Shaking it Up: The Life & Times of Liz Carpenter

Shaking it Up: The Life & Times of Liz Carpenter tells the story of an extraordinary woman — Liz Carpenter — who experienced and helped shape some of the most vivid moments and movements of the 20th century. Over her 89 years, Liz — journalist, Vice-Presidential advisor, White House official, author, humorist, political activist, and feminist leader — was often front and center where history was unfolding leaving her own indelible mark on events and people. Hers is an inspiring story of blazing professional trails while advocating for women’s rights, political engagement, and the environment that is highly relevant today.

Co-Director/Co-Producer Christy Carpenter is the daughter of Liz Carpenter. She has devoted several years to reviewing the voluminous papers, oral histories, and video materials of her pack-rat mother augmenting her own personal memories. Her very deep knowledge of her mother’s life, friends, and former colleagues as well as her media savvy and passion for history offer an exceptional resource for this film. Christy is also working on a book about her mother with the goal of publishing it simultaneously with the release of the film. She currently chairs the Advisory Board for the University of Texas Press.

Co-Producer/Co-Director Abby Ginzberg, a Peabody Award-winning director, has been producing compelling documentaries about race and social justice for over 35 years. Her film Barbara Lee: Speaking Truth to Power won the 2022 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Documentary. Abby was the Consulting Producer on The Barber of Birmingham, which premiered at Sundance Film Festival in 2011 and was nominated for an Oscar® in the Short Documentary category.

Lead Scholarly Advisor/Associate Producer Dr. Jessica Brannon-Wranosky holds the Distinguished Professor of Digital Humanities & History at Texas A&M University-Commerce. She specializes in women, gender, and sexuality history and digital research methods. She served as the Founding Project Director for the Handbook of Texas Women, a statewide public education and digital content development project. From 2009–2014, she was the digital media author for W. W. Norton’s Give Me Liberty, at the time the top selling US History college textbook on the market. She has also authored and directed dozens of online essays and digital exhibits, and often advises various groups and government entities on historic preservation, contextual framing, and accuracy.

For 40 years, Judy Maggio has been a sought-after storyteller, communicator, moderator and broadcaster in Central Texas. Since stepping down from the anchor desk, she continues to pursue those passions through Judy Maggio Media. In her four decades as a journalist and broadcaster in Austin, Judy has built her brand on trust, accuracy and service to the community. Most recently, Judy served as editorial director of news and public affairs at Austin PBS affiliate KLRU-TV (2016–2020), where she launched Decibel, a digital-first community journalism project. Judy pioneered live-stream interviews for the show, and anchored and produced the documentary-style news broadcast. She also developed ATX Together, a public affairs/interview program focused on timely community issues. Judy’s long tenure in the Austin area has led to an extensive network of contacts and lasting connections with many key community organizations and leaders.

Film programs at the Bullock Museum seek to connect the public with filmmakers and their art that you won't find just anywhere. From Texas-specific titles to films from around the globe, these programs will open up a world of stories and culture for visitors. The Bullock Museum is committed to sharing the work of filmmakers of all backgrounds and identities.

Public programs at the Bullock Museum explore relevant history and celebrate the culture that has shaped our modern world. Through engaging discussions, live performances, and experiential activities visitors are invited to see local connections and discover how Texas fits into a broader national story.