# Spark Media

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{{Infobox company
| name = Spark Media
| logo = SparkMedia Logo SquareStackedWhite.jpg
| type = [Private](/source/Privately_held_company)
| industry = [Film](/source/Film) [production](/source/production_company)
| fate =
| predecessor = <!-- or: | predecessors = -->
| successor = <!-- or: | successors = -->
| founded = 1989
| founder = [Andrea Kalin](/source/Andrea_Kalin)
| defunct = <!-- {{End date|YYYY|MM|DD}} -->
| hq_location_city = [Washington, D.C.](/source/Washington%2C_D.C.)
| hq_location_country = [United States](/source/United_States)
| area_served = <!-- or: | areas_served = -->
| key_people = Andrea Kalin, James Mirabello, Ethan Oser, Karen Simon, Diana Moss
| products =
| owner = <!-- or: | owners = -->
| num_employees =
| num_employees_year = <!-- Year of num_employees data (if known) -->
| parent =
| website = {{URL|sparkmedia.org/}}
}}

'''Spark Media''' is an American independent [multimedia](/source/multimedia) and [documentary](/source/Documentary_film) [production house](/source/Filmmaking) based in [Washington, D.C.](/source/Washington%2C_D.C.), United States.

==History==
Established in 1989 by director and producer [Andrea Kalin](/source/Andrea_Kalin), the company specializes in creating socially conscious media used to raise public awareness in America and throughout the world.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jwi.org/Page.aspx?pid=484|title=Andrea Kalin|publisher=Jwi.org|accessdate=11 January 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/dome/0301/close_up.cfm|title=DOME: Almost a Miracle|publisher=Hopkinsmedicine.org|accessdate=11 January 2015|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120302102051/http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/dome/0301/close_up.cfm|archivedate=2 March 2012}}</ref> The company has produced over a dozen films, including the documentary short ''Public Defender'' and twelve<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://sparkmedia.org/about/who-we-are/|title=Who We Are - Spark Media|website=Spark Media|language=en-US|access-date=2016-03-09}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://sparkmedia.org/|title=Award Winning Documentary Production Company Washington DC|website=Spark Media|language=en-US|access-date=2016-03-09}}</ref> feature-length documentaries: ''[Scattering CJ](/source/Scattering_CJ)'',<ref>{{Cite web|title=Documentary Depicts Mother's Quest To Give Son A Worldwide Journey After His Suicide|url=https://www.wbur.org/commonhealth/2020/11/12/scattering-cj-suicide-documentary|access-date=2021-04-19|website=www.wbur.org|language=en}}</ref> ''[First Lady of the Revolution](/source/First_Lady_of_the_Revolution)'' ([Reel South](/source/List_of_programs_broadcast_by_PBS) on [PBS](/source/PBS)),<ref>{{Citation|title=First Lady of the Revolution {{!}} REEL SOUTH|url=https://www.pbs.org/video/first-lady-of-the-revolution-ybanpz/|language=en-US|access-date=2018-08-01}}</ref> ''[Red Lines](/source/Red_Lines)'' ([Free Speech TV](/source/Free_Speech_TV)),<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.freespeech.org/RedLines|title=Red Lines|website=Free Speech TV|access-date=2016-03-09}}</ref> ''[No Evidence of Disease](/source/No_Evidence_of_Disease)'' ([American Public Television](/source/American_Public_Television), [WorldChannel](/source/World_(TV_channel)), [V-me](/source/V-me)),<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://worldchannel.org/programs/episode/ned-no-evidence-disease/|title=N.E.D.: No Evidence of Disease {{!}} The Strength of Women|website=World Channel|access-date=2016-03-09}}</ref> ''Soul of a People: Writing America's Story'' ([Smithsonian Channel](/source/Smithsonian_Channel)),<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.smithsonianchannel.com/shows/soul-of-a-people-writing-americas-story/0/135396|title=Soul of a People: Writing America's Story|website=Smithsonian Channel|access-date=2016-03-09}}</ref> ''Worlds of Sounds: Ballard of Folkways'' ([Smithsonian Channel](/source/Smithsonian_Channel)),<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.smithsonianchannel.com/shows/worlds-of-sound-the-ballad-of-folkways/0/135487|title=Worlds of Sound: The Ballad of Folkways|website=Smithsonian Channel|access-date=2016-03-09}}</ref> ''Talking Through Walls'' ([PBS](/source/PBS)),<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://cherryhillsun.com/2010/05/15/talking-through-walls/|title=Talking Through Walls|website=The Cherry Hill Sun|date=15 May 2010|access-date=2016-03-09}}</ref> [''Prince Among Slaves''](/source/Prince_Among_Slaves_(film)) ([PBS](/source/PBS)),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/articles/34165/freedom-doc|title=Freedom Doc: Andrea Kalin gives an enslaved prince's story a new lease on life. - Washington City Paper|work=Washington City Paper|date=29 November 2007|accessdate=11 January 2015}}</ref> ''Allah Made Me Funny'' (theatrical release),<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.allahmademefunny.com/about/|title=AMMF {{!}} About AMMF|website=www.allahmademefunny.com|access-date=2016-03-09}}</ref>  ''[The Pact](/source/The_Pact_(2006_film))'' ([American Public Television](/source/American_Public_Television)), and ''Partners of the Heart'' ([PBS American Experience](/source/American_Experience)).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/partners/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021227124604/http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/partners/|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 27, 2002|title=American Experience {{!}} Partners of the Heart|website=www.pbs.org|access-date=2016-03-09}}</ref>

