Helen De Michiel – A Pioneer in Participatory Media and Community StorytellingIn this episode of Filmmaking Conversations with Damien Swaby, we dive into the fascinating world of participatory media and innovative storytelling with Helen De Michiel—a trailblazing producer, director, writer, and community engagement specialist.

Helen shares insights from her decades-long career, starting with her pioneering work in public television on The Independents and Alive TV in the 1980s. As a visionary filmmaker, Helen has always pushed boundaries, blending traditional storytelling with co-creative practices to foster dialogue and create impactful media.

Her work is featured in museum collections across the United States and continues to inspire new generations of storytellers.We explore Helen’s innovative concept of open space media, which she detailed in her book Open Space New Media Documentary: A Toolkit for Theory and Practice, co-authored with Patricia Zimmermann. She also reflects on the transformative impact of her episodic documentary projects, Lunch Love Community and Berkeley Vs. Big Soda, which address pressing issues like food justice and public health.In addition to her creative work, Helen discusses her role as an educator at California College of the Arts in San Francisco and how she supports other filmmakers through consulting and coaching.

Helen’s dedication to sparking dialogue and creating social impact across media and communities is a powerful reminder of the potential of filmmaking to drive meaningful change.Highlights from this episode include:

• The evolution of participatory media and its impact on storytelling.
• Helen’s journey in co-creating Lunch Love Community and its global influence on food justice.
• The concept of open space media and its application to modern documentary filmmaking.
• How Helen mentors filmmakers in refining their creative processes and reaching their distribution goals.

Tune in for an inspiring conversation with a true innovator in the world of independent filmmaking. Helen’s passion for collaboration, creativity, and community engagement is sure to leave you inspired and ready to take your storytelling to the next level.Links & Resources:

• Helen De Michiel’s website: https://www.thirtyleaves.org

Listen now and join the conversation!