When I'm Her | PBS Short Docs
Michael Cusumano was a luminary figure at American Ballet Theatre in New York and had a stellar career ahead of him, but trauma from his past prevented him from fully realizing his potential. Over time, he finds refuge and liberation by assuming an alter ego: a sparkly turban-wearing, Russian ballet instructor named Madame Olga. Through Olga, Michael is able to give aspiring dancers a place to flourish — and is the mentor he never had for himself. "When I'm Her" follows the double life of a dancer as he inhabits his alter ego, and as Olga challenges authority, takes on a life of her own, and generates a following for her unconventional ballet classes.
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Directed and Produced by
Emily Schuman
Executive Producers
Sally Jo Fifer
Lois Vossen
Editor
Emily Packer
Featuring (in order of appearance)
Michael Cusumano
Madame Olga
Michael Apuzzo
Director of Photography
Donavon deCesare
Composer
Noah Fishman
Post Production Supervisor
David Schuman
Additional Photography
David Petersen
Emily Schuman
Sound
David Schuman
Pasquin Mariani
Vice President of Production
Royd Chung
Senior Manager, Short-Form Content
Pamela Torno
Supervising Producer
Clare Chambers
Associate Producer
Susan Cohen
Consulting Producer
David Petersen
Colorist
Steve Beganyi
Post Sound Mixer
Benny Mouthon, CAS
Production Accountant
Nancy Adams
Legal
Heather Butterfield
Justine Jacob
Title Design
Lorenzo Fanton
Special Thanks
The Cusumano Family
Broadway Dance Center
Niko Chapelle
Sarah Colt
Lydia Cornett
Amelia Erikson
Filmshop
Josh Gleason
Emily Harrold
Kanyok Arts Initiative
Alex Kurze
Alex Leff
Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts
Stephanie Leke
Evan Neff
Hypatia Porter
Mary Recine
Ryan Rodgers
Seiskaya Ballet School
Ben Sozanski
Maya Tepler
Trey Tetreault
Isaree Thatchaichawalit
Will Thwaites
Lana Wilson
Cynthia Wuthmann
UnionDocs Center for Documentary Art
Independent Lens Original Series Funding Provided by
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting
Acton Family Giving
Ford Foundation
John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
Wyncote Foundation
National Endowment for the Arts
WHEN I’M HER is a co-production of SHOE FILMS INC. and INDEPENDENT TELEVISION SERVICE (ITVS), with funding provided by the CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING (CPB)
This program was produced by SHOE FILMS INC., which is solely responsible for its content.
© 2021 SHOE FILMS INC. All Rights Reserved.