The Roots of War… the Road to Peace was initially the brainchild of the Hatton W. Sumners Foundation, a primary funder of the award winning McCuistion TV program. In October 2003, Niki, Executive Producer- Producer of the McCuistion program, received a call from Hugh Akin, the Sumners’ Foundation Executive Director, asking if she’d be interested in producing a documentary on terrorism.
As it was in keeping with her theme of conversations that matter , a recent McCuistion program about 9-11 she produced within a week of 9-11 (Terrorism: Important Information You Haven’t Heard Yet), had earned a Women in Communication award and so the die was cast. Of course the answer was yes. A grant was written, the budget developed, appointments for interviews from Iraq- to Saudi Arabia set up and in March of 2004, the small team of Niki- as film maker/Producer- Director- co-interviewer and camera back up( yes, a very small team and budget), Dennis McCuistion, narrator ,co-interviewer and associate producer, and Phil Smith, videographer – and co-editor, headed to Iraq.
The doc, scheduled to air in 2006on KERA first aired a local theatre .It was protested by the Freedom and Justice Foundation, in part because the doc listed groups with ties to terrorist activity. Determined to see the doc air, but now having no choice but to use her own money, Niki made a half dozen trips to the Middle East to study Middle East politics and policy, and conduct interviews with the people of the region, from professionals and civic leaders to political “terrorist “ groups. The Roots of War… the Road to Peace finally aired in 2009- 3 years after its scheduled airing date, to modest acclaim.
Perhaps if she knew then what she knows now- the answer to that phone call just might- just maybe, have been no thank you. And yet…it was one of those life changing events- the learning adventure, the people she met, the stories they told and the outcome of what occurred during the Roots of War… the Road to Peace, filming, editing and initial airing, subsequent disappointments and anticipation, led to a new Roots of War and a lifelong respect and compassion on the film maker’s part (Niki) for the conflict, issues and the people of the region on all sides of the political equation.
Niki believes that through conversations that matter- people can learn to have a more open respectful outlook toward differences in culture, ideology and politics which can then lead to a better understanding of others viewpoints and more informed choices. The outcome… a more peaceful sustainable world. Perhaps.
Visit: The Roots of War site to read about the controversial story and watch the the full documentary.