Hudson West Productions makes documentary films about the arts, history, and education. Founded in 1985, our mission is to fill the artistic and cultural gaps left by commercial media and–to use an old analog term–fill the spaces “between the dial” by preserving, interpreting, and presenting these unique stories to a wider audience.

Hudson West has introduced PBS viewers to gospel and rhythm & blues pioneer Cissy Houston (Cissy Houston: Sweet Inspiration, 1988;) the legendary one-legged tap dancer and resort owner Peg Leg Bates (The Dancing Man: Peg Leg Bates, 1992;) the inventors and impressarios of the early motion picture industry (Into the Light-The Furious Birth of the Motion Picture Industry, 1995;) and the not-so-ordinary life of public schools, as seen from the inside (Quicksand & Banana Peels-A Year in the Life of Two Principals, 1998; Brick City Lessons, 1999; No Place to Be Smart-The Brightest Kids in Public Schools, 2000.)

Hudson West’s latest film is A Place Out of Time - The Bordentown School, which tells the story of the rise and fall of the last publicly funded, co-educational, all-black boarding school north of the Mason-Dixon line. Narrated by legendary actress Ruby Dee, A Place Out of Time premiered at the Newark Black Film Festival in July, 2009. 

Projects now in production include Hans Richter: Everything Turns –Everything  Revolves, a one-hour documentary profile of the avant-garde filmmaker and surrealist artist; and Michael Feinstein’s American Songbook, a three-part series of musical expeditions through 20th century American Popular Song led by its foremost explorer, interpreter, archivist, and raconteur.

All of Hudson West’s documentaries have been broadcast in the USA on PBS stations. Our films have also been seen on television in the UK, Norway, and Australia, and have screened at film festivals in New York, Chicago, Paris, Dublin, Montreal, Amsterdam, St. Petersburg, Sydney, and Upsala (Sweden.) A partial list of awards includes 2 Emmys, 4 CINE Golden Eagles,  the Golden Gate Award from the San Francisco International Film Festival, the Silver Plaque from the Chicago Film Festival, Director’s Choice at the Black Maria Film Festival, and a CEN Programming Award for Public Affairs.  

As a not-for-profit, 501(c)3 production company, Hudson West has received grants from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, the New Jersey Council for the Humanities, the Hyde-Watson Foundation, PSE&G, and the New Jersey Historical Commission.

Hudson West was founded in 1985 by award-winning filmmaker and educator Dave Davidson, who serves as President. Amber Edwards, an award-winning producer and director for public television, joined Hudson West in 1988.

Independent filmmaker and media educator Dave Davidson founded Hudson West Productions in 1985 and currently serves as President.

Over the past 28 years, Davidson has worked on numerous documentaries, features, music videos and industrials. As an independent media artist Davidson has received The American Film Institute Independent Filmmaker Grant, the National Endowment for the Arts Mid-Atlantic Artist Fellowship, and the Outstanding Artist Award from The New Jersey State Council on the Arts.

Davidson is Professor of Film at The City College of New York (City University of New York) in Harlem, where he is the Founding Director of the MFA in Media Arts Production program—the only MFA production program in the largest media market in the world offered at an affordable /accessible public institution. In its first decade students from the program have achieved world wide recognition including winning the Student Academy Award and 3 Student Emmys.

LONG FORM FILMS AS DIRECTOR CO-PRODUCER

A Place out Of Time—The Bordentown School (2009–Anticipated PBS)

Funded by grants from The Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, The New Jersey Historical Commission and The New Jersey Humanities Council.

No Place to Be Smart—The Brightest Kids in American Public Schools (2000, American Public Television). Funded by The Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, CINE Golden Eagle

Brick City Lessons—Reinventing Newark Schools (1999, American Public Television) CINE Golden Eagle; Funded by The Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation

Quicksand and Banana Peels—A Year in the Life of Two Principals (1998, American Public Television) CEN Programming Award for Public Affairs; Silver Apple, National Educational Media Network.

Into The Light—The Furious Birth of The American Film Industry (1995, NJN) Two Mid-Atlantic Emmy Awards for Best Cultural Program & Best Music.

The Dancing Man—Peg Leg Bates (1992, PBS) Silver Plaque-Chicago Film Festival; CINE Golden Eagle; Director’s Choice, Black Maria Festival. Festival screenings: Amsterdam; Sydney, Australia; St. Petersburg; Upsala (Sweden); Newark Black Film Festival;  JVC Jazz Festival, New York City. DVD available through Cinema Guild.

