Grace speaks with filmmaker and television producer Jane M. Wagner about her debut feature documentary, Break the Game (2023). Jane’s film, centered on world-record-holding gamer Narcissa Wright and her experience coming out as a trans woman, explores “gamer culture, the realities of online harassment, and the mental health implications of living a digital life.” The film’s unexpectedly rocky rollout — PBS indefinitely postponed its POV broadcast, before offering a later date — offers a cautionary tale for anyone navigating the crisis-filled waters of public media right now. Jane’s innovative approach to ensuring that her film reached audiences, on her own terms, will hopefully spark inspiration for how fellow filmmakers can connect with and share their work directly with the public, no matter what happens next with PBS.
The documentary makes its national broadcast premiere on PBS’s POV Monday, June 30, 2025 at 10 p.m. (check local listings). It will be available to stream until July 30, 2025 at pbs.org and via the PBS App.
Show Notes
Q&A with director Jane Wagner on Break the Game (2025)
Break the Game (2023), directed by Jane M. Wagner
- Stream the film on Vimeo
- Follow the film on X/Twitter and Instagram
- Jane’s Patreon
“PBS Pulled a Film for Political Reasons, Then Changed Its Mind” by Daniel Engber
April 18, 2025, The Atlantic
“‘C’ is for Censorship: PBS Cuts ‘Art Spiegelman’ Doc and Other Dubious Acts at Embattled Broadcaster” by Anthony Kaufman
May 19, 2025, Documentary Magazine
Films and series mentioned in this episode:
- Minding the Gap (2019), directed and produced by Bing Liu
- Thank You for Playing (2015), directed and produced by David Osit and Malika Zouhali-Worrall
- Ghostwriter (1992) Season 1, Episode 1