR

Julie Winokur, Executive Director of Talking Eyes Media, has been a storyteller for over two decades, first as a magazine writer and then as a documentary filmmaker. She launched Talking Eyes in 2002 as a way to focus on creating visual media that catalyzes positive social change. Her work has appeared on PBS, the Documentary Channel, MediaStorm, National Geographic Magazine and Discovery online, as well as in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times Magazine, The Washington Post, and MSNBC.com. Beyond broadcast and publication, Winokur works extensively with nonprofit organizations to develop their messages and put Talking Eyes' films to work at the grassroots level. She is also on the faculty of the International Center of Photography.

ED KASHI, PHOTOGRAPHER + VIDEOGRAPHEREd Kashi is a photojournalist dedicated to documenting the social and political issues that define our times.  A member of the prestigious photo agency VII, Kashi has been recognized with awards from World P…

ED KASHI, PHOTOGRAPHER + VIDEOGRAPHER

Ed Kashi is a photojournalist dedicated to documenting the social and political issues that define our times.  A member of the prestigious photo agency VII, Kashi has been recognized with awards from World Press, Pictures of the Year International, UNICEF and the National Press Photographers Association. His work appears regularly in National Geographic Magazine, Time, Newsweek, and the New Yorker, as well as many international publications. Kashi has published five books of his photography and is on the faculty of the International Center of Photography.

ANDREW HIDA, PHOTOGRAPHER + VIDEOGRAPHERAndrew is a filmmaker and video producer whose work focuses on issues of health, environment, and social justice. He works closely with corporate, non-profit and editorial clients to help realize the…

ANDREW HIDA, PHOTOGRAPHER + VIDEOGRAPHER

Andrew is a filmmaker and video producer whose work focuses on issues of health, environment, and social justice. He works closely with corporate, non-profit and editorial clients to help realize their visions through filmmaking, consultation and good storytelling. He was born and raised in Honolulu, HI and now calls San Francisco, CA home.  

RACHEL DENNIS, WEB ADMIN & PACKAGING DESIGNRachel joined Talking Eyes in January 2015 after spending two years with the PhotogenX Around the World Track. The Track took her to five continents and 15 countries in which she helped produce the book…

RACHEL DENNIS, WEB ADMIN & PACKAGING DESIGN

Rachel joined Talking Eyes in January 2015 after spending two years with the PhotogenX Around the World Track. The Track took her to five continents and 15 countries in which she helped produce the book, Rags and Riches, and several short documentary videos profiling people affected by global poverty. In 2012 she graduated with a degree in Photojournalism and a minor in Hispanic Studies from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she worked as a videographer on the award-winning Living Galapagos project.

MICHAEL CURRY, COLORISTMichael is a Retoucher/Digital Producer for Ed Kashi and the Colorist for Talking Eyes. His responsibilities include digital management of all photographs, color correction of video, photo / graphics coordination, photo calibr…

MICHAEL CURRY, COLORIST

Michael is a Retoucher/Digital Producer for Ed Kashi and the Colorist for Talking Eyes. His responsibilities include digital management of all photographs, color correction of video, photo / graphics coordination, photo calibration, printing, and assisting with all exhibition preparations and publication submissions. Michael splits his time between the studio and his own pursuits in photography and art.  He received a degree in Digital Arts from The College of New Jersey in 2005.

KATHY LEICHTER, IMPACT PRODUCERKathy Leichter is an award-winning documentary producer, director, and impact producer with over twenty-five years of experience using media for social change. As the Impact Producer on Bring It To The Table,…

KATHY LEICHTER, IMPACT PRODUCER

Kathy Leichter is an award-winning documentary producer, director, and impact producer with over twenty-five years of experience using media for social change. As the Impact Producer on Bring It To The Table, Leichter is responsible for securing peak audience engagement through nationwide screenings, educational DVD sales, press, a strong social media presence, and foundation support. Contact Kathy at: Kathy@bringit2thetable.org for more information about bringing Bring It to you!

