About MUST BE HEARD founder:
Born in Riga, Latvia, Dan Kinber immigrated to the United States in 1993.
He graduated from Wesleyan University in 2001 with BA in Computer Science and French Studies, which included the study of art history and literature in Paris, France as well as the fundamentals of economic analysis, philosophy and law. The latter experience equipped him for his Honors Senior Thesis – a comparative analysis of "Moral Rights in French and American Intellectual Property Law."
Dan’s fascination with film and media’s depiction of human behavior and its cultural and socio-economic contextualization further prompted him to receive an M.A. in Cinema Studies from New York University - Tisch School of the Arts in 2005. Through an eclectic mix of courses that included exploration of cinema, literature and cultural mores of various countries, Dan developed his taste for narrative objectivity and authenticity. The best works seemed to present the truth without imposing ideology, inviting the viewer to observe and respond in his or her unique way.
Dan supplemented his academic studies at NYU with courses in writing, directing and cinematography at School of Visual Arts and New School University. He wrote, directed and produced several short films - all faithful to revelations of psychological subtlety and cultural authenticity. In his documentary “Countdown” (2008), he tried to capture a personal struggle of a young woman before she takes a critical step in her life, set against the backdrop of the historic presidential election.
As depicting and investigating social reality has become more relevant, important and ultimately more gripping, Dan has become increasingly invested in international news and politics as well as media’s representations and often-insightful commentary of how legislation affects the lives of ordinary people. However, such stories sometimes lack specificity and detail necessary to reach the commentators' interpretations. Dan will use his research and storytelling skills to make Must Be Heard a platform for gathering and presenting the facts behind some of these stories.
Dan currently works as a paralegal at Kent, Beatty & Gordon, LLP.