The Profound Empathy of PBS’ Shelter Me: The Cancer Pioneers

Dogs have long played a vital role in human health. Whether it be something as simple as the proven health benefits of having a dog in your life or something as complex as dogs being able to detect specific odors associated with certain illnesses, it’s clear that the benefits of a loving relationship between a canine and a human extend both ways.

The new PBS documentary Shelter Me: The Cancer Pioneers not only chronicles these benefits but also pushes them to an entirely new level. The documentary highlights the groundbreaking role that dogs play in advancing cancer treatments for humans through comparative oncology.

Presented by Petco Love and produced by Steven Latham Productions, the Shelter Me series is a collection of episodes. While each work focuses on a different subject, they are all united by their exploration of the bond between humans and animals. It is an Emmy Award-winning PBS series that tells uplifting stories about animals and the people who love them, encouraging viewers to develop similar empathy toward animals in their own lives.

Subject Focus

Shelter Me: The Cancer Pioneers is a documentary that explores the field of comparative oncology, highlighting how cancer studies in dogs serve as crucial models for human therapies and how these findings are shaping the future of cancer treatment.

The documentary features leading scientists and veterinarians from world-renowned institutions, including the National Institutes of Health, the National Cancer Institute, the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Illinois, the University of Wisconsin and Colorado State University.

The film captures the emotional stakes: dogs that are beloved family members fighting cancer, dedicated and brave people, brilliant scientists and medical professionals and a future where hope comes on four legs.

OST-HER2 Therapy

The documentary highlights OS Therapies’ OST-HER2 immunotherapy developed for osteosarcoma, which has been tested in dogs and humans with promising results. OST-HER2 has completed Phase I & Phase III trials in canines and recently a Phase IIb clinical trial in humans, demonstrating statistically significant benefits.

The Link Between Animals and Humans

While other entries in the Shelter Me film series have explored various angles of the multifaceted subject matter, The Cancer Pioneers draws a direct line between advancements in animal health and those in human health. Far more than mere test subjects or guinea pigs for new treatment methods, the pet dogs featured in the film are struggling with illnesses of their own, which the treatments are designed to remedy. The information gathered from the applications of these treatments to dogs is then applied to human therapy, but the two are treated as being on equal footing.

The Cancer Pioneers is a fascinating culmination of all the work Shelter Me has done thus far. Although it is a documentary that delves into the details of how these treatments and immunotherapies are being utilized, it is also about the power of empathy.

By seeing dogs as beautiful creatures whose lives are worth fighting for, regardless of the typical lifespan difference compared to humans, the work presents a powerful portrait of the wonders that caring can do.

A Must-Watch

Shelter Me: The Cancer Pioneers premiered on PBS on May 15 and is currently available for streaming on the PBS website and app.

For more information about the film and the causes they fight for, visit https://www.shelterme.tv.

Music

Colorado Band Voltaire’s Ghost Shows Softer Side with Brooding Goth Dream, “‘Till The Break of Day”

By Ryan Bazinet

Is it better to have loved and lost, or better to never have loved at all? That’s the question asked by “‘Till The Break of Day,” the new single by Colorado band Voltaire’s Ghost.

The track opens with distorted guitar and piano arpeggios circling two chords in dreamy perpetual motion. Upbeat drums drive the song along, like the forces of life that pull apart the two lovers at the center of the story.

It’s a bittersweet tale. Two lovers going in separate directions, like the wailing guitar solos which pan from left to right. Ruby Juhl’s echo-soaked vocals are alternately delicate and angry as she sings,

The only thing worse than not having met you

Was having met you, baby

The only thing worse than not having loved you

Was having loved you, baby

In the end, all she can do is sigh, over and over, “Hold me ‘till the break of day.”

The love story behind “‘Till The Break of Day” shows a softer side for the band. Previous songs, like “Death Becomes You” and “Spirit Animal,” help explain why their music has been described with terms like Dark Pop and Cosmic Goth. But fans will note that the brooding remains.

Voltaire’s Ghost was created in Grand Junction, Colorado by songwriter and guitarist Magnus, who released a series of singles in the summer of 2023. Those songs caught the attention of Nashville producer Dean Miller (son of Roger Miller, “King of the Road”), who reached out with an offer to record in the “Music City.”

