Against the Wind

Doug Adams is an independent documentary filmmaker whose work centers on the intersection of history, identity, and human resilience. His films examine how social forces influence individual lives and how personal experiences reflect broader cultural forces that shape society.

Against the Wind: The Fight to End Hate examines the resurgence of antisemitism in the United States through the voices of survivors, scholars, and contemporary witnesses. The film traces the historical roots of antisemitism while confronting its modern manifestations in public life, online spaces, and political movements.

Adams approaches the subject not only as a historical inquiry but as a civic responsibility. The film is grounded in firsthand testimony and careful historical context, seeking to understand how hate persists and what it demands from those who choose to confront it.

His broader documentary work includes projects centered on human coexistence with the natural world. Current fieldwork in East Africa is examining the relationship between local communities and wildlife conservation.

Through his films, Adams aims to create work that informs, challenges, and encourages public dialogue about the moral choices societies face.

Jeff Schoep is the former leader of America's largest neo-Nazi organization, where he spent more than two decades inside the structure of organized extremism. He served as national leader of the National Socialist Movement for 25 years and was involved in neo-Nazi activity for 27 years.

His experience offers direct insight into how extremist movements recruit, retain members, and reinforce identity and loyalty. It also reflects the personal drivers behind radicalization, including the search for belonging, recognition, and control.

After leaving the movement, Schoep has focused on speaking about extremism, disengagement, and prevention. His work centers on helping others understand how these systems operate and how individuals can step away from them.

Kathy transitioned from corporate life to documentary filmmaking in 2023 to fuel her genuine desire to make a difference. She approaches both production and archival research with passion and empathy, striving to learn, understand and educate.

With the resurgence of antisemitism and hate speech, she focused on the relevance of history and its connection to the present-day. Her work on the film was driven by an understanding that history is neither distant nor abstract. The images, documents, and recorded voices used in the film reflect how propaganda was constructed, how it spread, and how its patterns continue to reappear today.

The archival process is not only about preservation, but about clarity. By grounding the film in verified historical record, her goal was to ensure that the origins and mechanisms of antisemitism and hate speech were seen accurately, and that the continuity between past and present is unmistakable.

The project deepened Kathy's appreciation for the resilience of affected communities and strengthened her commitment to using film as a tool for education and change.