Susan Stern
Director, Producer, Writer, Narrator

Susan Stern has been a journalist—specializing in investigative reporting—for more than 20 years. Her articles have been published in the Boston Globe, Sacramento Bee, San Francisco Examiner and Oakland Tribune. The Wall Street Journal credited Stern’s exposé of Navy base closures with “saving thousands of local jobs." Stern has also written and produced news for KPIX TV, San Francisco’s CBS affiliate. She is married to Spain, the cartoonist and artist. Their daughter, Nora, inspired the film Barbie Nation. Stern's latest film,  The Self-Made Man, was nominated for two national Emmy awards.

Trish Harrington
Associate Producer/Assistant Director

Trish Harrington, vice president of El Rio Productions LLC, worked on Barbie Nation from its inception, in both creative and financial capacities. A redhead, Harrington was captivated by “Titian” Barbie as a young girl. Harrington is a San Francisco native. She began her career in front of the camera, as a child model and actor. Later, she spent a decade working in fundraising and grant administration for the University of California. She has produced news and spots for clients including Sweden’s Channel 3TV, the San Francisco Bar Association and San Francisco City College. She is currently at work on her first novel.