Avi Belkin found himself obsessed with the evolution of broadcast journalism. Why is it the way it is? How did it get here?

In his research, he kept coming across one name: Mike Wallace. Through Wallace’s story, Belkin wanted to tell the bigger picture story of broadcast journalism and how  it has changed over the years. Belkin describes Wallace as “the best interviewer who ever lived” but on the flip side, was “a reluctant interviewee,” and wanted to delve into that duality in his storytelling.

In merging Wallace’s story with the story of broadcast journalism as a whole, the filmmaker looks into the way that politicians shape the public perception of journalism. Mike Wallace is quoted with saying, “Take a look at the history of any nation which has lost its freedoms, and you’ll find that the men who grabbed the power also had to crush the free press.” “Democracy depends on journalism,” says Belkin.

Belkin describes the filmmaking project as “a dream,” as he was given free reign to cover anything and everything that he could get his hands on. “The hardest thing.. is to decide what’s left out,” Belkin states, and at times wishes he could have covered more in the film, since all of Wallace’s interviews had so many hours of raw footage.

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About the film:

MIKE WALLACE IS HERE offers an unflinching look at the legendary reporter, who interrogated the 20th century’s biggest figures in his over fifty years on air, and his aggressive reporting style and showmanship that redefined what America came to expect from broadcasters. Unearthing decades of never-before-seen footage from the 60 Minutes vault, the film explores what drove and plagued Wallace, whose storied career was entwined with the evolution of journalism itself.

View the trailer:

Where to see it:

MIKE WALLACE IS HERE is now playing at Angelika New York and Angelika Dallas.