Film Team

  • David C. Schendel

    DIRECTOR/PRODUCER

    David is an award-winning American filmmaker and director based in San Francisco. A graduate of the University of Washington School of Drama, Schendel has received critical acclaim for his films which are often distinguished by their use of humor and non-traditional methods of storytelling. He has received numerous accolades including BestDocumentary Awards, Audience Awards, a California Civil Liberties Grant, ITVS project development grant and selection as the opening night filmmaker of New York Museum of Modern Art Documentary Fortnite. He received Best Documentary Awards for Yank Tanks (2002), The Comedy Club (2021) and a Special Jury Award for Enduring Democracy (2024.) Schendel's films focus on stories of social and environmental justice often using humor and allegory in his artistic process.

    Email: david@schendelfilms.com

  • Elizabeth Nordt

    PRODUCER

    Elizabeth has researched and participated in human rights and social justice movements around the world. She has worked in non-profit administration, tutoring and educational consulting while acting, directing, and producing. She holds degrees from Lehigh, NYU and a Ph.D. from Stanford in Theatre and Performance Studies. Enduring Democracy is her first film.

    Email: enordt@gmail.com

  • Carolyn McCombs

    EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

    Carolyn is the Co-Chairperson, Heritage Project, Center for Japanese American Heritage (CJAH). She is a retired teacher, principal, Director of Educational Services, and a retired faculty advisor for Cal State Teach Monterey and the Educational Administration Credential Program, San Jose Sate University.  She was born in the Poston, Arizona, Concentration Camp.

  • Tim Thomas

    CO-PRODUCER

    Tim is a Monterey Japanese American Citizens League board member and Heritage Project Co-Chairperson. He is a fourth-generation native of the Monterey area and a fisheries historian and author who has researched the fisheries and cultural history of Monterey for over forty years. Tim is the co-author of Monterey's Waterfront and author of the Japanese on the Monterey Peninsula. Tim has been a historical consultant for the Monterey Bay Aquarium, and in 2023, The Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary awarded Tim the Ed Ricketts Memorial Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Field of Historical Ecology. He has traveled and lectured extensively on the Monterey Japanese community both in the United States and in Japan.

  • Jesse Spencer

    EDITOR

    Jesse has 30 years of experience editing independent and commercial productions, working as both an online creative editor and a broadcast online editor/colorist. He has also served as a consultant and post-production supervisor on several Bay Area documentaries and narrative films. As an online editor, Jesse has provided finishing and color work for numerous films broadcast on ITVS.