Cultural Storytelling

Documentary Journalism

Full Service Media Production

Founder of True To Form Media

Cody Boston

Through Cody’s experience working in public media, he developed a passion for telling impactful stories and founded True To Form Media to continue the work of collaborative visual storytelling for non-profits, news outlets and artists.

Whether it be through topics of health, community service, workforce development or local elections, True To Form Media strives to be intentional in working with organizations that create direct change in their community.

Cody’s career in journalism at PBS as a producer, director, editor and show runner resulted in several Emmy award winning documentary specials and three seasons of a monthly news and issues-based series called Flatland in Focus. Through position, Cody led a team of journalists on a broad array of issues affecting the Kansas City community. From homelessness and reproductive rights, to rising utility costs and food insecurity, Flatland in Focus provided direct experience building out a program with purpose and intention to inform the public and ensure they are the ones platformed to tell their story.

Cody’s experience in informing the public is only rivaled by his work in producing live music sessions, helping non-profits create effective campaigns and photographing one of kind moments. To learn more about Cody, click below!

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EQUIPMENT LIST

Featured Projects

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The Tenant Union Federation | Founding Convention

From Montana to Connecticut, from Colorado Springs to Chicago, the affordable housing crisis has mobilized working class tenants to reshape the political landscape of their cities to prioritize the wellbeing of their renting neighbors. Tenant unions from all across the country converged in Kansas City Missouri in a shared effort strengthen a political movement that seeks to ensure everyone in the United States has access to safe and truly affordable housing.

This highlight reel showcases the founding convention of the Tenant Union Federation as they converged in Kansas City to share their experiences in organizing, establish their federation’s constitution and launch a coordinated rent strike across multiple states to target a shared corporate landlord, the first of its kind.

Land of Opportunity: The Road of Resistance

Inspired by Richard Rothstein’s ‘The Color of Law,’ this film focuses on Kansas City’s Highway 71 project and reveals how the city’s urban renewal efforts displaced 10,000 families. This excerpt from Land of Opportunity: The Road of Resistance explores the impact of real estate and federal policies on urban communities.

When plans to construct Kansas City’s urban highway were initially revealed, affluent white homeowner’s used their social and political capital to relocate the route through the Black neighborhoods of East Kansas City. This episode tells the story of the residents who rose up to combat the destruction of their homes, setting up a court battle that still impacts development to this day.

Land of Opportunity is an ongoing series following the impact of prejudice in urban development and the resilience of communities fighting to preserve their way of life in the face of it. Watch the full special here.

Moral Injury In Healthcare

While the 2021 surge of Omicron was often described as mild, the number of hospitalizations still packed beds and spread an already exhausted workforce thin. This excerpt of the Kansas City PBS episode of Flatland In Focus examined how our response to the pandemic could have been made more sustainable for healthcare workers and what supports they needed to stay in the profession.

Watch the full episode here.

Featured Projects

All Videos

The Tenant Union Federation | Founding Convention

From Montana to Connecticut, from Colorado Springs to Chicago, the affordable housing crisis has mobilized working class tenants to reshape the political landscape of their cities to prioritize the wellbeing of their renting neighbors. Tenant unions from all across the country converged in Kansas City Missouri in a shared effort strengthen a political movement that seeks to ensure everyone in the United States has access to safe and truly affordable housing.

This highlight reel showcases the founding convention of the Tenant Union Federation as they converged in Kansas City to share their experiences in organizing, establish their federation’s constitution and launch a coordinated rent strike across multiple states to target a shared corporate landlord, the first of its kind.

Land of Opportunity: The Road of Resistance

Inspired by Richard Rothstein’s ‘The Color of Law,’ this film focuses on Kansas City’s Highway 71 project and reveals how the city’s urban renewal efforts displaced 10,000 families. This excerpt from Land of Opportunity: The Road of Resistance explores the impact of real estate and federal policies on urban communities.