Realizing he needed a band, Magnus soon connected with drummer Joshua Eggstaff, who was teaching drums at a local music shop and brought a 90s alternative-inspired edge to the band’s rhythms. Next came Ruby Juhl, a singer with a background in musical theater (and a student at the local university).

Magnus asked Ruby and Josh if they wanted to fly to Nashville to make a record. The result was the five-song EP, NEMESIS, released in 2024.

Now, Voltaire’s Ghost is ready to release a new full-length record, Black Petals Fallen. Produced by Magnus, Black Petals Fallen was recorded locally in Colorado. The band then sent the tracks off to Grammy-nominated engineer Joe Ayoub of LA’s Cherokee Studios for mixing. Drew Levine mastered the album.

Black Petals Fallen is available now on vinyl via the band’s official website. Four singles including “‘Till The Break of Day” are available on streaming platforms. The full album will be released for streaming soon.

In the arc of the band, “‘Till The Break of Day” is a full circle moment. The song was originally released as a guitar-and-voice demo back in 2023, before Magnus had assembled the full band. With the latest single, Voltaire’s Ghost has brought the vision to fruition.

Magnus says, “With the new recording, the song just came to life. The demo I released was a sketch. The new version is like a beautiful painting with really vibrant and emotional colors.”

Upcoming visuals include a music video for “‘Till The Break of Day” directed by Luke Ostermiller (who recently directed the super spooky video for “Black Petals Fallen.”) The band is also planning a short film for upcoming single, “The Ballad of Colleen Gray.”

“‘Till The Break of Day” is out now with promotional support from Starlight PR. Follow Voltaire’s Ghost at the links below.

Written in partnership with Tom White

Culture

Directing in LA: How Dante Navigates Culture, Narrative, and International Commercials

What do Chinese electronic brands, US film study, and the LA production industry have in common? Dante Jiayu Liu.

Some commercials capture public attention long after the ad ends. Sometimes they use popular music or trending design to spark visual appeal.

Staying power and influence may be the goal of commercial directors, and they are two pillars of Dante Jiayu Liu’s work as a commercial and creative director.

The award-winning director works with global brands, particularly consumer electronics and technology companies, reimagining their identity, values, and image for Western audiences.

Experiencing Chinese and American Culture

Liu spent his childhood in China and grew up with Chinese culture all around. He came to the US for high school and received a Western education as an adult.

The perspective Liu gained from dual cultural immersion is integral to his work now. Experiencing youth in the US and China means he was, in his words, “bathed in the pop culture.”

He says, “I loved talking to people from different countries, and that helped me really understand that the United States is a place where culture merges. We have to be able to listen to other people and really understand the differences between our own originality.”

Listening is the first step in his process, but once Liu hears the message, he must convey it digitally through art and film.

Studying visual art in college helped him understand the practical elements of conveying cultural differences into a similar language. Merging Chinese brands with American culture is not without its struggles for Liu.

His Philosophy: Sharing Culture through Communication

The Chinese and US markets are two different markets rooted in two different cultures, creating a barrier to connection for Liu. His role often involves introducing consumer electronics to US consumers, while the tech makers are Chinese.

He says, “To [the makers], it’s hard for them to speak in a language that will sell their product to American people. Despite that, we live in a modern global world; cultural differences can sometimes become very sensitive in terms of how we convince other people or how we go about the way we live our lives.”

Liu’s task is to understand the branding of the Chinese business and carry it across the cultural divide to reach American audiences for the Chinese electronic business’s benefit.

He notes that many companies try to save on budget by lowering production costs and moving production to their home country or other countries where production is less costly.

Liu tells clients that budget is not the biggest concern. In his professional experience, to sell a product to a different culture, you meet them where they are.

He explains, “We need to understand and respect the culture, make the commercial on their domestic soil, in their own language, and really become friends with the culture, respect the culture.”

Each time Liu transports productions, he creates jobs in LA film production for local assistants, creatives, videographers, and more.

If listening is his first step, communicating is his next, and his work shows how communication matters to his practice as a filmmaker and cultural explorer.

Shokz x HYROX

Art and communication are evident in Liu’s work, but technology, specifically AI, also shapes his style.

He directed a collaboration commercial campaign between Shokz, a bone-conduction headphone brand, and HYROX, a global fitness race. Liu’s Shokz x HYROX collaboration commercial won the Telly “Silver Winner in Generative AI-Branding” Award in 2026.

