Video/Action Founder and President Robin Smith is an Emmy Award-winning filmmaker with 30 years of experience. A graduate of Ohio University (BFA '72) and Boston University (MS '78), her first documentary was a story about her MIA father, a Marine Corps pilot shot down over Vietnam. CBS News bought rights to the film and she began her producing career first with Charles Kuralt on CBS Sunday Morning (1978-1985) and later with Roger Mudd and Connie Chung at NBC News on American Almanac and 1986 (1985-1987).
In 1990, Robin established Video/Action as a nonprofit production company to produce educational television and multimedia programs on issues affecting women and at-risk children. Under her direction, Video/Action has completed more than 200 productions. Her work has been featured in film festivals and on CBS, NBC, ABC, PBS, FOX, BET and The Learning Channel. She has been honored with an array of awards, including a CPB Gold Award for Excellence in Documentary Television Programming, Audience Choice Award for Best Documentary, Capital Region Emmy Awards, CINE Golden Eagles, Telly Awards, Auroras, Omnis, and ITVA’s Distinguished Achievement Award.
An active member of Women in Film and Video, Robin served as president of the Washington, D.C. chapter and received its prestigious Woman of Vision award. She was named a 2003 Distinguished Alum in the School of Fine Arts at Ohio University and received the University’s Medal of Merit in 2006.
Robin is married to CBS News White House correspondent, Bill Plante. In 1995, they journeyed into the jungles of Southeast Asia to visit the crash site where Robin lost her father. Their personal odyssey was shared with a national audience on CBS News Eye To Eye and is the subject of a photo essay by Dick Swanson.
Lynnette Jackson joined Video/Action in February 2007 and is our Production Manager.
Lynnette began her career in 1993 at Professional Video Services (PVS) in the Accounting Department. Always interested in the day-to-day operations of the company, Lynnette transitioned from staff accountant to a post production project specialist. When PVS closed, she joined Georgetown Post as controller.
Lynnette became a certified make-up artist for TV Tape & Film in 2000 and has done make-up for Tony Brown’s Journal, the longest national public affairs show on public television, as well as a number of satellite media tours and small productions.
Colleen Sieber joined Video/Action in September 2006. As Associate Producer, she has contributed to many of our productions for the Office for Victims of Crime, U.S. Department of Justice and was a lead producer on a “brand video” for NCB Bank.
Colleen has recently completed a video that will be featured at this year’s Spina Bifida Association’s Annual Roast Dinner, as well as a PSA for the organization. Thanks to a grant from the Humanities Council of Washington, D.C., she is organizing a community screening of Come Walk in My Shoes for high school students.
Colleen came to Video/Action with a background in social justice issues and homeless advocacy and is enjoying the opportunity to develop the skills needed to flourish in the world of documentary filmmaking and writing.
Colleen came to Video/Action with a background in social justice issues and homeless advocacy and is enjoying the opportunity to develop the skills needed to flourish in the world of documentary filmmaking and writing.