When plans to construct Kansas City’s urban highway were initially revealed, affluent white homeowner’s used their social and political capital to relocate the route through the Black neighborhoods of East Kansas City. This episode tells the story of the residents who rose up to combat the destruction of their homes, setting up a court battle that still impacts development to this day.

Land of Opportunity is an ongoing series following the impact of prejudice in urban development and the resilience of communities fighting to preserve their way of life in the face of it. Watch the full special here.

Moral Injury In Healthcare

While the 2021 surge of Omicron was often described as mild, the number of hospitalizations still packed beds and spread an already exhausted workforce thin. This excerpt of the Kansas City PBS episode of Flatland In Focus examined how our response to the pandemic could have been made more sustainable for healthcare workers and what supports they needed to stay in the profession.

Watch the full episode here.

Documentary

All Videos

Defending Abortion Rights In Kansas

Shortly after The Supreme Court overturned Roe Vs. Wade, Kansas became the first state to bring the question of a right to an abortion to the voters. The ballot measure which came to be known as The Value Them Both Amendment, became a national flashpoint in part due to it's deceptive language.

This excerpt from the PBS documentary television show, Flatland In Focus, explains what comes of a Yes or No vote on this issue.

Shortly after The Supreme Court overturned Roe Vs. Wade, Kansas became the first state to bring the question of a right to an abortion to the voters. The ballot measure which came to be known as The Value Them Both Amendment, became a national flashpoint in part due to it's deceptive language.

This excerpt from the PBS documentary television show, Flatland In Focus, explains what comes of a Yes or No vote on this issue.

Watch the full story here.

Heartland Tree Alliance

One tree at a time, The Heartland Tree Alliance bring arborsits and volunteers together to increase the urban tree canopy of Kansas City, Missouri. As part of a PBS series on climate education, this project sheds light on the carbon sequestration potential of trees and their impact against the urban heat island effect worsened by climate change.

The Fight For Clean Air In Kansas City, Kansas

In cities across the US, heavily polluted industrial zones are often established adjacent to communities of color and low-income residents. As a part of the PBS documentary series, Flatland in Focus, residents living in Wyandotte County, KS neighborhood advocate for clean air.

Wyandotte County has the worst air quality of all counties in Kansas, yet it’s EPA air monitors are sparse and placed outside of the most impacted neighborhoods. Residents with the help of the environmental justice organization, Clean Air Now have taken matters into their own hands and set up a network of air monitors of their own.

Watch the full story here.

Documentary

All Videos

Defending Abortion Rights In Kansas

Shortly after The Supreme Court overturned Roe Vs. Wade, Kansas became the first state to bring the question of a right to an abortion to the voters. The ballot measure which came to be known as The Value Them Both Amendment, became a national flashpoint in part due to it's deceptive language.

This excerpt from the PBS documentary television show, Flatland In Focus, explains what comes of a Yes or No vote on this issue.

Shortly after The Supreme Court overturned Roe Vs. Wade, Kansas became the first state to bring the question of a right to an abortion to the voters. The ballot measure which came to be known as The Value Them Both Amendment, became a national flashpoint in part due to it's deceptive language.

This excerpt from the PBS documentary television show, Flatland In Focus, explains what comes of a Yes or No vote on this issue.

Watch the full story here.

Heartland Tree Alliance

One tree at a time, The Heartland Tree Alliance bring arborsits and volunteers together to increase the urban tree canopy of Kansas City, Missouri. As part of a PBS series on climate education, this project sheds light on the carbon sequestration potential of trees and their impact against the urban heat island effect worsened by climate change.

The Fight For Clean Air In Kansas City, Kansas

In cities across the US, heavily polluted industrial zones are often established adjacent to communities of color and low-income residents. As a part of the PBS documentary series, Flatland in Focus, residents living in Wyandotte County, KS neighborhood advocate for clean air.

Wyandotte County has the worst air quality of all counties in Kansas, yet it’s EPA air monitors are sparse and placed outside of the most impacted neighborhoods. Residents with the help of the environmental justice organization, Clean Air Now have taken matters into their own hands and set up a network of air monitors of their own.