''Partners of the Heart'', narrated by [Morgan Freeman](/source/Morgan_Freeman), aired on PBS’s [American Experience](/source/American_Experience) in February 2003 and was rebroadcast in March 2005. ''Partners of the Heart'' went on to win the Erik Barnouw Award for Best History Documentary in 2004<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.oah.org/programs/awards/erik-barnouw-award/erik-barnouw-award-winners/|title=Organization of American Historians: Erik Barnouw Award Winners|website=www.oah.org|access-date=2016-03-09}}</ref> and was later turned into the Golden Globe-nominated<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0386792/awards|title=Something the Lord Made (2004 TV Movie) : Awards|publisher=IMDb.com|accessdate=11 January 2015}}</ref> [HBO](/source/HBO) film ''Something The Lord Made'' starring [Mos Def](/source/Mos_Def), who also narrated ''Prince Among Slaves''. As part of their 50th anniversary celebration, the [National Endowment for the Humanities](/source/National_Endowment_for_the_Humanities) highlighted ''Partners of the Heart'' as one of 50 top grant projects that have enriched and shaped American lives.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.davidson.edu/news/160223-neh-honors-partners-of-the-heart-documentary|title=NEH Honors 'Partners of the Heart' Documentary|website=www.davidson.edu|access-date=2016-03-09}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://50.neh.gov/projects/black-surgeon-the-age-of-jim-crow|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151002171053/http://50.neh.gov/projects/black-surgeon-the-age-of-jim-crow|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 2, 2015|title=A Black Surgeon in the Age of Jim Crow|last=Humanities|first=National Endowment for the|website=NEH 50th Anniversary|access-date=2016-03-09}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://50.neh.gov/projects|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151002012011/http://50.neh.gov/projects|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 2, 2015|title=Featured Projects Gallery|website=NEH 50th Anniversary|access-date=2016-03-09}}</ref>

Spark Media's films have won numerous awards, among them [Emmys](/source/Emmy_Award), [CINE](/source/CINE) Golden Eagles, [Gracies](/source/Gracie_Award), as well as a [Writers Guild of America](/source/Writers_Guild_of_America) nomination.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tbd.com/blogs/tbd-arts/2010/11/federal-writers-project-doc-takes-top-honors-at-peer-awards-video--4684.html|title=Federal Writers' Project doc takes top honors at Peer Awards (video) - @TBD Arts|work=TBD|accessdate=11 January 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cine.org:80/archives/winner-archives/pdfs/2006-CINE-Winner-Directory.pdf |title=CINE Golden Eagle Film & Video Competition |accessdate=2017-10-12 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thegracies.org/past-award-winners.php |title=Past Award Winners |work=The Gracies |publisher=American Women in Radio & Television |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100505083736/http://www.thegracies.org/past-award-winners.php |archivedate=2010-05-05 |accessdate=2017-10-17 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tellyawards.com/winners/|title=The 36th Annual TELLY Awards - Winners|publisher=Tellyawards.com|accessdate=11 January 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tivadc.org/index.php?/Peer-Awards/ |title=2010 DC PEER Award Categories with Winners |last=TIVA |publisher=TIVA-DC |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110203033414/http://www.tivadc.org/index.php?%2FPeer-Awards%2F |archivedate=2011-02-03 |accessdate=2017-10-17 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sparkmedia.org/ht/d/sp/i/1330/pid/1330 |title=SPARK MEDIA'S RECENT AWARDS |work=Sparkmedia |publisher=Sparkmedia |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110221054116/http://www.sparkmedia.org/ht/d/sp/i/1330/pid/1330 |archivedate=2011-02-21 |accessdate=2017-10-17 }}</ref>

