About Affinityfilms

Affinityfilms, Inc. was formed as a nonprofit media production company in 1982 after the creation of their first documentary, No Word for Rape which addressed the statewide need to raise awareness of Alaska's exceptionally high rates of sexual assault. The mission of Affinityfilms is to produce "media with meaning" which can work for pro-social change in our society, here in Alaska and across the country. Affinityfilms has no salaried employees and is run by volunteers, a board, and freelance crew. We aim for more humane days in our work schedule where typical film shoots press the limits of crew with extremely long days. We serve healthy food to our team. We encourage creative input and artistic reach from everyone right down to interns and drivers and craft services. We strive to be inclusive, rather than exclusive.

We aim to be the message, as well as create the message.

Quick birthday celebration on the set, then right back to work!  Nara Garber, DP, Greta Artman, Volunteer Coordinator, Elizabeth Rogers, Sound Recordist, Chris Scarafile, Gaffer, Mary Katzke, Co-Director, Rick, Props Master, Laura Ganis, Production Coordinator, Deborah Schildt, Co-Director
Deborah Schildt and Mary Katzke frequently co-direct, produce and edit side by side.	On location at Riley's preschool in our production for The Arc of Anchorage.
Mary Katzke, founder of Affinityfilms, graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in Radio Television and Film, as well as New York University's Graduate Tisch School of the Arts with an MFA in Writing and Directing Film and Television.  She has currently produced over 30 documentaries and feature films.

Ashley Sitkin joins us after just graduating from Boston University with a degree in Film Production. She will be learning grantwriting, film distribution, and production skills

Fumiyo Sato was an intern with Affinityfilms from March, 2002 through December, 2003 after graduating with a degree in Journalism from the University of Alaska.  She assisted with all film production and helped coordinate Between Us events.

Between Us was shot with volunteers because fundraising efforts were only modestly successful - the emotional impact of breast cancer was far down the list of favored granting - research grants, mammograms, and PR films for drug companies always seeming to come first. Made with a digital camera donated by Panasonic and professionals looking for a career move, the film was shot in three days. Camerawoman Mia Barker shot her first film, Adriana Pacheco edited her first film, Karla Murthy associate-produced her first film, and so forth. DuArt has graciously underwritten a portion of the film print made from the video master for festival screenings.

Susan Skrocki
Development Director
Anchorage Alaska

The video developed into a "First-Aid Kit for Your Heart & Soul" as survivors began dreaming of extras that would be nice to include with the video such as long distance calling cards, Kleenex, notebooks, herbal tea, bubble bath, and candles for meditation. Soon resource lists were added, an advertising agency donated the packaging and publicity started. SELF Magazine mentioned us in their February 1999 and October 2000 issues. It is our hope and intention that a national sponsor or a number of individual sponsors, will eventually underwrite the distribution of the kit for all the 186,000 women who will be diagnosed next year.

Joanne Singer,
Co-Founder
New York City