Documentary Programming
Daniel H. Birman
Daniel H. Birman is producing Finding Higgs Boson (working title) for Nova on PBS. This is a one-hour special about one of the great scientific discoveries in modern times, a tiny particle that explains how the universe was formed. Birman recently completed Chasing Speed, a one-hour special for Velocity. The program is about Leslie Porterfield, who broke the world record as the fastest woman on a motorcycle at the legendary Bonneville Salt Flats. Previously, he produced Me Facing Life: Cyntoia’s Story for Independent Lens on PBS. This is a documentary about a 16-year-old girl who is serving a life sentence for murder. Just prior, Birman produced the acclaimed documentary Brace for Impact: the Chesley B. Sullenberger Story for TLC, and which also aired on Discovery. Birman had the exclusive story about the pilot of Flight 1549 who landed his aircraft on the Hudson River and 155 people walked off. In addition, Birman produced, Europa: Mystery of the Ice Moon, a one-hour special for Science Channel about exploring a moon of Jupiter that just might support life, and Medical Maverick — two one-hour shows for Discovery Health that look at the work of a world-class trauma surgeon. Birman also produced The Team, a four-part and first-ever nonfiction series for Nickelodeon, and Chopper Rescue, a one-hour trauma pilot for Discovery Health. Before that, he produced Alternatives: Uncovered — a series of one-hour programs also for Discovery Health. Birman is a professor of professional practice at USC Annenberg School of Journalism.
Shari Cookson
Shari Cookson is an Emmy award-winning filmmaker. Her film The Memory Loss Tapes won an Emmy for Exceptional Merit in Nonfiction Filmmaking. She directed and produced the documentary, part of HBO’s Alzheimer’s Project, with filmmaking partner Nick Doob. She and Doob worked without additional crew to achieve an intimate and personal style of filmmaking. Cookson’s HBO documentary credits also include the Emmy-nominated films All Aboard! Rosie’s Family Cruise and Living Dolls: The Making of a Child Beauty Queen; Skinheads USA, which earned her a DGA nomination; and Asylum, a Sundance selection. Other credits include Lifetime’s Signature Series; and On Campus, for which she won a Los Angeles Area Emmy. A graduate of USC, Cookson received the Television Academy’s college documentary award for her student film Gunshot. She lives in Los Angeles with her two children and husband, editor Charlton McMillan, with whom she has collaborated on numerous films.
