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Reality Check Forum 2025 / Workshop

How to Work with an Archival Producer

Debra McClutchy, Archival Producer, WTO/99

Johanna Schiller, Archival Producer, Maintenance Artist

Judith Snyderman, Archival Producer

Archival material can bring depth, power, and historical resonance to any documentary—but only when handled with expertise, creativity, and care. This workshop offers documentary filmmakers an essential introduction to working with archival producers, drawing on best practices developed by the Archival Producers Alliance (APA).

Participants will gain insight into the vital role archival producers play across all phases of production, from research and rights clearance to creative collaboration and budgeting. The session will cover typical archival team structures in both film and television, and provide actionable checklists for hiring and onboarding archival producers at the right time—ideally early in your production process.

Whether you’re new to working with archival material or looking to sharpen your approach, this workshop will demystify the archival workflow and help you build more efficient, respectful, and impactful collaborations.

Key Topics Covered:
What an archival producer does (and doesn’t do)
How to structure an archival team
Questions to ask when hiring or onboarding
Common challenges—and how to avoid them
APA resources and community support

Who Should Attend:
Filmmakers, producers, editors, researchers, and anyone working with archival material in documentary storytelling.

Debra_McClutchy_headshot_2022

Debra McClutchy

Archival Producer, WTO/99

Debra McClutchy is a Brooklyn-based independent filmmaker, archival producer/researcher, and film consultant with experience that spans development to production to distribution. Debra co-developed and co-directed the Academy Award nominated archival documentary short film The Martha Mitchell Effect. Her most recent archival producing credits include WTO/99, Swamp Dogg Gets His Pool Painted (2025, Magnolia Pictures) Secret Mall Apartment (2025, Wheelhouse Creative). Debra joined the Archival Producers Alliance in 2023 and contributed to the writing of the Best Practices for Use of Generative AI in Documentaries, GenAI Best Practices Tool Kit, and Working With Archival Producers guide. Previously, she was a senior creative at independent film distribution company Oscilloscope Laboratories, a producer at The Criterion Collection, and an associate producer in documentary television. Debra serves on the Advisory Group for the film organization Missing Movies, and is a member of The Gotham, International Documentary Association, Film Fatales.

Johanna-Schiller

Johanna Schiller

Archival Producer, Maintenance Artist

Johanna Schiller is an archival producer working on a broad range of television and film projects. For three seasons, she was the archival producer for the Emmy-winning series The New York Times Presents, working on films including Framing Britney Spears and Elon Musk’s Crash Course. Recent projects include the NAACP Image Award-winning short, How to Sue the Klan, and MAINTENANCE ARTIST, screening at this year’s DC/DOX.

Judith-Snyderman

Judith Snyderman

Producer, Archival Producer

Judith Snyderman is an independent producer specializing in archival research and clearance services for documentary filmmakers. Prior experience includes assignments as a senior digital producer for AARP.org and as a location producer for the U.S. Foreign Press Center’s Media Cooperative. She has also been a contract producer for the Voice of America and the Defense Department. Her print work has included home and style features for Washingtonian magazine. Judith holds an M.S. degree in broadcast television production from Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Communications and is an alum of the RIAS Berlin Commission Journalist exchange program.