CREDITS / BIOS

The Filmmakers are Members of The International Documentary Association.

Renee Sotile
Director/ Producer

Renee has won two Emmy awards for her work as a video-journalist in Los Angeles. She has extensive experience working in television news covering high profile events and headline stories: the academy awards, presidential conventions, LA earth quake, floods, and the “Trial of the Century.” She is a native of Rochester, NY, but considers Los Angeles her home.

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Renee
Photo by James R. Conner
maryjo >

Mary Jo Godges
Director/ Producer


Mary Jo is an Avid/Final Cut Pro/Logic Pro Certified editor and composer with a strong background in journalism. Her career began as an on-air radio personality in Los Angeles. MJ is from Redondo Beach, CA, and has a B.A. in Communication Arts in Media from Loyola Marymount University.

Renee and Maryjo moo

FILM CREDITS

      
Written,  Produced, Directed by
Renee Sotile & Mary Jo Godges 

"YOU'RE WHERE I GO"

     Christa's Song

Written & Performed by Carly Simon

Narrated by Susan Sarandon

Directors of Photography/Research/Editors
Renee Sotile & Mary Jo Godges

Shooter Post & Transfer Philadelphia

On Line Editor

Nik Rodgers

Colorist

 Robert Lovejoy

Audio Mix

Bruce Hanafan

Additional Narration Writers

Fred Haines

Colin Campbell

John Godges

Laurie Schenden

 

 

Producers Representative

Peter Broderick

Film Publicist

Deb Balzer

Music by

Kevin Bartlett

Additional Music

Scott McAuliffe

Mary Jo Godges

Story Consultants

Fred Haines

Eugenia Killoran

Laurie Schenden

Producers

Sue  Cowell

Barbara Lewis

Wendy Wright

Production Assistants

Cindy Campbell

Bonnie Cowell

Tom DeBlase

Gigi Garcia

Jonathan Killoran

plane
Renee and Mary Jo combined their talents and created Traipsing Thru Films, Inc producing short films that received a variety of success. Bessie, Billie & Ruth showcases the history of Bessie Smith, Billie Holiday and Ruth Brown went on to broadcast all over the world during Black History month. In 2006 they premiered their first feature documentary, Christa McAuliffe: Reach for the Stars which aired on CNN Presents and went on to win several awards on the film festival circuit.

Bessie,Billie,Ruth
Starring Sweet Baby J’ai, this one woman show takes us on a journey through the lives of three of America’s greatest singers.