Moving at the Pace of the Community in Documentary Filmmaking

Join an exclusive lecture and Q&A with award-winning documentary director Tommy Caamaño (F ’20), as he shares insights from his work on Traveling the Spectrum (Peacock) and beyond. Over the past three years, Tom has worked closely with individuals and families in the Autism community, shaping a series that prioritizes the individuals in front of the camera. His approach—moving at the pace of the community being served—has been a guiding principle across all of his work, from ALS advocacy to development projects in Indigenous communities.

Rooted in personal experience, Tom’s storytelling is deeply informed by his own journey—growing up with a mother with a disability and living with Muscular Dystrophy himself. He will discuss the ethical responsibilities of documentary filmmaking, the challenges of balancing creative vision with community engagement, and strategies for ensuring that the appropriate voices remain at the heart of the work.

Tom will also share insights into navigating the industry as a filmmaker with a disability, including finding resources, and identifying supportive production environments.

Join us on April 10 at 7pm ET. Register in advance here or at the link below.

Tommy Caamaño is an award-winning documentary director with over 25 years of experience. He is currently a director and partner at The Workshop, LLC. Tom’s recent credits include Traveling the Spectrum(Peacock), a series that follows families navigating autism through travel, True North: The Sean Swarner Story (PBS, ESPN), and THP (in Production)

Throughout his career, Tommy has worked for ESPN, ABC Sports, Showtime, and PBS. He began his journey at Silver Cup Studios in New York as a production assistant on HBO series such as The Sopranos and Sex and the City.

Tommy is a graduate of Penn State University and earned his MFA in Film from Vermont College of Fine Arts.