OUT LOUD

Directed by Gail Willumsen
Produced Jill Shinefield and Gail Willumsen

One-hour independent documentary about the first season of the historic Trans Chorus of Los Angeles, the largest group of transgender and gender nonconforming people anywhere in the world who regularly sing together. Distribution pending.

The Science of Interstellar

Directed by Gail Willumsen
Produced by Jill Shinefeld and Gail Willumsen
Narrated by Matthew McConaughey

One-hour documentary about the science that inspired Christopher Nolan’s feature film Interstellar. Broadcast on the Discovery, Science and American Hero channels (Discovery Networks.) 

Making Stuff Safer

Produced by Gail Willumsen and Jill Shinefield
Written by Gail Willumsen

This one-hour show explores the latest technologies and innovations that make our lives safer.Broadcast on PBS, the show is one of four episodes in WGBH NOVA’s “Making More Stuff” series, hosted by technology columnist David Pogue.

Ultimate Mars Challenge

Produced by Jill Shinefield and Gail Willumsen
Directed and Written by Gail Willumsen

This one-hour special for NOVA (WGBH) chronicles the building and launching of Curiosity, NASA’s extraordinary Mars rover, and its first discoveries on the surface of the Red Planet. Broadcast on PBS.

Secrets of Stonehenge

Produced by Gail Willumsen and Jill Shinefield
Directed and Written by Gail Willumsen

This one-hour special for NOVA (WGBH) features the latest excavations in and around the most mysterious monument of prehistory, as a whole new vision of Stonehenge and its landscape come to light.  Broadcast on PBS.

• Best Narration and Best Cinematography, 2011 Archaeology Channel International Film and Video Festival

• Prize for the Popularization of Science, 9th International Festival for Archeological Films, Brussels.

• Official Selection, 11th Festival du film d'Archéologie d'Amiens, France

• Official Selection, 2nd Int'l Archaeology Film Festival of Split, Croatia

• Official Selection, XXIII International Festival of Archaeological Film, Rovereto,Italy.

The Mummy Who Would Be King

Directed and Written by Gail Willumsen
Produced by Gail Willumsen and Jill Shinefield
Narrated by Stacy Keach

This one-hour special for NOVA (WGBH), explores the posthumous adventures of an Egyptian mummy. After languishing for 150 years in a Niagara Falls freak show, the mummy was finally recognized by scientists as the long-lost remains of a pharaoh. Broadcast on PBS.

• Emmy© for Outstanding Individual Achievement in a Craft: Writing

• Prix spécial du jury, 7th International Festival of Archaeological Films, Brussels

• Special Jury Prix, Beijing International Scientific Film Festival

• Best Script, The Archaeology Channel International Film and Video Festival (plus Honorable Mentions for 'Best Film', 'Best Narration', 'Most Inspirational')

• Selection for Vedere La Scienza Film Festival, Milan

Delivering the Goods

Produced by Gail Willumsen and Jill Shinefield
Directed and written by Gail Willumsen
Narrated by Brad Pitt

This one-hour documentary is an episode of the six-part series RX for Survival: A Global Health Challenge, a co-production of the WGBH/NOVA Science Unit and Vulcan Productions, for broadcast on PBS.
Every year, some 17 million people die needlessly, because the benefits of modern medicine and public health simply don't reach them. This film profiles four innovative health programs that are building "delivery systems" to ensure the health of millions.

• Emmy© for Outstanding Informational Programming - Long Form

Lost World of the Holy Land

Produced by Gail Willumsen and Jill Shinefield
Directed and written by Gail Willumsen
Narrated by Joe Morton

This one-hour special for the Nature series is a co-production of WNET/Thirteen and National Geographic Television, for broadcast on PBS. The show celebrates the efforts of Israeli and Palestinian conservation biologists to protect wildlife in the region known as the Holy Land.

• Finalist Award, 25th International Wildlife Film Festival, Missoula

• Merit Award for Cinematography, Merit Award for Use of Music, 25th Intnl. Wildlife Film Festival, Missoula

• Nominee, Pare Lorentz Award, International Documentary Association

• Nominee, 2003 Genesis Award, Humane Society of the United States

• Special Commendation 2004 Genesis Awards, Human Society of the United States

The Evolutionary Arms Race

Produced by Jill Shinefield and Gail Willumsen
Directed and Written by Gail Willumsen
Narrated by Liam Neeson

Episode 4 in the Evolution series (a co-production of WGBH/NOVA Science Unit and Clear Blue Skies Productions, for broadcast on PBS) this one-hour documentary explores the ways in which competition and cooperation can be equally important to the survival of a species.

