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Shot on high-definition video, The Ryan Interview is adapted by Ira Simmons from a play by Pulitzer Prize winner Arthur Miller, originally commissioned by the Actors Theater of Louisville. Though she yearns to do "meaningful" work, budding journalist Frederika Rose (Ashley Judd) must satisfy herself with various human-interest stories and puff pieces. One of these requires her to interview farmer Bob Ryan (Eddie Bracken) on the occasion of his 100th birthday. The experience proves to be of the "life-changing" variety for Frederika, and also performs a curious brand of magic upon the centenarian Ryan. Filmed on a farm where director Guy Mendes once lived, The Ryan Interview made its American TV debut over PBS on August 25, 2000.