==Current projects==

=== Documentaries ===
In 2024, the documentary short ''[Public Defender](/source/Public_Defender_(2024_film))'' premiered at [Mountainfilm](/source/Mountainfilm) in Telluride, Colorado, where it won the Moving Mountains Award for social justice and impact.<ref>{{cite web |title=Moving Mountains Award |url=https://www.mountainfilm.org/festival/awards/moving-mountains-award/ |website=Mountainfilm}}</ref> The film tells the story Heather Shaner, a public defender in Washington, D.C., who has spent 40 years representing people who can’t afford a lawyer. On [January 6, 2021](/source/January_6_United_States_Capitol_attack), Shaner’s empathy is challenged when a violent mob supporting outgoing President [Donald Trump](/source/Donald_Trump) [storms the Capitol](/source/January_6_United_States_Capitol_attack) to stop the peaceful transfer of power to President-elect Joe Biden. The goal of the film is to address America’s epidemic of division and misinformation, showing how to restore trust and accountability one conversation at a time.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mountainfilm |url=https://www.mountainfilm.org/films/public-defender/ |website=Mountainfilm 2024 |publisher=Mountainfilm}}</ref>

Following the festival premiere, ''Public Defender'' was published by [The New Yorker](/source/The_New_Yorker) on October 9, 2024. In addition to The New Yorker, the documentary was also broadcast in [Israel](/source/Israel) by [yes](/source/yes_(company)),<ref>https://www.yes.co.il/content/tv/movies/public-defender/</ref> in [Japan](/source/Japan) by [NHK World-Japan](/source/NHK_World-Japan),<ref>{{Cite news|last=Hitoshi Omae|url=https://mainichi.jp/articles/20241122/k00/00m/030/171000c|title=トランプ氏支持者を理解できるか　敏腕映画監督が新作で出す答え|work=mainichi.jp|date=2024-11-25|access-date=2024-12-25|language=Japanese}}</ref> by [Scripps News](/source/Scripps_News) in the [United States](/source/United_States) on November 3, 2024 as part of their [Emmy](/source/Emmy_Awards)-winning documentary series, "In Real Life,"<ref name=Scripps>{{Cite news|last=Miossi|first=Molly|url=https://scripps.com/press-releases/season-seven-of-scripps-news-award-winning-documentary-series-to-include-soledad-obrien-other-award-winning-journalists/|title=Season seven of Scripps News’ award-winning documentary series to include Soledad O’Brien|work=scripps.com|date=2024-10-02|access-date=2025-01-02|language=en-US}}</ref> and by [WETA-TV](/source/WETA-TV).<ref>https://weta.org/watch/shows/public-defender-0</ref>

In early 2019, Spark Media completed production on ''Scattering CJ'', the story of CJ Twomey, a seemingly happy [Air Force](/source/United_States_Air_Force) recruit who violently ended his own life at age 20, whose passing plunged his family into unrelenting grief and guilt. Years later, in a moment of desperate inspiration, his mother put out an open call on [Facebook](/source/Facebook), looking only for a handful of world travelers who might help fulfill her son's wish to see the world by scattering some of his ashes in a place of beauty or special meaning to them - a call that 21,000 would answer.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://sparkmedia.org/projects/scattering-cj/|title=Scattering CJ - Spark Media|work=Spark Media|access-date=2017-04-06|language=en-US}}</ref> ''Scattering CJ'' had its world premiere at the [Camden International Film Festival](/source/Camden_International_Film_Festival) in September 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sunjournal.com/2019/09/14/it-was-beautiful-documentary-about-auburn-man-premieres-at-film-festival/|title='It was beautiful': Documentary about Auburn man premieres at film festival|last=Journal|first=Lindsay TiceSun|date=2019-09-15|website=Lewiston Sun Journal|access-date=2019-11-14}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://filmmakermagazine.com/107965-with-a-focus-on-story-and-power-camden-international-film-festival-announces-its-2019-program/|title=With a Focus on "Story and Power," Camden International Film Festival Announces Its 2019 Program|last=Macaulay|first=Scott|website=Filmmaker Magazine|date=19 August 2019|language=en-US|access-date=2019-11-14}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theyoungfolks.com/review/136464/2019-camden-international-film-festival/|title=The Most Fascinating Films from the 2019 Camden International Film Festival {{!}} The Young Folks|date=2019-09-15|language=en-US|access-date=2019-11-14}}</ref> On November 21, 2020, the filmmakers hosted a live virtual conversation about the film and suicide prevention to commemorate [International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day](/source/International_Survivors_of_Suicide_Loss_Day).<ref>{{Cite web|title=Documentary Depicts Mother's Quest To Give Son A Worldwide Journey After His Suicide|url=https://www.wbur.org/commonhealth/2020/11/12/scattering-cj-suicide-documentary|access-date=2021-04-19|website=www.wbur.org|language=en}}</ref> Scattering CJ premiered on public television in September 2022, including a national broadcast on PBS WORLD Channel on September 16, 2023.<ref>{{cite news |title="Scattering CJ" to be shown on public television |url=https://www.centralmaine.com/2022/09/07/scattering-cj-to-be-shown-on-public-television/ |access-date=22 November 2023 |publisher=CentralMaine.com |date=September 7, 2022}}</ref>