• Cine Golden Eagle Award

• Worldfest Houston Intn'l. Film and Video Festival - Platinum Award

• Omni Intermedia Bronze Award

Ancient Graves: Voices of the Dead

Produced by Gail Willumsen and Jill Shinefield
Directed and written by Gail Willumsen
Narrated by Sally Kellerman

This one-hour National Geographic Special for broadcast on NBC takes viewers on a worldwide exploration of the study of mummies and other ancient human remains.

Lost Ships of the Mediterranean

Produced, Directed and Written by Gail Willumsen

This one-hour documentary for the National Geographic Channel chronicles a deep-sea archaeology expedition off the coast of Israel, where Dr. Robert Ballard and his crew discover the wrecks of ancient cargo ships. 

The Noble Horse

Produced, Directed and Written by Gail Willumsen

This one-hour special about the relationship between horses and humans, is a co-production of WNET/Thirteen and National Geographic Television, for the NATURE series on PBS.

• First Place: Gold Camera Award, International Film and Video Festival

• Cine Golden Eagle Award

• Nominee, 2000 Genesis Award, Humane Society of the United States

Volcano!

Produced and Written by Gail Willumsen

This one-hour National Geographic Special for broadcast on NBC delves into the mysteries of volcanoes and the dedicated individuals who risk their lives to study them.

• Emmy© Award for Writing: Individual Achievement in a Craft in News and Documentary Programming

Herod's Dynasty

Produced and Written by Gail Willumsen

This one-hour documentary looks at the life of the infamous King Herod and his monumental buildings.  For the Ancient Mysteries series, a production of FilmRoos for the Arts and Entertainment Network A&E.

• Cable ACE Nomination, Best Informational Series

30 Years of Geographic Specials

Produced by Gail Willumsen and Barry Nye
Written by Gail Willumsen

This two-hour National Geographic Special for broadcast on NBC celebrates three decades of award-winning excellence in documentary filmmaking.

• EMMY© Nomination, Best Informational Special

Island of the Giant Bears

Produced by Wolfgang Bayer
Co-Produced by Barry Nye and Gail Willumsen
Written by Gail Willumsen

This one-hour National Geographic Special looks at the denizens of Kodiak Island—the gigantic Kodiak bears as well as the native Alutiiq people who call the island home. Broadcast on PBS.

• Chris Award, Columbus Intn’l Film & Video Festival  

The Moon and Beyond

Produced and Written by Gail Willumsen
Narrated by Patrick Stewart

This one-hour documentary profiles the scientists and researchers who believe a return to the Moon is essential to the future of life on earth, and to future space exploration.  The show was produced for the PBS series SPACE AGE, for WQED Pittsburgh and NHK/Japan, in association with the National Academy of Sciences 

The Infinite Voyage

Gail Willumsen produced and wrote five one-hour episodes in the Infinite Voyage science series, a production of WQED Pittsburgh in association with the National Academy of Sciences, for broadcast on PBS.

The episode “The Living Clock”, about the nascent science of chronobiology was singled out for these awards:

• EMMY© Nomination, National News and Documentary, Individual Achievement in Writing. ("The Living Clock")

• President's Award, Best Entry of the 38th annual Columbus Intn'l Film & Video Festival.

• Certificate of Merit, Chicago Intn'l. Film Festival

• Ohio State Certificates of Merit, Natural & Physical Sciences

Galapagos

Written by Gail Willumsen—US broadcast version only.
A co-production of the National Geographic Channel and the BBC. Broadcast on the National Geographic Channel.

This three-hour special explores the geology and wildlife of the extraordinary islands that inspired Charles Darwin. 

Cyclone

Written by Gail Willumsen
Directed and produced by Richard Wells

One-hour National Geographic special about the science—and destructive power—of hurricanes and tornadoes. Broadcast on NBC.

America's Endangered Species: Don't Say Goodbye

Line produced by Jill Shinefield (with producer and director Robert Kenner)
Narrated by James Woods

This one-hour National Geographic Special for NBC chronicles photographers Susan Middleton and David Liittschwager's quest to preserve endangered animals and plants on film.

• Emmy© Award - Outstanding Achievement for Cinematography, in Non-Fiction Programming

• International Documentary Association Award for Best Strand Program

• Genesis Award, Humane Society of the United States

Ancient Mysteries and Biography series, on A&E Television, for FilmRoos Productions

Jill Shinefield was Segment Producer on episodes "Kama Sutra: The Secrets of Sex", "Rites of Death", "Lost Spirits of Cambodia", "Astrology: Secrets in the Stars", "Noah."

Scream

Visual Effects Producer: Jill Shinefield
Visual Effects Supervisor: Kevin Haug

Music video, directed by Mark Romanek, that features Janet and Michael Jackson on a spaceship somewhere in our galaxy, or another.

• Grammy for Best Short Form Music Video