Dawn Porter to Direct Max Robinson Documentary for Wise Child Studios

Filmmaker Dawn Porter will direct "Color Bars: The Story of the Black Journalist Who Broke the TV News Color Barrier," a feature documentary on pioneering anchor Max Robinson, for the three-year-old Wise Child Studios. CNN anchor Victor Blackwell joins as producer.

What is the documentary about?

"Color Bars" tracks Robinson's broadcast career from the late 1970s onward. It covers his rise and his exit from the anchor desk.

Robinson co-founded the National Association of Black Journalists in 1975. He first gained prominence anchoring NBC and CBS affiliate stations in Washington, D.C., before joining ABC News' national anchor team in 1978. His tenure at ABC ended after a short run marked by alcohol abuse. Robinson died in December 1988 at age 49 from complications of AIDS.

The film lands as U.S. networks face renewed scrutiny over representation on the anchor desk.

Who is making the film?

Porter produces through her Trilogy Films banner. Blackwell produces through Fresh Fruit Films. Beekman leads Wise Child Studios, launched in 2023 to package original content.

Porter's recent directing credits include "John Lewis: Good Trouble" (2020) and "Bobby Kennedy for President" (2018). Blackwell anchors "CNN This Morning Weekend" and hosts the weekly series "First of All with Victor Blackwell."

What are the principals saying?

Blackwell placed Robinson alongside other 20th-century barrier-breakers. "Max Robinson is my Sidney Poitier. He's my Thurgood Marshall, my Jackie Robinson," Blackwell said. "In our current media landscape and social climate, Max's life and career are more relevant than ever. I'm excited and honored that Dawn has joined the team to tell his remarkable story."

Wise Child Studios founder and CEO Jason Beekman called Robinson "an exceptional journalist by any standard" who "deserves to have a firm place in the history of American journalism." Beekman said the studio is "thrilled to have Dawn Porter's vision guiding the film."

Porter recalled watching Robinson as a child viewer. "I remember watching Max Robinson on television — he was one of the very few Black people on the evening news," she said. "Later I joined ABC News and people still spoke about his impact on the newsroom. At a time when truth and courage in journalism are under assault, everyone should know the Max Robinson story."

What's Wise Child's track record?

The company spans investigative docuseries and feature films, with Beekman previously leading business and legal affairs at RadicalMedia. Recent output includes:

• "Reality Check: Inside America's Next Top Model" — debuted on Netflix earlier this year
• "Asco: Without Permission" — 2025 feature documentary alongside Diego Luna and Gael Garcia Bernal

No release date for "Color Bars" has been announced. Production has begun, with the film tracking a figure its producers describe as overdue for his place in journalism history.