Stanley Nelson Jr.
Emmy Award-Winning Documentary Filmmaker Known for "Freedom Summer" and "Attica"
An award-winning filmmaker, Stanley Nelson has over 20 years’ experience as a producer, director, and writer of documentary
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Full Bio
An award-winning filmmaker, Stanley Nelson has over 20 years’ experience as a producer, director, and writer of documentary films and videos. He is the founder and president of Half Nelson Productions, Inc., an independent production company.
Nelson’s independently-produced films include a number of PBS productions, including Shattering the Silences, a 90-minute film on the growing presence of and challenges to minority faculty in higher education; Methadone: Curse or Cure, a one-hour documentary on the methadone maintenance program for the treatment of heroin addiction; Two Dollars and a Dream: The Story of Madame C.J. Walker, a documentary on the life and times of the African American businesswoman who became the nation’s first self-made woman millionaire; Puerto Rico: Our Right to Decide, the story of competing visions for the future of Puerto Rico, shot on location; Freedom Bags, a documentary on the northern migration of African American domestic workers during the first half of the 20th century; and the South Africa segments of Mandela, the story of Nelson and Winnie Mandela.
Nelson’s credits also include several productions for the Smithsonian Institution, including Free Within Ourselves, a documentary portrait of African American artists, and Climbing Jacob’s Ladder, a 30-minute film concerning African American church history. He has produced several films on location throughout West and southern Africa.
Nelson’s television credits include serving as a producer for many PBS programs, including “Listening to America” and “What Can We Do About Violence?” with Bill Moyers, and “Election ’93,” for which he was nominated for an Emmy award. He was also a producer for the acclaimed Fox-TV series, “TV Nation.”
A graduate of the Leonard Davis Film School at the City University of New York, Nelson has taught film production at Howard University. He has been a fellow of the American Film Institute, the New York Foundation for the Arts, and the Washington, D.C. Commission for the Arts, and a Revson Fellow at Columbia University. For three years, Nelson served on the selection panel for the Fulbright fellowship in film.
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BAYLOR UNIVERSITY CAMPUS
We had a fantastic day with Inge! She was very engaging with all those that attended. Her personal stories about the holocaust were very special and we were moved that she was willing to share them with everyone. Thank you again, PDA for all your hard work and dedication to make this program such a success!
SALT LAKE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
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SAP COMPANY
Thank you again, Dr. Kimbrough, for a great presentation, our attendees are still talking about it!
CAMPUS LABS
Dr. Henry Lee's presentation was entertaining, insightful and wise. I, and everyone at Pfizer, especially appreciate the remarks you directed about following your passion and preparing yourself to excel. Thank you, everyone, at PDA for helping to make this happen!
PFIZER
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DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. MEMORIAL BREAKFAST, BOSTON, MLK SPEAKER
Everything went well. Atsuko was very easy to work with and the students enjoyed her performance! Thank you again for your recommendation and I hope to work with you again in the future!
CENTRAL MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY
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GRAND VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY
Jordan Carlos was very very entertaining! A majority of students who answered the event survey indicated they really enjoyed Jordan and definitely will bring him back!
WESTERN CAROLINA UNIVERSITY
On behalf of myself and my organization Entertainment Unlimited the Campus Programming Board of Ferris State University, we thank you PDA and Dan for a successful event!! Dan was magnificent! Students really enjoyed the presentation. I know I did. Can't wait to bring in more programs with PDA Group.
FERRIS STATE UNIVERSITY
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WESTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY
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FURMAN UNIVERSITY
Topics
The Murder of Emmett Till
Freedom Riders
Freedom Summer
Videos
Global Journalist: Filmmaker Stanley Nelson Jr. speaks out on career
Lifetime Achievement Award - Stanley Nelson
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