Spark Media is also in post-production on ''Klandestine Man'', about [Stetson Kennedy](/source/Stetson_Kennedy), the folklorist and social justice activist who famously infiltrated the [Ku Klux Klan](/source/Ku_Klux_Klan) in the 1950s with the goal of dismantling the violent white supremacist group from the inside out.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://sparkmedia.org/projects/klandestine-man/|title=Klandestine Man - Spark Media|work=Spark Media|access-date=2017-04-06|language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Digital Projects ===
With funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities Office of Digital Humanities, Spark Media began production on Project Maestro (now known as ''[https://humanities.games/ humanities.games]'') in 2019, an open-source platform that "empowers educators and students with limited computer access to make digital humanities games."<ref>{{Cite web|title=NEH grant details: Project Maestro|url=https://apps.neh.gov/publicquery/default.aspx?f=1&gn=HAA-266565-19|access-date=2021-04-19|website=securegrants.neh.gov}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Announcing New ODH Awards (August 2019)|url=https://www.neh.gov/blog/announcing-new-odh-awards-august-2019|access-date=2021-04-19|website=The National Endowment for the Humanities|language=en}}</ref> The platform was first created for Spark Media's game ''The Search For Harmony'', a web game about the rich, forgotten historical legacy of classical musicians of African descent.<ref>{{Cite web|title=NEH grant details: Project Maestro|url=https://apps.neh.gov/publicquery/default.aspx?f=1&gn=HAA-266565-19|access-date=2021-04-19|website=securegrants.neh.gov}}</ref>