This was not Liu’s first time working with Shokz. He directed a release campaign for Shokz’s flagship product, OpenFit2, in 2025. Later in 2026, he directed another campaign for Shokz’s OpenMeet in Los Angeles.

Liu repeatedly works with brands to bring their identity to Western audiences. In Shokz’s case, the company’s audiences are European and American, so he communicates the identity for two cross-cultural markets.

Dante Jiayu Liu’s Practice: Film, Tech, and Communication

Liu’s long-term ambition is to carry his cross-cultural advertising experience into narrative filmmaking.

He has seen some success in film with Grandma’s House, a 2020 short film he directed, which later screened at a variety of film festivals, including the 15th FIRST International Film Festival. The film was a finalist at the USA Film Festival.

Listening is Dante Jiayu Liu’s first step to creating stories that audiences of different cultures can enjoy and share, and with his command of technology, communicating across cultures through media appears within his grasp.

Written in partnership with Tom White

Awards

Tyrannus Angel Awards Makes a Notable Global Debut in AI Filmmaking

With 633 submissions from more than 80 countries, the first-year awards offer a glimpse of the creative ambition seeking a place in cinema’s next chapter.

LOS ANGELES, September 21, 2026 — A new AI film awards initiative has begun with a distinctly international response. Tyrannus Angel Awards closed its inaugural submission period on September 20 with 633 entries from more than 80 countries, according to organizer Tyrannus Foundation.

The awards now enter its judging phase, with nominees to be announced progressively and the final list scheduled for October 1. Selected works will screen at the AI Film Summit Los Angeles on October 24 at City Club Los Angeles.

For a first-year initiative, the significance extends beyond the submission total. A new awards program must establish its identity while persuading creators to give it their attention and entrust it with their work. Participation spanning more than 80 countries gives Tyrannus an international starting point before it has completed its first awards cycle.

A Window into AI Filmmaking’s Creative Ambition

The submission pool offers a concrete view of participation in AI filmmaking: hundreds of entries put forward for consideration, representing work that creators want to share with an audience.

That distinction matters. Conversations about AI in film often revolve around what the technology can produce. An awards program brings another set of questions into focus: what creators choose to say, how they shape their stories, and whether those stories connect with viewers.

The geographic breadth of the inaugural response also creates an opportunity to discover perspectives beyond a single production market. As judging proceeds, attention will shift from the scale of participation to the individual films—their storytelling choices, artistic approaches, and use of emerging tools.

The figures alone cannot establish the quality of the submissions or predict the awards’ long-term standing. They do, however, establish a substantial first-year field and a foundation from which a new platform can develop. Its next test will be how effectively it turns that participation into thoughtful selection, meaningful exhibition, and continued engagement with creators.

Connecting the Work with the Industry

The connection to the AI Film Summit Los Angeles gives the awards a setting that extends beyond the announcement of nominees. Selected films will be presented in a dedicated Screening Room, alongside a Tyrannus Angel Awards Spotlight and discussions about the practical realities of building a future in AI filmmaking.

Presented by Tyrannus Foundation, the Summit’s four panel themes—MAKE IT, BUILD A CAREER, SELL IT, and OWN IT—address production workflows, professional opportunities, funding and distribution, and creative rights. A Creator Lab and Industry Exchange add opportunities to explore tools and connect with potential collaborators.

This combination places selected work within the same event as conversations about how films are made, financed, distributed, and protected. For an emerging awards initiative, that relationship offers a direction for growth: recognition connected to a wider professional community.

Tyrannus Angel Awards’ inaugural response provides an encouraging opening. The months ahead will begin to show how that international participation translates into a distinctive program and an ongoing place for creators to share their work.

The AI Film Summit Los Angeles takes place October 24, 2026, from 1:00 to 7:00 p.m. Pacific Time at City Club Los Angeles. Program information and tickets are available at https://aifilmsummit.com/.

About Tyrannus Foundation

Tyrannus Foundation is a faith-rooted organization whose mission centers on influence, rescue, and education. Open to creators of all backgrounds, its initiatives include the Tyrannus Angel Awards and AI Film Summit, supporting meaningful storytelling, creative exchange, and dialogue about emerging technology’s role in film.

Media Contact
Chantel Chang
Co-Founder, Tyrannus Foundation
chantel.chang@tyrannusfoundation.org

Written in partnership with Tom White