Senior Judge Portraits

2013 | US  District Court | USA

 

Now in production. Parts 1 & 2 of a series.

 

As a kid growing up in a large Irish-Catholic family, Wally McGovern loved playing sports. In time, he became a scrappy, successful basketball guard, starring first in high school, and then in college. He turned down a basketball career to study law, a path that took him onto the bench of nearly every type of court in Washington State, including the State Supreme Court, and--for more than four decades--on the federal court in Western Washington. Hon. Walter T. McGovern shares memories and lessons from his storied career, including presiding over the infamous federal criminal trial of a domestic terror group called The Order. Judge McGovern's video portrait is alive with his famous wit, charm and confidence.

 

When Carolyn Dimmick graduated from the University of Washington School of Law, she was one of just three women in her class. Her longtime after-school employer, The Seattle Post-Intelligencer newspaper, called her a pretty blonde barrister, and made a fuss about her skill as a professional water skiier. But Hon. Carolyn Dimmick never let her gender become an issue, even as she rose to become the first woman member of the Washington State Supreme Court, and only the second woman to serve as a federal judge in Western Washington. She presided over several highly-publicized cases, and capped her career by overseeing the construction of Seattle's soaring and award-winning federal courthouse. Judge Dimmick's video portrait displays her modesty, humor and determination.

 

A CO-PRODUCTION BY JACK & LESLIE HAMANN FOR THE U.S. DISTRICT COURTS FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON

 

 

A More Perfect Union: The Tacoma Union Station Federal Courthouse Centennial

2011 | US  District Court | USA

 

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A More Perfect Union is the story of the folks who transformed a dying Tacoma landmark into a glittering temple of justice.

 

The 30-minute documentary features, among others, the schoolboy train photographer who became a renowned historian; the architects who breathed new life into a building destined for a bulldozer; the gutsy citizens who prodded politicians to pay for a remarkable renovation; and the outspoken jurist who refused to compromise on either the new courtroom's solemnity or its sassiness.

 

In the end, a forgotten treasure from the past literally transforms the forgotten core of a city determined to secure a vibrant future.

 

A CO-PRODUCTION BY JACK & LESLIE HAMANN FOR THE U.S. DISTRICT COURTS FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON

After the Rains: Pursuing Polio to the Ends of the Earth

2010 | Rotary International | Ethiopia, USA

 

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A Seattle Rotarian commits more than a quarter of his life to Rotary’s heroic polio campaign, only to encounter difficult, unexpected obstacles at the very moment most people hoped the campaign might reach its goal. Prodded by a long-ago promise, he perseveres, journeying far from his family and his business to redouble the inoculation effort, confident he can help the campaign succeed at this, its most crucial hour.

 

with funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

 

Seattle insurance agent leads fight against polio in Ethiopia | Nicole Brodeur | Seattle Times | 11.4.2010

 

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"Brilliant film. After the Rains is truly an amazing work."

-Apoorva Mallya | Program Officer, Vaccine Preventable Diseases, Bill & Melina Gates Foundation

 

A CO-PRODUCTION BY JACK & LESLIE HAMANN FOR ROTARY INTERNATIONAL AND THE BILL & MELINDA GATES FOUNDATION

Generation IX

2007 | KCTS|Seattle Public Television| China, USA

 

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A one-hour documentary exploring frustrating yet conquerable conundrums for women in sports. In the age of Title IX, women’s sports have grown expensive, time-consuming, complicated and extraordinarily competitive, even at the most elementary levels. 2005 NCAA volleyball champion University of Washington travels to China, home of many of the best women athletes in the world, and provide the focus for a revealing look at the future of women and sport.

 

with funding from the Denman Family Foundation, the Gratia Ainslie Foundation,
Susan and John Pohl, Dorothy Simpson, Sally Behnke and Karen Koon

 

Couple's passion shines through in documentary | Florangela Davila | Seattle Times | 2.15.2007

Documentary a winning look at female athletes | Florangela Davila | Seattle Times | 2.15.2007

 

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"A smart, finely tuned film, worth viewing by anyone who gives a hoot about young women, athlete or not."

-Florangela Davila | Seattle Times

 

A CO-PRODUCTION BY JACK & LESLIE HAMANN FOR KCTS|SEATTLE PUBLIC TELEVISION AND PBS AFFILIATE STATIONS

Faith & Fear: The Children of Krishna

2001 | KCTS|Seattle Public Television| USA

 

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A 90-minute public television film detailing the widespread abuse of children born into the North American Hare Krishna movement. The program includes intimate revelations by former devotees, their parents, and current members of the controversial faith.

 

 

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“Faith & Fear should be seen as an important and cautionary piece of reporting ... As good, unbiased reportin should, it raises the questions and lets the viewer roll them around in his brainpan for a while.”

-SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER

 

A CO-PRODUCTION OF JACK HAMANN AND LAUREL SPELLMAN FOR KCTS|SEATTLE PUBLIC TELEVISION AND PBS AFFILIATE STATIONS

Hot Potatoes

2001 | KCTS|Seattle Public Television| Peru, Mexico, USA

 

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A one-hour public television documentary revealing how the infamous blight that wiped out Ireland’s potatoes in the 1840s is once again threatening farmers around the world. The central character, Dr. John Niederhauser, is an oracle who spent his storied career warning about the dangers of over-dependence on pesticides to control this explosive plant disease.

 

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“After watching Hot Potatoes, you might want to go with the cole slaw. Not that one more spud is going to kill you. But the documentary is disturbing, especially in a country where potato consumption is more American than apple pie.”

-SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER

 

A CO-PRODUCTION OF JACK HAMANN AND JOHN DE GRAAF FOR KCTS|SEATTLE PUBLIC TELEVISION AND PBS AFFILIATE STATIONS

The Russia Factor

1999 | CNN | Russia

 

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A one-hour CNN film that asks: “Why didn’t democracy save Russia?” An unblinking slice of life in post-communist Moscow and Siberia, through the eyes of Matt Taibbi and Mark Ames, two American expatriate publishers of an alternative weekly newspaper called the Exile.

 

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“Very cool. Very watchable. Very understandable. Three things that have never been said about a documentary on the meltdown of Russia. Ever.”

-BOB MELISSO

 

PRODUCED FOR CNN BY JACK HAMANN, CHARLIE MOORE & BOB BRIENZA; TEYA RYAN, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER

Peace Frogs

1997 | CNN | USA, Canada

 

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An hour-long mad dash across North America, winding 5,000 miles in just 14 days, from Richmond, Virginia to Fairbanks, Alaska. It’s part road rally, part madness in the irreverent tradition of Jack Kerouac.

 

 

 

 

PRODUCED FOR CNN BY JACK HAMANN & BRUCE BURKHARDT; TEYA RYAN, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER

Green Plans

1995 | KCTS|Seattle Public Television | Netherlands, New Zealand, USA

 

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A one-hour film exploring the extraordinary steps taken by the Netherlands and New Zealand in their landmark efforts to incorporate sustainable development into their government, business and society.

 

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“An exceptional documentary … After viewing the program, few will be able to dodge environmental problems with the excuse that it’s impossible to get business, government and nature lovers to agree, much less win over, a majority of the electorate.”

-EVERETT HERALD

 

A CO-PRODUCTION OF JACK HAMANN & JOHN DE GRAAF FOR KCTS/SEATTLE PUBLIC TELEVISION AND PBS AFFILIATE STATIONS

The Earth Summit

1992 | CNN | Brazil, USA

 

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A 90-minute romp through Rio de Janeiro as most of the world’s leaders converge to try to reach agreement on how to clean up our air, water and land. Biggest hurdle: the U. S. government.

 

 

 

 

PRODUCED FOR CNN BY JACK HAMANN & BRUCE BURKHARDT, PEGGY KNAPP, SHARON COLLINS & CRAIG DUFF; TEYA RYAN, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER

The Quake ... and the Lives it Shook

1989 | KING-TV (NBC)|Seattle | USA

 

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A 30-minute journey through shellshocked communities ravaged by the 7.1-magnitude San Francisco (Loma Prieta) earthquake. Includes stories spanning diverse neighborhoods; from the wealthy Marina District to the farmworker families living within walking distance of the quake’s epicenter.

 

 

“The real aftershocks of the California Earthquake are those that leave lives cracked, emotions buckled and the future of families dangling over a precipice of uncertainty. Those are the images captured in an impressive special.”

-SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER

 

PRODUCED FOR KING-TV/SEATTLE BY JACK HAMANN, SCOTT MILLER, KEN JONES & DIANA WILMAR

Discovery Park Graves

1987 | KING-TV (NBC)|Seattle | USA

 

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A one hour historical re-examination of the largest Army court martial of World War II. The program casts doubt on the trial of dozens of African-American soldiers charged with the lynching of a former Italian prisoner of war. Inspired later research for the book, On American Soil.

 

 

“A murder mystery, a documentary and an investigative piece rolled into one are unrolled, layer by intriguing layer … This is as good as it gets when it comes to locally made news specials. A rare gem of a story is unearthed and its many prisms artfully turned in the light by reporter-producer Jack Hamann.”

-SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER

 

PRODUCED FOR KING-TV/SEATTLE BY JACK HAMANN

Shelter from the Storm

1986 | KING-TV (NBC)|Seattle | USA

 

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A one-hour documentary probing the lives of low-income seniors in downtown Seattle whose neighborhood is being renovated out from underneath them. Features an exclusive conversation with Sam Israel, the city’s most infamous slumlord, a wealthy man who lives alone in a trailer on a ramshackle ranch in the desert.

 

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“An exceptional one-hour news special … The show goes thoughtfully beyond the statement of the problems … to consider both the causes and possible remedies.”

-SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER

 

PRODUCED FOR KING-TV/SEATTLE BY JACK HAMANN & DIANA WILMAR

Mary & Zola: After the Fall

1985 | KING-TV (NBC)|Seattle | Northern Ireland, England, USA

 

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A half-hour documentary revealing—for the first time—the exclusive true story of one of the most shocking and controversial confrontations in the history of the Olympic Games: American Mary Decker and South African Zola Budd. Featured on NBC's TODAY Show.

 

 

“A fascinating, tightly-packed half-hour of personal revelations and contrasting personalities. In it all, Hamann remains unobtrusive and, best of all, the show leaves you wanting more.”

-SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER

 

PRODUCED FOR KING-TV/SEATTLE BY JACK HAMANN & DON METCALF

Diane Downs

Circle of Abuse

1984 | KING-TV (NBC)|Seattle | USA

 

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A half-hour film about the notorious trial of Diane Downs, a woman accused of trying to kill her three children, and the dark history of her own tortured relationships.

 

 

“Oregon’s Elizabeth Diane Downs child-murder case is so bizarre it almost seems ready-made for a TV movie, and Jack Hamann does a good job of condensing all of the story’s key points.”

-SEATTLE TIMES

 

PRODUCED FOR KING-TV/SEATTLE BY JACK HAMANN & DIANA WILMAR