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Filmmaker shares insights about famous journalist ...

Filmmaker shares insights about famous journalist mom at MTSU talk, screening

MURFREESBORO, Tenn — As part of the observance of National Women’s History Month, Middle Tennessee State University recently hosted filmmaker Christy Carpenter to speak about her documentary honoring the journalistic and cultural legacy of her mother.  

Christy Carpenter
Christy Carpenter

The film, “Shaking It Up! The Life and Times of Liz Carpenter,” details the career of the late journalist and feminist Liz Carpenter, a trailblazing reporter who would go on to become press secretary for first lady Claudia “Lady Bird” Johnson in the 1960s.  

Classes from the Women’s and Gender Studies program attended the March 19 event, which was also free and open to the public. In advance of the interview, the 77-minute long director’s cut version of the documentary was shown March 17-18 in the same room.  

“We had a treasure trove of photography and videos, and then we conducted the interviews with current people,” explained Christy Carpenter. “People who are still living but who knew her well and could shine a light on different aspects of her career. It was a matter then of weaving it together.”  

From left, Middle Tennessee State University history professor Mary Evins, documentary filmmaker Christy Carpenter and Nashville PBS executive Sarah Childress pose for a photo at the public talk held March 19 inside the Paul W. Martin Sr. Honors Building on the MTSU campus in Murfreesboro, Tenn. Held as part of the university’s National Women’s History Month activities, Carpenter was interviewed about “Shaking It Up! The Life and Times of Liz Carpenter,” a film about Carpenter’s mother, trailblazing journalist and feminist whose photo is displayed at right. (MTSU photo by James Cessna)
From left, Middle Tennessee State University history professor Mary Evins, documentary filmmaker Christy Carpenter and Nashville PBS executive Sarah Childress pose for a photo at the public talk held March 19 inside the Paul W. Martin Sr. Honors Building on the MTSU campus in Murfreesboro, Tenn. Held as part of the university’s National Women’s History Month activities, Carpenter was interviewed about “Shaking It Up! The Life and Times of Liz Carpenter,” a film about Carpenter’s mother, trailblazing journalist and feminist whose photo is displayed at right. (MTSU photo by James Cessna)

The interview was conducted by Sarah Childress, director for strategy and operations at Nashville PBS, which aired the documentary throughout the month. Mary Evins, MTSU professor of history in the University Honors College, moderated the event, which was held inside the Paul W. Martin Sr. Honors Building. 

Co-directed by Carpenter and Abby Ginsburg, the film follows three narratives about Liz Carpenter’s life as a woman in journalism, a woman in politics, and a woman in the feminist movement.  

“Shaking It Up!” premiered at the 2024 South by Southwest, or SXSW, film festival in Austin, Texas. The 56-minute long film debuted on PBS.org on March 1 at the beginning of National Women’s History Month.  

A historical black and white photo of trailblazing journalist and feminist Liz Carpenter sits on display on stage inside Middle Tennessee State University’s Paul W. Martin Sr. Honors Building for the March 19 interview of filmmaker Christy Carpenter, who co-directed the documentary about her mother titled “Shaking It Up! The Life and Times of Liz Carpenter.” Christy Carpenter’s visit to the MTSU campus in Murfreesboro, Tenn., was part of the university’s National Women’s History Month activities. (MTSU photo by James Cessna)
A historical black and white photo of trailblazing journalist and feminist Liz Carpenter sits on display on stage inside Middle Tennessee State University’s Paul W. Martin Sr. Honors Building for the March 19 interview of filmmaker Christy Carpenter, who co-directed the documentary about her mother titled “Shaking It Up! The Life and Times of Liz Carpenter.” Christy Carpenter’s visit to the MTSU campus in Murfreesboro, Tenn., was part of the university’s National Women’s History Month activities. (MTSU photo by James Cessna)

Childress asked questions around Liz Carpenter’s life along with questions about the process of producing the documentary.  

Carpenter and Ginsburg began working on the film in 2020, with Carpenter going through thousands of her mother’s writing and videos. She thought extensively about the documentary and how to best capture the essence of her mother. 

During a Q&A session after the interview led by Evins, many attendees were curious about what it was like to grow up under a powerful figure and when Carpenter became aware of her mother’s status. 

“I have pictures of me shaking hands with (President Dwight D.) Eisenhower and Mamie, that’s his wife,” said Carpenter. “So, I sort of began to know, ‘Oh, people are paying attention to her. She’s somebody.’”  

Liz Carpenter was descended from the storied Robertson family, one of Tennessee’s first families, with both sides of her family instrumental in bringing hundreds of families to settle Texas. And her great-great grandfather Sterling Robertson fought in the Texas Revolution and signed the Texas Declaration of Independence. 

Carpenter also came from a long line of writers and knew at an early age she wanted to be a journalist, despite the lack of women in the industry.  After earning a journalism degree from the University of Texas in 1942, she headed to Washington, D.C., on a train in pursuit of her dream. 

Working as a reporter until she became the first woman executive assistant to Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson from 1961-63, Carpenter stepped into her role under “Lady Bird” Johnson when President Johnson took office following the assassination of John F. Kennedy. 

“Shaking It Up!” is still available on the Nashville PBS website under “Latest History Videos” at https://video.wnpt.org/explore/history/.   

— Jordan Reining (Jordan.Reining@mtsu.edu) 

Middle Tennessee State University College of Liberal Arts Dean Leah Lyons, left, greets documentary filmmaker Christy Carpenter, right, who was interviewed about the film she co-directed titled “Shaking It Up! The Life and Times of Liz Carpenter,” a film about Carpenter’s mother, trailblazing journalist and feminist on March 19 inside the Paul W. Martin Sr. Honors Building on campus in Murfreesboro, Tenn. History professor Mary Evins, center, moderated the discussion, held as part of the university’s National Women’s History Month activities. (MTSU photo by James Cessna)
Middle Tennessee State University College of Liberal Arts Dean Leah Lyons, left, greets documentary filmmaker Christy Carpenter, right, who was interviewed about the film she co-directed titled “Shaking It Up! The Life and Times of Liz Carpenter,” a film about Carpenter’s mother, trailblazing journalist and feminist on March 19 inside the Paul W. Martin Sr. Honors Building on campus in Murfreesboro, Tenn. History professor Mary Evins, center, moderated the discussion, held as part of the university’s National Women’s History Month activities. (MTSU photo by James Cessna)
Documentary filmmaker Christy Carpenter, center, speaks March 19 at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tenn., during an interview about the film she co-directed titled “Shaking it up! The Life and Times of Liz Carpenter,” a film about Carpenter’s mother, trailblazing journalist and feminist whose photo is shown in the background. With her on stage are MTSU history professor Mary Evins, left, Nashville PBS executive Sarah Childress, who interviewed Carpenter. The event was part of the university’s National Women’s History Month activities. (MTSU photo by James Cessna)
Documentary filmmaker Christy Carpenter, center, speaks March 19 at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tenn., during an interview about the film she co-directed titled “Shaking it up! The Life and Times of Liz Carpenter,” a film about Carpenter’s mother, trailblazing journalist and feminist whose photo is shown in the background. With her on stage are MTSU history professor Mary Evins, left, Nashville PBS executive Sarah Childress, who interviewed Carpenter. The event was part of the university’s National Women’s History Month activities. (MTSU photo by James Cessna)
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