In December 2020, Spark Media in collaboration with [UXR Tech](/source/UXR_Tech) completed production on ''El 48'',<ref>{{Cite web|title=who we are – El 48 Virtual|url=https://el48virtual.com/who-we-are/|access-date=2021-04-19|language=en-US}}</ref> a [virtual reality](/source/virtual_reality) experience based on the abolition of the Costa Rican army. The exhibit was opened on December 1, 2020,<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-11-30|title=Productora estadounidense revive en realidad virtual la abolición del ejército en Costa Rica|url=https://glendaahora.com/2020/11/30/productora-estadounidense-revive-realidad-virtual-la-abolicion-del-ejercito-costa-rica/|access-date=2021-04-19|website=Glenda Ahora|language=es-ES}}</ref> the anniversary of the abolition of the military, is currently housed at [Museo Nacional de Costa Rica](/source/Museo_Nacional_de_Costa_Rica) and is the first of its kind at the museum.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Staff|first=Tcrn|date=2020-12-04|title=Tico National Museum Opens Virtual Reality Exhibition|url=https://thecostaricanews.com/tico-national-museum-opens-virtual-reality-exhibition-on-the-abolition-of-the-army/|access-date=2021-04-19|website=The Costa Rica News|language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Podcasts ===
In 2024, Spark Media released a podcast series called ''[The People's Recorder](/source/The_People's_Recorder)'' which explores stories first unearthed by [Works Progress Administration](/source/Works_Progress_Administration) writers and artists in the 1930s. Spark Media is producing the podcast with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities,<ref>{{cite web |title=National Endowment for the Humanities Grant Awards and Offers, August 2022 |url=https://www.neh.gov/sites/default/files/inline-files/NEH%20grant%20awards%20August%202022.pdf |publisher=National Endowment for the Humanities |access-date=22 November 2023}}</ref> [Florida Humanities Council](/source/Florida_Humanities_Council),<ref>{{Cite web|title=The People's Recorder|url=https://sparkmedia.org/projects/the-peoples-recorder/|access-date=2021-04-19|website=Spark Media}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://floridahumanities.org/2020-june-community-project-grants-awards/|access-date=2021-04-19|website=floridahumanities.org|title=2020 June - Community Project Grant Awards}}</ref> [Virginia Humanities](/source/Virginia_Humanities),<ref>{{Cite web|title=The People's Recorder|url=https://sparkmedia.org/projects/the-peoples-recorder/|access-date=2021-04-19|website=Spark Media}}</ref> Wisconsin Humanities,<ref>{{cite web |title=Grants Awarded |url=https://wisconsinhumanities.org/grants/grants-awarded/grants-awarded-2021/ |website=Wisconsin Humanities |publisher=Wisconsin Humanities |access-date=22 November 2023}}</ref> California Humanities,<ref>{{cite web |title=List of California Documentary Project Grants |url=https://calhum.org/grant-deadlines-overview/california-documentary-project/list-of-california-documentary-project-grants/ |website=California Humanities |publisher=California Humanities}}</ref> and Humanities Nebraska.<ref>{{cite web |title=2022 Grant Recipients |url=https://humanitiesnebraska.org/2022-grant-recipients/ |website=Nebraska Humanities |publisher=Nebraska Humanities}}</ref> A second season of the podcast is currently in production, supported by the National Endowment for the Humanities.<ref>{{cite web |title=NEH Announces $26.2 Million for 238 Humanities Projects Nationwide |url=https://www.neh.gov/news/neh-announces-262-million-238-humanities-projects-nationwide?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR2556oFDeGfIdBH_QeG-jIIEuW0wvVT3IdtIPIOVM8kOcoyhMuZtvYYNpw_aem_AeYq3lL7-PfxNxvgf63dj20mFAybDlOcHe_G4VyvcuNSjThVT072ZxQsvmnBwfi4gaSzPxFSz1ZPgpgE9yD7Uykv |website=National Endowment for the Humanities}}</ref>

==Films==
{{columns-list|colwidth=35em|* ''[Public Defender](/source/Public_Defender_(2024_film))'' 
* ''[Scattering CJ](/source/Scattering_CJ)''
* ''My America''
* ''Syria: A Decade of Atrocities''
* ''Resolute: Leading in Turbulent Times''
* ''Celebrating ChangermakHERS: GirlTrek''
* ''[First Lady of the Revolution](/source/First_Lady_of_the_Revolution)''
* ''[Red Lines](/source/Red_Lines)''
* ''[No Evidence of Disease](/source/No_Evidence_of_Disease)''
* ''What Every Woman Should Know''
* ''People Will Carry Your Story''
* ''Worlds of Sounds: Ballard of Folkways''
* ''Soul of a People: Writing America's Story''
* ''[The Pact](/source/The_Pact_(2006_film))''
* ''[Prince Among Slaves](/source/Prince_Among_Slaves_(film))''
* ''Partners of the Heart''
* ''Talking Through Walls''
* ''[Allah Made Me Funny: Live in Concert](/source/Allah_Made_Me_Funny%3A_Live_in_Concert)''
* ''Asia’s Water Crisis: The Struggle Within Each Drop''
* ''Battered Lives, Broken Trust: When Men Abuse Women''
* ''Too Brief a Child: Voices of Married Adolescents''
* ''Breaking the Poverty Cycle: Investing in Early Childhood''
* ''Bridges: Southeast Asians’ American Journey''
* ''Wired for Change: Information Technology for Development in the Americas''
* ''A Voice of Her Own: Women and Economic Change in Asia''
* ''From Rage to Recovery: Society’s Search for Peace''
* [World Bank](/source/World_Bank) ''HUNGER'' [Public Service Announcement](/source/Public_Service_Announcement)
}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Official website}}
* [https://www.imdb.com/company/co0021533/ Spark Media on IMDb]

Category:Spark Media
Category:Film production companies of the United States
Category:Mass media companies established in 1989
Category:Documentary film production companies
Category:Mass media companies based in Washington, D.C.
Category:1989 establishments in Washington, D.C.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Spark Media](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spark_Media) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spark_Media?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.