Jen Senko Explained

Jennifer Senko
Birth Date:June 23, 1954
Birth Place:Douglas, Arizona, U.S.
Years Active:1992 – present

Jennifer A. Senko born June 23, 1954, is an American documentary filmmaker, author and truth-in-media activist.[1] [2] She is best known for her work on the documentary films The Vanishing City, and The Brainwashing of My Dad.[3] [4] Senko is a regular contributor on podcasts and panel discussions.

Life and career

Senko graduated on the Dean's List from Pratt Institute, where she studied communications design and painting.[5] She directed the 2000 short, Road Map Warrior Women; a road trip documentary about extraordinarily independent women in the West.[6] She co-directed the 2010 feature documentary, The Vanishing City, along with Fiore DeRosa, about gentrification's dire consequences in New York City and in other major cities around the world.[7]

Senko directed the 2016 film, The Brainwashing of My Dad about her father's cult-like transformation from a non-political, easy-going Democrat to an always-angry, extreme Republican after he discovered talk radio on a lengthened commute to work.[8]

Filmography

YearTitleContributionNote
1992The TuneActor (voices)Animation
1997I Married a Strange Person!Actor (voices)Animation
2000Road Map Warrior WomenDirector, writer, and producerDocumentary
2003The Downsizing of The GodsProducerShort film
2006La ChivaCasting directorShort film
2009Ipso factoProducerShort film
2010The Vanishing CityDirector, writer, and producerDocumentary
2016The Brainwashing of My DadDirector, writer, and producerDocumentary

Publications

Awards and nominations

YearResultAwardCategoryWorkRef.
2010WonHarlem International Film FestivalBest Short DocumentaryThe Vanishing City
2010WonLA Film FestivalHonorable Mention Feature Documentary
2010WonWorldFest-Houston International Film FestivalRemi Winner Documentary
2010WonWilliamsburg Independent Film FestivalBest Feature Documentary
2015Staff FavoriteTraverse City Film Festival"Work-In-Progress"The Brainwashing of My Dad
2016Honorable MentionAccolade Humanitarian Global Film CompetitionDocumentary Feature
2016Award of ExcellenceImpact Doc AwardsDocumentary Film
2021WonWebby AwardsVideo - People’s Voice Award in Public Service & ActivismThe Brainwashing of My Dad[9]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Jen Senko on how Fox News brainwashed her dad — and is now prepping its audience for fascism. salon.com. 27 October 2021 . 2022-06-03.
  2. Web site: BYT INTERVIEWS: FILMMAKER JEN SENKO ON "THE BRAINWASHING OF MY DAD". brightestyoungthings.com. 18 March 2016 . 2022-06-03.
  3. Web site: Documentary filmmakers put 'The Vanishing City' and New York's urban renewel in spotlight. nydailynews.com. 24 September 2010 . 2022-06-03.
  4. Web site: Review: The effects of talk radio and Fox News are studied in 'The Brainwashing of My Dad'. Los Angeles Times. 18 March 2016 . 2022-06-03.
  5. News: How Fox News and the Right-Wing Media Machine Made My Dad Crazy. The Daily Beast. 17 March 2016 . 2022-06-03 . Senko . Jen .
  6. Web site: How to talk politics with loved ones you disagree with . 2022-06-03 . kalw.org.
  7. Web site: The Vanishing City: a movie review . 2022-06-03 . peoplesworld.org. 13 March 2012 .
  8. News: Review: 'The Brainwashing of My Dad' Examines the Influence of Right-Wing News Media . The New York Times . 18 March 2016 . 2022-06-03 . Genzlinger . Neil .
  9. Web site: People's Voice Winner. winners.webbyawards.com. 2022-06-03.