Fall Trend: Revisiting Our Cultural Giants
Plus: the Definitive Pandemic-Era Film Premieres; Camden Awards Announced; Bidding Wars Won; Festival Mixer TONIGHT
Happy Thursday, friends.
We’re excited to see many of you at our Festival Fall Fling with ARRI Rental tonight. Can’t make it? Find friends heading to your next festival on the Portrait app.
One theme across this fall’s big new docs: a fresh look at modern icons. From the women who defined the word “super model” to the lawyer who helped define free speech today in the US, these films are reexamining our living giants.
Let’s dive in!
Roll of Honor
Premieres, Press, Awards, and Standout Member Work This Week
Examining Our Icons: What’s Out Now…
In Fashion: The Super Models. The highly anticipated documentary “The Super Models” examines how Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford, Linda Evangelista and Christy Turlington defined the term — and the decade. Roger Ross William, director; John S. Fisher, editor. Out now on Apple TV+.
In Law: The Free Speech Giant. “Floyd Abrams: Speaking Freely” revisits the career of the lawyer across his landmark cases — from the Pentagon Papers to Citizens United — and how he helped define free speech today. Yael Melamede, director Christopher Allen, co producer; Nick Kochmann, associate producer; Nelson Hume, DP; Sam Russell, DP; Harry Jackson, editor; Adam Bolt, supervising editor; Blake Caliguiri, assistant editor; Raven Dahlin, additional editor; David Gauff, on-line editor; Kate McLane, assistant editor. Premieres Friday on PBS/American Masters.
…And What’s Out Next
In Movies: The Director. This year’s AFI Fest has announced the world premiere of the documentary “Maxine’s Baby: The Tyler Perry Story,” granting audiences “unfettered access to the inner world of Tyler Perry… a media mogul with a mission to pave his own road to the top” (THR). Gelila Bekele, writer, director & producer; Armani Ortiz director; Asante White, producer; Jasmine White, producer; Erick Sasso, editor & post production.
In Music: The Artist. “American Symphony,” Matthew Heineman’s intimate look at musician Jon Baptiste, has been acquired by Netflix & Higher Ground following its run at Telluride and a lengthy bidding war. DP Clair Popkin helmed the multi-cam concert and performance at Carnegie Hall.
In The News: Work Making an Impact of Its Own
Capturing Our Era: “Bad Axe.” Don’t miss “the most essential film yet made” about life in the United States during the pandemic era (RogerEbert.com). The critically acclaimed film captures a closely-knit Asian American family in rural Michigan as they fight to keep their local restaurant and American dream alive. Kat Vasquez, producer; Diane Quon, producer, Jude Hope Harris, producer; Rosie Walunas, editor. Hulu.
Forcing Legal Action: “Hunting The Monkey Torturers.” The BBC documentary that Ed Ou filmed and reported for has forced a chance in social media law in the UK!
Revealing the World Below: “Reef Frame Your World.” The 10 part series for Oceanx on ocean conservation in the Dominican Republic is now live. Ilie Mitaru, director.
On the Festival Beat: Camden Awards Announced
Congrats to everyone with films at Camden International Film Festival this past week!
“Three Promises” won The Harrell Award for Best Documentary Feature. Yousef Srouji, director, writer; Zein Khleif, co-producer; Marielle Olentine, Producer; Ghiya Rushidat, composer.
“Queendom” won the Audience Award. Agniia Galdanova, director; Igor Myakotin, producer.
Window of Opportunity
Weekly Jobs, Grants, Labs, and More
Coming Soon/Closing Soon:
Black Public Media Open Call (9/25 deadline)
Proof of Concept Short Film Grant (9/26 deadline)
Graton Fellowship for Artists from California-Based Tribes (9/29 deadline)
KPBS Explore Local Content Project (9/30 deadline)
South Arts Cross-Sector Impact Grant (10/2 deadline)
JFI Filmmakers in Residence Program (10/6 deadline)
Women in Media: Developing Filmmaker Fellowship (10/15 deadline)
Toronto Media Arts Program (10/16 deadline)
Women Directing Mentorship (10/18 deadline)
Roy W. Dean Fall Grant (10/31 deadline)
Big Sky Pitch (11/30 deadline)
Elevate Collective (rolling deadline)
Jobs/Gigs Roundup
Senior Video Editor, CoStar Group
Senior Social Media Creator, The Arena Group
Creative Producer/Editor, The Arena Group
Editor, Nat Geo
Video Graphic Editor/Creator, SBH Fashion
Digital Video Shooter/Editor, iHeart Media
Producer, MrBeast
Digital Content Producer, 60 Minutes
Producer, Senior, Walt Disney Imagineering
Editorial Research Manager, Nat Geo
Line Producer, CNN This Morning
Senior Producer, ABC News Live (freelance)
Senior Producer, University of Phoenix
End Credits: Portrait Post of the Week
As “The Super Models” premieres, we loved seeing this shot from the other wonderful Super Model doc out now. If you didn’t watch “Super Model: Donyale Luna” after we featured it last week, now’s the time for a super model super double header.
Until next week, friends. See you on Portrait.