Watch the full story here.

Land of Opportunity

Land of Opportunity is a historical documentary special that looks at the racist history of housing segregation in Kansas City, MO and how the black residents of the Santa Fe Place neighborhood fought to integrate and in turn, change the housing landscape of the United States.

Land of Opportunity aired on Kansas City PBS and won an NATAS Midwest Regional Emmy in 2020 for Best Historical Documentary.

The United States long history of prejudice and injustice has shaped our roads, our cities, our lives…but so has resistance to it.

Land of Opportunity is a historical documentary special that looks at the racist history of housing segregation in Kansas City, MO and how the black residents of the Santa Fe Place neighborhood fought to integrate and in turn, change the housing landscape of the United States.

Land of Opportunity aired on Kansas City PBS and won an NATAS Midwest Regional Emmy in 2020 for Best Historical Documentary.

View the full documentary special here

Live Music

All Videos

Jass & The contraBAND at All Keyed Up

Multi-instrumentalist R&B singer Jass has enlisted a crew of incredible Kansas City jazz musicians for a special live session at All Keyed Up. This session was filmed as a recent installment of Flew The Coop Sessions, a non-profit live music series produced by True To Form Media.

Watch the full session here.

Missouri Executive Order 44

KCMO is home to a insane hardcore scene, and Missouri Executive Order 44 is no exception. Blending genres of grindcore and power violence this project calls back to the infamous executive order of 1838 that allowed for the state sanctioned massacre of Mormons in the state. Donning bicycle helmets, button ups, slacks and pantyhose masks, the band channels their vengeful spirits.

This session was produced by Flew The Coop Sessions at Charlotte Street Foundation’s black box theatre.

Watch the full session here.

Lauren Lovelle & The Midnight Spliffs

Kansas City country crew Lauren Lovelle and The Midnight Spliffs perform at Cap Gun Studios. This live session is one of the lates from Flew The Coop Sessions, a non-profit music video series featuring artists of all kinds from all over.

Live Music

All Videos

Jass & The contraBAND at All Keyed Up

Multi-instrumentalist R&B singer Jass has enlisted a crew of incredible Kansas City jazz musicians for a special live session at All Keyed Up. This session was filmed as a recent installment of Flew The Coop Sessions, a non-profit live music series produced by True To Form Media.

Watch the full session here.

Missouri Executive Order 44

KCMO is home to a insane hardcore scene, and Missouri Executive Order 44 is no exception. Blending genres of grindcore and power violence this project calls back to the infamous executive order of 1838 that allowed for the state sanctioned massacre of Mormons in the state. Donning bicycle helmets, button ups, slacks and pantyhose masks, the band channels their vengeful spirits.

This session was produced by Flew The Coop Sessions at Charlotte Street Foundation’s black box theatre.

Watch the full session here.

Lauren Lovelle & The Midnight Spliffs

Kansas City country crew Lauren Lovelle and The Midnight Spliffs perform at Cap Gun Studios. This live session is one of the lates from Flew The Coop Sessions, a non-profit music video series featuring artists of all kinds from all over.

Campaigns

All Videos

The Tenant Union Federation's Founding Convention

From Montana to Connecticut, from Colorado Springs to Chicago, the affordable housing crisis has mobilized working class tenants to reshape the political landscape of their cities to prioritize the wellbeing of their renting neighbors. Tenant unions from all across the country converged in Kansas City Missouri in a shared effort strengthen a political movement that seeks to ensure everyone in the United States has access to safe and truly affordable housing.

This highlight reel showcases the founding convention of the Tenant Union Federation as they converged in Kansas City to share their experiences in organizing, establish their federation’s constitution and launch a coordinated rent strike across multiple states to target a shared corporate landlord, the first of its kind.

