Melissa Godoy [Director/Camera] Melissa Godoy is an award-winning director and producer of television and independent film. Over her 25-year career, her programs have been seen on PBS stations nationwide, and locally at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, the Cincinnati Art Museum, the Cincinnati Ballet, and other arts, business, and educational venues. Recently, she created Do Not Go Gently, narrated by Walter Cronkite, about the power of imagination in aging. Gently earned the 2008 National Electronic Media Award from the American Society on Aging, a Gold Medal in Humanities at the New York Festivals, and the Motivational/Inspirational Award of Excellence from Accolade. Godoy also recently served as Line Producer for the 2010 Oscar-nominated documentary short, The Last Truck by Steven Bognar & Julia Reichert (HBO) about the closing of a General Motors plant in Moraine, Ohio; and for the national Prime Time Emmy Award-winning documentary about children with cancer, A Lion in the House, by Steven Bognar and Julia Reichert (Independent Lens / PBS). She has two Regional Emmys — one for Classical Quest, a half-hour public television documentary featuring the Starling Chamber Orchestra. The other is for a cool motorcycle spot for the American Red Cross. Godoy was a field producer and cinematographer for Election Day, by Katy Chevigny, which aired on the national PBS series, POV, in July 2008 and has been screening at national and international festivals. She shares her love of filmmaking as an Artist-in-Residence with the Ohio Arts Council’s Arts Learning Program. Godoy studied Theatre and Creative Writing for the Media at Northwestern University, a pursuit that has taken her into many interesting parts of the world, and into even more fascinating frontiers of the human mind and spirit. Melissa currently produces a monthly talk show on CET about independent filmmaking called Viewfinder.

Steve Dorst [Co-Producer/Editor] is producer and president of Dorst MediaWorks, Inc in Washington, DC, the film production studio he founded in 2000. He is currently in post-production on Shattered Sky: The Battle for Energy, Economy, and Environment, which parallels the ozone crisis with the current climate crisis, with the goal of renewing America's energy policy. In 2007, he wrote, directed, and produced Volcanic Sprint, a feature documentary that chronicles the adventure and human emotion of a brutal mountain race in Africa. It played in film festivals on five continents and is being distributed internationally by American Public Television Worldwide. Dorst has produced and directed dozens of short films for corporate and nonprofit clients, and has led field production teams in Asia, Latin America, and Africa. He writes a blog on his reflections as a documentary filmmaker.

Joe Brinker [Co-Producer] Joseph “Joe” Brinker was born in Cincinnati in 1969 and graduated from Saint Xavier High School in 1987. Brinker has worked on conflict resolution and civil society development in senior management positions for some of the world’s leading global institutions, including USAID, the United Nations and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). Currently, Joe is the head of the Office of Political Affairs for the OSCE Mission in Kosovo and just completed 18 months serving as a foreign policy advisor to Barack Obama's presidential campaign. Previously, Joe managed the UN election office in Jalalabad, Afghanistan during the parliamentary elections in 2005, where he oversaw a multi-million dollar election operation that culminated with 12,000 staff on election day. In 2004, he coordinated logistics for the Afghan Presidential Out-of-Country Registration and Voting, which at the time was the largest refugee vote ever attempted. Brinker earned an MA in International Economics from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies and a BA in English Literature from Georgetown University. Rebirth of Over-the-Rhine is his first film.

ADVISORS

The producers continue to assemble an advisory team of local and national experts on Cincinnati's history, politics, architecture, and aspects of social life; as well as subject experts in historic preservation, urban revitalization, and economic development.

Jack Dominic has worked in public broadcasting for more than 30 years and currently serves as the Chief Operating Officer at CET in Cincinnati, the nation's first licensed non-commercial TV station.CET is a pioneer in traditional television production and distribution as well as an innovator in an array of new media, such as its broadband video service called "CETconnect." Jack was one of the earliest believers in Rebirth of Over-the-Rhine and remains one of the strongest supporters. CET's support has meant important in-kind resources. CET's local and national distribution channels will also help engage communities near and far in discussions about the issues that the film brings to light.

Candace Klein has worked in fundraising and public policy since 2001, and is currently an attorney in Cincinnati with Graydon Head & Ritchey, LLP, a leading law firm. Candace has led numerous community efforts in Over-the-Rhine, including CincyPAC (a political action committee geared toward attracting and retaining young talent in the neighborhood), Cincinnati Mayor Mallory's Young Professionals Kitchen Cabinet, and the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber Agenda 360 initiative. An active advisor to the film, Candace continues to forge crucial links with various neighborhood groups and philanthropy initiatives throughout the greater Cincinnati area.

The Rebirth of Over-the-Rhine website was produced by Dorst MediaWorks, Inc. Photographs by Steve Dorst and Joe Brinker.