Producer, editor, and CalArts alum Suzanne Méjean Pinney (Film/Video, Art MFA 09) received two Emmys at the 76th Los Angeles Area Emmy Awards, held in July.
Hosted by acclaimed journalist Michaela Pereira, the ceremony honored exceptional achievements across a wide array of locally produced programs, recognizing excellence in categories such as Live and Breaking News Coverage, Crime and Social Issues, Culture and History, the Arts, Health and Science, Human Interest, Music, Sports, and the Environment.
Pinney won an Emmy for Best Feature Segment for her editing work on Little Amal, a piece for KCET’s Artbound. The documentary short captured the journey of a remarkable 12-foot-tall puppet named Little Amal, a symbolic representation of a 10-year-old Syrian refugee. Through this larger-than-life puppet, the project aimed to raise global awareness of the challenges faced by displaced people. During her tour through Southern California, Little Amal learned American Sign Language (ASL) with Deaf West Theatre in Pasadena, symbolizing the power of nonverbal communication.
Pinney won a second Emmy for Best Informational Series (More Than 50% Remote) for her editing work on Weekly Arts: Celebrating Black Artists, a KCET documentary series that highlights the contributions and stories of Black artists.
These wins mark Pinney’s third and fourth Emmy Awards; she previously earned Best Arts Programming and Best Informational Series in 2022 for her work on KCET’s Artbound series.
CalArts Extended Studies faculty Brendan Bubion also received an Emmy for his work on Weekly Arts: Celebrating Black Artists, as editor and producer. Read more about Bubion’s win on his Instagram.