ELISSA PELLEGRINO, PRODUCERElissa was at TEM from 2008-2014 as a producer and editor, and worked on various productions including Living Your Subjects, Photojournalisms, the Purpose Prize Awards, and the James Irvine Foundation Leadership …

ELISSA PELLEGRINO, PRODUCER

Elissa was at TEM from 2008-2014 as a producer and editor, and worked on various productions including Living Your Subjects, Photojournalisms, the Purpose Prize Awards, and the James Irvine Foundation Leadership Awards, among others. Prior to working at Talking Eyes, Elissa was a production assistant at Public Policy Productions for award-winning producer/director Roger Weisberg. Elissa graduated in 2007 from Boston University with a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism and a concentration in international relations.

KIMBERLY SOENEN, DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANTKimberly Soenen is a creative, service-oriented leader with nearly 20 years of experience publicizing film, editorial and reportage. She has worked for NPR, Kartemquin Films and the Chicago Tribune. Her visual …

KIMBERLY SOENEN, DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANT

Kimberly Soenen is a creative, service-oriented leader with nearly 20 years of experience publicizing film, editorial and reportage. She has worked for NPR, Kartemquin Films and the Chicago Tribune. Her visual story-telling expertise includes work as producer and publicist on documentary films, multimedia features and editorial essays.

SASHA JIWANI, PRODUCTION + COMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATESasha was the Production/Communications Associate for Talking Eyes Media. Since graduating from Emory University with a BA in International Relations, Jiwani has worked on several projects related t…

SASHA JIWANI, PRODUCTION + COMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATE

Sasha was the Production/Communications Associate for Talking Eyes Media. Since graduating from Emory University with a BA in International Relations, Jiwani has worked on several projects related to raising awareness on pressing social issues. She also leads the initiative in a faith-based organization to launch educational and sports activities for youth in her community. She is currently working as a Project Manager for Pearson and working towards getting her MBA from Rutgers University.

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ANDREW DeVIGAL, APP DEVELOPER

Andrew is an Emmy-award winning innovative strategist who builds bridges by connecting ideas and people together to produce meaningful and interactive stories. As the former multimedia editor of The New York Times, he helped transform and evolve the print newsroom into the digital and interactive era. Andrew is the inaugural Chair in Journalism Innovation and Civic Engagement and the first professor of practice in the University of Oregon's School of Journalism and Communication (SOJC). He uses his extensive reach into various disciplines to connect the right people to collaborate and produce extraordinary work. 

JESSEY DEARING, DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHYJessey is a photographer, cinematographer and editor. He also works with audio and motion graphics, amongst his many other technical skills. In his spare time he is working on a documentary film,&nbsp;SPILLING …

JESSEY DEARING, DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY

Jessey is a photographer, cinematographer and editor. He also works with audio and motion graphics, amongst his many other technical skills. In his spare time he is working on a documentary film, SPILLING OVER, which examines the human consequences of BP’s oil spill disaster in the Gulf of Mexico. In 2011, he graduated from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a degree in photojournalism. 

JULIE TURKEWITZ, ASSOCIATE PRODUCERJulie worked for Talking Eyes in 2011 and 2012. She is now a reporter for The New York Times, based in the newspaper's Denver bureau.&nbsp;

JULIE TURKEWITZ, ASSOCIATE PRODUCER

Julie worked for Talking Eyes in 2011 and 2012. She is now a reporter for The New York Times, based in the newspaper's Denver bureau. 

ANNE FAUSTIN, OUTREACH PRODUCERAnne is a Strategic Development Consultant with over a decade of experience in strategic planning and development. As the Outreach Producer for Bring It to The Table she identified and cultivated relationships with col…

ANNE FAUSTIN, OUTREACH PRODUCER

Anne is a Strategic Development Consultant with over a decade of experience in strategic planning and development. As the Outreach Producer for Bring It to The Table she identified and cultivated relationships with colleges, universities, prospect funders, and national organizations in the civil discourse space. She previously served as the Strategic Development Consultant for the Ciné Institute, a Consultant at the Clinton Global Initiative and has a Master of Public Health (MPH) from New York Medical College, a BA in Management from Manhattanville College and received her Certificate in Television and Film Producing from NYU.

