Keith Silva, Interim Producer

Keith has the enviable task of telling stories about the people and places that make Vermont Vermont. After graduating from Norwich University in 1995, he began working for Across the Fence as a videographer and editor. As Keith transitioned from being behind the camera to being in front of it (something he once said he "would never do"), he learned to incorporate his skills as a visual storyteller into being an on-location reporter and producer. Contact: keith.silva@uvm.edu

Ben Willis, Multi-Media Journalist

Ben Willis is an experienced documentary filmmaker and nationally award-winning educator. He began his career in filmmaking, documenting disappearing folk art traditions in the American Southwest; and went on to become an assistant director on feature films in New York City. He served as a producer for Magic Stone Productions on two award-winning documentaries, "Best Worst Movie" and "The American Scream." More recently Ben developed various programs which integrate filmmaking with education. In 2016, he founded the Civic Life Youth Film Challenge to encourage young people to learn about our democracy. In 2021, he co-founded the Troutbeck Symposium, an event which challenges high school students to make short documentaries and other visual art pieces which showcase unknown or undertold stories from BIPOC history. Ben’s work in filmmaking and education has earned him awards from The National Association of Secretaries of State, IMAX INFocus, and The Connecticut Office of The Arts, among others. He is passionate about the opportunities for learning provided by documentary filmmaking, and describes himself as a “forever student.” Contact: ben.willis@uvm.edu