Diane Wagner – EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, WRITER/PRODUCER, CAMERA – Diane grew up in Marin County, California. Her past career success in market research consulting for Fortune 500 clients, made it possible for Diane open up her own shop to create documentary films. Diane’s grateful for the educational opportunities she has been privileged with – going to Claremont McKenna College, earning an MBA from UC Irvine and for hearing she “CAN” at every step of her education. She was known as one of the smart kids and was expected to go to college. Diane believes the stories in this film will help more children gain access to educational opportunities and recognize their own potential.
Jesse Gift – EXECUTIVE PRODUCER | WRITER, DIRECTOR, PRODUCER, CAMERA, EDITOR. – Jesse is a Primetime Emmy® Award recipient and multiple Emmy® Award nominee. His nearly two decade career in national television included storytelling on morning, evening, and Primetime news, and national entertainment shows and specials. His work has been watched by tens of millions on ABC, NBC, CBS, A&E, PBS, BBC, RAI Italy and more. Now, as an independent filmmaker, Jesse relishes making films like, Told They Can’t, because it transcends reporting the news and creating entertainment to challenge our society’s cruel indifference toward children like the high-profile professionals featured here once were.