MALLIKA VORA, WEB DESIGNER + COLORISTMallika is a Brooklyn-based documentary photographer, graphic designer and programmer.&nbsp; She is on the faculty of the Documentary Photography &amp; Photojournalism program at the International Center of Photo…

MALLIKA VORA, WEB DESIGNER + COLORIST

Mallika is a Brooklyn-based documentary photographer, graphic designer and programmer.  She is on the faculty of the Documentary Photography & Photojournalism program at the International Center of Photography, and holds a BFA in Photography & Imaging with a minor in Web Applications & Programming from the Tisch School of the Arts at NYU. Mallika designed this website! ;)

LAURA LO FORTI, APP DEVELOPERLaura is a multimedia producer, community engagement practitioner, and a “story midwife” who’s been designing and facilitating community-based participatory media projects for the past 15 years. She is the co-founder and…

LAURA LO FORTI, APP DEVELOPER

Laura is a multimedia producer, community engagement practitioner, and a “story midwife” who’s been designing and facilitating community-based participatory media projects for the past 15 years. She is the co-founder and co-director of A Fourth Act, an interdisciplinary agency that merges technology and participatory practices to unleash the full potential of stories for social impact. She is also the co-founder and co-director of Vanport Mosaic, a collective of artists, historians, educators and media makers seeking to engage the public in remembering silenced histories of The Pacific Northwest to better understand the present.


Supporters

Bring It to the Table is largely a self-funded project by Talking Eyes.
We have also received support from the Lucius & Eva Eastman Fund, Brooklyn Brewery, and Bergino Baseball Clubhouse, as well as our many Kickstarter donors whose contributions helped make this project possible:

Brett Abramsky  
Bobby Adair  
Margaret Aguirre  
Celia Alario  
Philipp Ammon  
Felicia Anastasia  
Heather Appel  
Lisa Bannon  
Alex Barnum  
Barrett  
Michael Bartalos  
Dayna Bealy  
Richard Beaven  
Patricia Berry  
Zahra Billoo  
Marcus Bleasdale  
Phil Block  
Steve Boykewich  
Sidney Bremer  
Jim Brill  
David Brommer  
Yoni Brook  
BruceMcW  
Christina Cahill  
Caitlyn  
Cameron & David  
Caroline & Ian  
James Chance  
Margaret Cheatham  
Pamela Chen  
Jarrett Cherner  
Steve Childs  
Vincent Cianni  
Dennis Connors  
Adriano Contreras  
Kahane Cooperman  
Alexis Corino  
Barbara Correia  
Jeannine & Jack Cox  
Danielle  
Jeri L. Dearing  
Ina Denburg  
Carol DeVoe  
Dennis Dimick  
Jessica Dimmock  
Dmitry  
Phyllis B. Dooney  
Richard Doughty  
DS  
Linda Duckworth  
Katherine Duncan  
Stefanie Dworkin  
Ursula Eagly  
Sabine Eck  
Elodie  
Phoebe Eng  
Laura Epstein  
Susan Falzone  
Deanne Fitzmaurice  
Brandon Fonville  
Cathie Forman  
Connie Frisbee Houde 
Susan Fritz  
Lauren Frohne  
Shiho Fukad  
Julie Gabrielli
Debbie Galant  

Jeanine Genauer
Ashley Gilbertson     
Jeff Gilmore   
Martin Gisborne   
Jan Glading   
Deb Glancy   
Libby Gluck   
Marisol Gonzalez   
Jimmy Goodman   
Leslie Granda-Hill   
George Greenfield   
Maryanne Greenfield   
Robert Greenstein   
Kristen Grimm   
Lori Grinker   
Shelley Grodner Seidenstein
Alina Grosman   
George Guerrero   
Fred Guterl   
Jean-Hugues H   
Jane Habermann   
Hope Hall   
Michael Hanson   
Gabriela Hasbun   
Ira Haskell   
Marlene M. Hauck   
Ron Haviv   
Laura Heillinger   
Romina Hendlin   
Lisa Hepner & Guy Mossman
Robert Hertzberg   
Mary C. Hickey   
Andrew Hida   
Alex Hoekstra   
Henry Horenstein   
Pam Huling   
Neal Jackson   
Janet Jarman   
Alexandra Jewett   
jgardner   
Miki Johnson   
Oliver Kalen   
Joseph S. Kashi   
Ken Kelleher   
Lynn Kelly   
Mark Kendall   
Alexandra Kent   
Kevin   
Tyko Kihlstedt   
Gary Knight   
Karen Kohlhaas   
Adrianne Koteen   
Joan Kristensen   
Richard Lansing   
Joyce Lantzman   
Michael Laser   
Matt Lauterbach   
Marshall Leaman   
James LeBrecht   
Geraldine Leer   
Filip Lein   
Nancy Letteri   
James Lik   
Richard Lippin   
Laura Lo Forti  
Dawn LoBaugh  

