Production Credits
Daniel Miller, Ph.D.: Producer, writer, director, and director of photography for Fire in the Heartland: The Kent State Story
Daniel Miller was born and raised in Ohio and attended Kent State University from 1968 through 1970. While he was there, his brother, David, served in Vietnam. He is now a professor at the University of Oregon, the founder and director of the Oregon Documentary Project (ODP), a documentary film photographer, producer, and director, and a scholar of film history, in particular of Vietnam and of documentaries of war and conflict. His films include Fire in the Heartland: the Kent State Story; Citizen Blue: The Life of an American Filmmaker, Making Pictures: Photojournalism in a Community Newspaper, What They Could Carry: an Honoring Ceremony for the Victims of Japanese Internment, Dream to Fly: Howard Hughes the Aviator Ninos del Campos (migrant education), He has contributed to numerous other films as a photographer, director of photography and cinematographer. Dan is the faculty advisor and executive producer of more than 50 award-winning public broadcast student-produced documentaries focused on making a difference in Oregon, many with Emmy awards. He has received commendation letters from the Governor and National prison reform advocates for his work with students in Oregon Prisons. His Oregon Documentary Project (ODP) website is available at http://odp.uoregon.edu. Fire in the Heartland is the most important work he has accomplished in his career till now.
Thomas Grace, Ph.D.: Lead Historian: Tom attended Kent State University from 1968-1970. He now holds a Ph.D. in history and is a highly regarded Union leader, historian and author. Tom was wounded on that fateful day May 4th., 1970. He is the primary historian and contributor to the film Fire in the Heartland: The Kent State Story. His upcoming book, Kent State: Death and Dissent during the Long Sixties, is the definitive history of Northeastern Ohio political history during the period.
Maija Miller: Co-Producer: Maija attended Ohio State University from 1956 through 1960. She graduated in fine arts. She became an artist and high school teacher, teaching art at Bexeley, Shaker Heights, Wooster and Lebanon, Ohio high schools. Maija’s son David served in Vietnam from 1966-1968. Her son Daniel attended Kent State University. During the war in Vietnam Maija experienced and counseled sons and students who went to war and joined in protest. During the Kent State confrontations, she experienced the tragedy, met and spent time with Allison Krause’s grief- stricken father, and suffered harassment from federal authorities. After Kent State Maija moved to Oregon, achieved graduate degrees in psychology and family counseling, and became one of the premiere family counselors in the state. She is a producer and advisor for Fire in the Heartland: The Kent State Story
William Whitaker, Esq.: Co-Producer: Bill attended Kent State University from 1966-1970. He is a distinguished nationally prominent attorney in Akron, Ohio. He served as a legal advisor or counsel on every major legal battle related to Kent SDS, the shootings at Kent State and the 1977 Tent City protests in Kent. He is a tireless advocate of human rights and social justice. He is an associate producer, advisor and counselor for the film Fire in the Heartland: The Kent State Story
Carolyn Knox, Ph.D.: Candy attended and taught at Kent State University from 1966 through 1970. She is now a professor at the University of Oregon where she specializes in the uses of educational technology in education. She has been a key advisor and producer of the film. Her dedication to education, human rights and social justice informs every frame of the film Fire in the Heartland: The Kent State Story
Alan Canfora: Historian, Cast: Alan Canfora attended Kent State University from 1968-1970. Alan is now an historian, Union Leader and the founder and director of the May 4th task force. In this capacity he has shouldered the responsibility of organizing the participants and events of the annual Kent and Jackson State commemoration events for over thirty years and keeping the memory of Kent alive through his prolific writing and web site work. Alan is a key contributor to the first hand historical record of the film Fire in the Heartland: The Kent State Story
David King: Photographer: David attended Kent State University from 1965-1970. He was a professional photographer and photojournalist throughout his tenure there. David was a program director for the Oakland California School System for over twenty years and now continues his work as a dedicated photographer. He is a photographer and photo archivist for the film Fire in the Heartland: The Kent State Story
Judy King: Photographer: Judy King attended Kent State University from 1965-1970. She became a high school teacher in the state of Virginia for over twenty years and now continues her work as a teacher, activist and photographer with her husband David King in Canton, Ohio. Judy is a researcher and photo archivist for the film Fire in the Heartland: The Kent State Story.
Ken Hammond, Ph.D.: Ken attended Kent State from 1967-1971. He is now an Asian cultures and societies historian and scholar. He holds a Ph.D. in Asian History and Studies from Harvard University and is the Chair of the History Department at New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Ken was an SDS member at Kent and played a key role in organizing peaceful protest against the war between April 30th and May 4th, 1970. He was the spokesperson who spoke to students from atop the victory bell wall at 12:00 on May 4th. Ken’s Contribution to the film is as a historian, human rights and social justice advocate, and Vietnam War scholar.
Chris Butler: Chris Butler is a groundbreaking artist and musician. Chris was a student, artist, actor, and musician at Kent. He was heavily involved in the anti-war movement. He was a good friend of Jeff Miller and was there when Guardsmen fired on students, killing Jeff and wounding other friends on May 4th. Chris went on to play music with the Numbers Band and Tin Huey in Kent and Cleveland and formed The Waitresses, a seminal 70s band. Today, Chris continues his career as a musician and artist in New Jersey and Ohio. Chris is a music, art and design consultant on the film.
Cree Riggs: Cree Riggs attended the University of Oregon from 1999 to 2004. She is now a film and television director, producer and editor. Her films include the award-winning film Enjoying the Ride: The Story of David Foster. She contributed her producing and editing skills to Dream to Fly and to the rough cuts of Fire in the Heartland: The Kent State Story. She has too many television news producing credits to list. Cree is an assistant producer and editor of the film Fire in the Heartland: The Kent State Story.
Cory Knox: Cory Knox attended the University of Oregon between 1992 and 1996. He was a full-time employee and web designer with the state of Oregon even before graduating from college and was recruited to work at Pixar Pictures where he began a new career lending his computer, sound and image skills to Pixar’s films beginning with A Bug’s Life and continuing with Toy Story II and the Incredibles.