“The Dancing Man” provides a captivating portrait of Bates but it does something more. It offers encouragement and salutes determination. The life of Peg leg Bates is an inspiration during Black History Month or any time at all
—The Kansas City Star

Cissy Houston—Sweet Inspiration (1988, PBS Black History Month Special; CINE Golden Eagle; Red Ribbon-American Film & Video Festival; Golden Gate Award- SF International FF);

An exquisite documentary…This is the story of a woman who has thought deeply about the roots of black music
—the Boston Globe

In the film’s final sequence, a church performance…in that joyful, sweat-and-tear filled exhaustion, one encounters not only the power of faith and strength of the black church, but also the grace of a remarkable person
—The Washington Post

Amber Edwards has completed six nationally broadcast documentaries for PBS--two with Hudson West--and for 21 years was Senior Producer and Host of NJN Public Television‘s long running weekly series State of the Arts, where she earned 13 regional Emmy Awards and numerous honors for her national PBS documentaries, including seven CINE Golden Eagles. Most recently she produced, directed, wrote, and edited Words and Music by Jerry Herman about the legendary Broadway composer/lyricist, which aired on PBS on January 1, 2008.

Amber co-produced "A Place Out of Time - The Bordentown School," a new documentary about the last all-black, public boarding school in the North. Narrated by Oscar-nominated actress Ruby Dee, the film premiered at the Newark Black Film Festival in July, 2009, and will be screened at numerous festivals around the country prior to its public television release. She is also producing a multi-part public radio series hosted by Michael Feinstein, "Forever and a Day - The Gershwin Legacy," for WFMT in Chicago.

Her documentary work has also earned two "Chris" statuettes from the Columbus International Film Festival, two CEN Programming awards, two Gold Remis from WorldFest Houston, a NETA award, a Silver Plaque from the Chicago International Film Festival, the Silver Screen Award from the U.S. International Film & Video Festival, and two Silver Apples from the National Educational Media Network.

Ms. Edwards' documentaries have been screened at festivals in New York, Paris, Dublin, Montreal, Amsterdam, St. Petersburg, Sydney, Naples (Italy), Upsala (Sweden), Durham, NC, Mill Valley, CA, Sarasota, FL, Oklahoma City, OK, New Haven, CT, Taos, CA, and have been broadcast in the UK, Norway, Italy, Israel, and Japan.

In addition to her film and broadcasting work, Ms. Edwards sings professionally. She has performed in the 92nd Street Y’s famous “Lyrics and Lyricists” series, and appears regularly in public and private cabaret venues in New York City and the region.

Ms. Edwards grew up in Kansas City and graduated from Yale University, where she is a Fellow at Branford College.

FILMOGRAPHY

Words and Music by Jerry Herman (2008, PBS) Producer/Director/Writer/Editor. DVD available through PBS Home Video. CINE Golden Eagle; Gold Remi, Houston Worldfest. Mill Valley Film Festival; Sarasota Film Festival; DeadCenter Film Festival (Oklahoma City.) Screenings at the Kennedy Center; The 92nd Street Y; The Museum of Television and Radio; University of Miami; The Actors Fund.

“Delicious array of vintage clips, stellar interviewees and treasure songs make this a treat musical-theater fans will enjoy in various formats for years to come.”
—Variety

George Segal: American Still Life (2001, PBS) Producer/Director/Writer/Editor. DVD Available through Kultur. CINE Golden Eagle; “Chris” from Columbus International Film Festival; Gold Remi from Houston WorldFest; NETA Award for Documentary Biography; Silver Screen Award, US International Film and Video Festival. Festival Screenings: Doubletake (now Full Frame) Documentary Festival, Durham, NC; International Festival of Films on Art, Montreal, Canada; Taos (CA) International Film Festival; Doclands, Dublin, Ireland; Artecinema, Naples, Italy.

Brick City Lessons—Reinventing Newark Schools (1999, NJN Public Television.) Producer/Writer. CINE Golden Eagle.

Quicksand and Banana Peels—A Year in the Life of Two Principals (1998, APT) Producer/Writer. CEN Programming Award for Public Affairs; Silver Apple, National Educational Media Network.

Into The Light—The Furious Birth of The American Film Industry (1995, NJN) Producer/Writer. Two Mid- Atlantic Emmy Awards for Best Cultural Program & Best Music.

Against the Odds—The Artists of the Harlem Renaissance (1994, PBS) Producer/Director/Writer/Editor. DVD available through PBS Home Video. CINE Golden Eagle; “Chris” from Columbus International Film Festival; Silver Apple, National Educational Media Network. Festival screenings: International Festival of Films on Art, Montreal, Canada; Biennial Festival of Films on Art, Paris, France; Newark (NJ) Black Film Festival.

Journey From Home—Vladimir Feltsman in Russia (1993, PBS) Producer/Director/Writer/Editor. CINE Golden Eagle.

The Dancing Man—Peg Leg Bates (1992, PBS) Producer. Silver Plaque-Chicago Film Festival; CINE Golden Eagle; Director’s Choice, Black Maria Festival. Festival screenings: Amsterdam; Sydney, Australia; St. Petersburg; Upsala (Sweden); Newark Black Film Festival; JVC Jazz Festival, New York City. DVD available through Cinema Guild.