United States, Hampton VA

http://www.maryannebenner.com

http://www.vimeo.com/ailgifstudios

http://www.ailgifstudios.com, http://www.currentmemories.com, http://www.streetartistmovie.com

professional, personal, academic

The Way We Were, Born into Brothels

I am a Visual Anthropologist and Documentary Filmmaker with a background in photojournalism. My primary focus is on ethnographic documentaries pertaining to social and health related issues. Over the last few years, I have been working on an ethnographic documentary series about street artists living on the fringe of survival.

My first opportunity to work on ethnographic documentaries pertaining to health related issues was in 2006, when I was hired by Hispanic Health Projects at Idaho State University, as a cinematographer and editor on two medical documentaries, “Diabetes y La Familia” and “The Many Faces of Diabetes” Since then, I have co-produced, directed, filmed, and edited two documentaries which have been used by advocacy groups to bring awareness to domestic violence and childhood sexual assault. In August of 2010 a personal documentary short that I made about my son deploying to Afghanistan, “A Soldier’s Journey” ran on the NY Times Website. In 2008, a 20 minute documentary I produced, directed, filmed, and edited in 2006, aired on an NBC Affiliate Station in Pocatello, Idaho “Living With Autism: A Family’s Story of Love, Hope, and Acceptance”. In 2009, I filmed and edited an ethnographic documentary about individuals living with C.O.P.D. The documentary is currently being used by the Intel Digital Health Group in Hillsboro, Oregon for ongoing research into Chronic Illness.

Personal Statement
I feel that my personal life experiences have lead me down this path and have given me the ability to feel comfortable in any situation and with anyone I talk to. Having been sexually assaulted and raped as a child and having been raised in foster care with children who came from and went back to abusive homes, as well as having moments in life where I’ve helped my real mother though several chronic illnesses; including breast cancer, has made me more aware and empathetic to individual struggles around me. I feel that those experiences, although difficult to go through, have provided a deeper trust with everyone I’ve interviewed. The stories I’ve told and the people I’ve met have left an indelible mark that I will carry with me forever.

Hi everyone, I am looking forward to getting to know other women in the industry and am hoping to build friendships with individuals throughout the community.