The People Behind the Stories

About Documentaries Seattle

Great documentaries don’t happen by chance. They are the result of talented people who share a commitment to historical accuracy, compelling storytelling, and public education.

Documentaries Seattle is led by an accomplished team of filmmakers, historians, educators, writers, and community leaders whose combined experience spans more than 150 years in documentary filmmaking, journalism, historical research, education, and public service. Together, they help ensure that every project reflects the highest standards of scholarship, creativity, and integrity.

We believe the best historical storytelling is collaborative. That’s why we work closely with historians, cultural organizations, tribal representatives, educators, public television partners, archives, and communities throughout Washington to tell stories that are authentic, inclusive, and meaningful.

Together, we are preserving Washington’s history—not simply to document the past, but to inspire curiosity, strengthen community, and create lasting educational resources for future generations.

Board of Directors

John Forsen

President and Co-Founder

John Forsen is a 15-time Emmy Award-winning documentary filmmaker with more than three decades of experience producing documentaries, television programs, commercials, and educational films.

He began his documentary career with PBS and CBS and later founded MagicHour Films and Fidget Films. His work has received international recognition, including Best of Show at the New York Festivals and a Gold Lion at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity.

A resident of the Pacific Northwest for more than 50 years, John founded Documentaries Seattle to preserve the stories that define Washington and make them available to students and the public.

As President, he provides strategic direction, fundraising leadership, creative oversight, production management, and long-range planning.

Gayle Podrabsky

Vice President and Co-Founder

Gayle Podrabsky is a producer, director, writer, editor, and creative strategist with more than 25 years of experience in documentary production, educational media, branding, and public-interest storytelling.

As founder of Epona Productions and co-founder of Fidget Films, she has managed complex productions for nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, and commercial clients.

Her documentary work reflects a particular interest in environmental history, conservation, and the relationship between people and the natural world. Her projects include films addressing endangered wildlife and Hazel Wolf: Opening Doors, a feature documentary about the environmentalist, civil-rights advocate, and lifelong activist Hazel Wolf.

Born and raised in Everett, Washington, Gayle brings a deep knowledge of the state’s communities, environmental heritage, and cultural landscape.

As Vice President, she oversees project development, production management, editorial collaboration, grant development, and organizational planning.

Joseph Pontecorvo

Secretary and Founder of PONTEfilms

Joseph Pontecorvo is an award-winning producer, writer, cinematographer, and wildlife filmmaker whose work has taken him across six continents.

He has produced documentaries for PBS, National Geographic, the BBC, and other leading broadcasters, documenting endangered species and remote landscapes around the world.

Raised in the Pacific Northwest, Joe contributes expertise in cinematography, natural-history filmmaking, field production, visual storytelling, and environmental subjects.

As Secretary, he supports organizational governance while advising on production strategy and visual development.

Tom Horton

Executive Committee

Tom Horton is a writer and creative director with more than 30 years of experience developing memorable campaigns and compelling narratives.

As part of the creative team at Heckler Associates, he helped develop the Rainier Beer and Ivar’s campaigns, both of which became part of the cultural identity of the Pacific Northwest. He later founded the award-winning agency HL2, serving clients that included Microsoft, Starbucks, Vail Resorts, T-Mobile, New Balance, and numerous regional organizations.

Tom provides editorial leadership, script development, historical interpretation, strategic communications, and creative guidance. He played a central role in shaping the scripts and storytelling of Seattle: A History in Short Stories.

Timothy Egan

Executive Committee

Timothy Egan is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, former longtime columnist for The New York Times, and one of America’s most respected authors writing about the history of the American West and Pacific Northwest.

His books include The Good Rain, The Big Burn, Short Nights of the Shadow Catcher, The Worst Hard Time, A Pilgrimage to Eternity, and Fever in the Heartland. The Worst Hard Time received the National Book Award and helped inspire a PBS documentary by filmmaker Ken Burns.

A lifelong resident of the Pacific Northwest, Tim contributes historical insight, editorial counsel, literary expertise, and a deep understanding of the people and landscapes that have shaped Washington and the American West.

Educational and Historical Advisory Council

Documentaries Seattle is assembling an Educational and Historical Advisory Council to support the accuracy, inclusiveness, cultural representation, and educational value of its statewide work.

Advisors help identify important stories, recommend historical sources, review content, provide cultural context, and guide the representation of Washington’s diverse communities.

Current advisors include:

Nicholas Vann, Washington State Historical Society Executive Director

Public historian and museum leader specializing in Washington history, historic preservation, and community engagement.

Dr. Karen J. Blair, Professor UW, CWU and author

Professor Emerita of History and a respected authority on Washington history, women’s history, and the social development of the Pacific Northwest.

Allison Campbell, Washington State Historical Society Heritage Outreach Manager 

Heritage outreach leader experienced in connecting Washington communities with local history, historic preservation, and educational programming.

Jim Kershner, Author, Historian and Journalist

Award-winning historian, author, and journalist recognized for documenting the history of Eastern Washington and the Inland Northwest.

Warren KingGeorge, Historian Muckleshoot Indian Tribe

Native cultural leader and educator providing guidance on Indigenous history, traditions, and the authentic representation of Native communities.

Dr. Josh Reid, Professor UW, Director, Center for the Study of the Pacific Northwest Tribes

Historian, educator, and citizen of the Snohomish Indian Nation whose scholarship focuses on Indigenous history, tribal sovereignty, maritime history, and the Pacific Northwest.

Eileen Yamada Lamphere,President, Puyallup Valley Japanese American Citizens League (JACL)

An educator, historian, and community leader dedicated to preserving Japanese American history and advancing civil rights in Washington State. A sought-after speaker and advocate for historical preservation, Lamphere brings deep expertise in Japanese American history, education, and community engagement to the Historical & Educational Advisory Council.

Dr. Daudi Abe, Professor, Seattle Central College; Historian and Author

An Seattle-based professor, historian, and author specializing in African American history, education, and the cultural history of the Pacific Northwest. He holds a Ph.D. in Education from the University of Washington. Dr. Abe is the author of Emerald Street: A History of Hip-Hop in Seattle and has written extensively on the history of African Americans in Washington State. As a respected educator, researcher, and public historian, he brings invaluable insight into the diverse stories and communities that have shaped Washington’s past.

Dr. Vincent (Vince) Schleitwiler is an Assistant Teaching Professor of American Ethnic Studies at the University of Washington. His work focuses on Asian American history, race and ethnicity, and public history. As a member of the Washington: A History in Short Stories Advisory Council, he helps ensure the series reflects the diverse people, cultures, and experiences that have shaped Washington State.

Jean Sherrard, Historian, writer publisher “Then and Now”

Author, photographer, historian, and educator known for making Washington history engaging and accessible through visual storytelling and public-history projects.

Jennifer Ott, Executive Director HistoryLink

Public historian, author, and museum professional specializing in Washington history, cultural landscapes, and public engagement.

Dr. John Findlay, Retired department head history UW

Professor Emeritus of History at the University of Washington and a leading scholar of urban history, regional development, and the Pacific Northwest.

As our statewide projects grow, additional advisors will be invited from Washington’s geographic, cultural, and historical communities. These will include tribal historians, African American historians, Asian American historians, Latino historians, agricultural and labor historians, environmental scholars, educators, museum professionals, and local experts from eastern and western Washington.

This collaborative approach will help ensure that our documentaries reflect rigorous scholarship as well as the lived experiences of the people and communities whose histories we are preserving.