Gallagher Ad Campaign

This ad campaign was created to highlight Gallagher’s integrated weighing and EID system as the best option for managing animal agriculture tracking. With rancher testimonials in the field, we were able to illustrate how this advanced system works together to make animal management and handling tasks easier and faster.

The Giving Grove | Children's Testimonials

The Giving Grove is a nationwide non-profit with the mission of providing healthy calories, strenghtening community and improving the urban environment through a nationwide network of sustainable little orchards. This campaign video helps tell the story of Kansas City’s orchards and how they’ve impacted the children growing alongside them.

BlaqOut KC | Give A F_ck Campaign Launch

BlaqOut KC is a healthcare non-profit providing healthcare and safe spaces for the Black LGBTQIA+ community in Kansas City. In 2024, BlaqOut launced its Give A F_ck fundraising campaign amidst a nationwide increase in anti-LGBT legislation with this promotion.

BlaqOut KC is a healthcare non-profit providing healthcare and safe spaces for the Black LGBTQIA+ community in Kansas City. In 2024, BlaqOut launced its Give A F_ck fundraising campaign amidst a nationwide increase in anti-LGBT legislation with this promotion countering despairing headlines with uplifting calls to action from the community.

Campaigns

All Videos

The Tenant Union Federation's Founding Convention

From Montana to Connecticut, from Colorado Springs to Chicago, the affordable housing crisis has mobilized working class tenants to reshape the political landscape of their cities to prioritize the wellbeing of their renting neighbors. Tenant unions from all across the country converged in Kansas City Missouri in a shared effort strengthen a political movement that seeks to ensure everyone in the United States has access to safe and truly affordable housing.

This highlight reel showcases the founding convention of the Tenant Union Federation as they converged in Kansas City to share their experiences in organizing, establish their federation’s constitution and launch a coordinated rent strike across multiple states to target a shared corporate landlord, the first of its kind.

Gallagher Ad Campaign

This ad campaign was created to highlight Gallagher’s integrated weighing and EID system as the best option for managing animal agriculture tracking. With rancher testimonials in the field, we were able to illustrate how this advanced system works together to make animal management and handling tasks easier and faster.

The Giving Grove | Children's Testimonials

The Giving Grove is a nationwide non-profit with the mission of providing healthy calories, strenghtening community and improving the urban environment through a nationwide network of sustainable little orchards. This campaign video helps tell the story of Kansas City’s orchards and how they’ve impacted the children growing alongside them.

BlaqOut KC | Give A F_ck Campaign Launch

BlaqOut KC is a healthcare non-profit providing healthcare and safe spaces for the Black LGBTQIA+ community in Kansas City. In 2024, BlaqOut launced its Give A F_ck fundraising campaign amidst a nationwide increase in anti-LGBT legislation with this promotion.

BlaqOut KC is a healthcare non-profit providing healthcare and safe spaces for the Black LGBTQIA+ community in Kansas City. In 2024, BlaqOut launced its Give A F_ck fundraising campaign amidst a nationwide increase in anti-LGBT legislation with this promotion countering despairing headlines with uplifting calls to action from the community.

Culture

All Videos

The Genius of Charlie Parker

Charlie Parker, also known as Bird, is a legendary jazz musician who has influenced many of today's genres and helped develop the style known as bebop. Bebop is a sub-genre of jazz that is recognized as being difficult to dance to, but Bird said he didn't care if people danced to his music, because he was an artist. This episode of the PBS Digital Studios series, Sound Field, explores the origins of Bird’s legendary influence.

Charlie Parker, also known as bird, is a legendary jazz musician who has influenced many of today's genres and helped develop the genre bebop. Bebop is a subgenre of jazz that is recognized as being difficult to dance to, but Bird said he didn't care if people danced to his music, because he was an artist. This episode of the PBS Digital Studios series, Sound Field, explores the origins of Bird’s legendary influence.

LA Buckner interviews jazz saxophonist Bobby Watson and sound archive director Chuck Haddix. LA spotlights the innovative style of Kansas City's own Charlie Parker and tracks down his influence on bebop, jazz and the rest of the musical world.

