Risking Everything
A Story of Niagara's Freedom Seekers
This 34 minute documentary tells a story about the many ways stories are told: in song and the singers, in clay and the hands that mold it, and in the landscapes that create us.
Filmed, directed and produced by Emmy Award-winning and 5 time Emmy nominee CBS cameraman Isadore Bleckman, Risking Everything is a story with many voices: those of Canadian ancestors who dreamed of freedom, of descendants and townspeople in the United States who remember the role their town played, in the words and hands of a sculptor, and in the voices of a renowned choir of young African Americans who carry forward the hopes of our ancestors. It’s a story that continues to be told every day.
“A beautiful story, and beautifully told.”
Mary Lou Teel, Producer, CBS Sunday Morning
“A testament to the human spirit…a documentary that touches the soul of America.”
Rich Newberg, retired Senior Correspondent for CBS affiliate WIVB-TV
The film also follows the making and installation of the Freedom Crossing Monument in Lewiston, New York.
Director Biography – Isadore Bleckman and Mary Roseberry
Legendary cameraman Isadore (“Izzy”) Bleckman worked in television film and video for more than 50 years, first with Movietone News and then with CBS News, doing his Emmy Award-winning camera work for “The Evening News” and special reports; for “On the Road” with Charles Kuralt, for more than three decades (1966-2002); and for “CBS Sunday Morning.”
Since Izzy’s retirement from CBS News in 2002, he continued to work in film. He produced a film on photographer Milton Rogovin, and filmed the last of Buffalo’s grain scoopers, and served as editing consultant on the documentary “Luminous Shadows: The Artists of Eastern Cuba.” He was also a consultant on Acorn Media’s release of the “On the Road” DVD collection, and has given numerous audio-visual presentations in the Buffalo NY area where he lived with his wife, researcher and writer Mary Roseberry.
For more information or to schedule a viewing, please contact Sheera Bleckman.
(left to right) Charles Kurault, Izzy Bleckman and Dan Rather.
Previews & Features
© 2026 Sheera Bleckman, Aligned Impact Media
THE CHALLENGE
Risking Everything is an educational documentary exploring the history of the Underground Railroad through the voices of descendants, historians, and community members.
The film combines interviews, historical interpretation, archival material, music, and visual storytelling to create an engaging educational resource for schools, libraries, and community organizations.
The challenge was to weave together personal stories, historical context, and diverse media into a cohesive, engaging film that would educate and inspire.
Risking Everything is an educational documentary exploring the history of the Underground Railroad through the voices of descendants, historians, and community members.
The film combines interviews, historical interpretation, archival material, music, and visual storytelling to create an engaging educational resource for schools, libraries, and community organizations.
The challenge was to weave together personal stories, historical context, and diverse media into a cohesive, engaging film that would educate and inspire.
MY ROLE
As the film editor, I worked collaboratively with the production team to shape the documentary into a cohesive narrative. I also served as second camera, documenting the creation of the Freedom Crossing Monument by sculptor Susan Geissler, including welding and the entire lost-wax process.
My work includes:
As the film editor, I worked collaboratively with the production team to shape the documentary into a cohesive narrative. I also served as second camera, documenting the creation of the Freedom Crossing Monument by sculptor Susan Geissler, including welding and the entire lost-wax process.
My work includes:
Second-camera production
Process documentation
Final production and distribution
Second-camera production
Process documentation
Final production and distribution
Interview editing
Music integration
Narrative pacing and transitions
Multi-source video editing
THE OUTCOME
Risking Everything was selected for the Niagara International Film Festival, recognized for the quality of the completed documentary.
The short documentary brings personal testimony, historical context, music, and visual storytelling makes the history of the Underground Railroad accessible and engaging. The film continues to serve as an educational resource for schools, libraries, and community audiences.
Risking Everything was selected for the Niagara International Film Festival, recognized for the quality of the completed documentary.
The short documentary brings personal testimony, historical context, music, and visual storytelling makes the history of the Underground Railroad accessible and engaging. The film continues to serve as an educational resource for schools, libraries, and community audiences.
Risking Everything
Documentary Film Editor
An educational documentary exploring the Underground Railroad through interviews, music, archival material, and visual storytelling.
Risking Everything
A Story of Niagara's Freedom Seekers
An educational documentary exploring the Underground Railroad through interviews, music, archival material, and visual storytelling.
© 2026 Sheera Bleckman, Aligned Impact Media
© 2026 Sheera Bleckman, Aligned Impact Media