The Clash of Civilizations - Ann McElhinney & Phelim McAleer

In this episode of the Parresia podcast, host Karen speaks with filmmakers and journalists Ann McElhinney and Phelim McAleer about their verbatim play based on survivor testimonies from the October 7 attacks in Israel. They recount their decision to travel to Israel shortly after the events to record firsthand accounts, discuss the challenges of staging the production amid security concerns, and examine the media's early framing of the conflict, including debates on proportionality and historical patterns of bias. The conversation also touches on their broader work in investigative storytelling through film and theater.

Ann McElhinney is an investigative journalist and filmmaker whose projects include the documentaries FrackNation, Gosnell: The Trial of America's Biggest Serial Killer, and My Son Hunter. She co-hosts the podcast The Scoop with her husband and frequently collaborates on verbatim theater productions that draw directly from real-life transcripts and interviews.
Phelim McAleer is an Irish journalist, playwright, and filmmaker known for works such as Mine Your Own Business, FrackNation, and FBI Lovebirds: Under the Covers of the Russia Probe. He co-hosts The Scoop podcast and has developed verbatim plays like Ferguson and the recent October 7th production, focusing on underrepresented stories through unedited personal narratives.

Connect with Ann & Phelim
WEBSITE https://unreportedstorysociety.com/
X @annmcelhinney https://x.com/annmcelhinney
@PhelimMcAleer https://x.com/PhelimMcAleer

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