OETA, Oklahoma’s public television network, in partnership with Cherokee Film, will host a special screening and panel discussion on Tuesday, March 24, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at the Philbrook Museum of Art in Tulsa.
The evening will feature a specially curated preview segment from The American Revolution, the sweeping six-part, 12-hour documentary series that premiered in November of 2025. Following the screening, attendees will hear from distinguished panelists and participate in a moderated discussion exploring the film’s national scope, Native perspectives and Oklahoma connections.
“OETA exists to serve the people of Oklahoma by connecting them to trusted storytelling at both the national and local level,” said Shawn Black, Executive Director of OETA. “Through partnerships like this one, we are able to elevate Oklahoma voices, provide historical context that matters to our communities, and create opportunities for thoughtful public dialogue around the stories that shape our nation.”
Featured Panelists
David Schmidt is the producer and co-director of The American Revolution, working alongside Ken Burns and Sarah Botstein. Schmidt began his career with Florentine Films as a researcher and apprentice editor on The Roosevelts, supervising the seven-episode script. His research on The Vietnam War earned him the Jane Mercer Footage Researcher of the Year Award. He later produced the two-part biography Benjamin Franklin for PBS.
Jen Loren of the Cherokee Nation is Senior Director of Cherokee Film and an Emmy Award-winning filmmaker. She oversees Cherokee Film Productions, Cherokee Film Studios, the Cherokee Film Commission and the Cherokee Film Institute. Loren also serves as Executive Producer and Host of Osiyo: Voices of the Cherokee People and served as an advisor on The American Revolution on behalf of the Cherokee Nation, helping ensure Native perspectives were thoughtfully represented in the series. In 2023, she was selected as an inaugural Obama Leader by the Obama Foundation and is internationally recognized for advancing Native representation in film and media.
“The truth is, more often than not, people forget that you can’t accurately tell the stories of U.S. history without those of Native American history,” said Jen Loren. “Having the opportunity to advise on this project was a major step in the right direction for accurate representation of Indian Country. At Cherokee Film, we are proud to work alongside Ken Burns’ team and for their dedication to telling this story in its entirety, both accurately and inclusively. This part of our history is difficult, but it is history we share.”
LeeAnn Dreadfulwater of the Cherokee Nation is an Emmy-winning producer, and Cultural, Historical, and Archival Consultant for Cherokee Film. She joined the OsiyoTV team in 2019 after 25 years working within the Cherokee Nation government under multiple administrations. Dreadfulwater served as a researcher supporting Cherokee Film’s consultation on The American Revolution, helping ensure historical accuracy and cultural context in the film’s portrayal of Cherokee history and perspectives.
The conversation will be moderated by Rich Lenz, News Director of OETA’s Oklahoma News Report, bringing a journalist’s lens to this pivotal chapter in American history.
The March 24 program is part of OETA’s ongoing collaboration with cultural and tribal partners across Oklahoma to deepen community engagement through public media.
A light reception will follow the discussion, offering attendees an opportunity to continue the conversation. Space is limited, and advanced registration is required.
Corporate funding for THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION was provided by Bank of America. Major funding was provided by The Better Angels Society and its members Jeannie and Jonathan Lavine with the Crimson Lion Foundation; and the Blavatnik Family Foundation. Major funding was also provided by David M. Rubenstein; The Robert D. and Patricia E. Kern Family Foundation; Lilly Endowment Inc.; and the following Better Angels Society members: Eric and Wendy Schmidt; Stephen A. Schwarzman; and Kenneth C. Griffin with Griffin Catalyst. Additional support for THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION was provided by: The Arthur Vining Davis Foundations; The Pew Charitable Trusts; Gilbert S. Omenn and Martha A. Darling; Park Foundation; and the following Better Angels Society members: Gilchrist and Amy Berg; Perry and Donna Golkin; The Michelson Foundation; Jacqueline B. Mars; Kissick Family Foundation; Diane and Hal Brierley; John H. N. Fisher and Jennifer Caldwell; John and Catherine Debs; The Fullerton Family Charitable Fund; Philip I. Kent; Gail Elden; Deborah and Jon Dawson; David and Susan Kreisman; The McCloskey Family Charitable Trust; Becky and Jim Morgan; Carol and Ned Spieker; Mark A. Tracy; and Paul and Shelley Whyte. THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION was made possible, in part, with support from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.