New Moves | Kansas City Ballet at the WWI Museum

With Covid-19 forcing the doors of the Kansas City Ballet closed, the broadcast series New Moves allowed dancers and choreographers to share new work in one of a kind spaces in Kansas City. We were invited to direct a choreographed performance by Price Suddarth amongst the poppy field of the iconic World War One museum.

With Covid-19 forcing the doors of the Kansas City Ballet closed, the broadcast series New Moves allowed dancers and choreographers to share new work in one of a kind spaces in Kansas City. We were invited to direct a choreographed performance by Pierce Suddard amongst the poppy field of the iconic World War One museum.

6 STREETS | Creating Black Lives Matter Murals in KC

“6 STREETS” chronicles the creation of six street murals, honoring the Black Lives Matter movement in neighborhoods across Kansas City. This excerpt from the documentary special highlights the community organizations that made the project possible and celebrates the art activists whose creative interpretations of this profound moment in history, are now commemorated on the streets of Kansas City.

After the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, Kansas City, along with many cities around the US, erupted with protests demanding police accountability and change.

“6 STREETS” chronicles the creation of six street murals, honoring the Black Lives Matter movement in neighborhoods across Kansas City. This excerpt from the documentary special highlights the community organizations that made the project possible and celebrates the art activists whose creative interpretations of this profound moment in history, are now commemorated on the streets of Kansas City.

This documentary special aired on Kansas City PBS in February 2022.

Watch the full documentary special here.

Culture

All Videos

The Genius of Charlie Parker

Charlie Parker, also known as Bird, is a legendary jazz musician who has influenced many of today's genres and helped develop the style known as bebop. Bebop is a sub-genre of jazz that is recognized as being difficult to dance to, but Bird said he didn't care if people danced to his music, because he was an artist. This episode of the PBS Digital Studios series, Sound Field, explores the origins of Bird’s legendary influence.

Charlie Parker, also known as bird, is a legendary jazz musician who has influenced many of today's genres and helped develop the genre bebop. Bebop is a subgenre of jazz that is recognized as being difficult to dance to, but Bird said he didn't care if people danced to his music, because he was an artist. This episode of the PBS Digital Studios series, Sound Field, explores the origins of Bird’s legendary influence.

LA Buckner interviews jazz saxophonist Bobby Watson and sound archive director Chuck Haddix. LA spotlights the innovative style of Kansas City's own Charlie Parker and tracks down his influence on bebop, jazz and the rest of the musical world.

New Moves | Kansas City Ballet at the WWI Museum

With Covid-19 forcing the doors of the Kansas City Ballet closed, the broadcast series New Moves allowed dancers and choreographers to share new work in one of a kind spaces in Kansas City. We were invited to direct a choreographed performance by Price Suddarth amongst the poppy field of the iconic World War One museum.

With Covid-19 forcing the doors of the Kansas City Ballet closed, the broadcast series New Moves allowed dancers and choreographers to share new work in one of a kind spaces in Kansas City. We were invited to direct a choreographed performance by Pierce Suddard amongst the poppy field of the iconic World War One museum.

6 STREETS | Creating Black Lives Matter Murals in KC

“6 STREETS” chronicles the creation of six street murals, honoring the Black Lives Matter movement in neighborhoods across Kansas City. This excerpt from the documentary special highlights the community organizations that made the project possible and celebrates the art activists whose creative interpretations of this profound moment in history, are now commemorated on the streets of Kansas City.

After the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, Kansas City, along with many cities around the US, erupted with protests demanding police accountability and change.

“6 STREETS” chronicles the creation of six street murals, honoring the Black Lives Matter movement in neighborhoods across Kansas City. This excerpt from the documentary special highlights the community organizations that made the project possible and celebrates the art activists whose creative interpretations of this profound moment in history, are now commemorated on the streets of Kansas City.

This documentary special aired on Kansas City PBS in February 2022.

Watch the full documentary special here.