Mirko Lorenz  
Amanda Lucidon   
Lynn Luckow  
Gerd Ludwig   
Chris Luzine   
Lorri Maake   
Susan MacLaury   
Mark Mannucci   
Cassie Marketos   
Gina Martin   
Caren Martineau   
Roberto Mata   
Stephen Mayes   
Maureen McCully Winograd
Susan Meiselas   
Andrea Messina   
Jed Miller   
Victoria Misrock-Stein   
Heather Mobley   
Alessandra Moctezuma   
Kathy Moran   
Ruth Morgenstein   
Ted Morrison   
Sara Mosher   
Bruce Mosher   
Bert Mummolo   
M. Mummolo   
Myrel   
Stefanie Nagorka   
Phil Neisser   
Peggy O'Donoghue   
Liisa Ogburn   
Ilana Panich-Linsman   
Blake Parker   
Ann Parry   
Patrick   
Trish Picone   
Susan Pinkwater   
Nancie Pipgras   
Laura Pliego   
Thom Powers   
Stephen Pullin   
Amy Putman   
Sarah Putnam   
Lawrence Ratner   
Rey Redington   
JB Reed   
Dempsey Rice   
Theo Rigby   
robdeadtech   
Neil Roberts   
Dawn Roe   
Rachel Rooney   
Thorina Rose   
Kolman Rosenberg   
Lauren Rosenfeld   
Rob Rosenthal   
Andrew S. Ross  
Elena Rue   
Glenn Ruga   
Genevieve Russell   
Sabereh  
Jennifer Sabih   
Bob Sacha   
Dara Sanderson   
Sarah   
Ruth Sarlin

Zina Saro-Wiwa  
Eric Scherzer   
Stephen Schnall   
Daniel Seltzer   
Therese Shechter   
Craig Sherod   
Woong-Jae Shin   
Yossi Shoham   
Alison Shuman   
Stefanie Silverman   
Daniel Silverman   
Debra Simon   
Stephanie Sinclair   
Marcus Sitonio   
Lillian Sizemore   
Alice Smeets   
Roger M. Solomon   
John Spaulding   
John Stanmeyer   
Marjorie Steffe   
Marnie Stetson   
Steven   
Adam Stofsky   
Brian Storm   
Joel E. Streim   
Jody Sugrue   
Galen Summer   
Susana   
Mary Virginia Swanson
Laura Sydell
Tanya   
Clem Taylor   
Lucille Tenazas   
Daniel Tepper   
Sara Terry   
Kelli Thoumsin   
Gregory Thrush   
Chris Tilley   
J. Nicholas Tolson   
Lou Tomasella   
Fay Torresyap   
Merri Lisa Trigilio   
Peter Trilling   
Amelie Tseng   
James Turnbull   
Nita Vail   
Tomas van Houtryve   
Susan Vermazen   
Amanda Voisard   
Scott Wagner   
Daniel Warshawsky   
Jim Webb   
David Weich   
Stefanie Weiss   
Bill Westheimer   
Tom White   
Sandra Willett Jackson  
Williams   
Nadia Wilson   
Ritch Winokur   
William Winokur   
Steve Winter   
Ruth Wirth   
Barbara J. Wolf   
Amy Yenkin   
Joanne Zippel   
Claire Zrimc  

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