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Ryan White, director of “Come See Me in the Good Light” speaks during a Q&A alongside Producer Jessica Hargrave and Full Frame Co‑Director Sadie Tillery following a screening of the film.

White traces his path as a filmmaker directly to his undergraduate experience at Duke. “My freshman year, I saw an Agnès Varda film on campus, and it blew me away,” he says. “I immediately enrolled in all the CDS classes that I could. I basically lived at CDS, learning from so many mentors there that shaped me.” 
 
Tom Rankin, one of White’s first instructors at CDS, says White showed “a keen eye and ear for compelling and timely stories” early on, along with an understanding of both the creative and organizational demands of filmmaking.

White earned a Certificate in Documentary Studies and served as a Full Frame Fellow. Since graduating, he has directed and produced documentaries for major platforms. 

“None of us ever dreamed it would have led to an Oscar®-nominated film,” says White. “I’m thrilled mostly because I know so many more people will watch the movie now and hopefully be moved.” 

To read the full story, go to the Center for Documentary Studies website.