DIRECTOR'S STATEMENT

Michelle Bauer Carpenter is a Professor of Creative Media and Film Program in the School of Communication at Northern Arizona University. Carpenter has produced, directed, and edited award-winning documentary pieces. Her video pieces have been screened on PBS, in numerous international and national film festivals, and in art galleries.

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My work as a filmmaker is driven by a deep commitment to storytelling as a means of understanding—of ourselves, of others, and of the world we share. I am drawn to stories that exist at the intersection of personal experience and broader social realities, where individual lives illuminate complex issues such as identity, resilience, injustice, and healing. Whether working in traditional documentary or experimental forms, I approach each project with the belief that storytelling has the power to create empathy, challenge assumptions, and open space for dialogue.

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At the core of my work is a desire to amplify voices and experiences that are often overlooked or misunderstood. I am particularly interested in how people navigate the complexities of life’s challenges—whether those challenges stem from systemic injustice, health, identity, or personal transformation. My films often emerge from both research and lived experience, creating a space where the personal and the political intersect.

Projects such as Awadagin Pratt: Black in America confront the realities of racism and privilege through intimate storytelling, while Dr. Eddie Henderson: Uncommon Genius celebrates a life of artistic excellence, curiosity, and perseverance. In Klocked: Women with Horsepower, I explore gender, family, and empowerment; in Above the Ashes, I document resilience in the aftermath of environmental devastation. Across these works, I aim to honor each subject's authenticity through narratives that resonate on a human level.

Ultimately, my goal as a director is not simply to tell stories but to create experiences that invite audiences to listen more deeply, see more fully, and engage more thoughtfully with the world around them. I believe that film can be a powerful catalyst for connection and understanding.