Debra Gonsher Vinik

Dr. Debra Gonsher Vinik, is an American producer and writer of documentary films.[1] She owns the production company, Diva Communications, Inc., that produces her films.[2]

Biography

Vinik worked as a producer at Bravo Magazine and was head of production for both CBS/Fox Video and Scanline Video. She earned her Ph.D. in Theatre Criticism from the City University of New York and is currently a Professor and Chairperson of the Communication Arts and Sciences Department at Bronx Community College of the City University of New York.

She is based in New York.[3]

Work

She has produced and written eighteen documentaries, ten of which have been nominated for Emmy awards and four of which have won the honors: And The Gates Opened (2007), The Eternal Light (2008), Yearning To Belong (2009) and Divine Prescription: Stories of Faith, Health and Community (2013). Her films have been shown at festivals worldwide. Most recently Every Word Has Power: The Poetry of Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel (2015), nominated for an Emmy, screened at the Washington Jewish Music Festival in June 2016.

Her 2003 documentary film, Moving Heaven and Earth, portrays Uganda's Abayudaya community of converts to traditional Judaism.[1] It was broadcast on the Hallmark Channel.[1][4][5][3] Moving Heaven and Earth was funded by "some 70 Christian and Jewish groups," including the Jewish Theological Seminary of America and the Union of American Hebrew Congregations.[5]

Her 2002 film Faith First: Second Career Clergy, was shown ABC-TV.[2]

She is the author of both a film entitled Embracing Judaism: Reaching In, Reaching Out, Reaching Up, which was shown on ABC-TV, and a book Embracing Judaism: Personal Narratives of Renewed Faith.[6]

These films address such subjects as community and inclusion for persons with disabilities, hunger in America, intimate partner violence and healthcare. Most recently Dr. Gonsher Vinik finished Beauty of Their Dreams, which aired on ABC affiliated stations in April through July 2016, and focused on the role of people of faith advocating for girls' education worldwide.

Her newest project, tentatively entitled, Entertaining Angels, examines the role of faith groups in immigration reform and refugee settlement, and is scheduled to air on ABC affiliated stations in Fall 2017.


Vinik has written two books and one textbook:

  • Gonsher, Debra A., and Joshua Halberstam. The Community College Guide: The Essential Reference from Application to Graduation. Dallas, TX: BenBella, 2009. Print.
  • -----------------------. Career Speak: Articulation and Presentation. Dubuque, IA: Kendall/Hunt, 2005. Print.
  • -----------------------. Embracing Judaism: Personal Narratives of Renewed Faith. Northvale, NJ: Jason Aronson, 1999. Print.[6]

Films
Entertaining Angels Pre-Production
The Beauty of Their Dreams (2016) ABC (completed)
Every Word Has Power'' (2015) ABC (Emmy Nomination, 2016)
All of the Above' (2014) ABC
Divine Prescription (2013) ABC 2014 NY Emmy
A Peace of Bread (2011) ABC RNA 2nd place
I Believe You: Faiths’ Response to Intimate Partner Violence(2010) ABC & NBC Emmy Nomination, RNA 3rd
A Place for All: Faith and Community for Persons with Disabilities (2009) ABC & NBC Emmy Nomination, De Rose Hinkhouse 1st place
Yearning to Belong (2009) ABC & NBC 2009 NY Emmy
Everyone Prays at Holy Etchmiadzin (2008) ABC & PBS Emmy Nomination
And the Gates Opened: Women in the Rabbinate (2007) ABC & NBC 2008 NY Emmy
The Eternal Light: A Historical Retrospective (2006) ABC & NBC 2007 NY Emmy
Legacy of Our Ancestors: The 350th Anniversary of Jews in Early America (2004) ABC & NBC
The Highest Commandment (2003) ABC & NBC
Faith First (2002) ABC & NBC Emmy Nomination
A Sacred Noise (2001) ABC & NBC
To God’s Ear: Song and Music of the Jewish Liturgy (2000) ABC & NBC Emmy Nomination
Grateful, Am I, To You (1999) ABC & NBC 1st prize, Education Category, 7th Annual International Jewish Film Festival
Embracing Judaism: Reaching In, Reaching Out, Reaching Up (1995) ABC & NBC
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References
  1. Lobdell, William (27 September 2003). "Film Opens Up Life, Faith of Isolated Ugandan Jews". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 11 December 2017.
  2. Friedman, Robin (3 January 2002). "Local resident to appear in documentary on 'second-career' clergy". New Jersey Jewish News. ProQuest 364794200.
  3. Hartog, Kelly (1 October 2004). "Out of Africa". Jerusalem Post. ProQuest 319450736.
  4. Jenkins, Mark (11 December 2003). "Hebrew International". Washington City Paper. ProQuest 362546338.
  5. Silverman, Ed (2 October 2003). "'Moving Heaven and Earth'; Film examines isolation and tenacity of Uganda's Jews". New Jersey Jewish News. ProQuest 364946340.
  6. Waysman, Dvora. "Judaism as history and faith (book review)". Jerusalem Post. ProQuest 319279368.
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