Palace Intrigue: Disney, Sundance, and a Week of Industry Upheavals
Plus: Top Streaming Shows in April, $50k Research Grantees, Full Frame Film Fest
Happy Thursday, friends. April showers bring… many showdowns:
Disney once again outmaneuvered activist investor Nelson Peltz.
Variety delved into Sundance CEO’s Joana Vicente’s startling departure.
Leadership stretched the IATSE bargaining timeline, aiming to sidestep the threat of another strike.
Yet Monkey Man director Dev Patel provided the week’s most riveting behind-the-scenes tale: from the shoot’s “absolute catastrophe” — locations lost, broken cameras — to the film’s triumphant SXSW debut and impending theatrical release on Friday. Hats off to EP Jonathan Fuhrman and producer Anjay Nagpal for making it from the edge of collapse to celebrated opening.
Monkey Man isn’t the only great project out this week. Let’s dive in.
Roll of Honor
Premieres, Awards, and More. Say hello to featured members on the app.
What to Watch This Week: Examining the Culture
A Brief History of the Future. “From mushroom leather to ocean cleanup to death doulas, [Host Ari] Wallach finds people who see the same scary future we do but are choosing to do something about it” (Techcrunch). Ari Wallach, Host & EP; Kathryn Murdoch, Peter Nelson, EPs; Sarah Aldrich, Producer; Meryl Goodwin, Editor. PBS.
How to Have Sex. “A blisteringly real survey of female coming of age” (Roger Ebert). Luke Moran-Morris, Production Designer; Nikos Nikolopoulos, Still Photographer. This Friday on Prime.
XCLD: The Story of Cancel Culture A nuanced look at an issue that creates “exceptionally odd bedfellows” (MSNBC). Ferne Pearlstein, Director; Kiana Jackson, Producer; Amanda Spain, Head of Acquisitions. Sunday on MSNBC.
Weird and Wild Sub-Cultures
Brandy Hellville & the Cult of Fast Fashion. “Pulls back the curtain on one of the strangest, most exclusive clothing stores in the country” (Daily Beast). Dennis Haggerty, Sound Mixer. April 9th on MAX.
Spermworld. The doc investigates the ‘sperm kings’ who use Facebook to donate to hundreds of women (Variety). David Bolen, Cinematographer; Lauren Belfer, Producer; Kathleen Lingo, EP; Paul Hsu, Sound Design; Sam Fischer, Color; Max Allman, Editor; Jessica Hester, Post Production; Derek Schweickart, Consultant. Hulu.
The Synanon Fix. “What happens when a rehab program that is supposed to cure addictions becomes addictive itself?” (Time). Alexandra Korba, Producer. MAX.
Compelling Personas
Steve! (Martin) A Documentary in 2 Pieces. “My whole life is backwards. How did I go from riddled with anxiety in my 30s, to 75 and really happy? How did this happen?" (NPR). Daniel Wohl, Composer; Bryan Donnell, DP. Apple TV+.
The Reverend. “Canfield’s debut feature is infused with its own measure of that gentling spirit” of the Reverend Vince Anderson, a titan of the Brooklyn music scene (NYT). Nick Canfield, Director; Matt Bockelman & Iris Ng, Additional Camera. The Criterion Channel.
Photographer: Muhammed Muheisen: Finding The Light. Rita Baghdadi, Director; Gene Gallerano, Producer; Shelby Hougui, Post Producer; T. Griffin, Composer; Melissa Langer, Cinematographer; Tristan Baylis, Mixer; Jeff Spivack, Audio Post; Christopher Young, Colorist. New episode streaming on Hulu & Disney+.
In the News: Roundups, Research Grants, Festivals
IndieWire’s Best New Shows in April. Congrats to featured Portrait shows:
Ripley. Predrag Dubravcic, DP; Alex Yewon, Music Arranger; David Forshee, Sound Effects; Brian Abbott, Makeup; Guja Quaranta, Associate Producer; Meg Kettell, Camera Operator.
Good Times. Jaydi Samuels Kuba, Writer.
Dead Boy Detective. Saray Guidetti, Associate Producer.
Catapult Fund Provides $50,000 in Research Grants to Five Filmmakers. Congrats to Portrait members Set Hernandez and So Yun Um.
Full Frame Film Festival kicks off today. Say hello to the 126 Portrait members with films and let others know you are attending in Full Frame on the Portrait app.
Off Script: Quote of the Week
The thing that occurred to me is that so often when we watch these period pieces, they all seem sepia-toned. That’s not the reality of what it looked like. Given the advances that had happened in technology, everyone was mad for color. They loved it… so I put a note on there that was like, I know that this is how this period has typically been presented, but just to make you aware, we can go as bold as you want.
~ Manhunt Costume Designer Katie Irish Took a Bold Approach to Dressing the Victorian Period
Window of Opportunity
aka The Discover Tab 🔍
Check out the Discover Tab on Portrait for grants, programs, festivals, and jobs.
Closing Soon: Programs + Grants
Have an opportunity to share? Post it on the app or fill out our form.
Creative Capital Award (4/4 deadline)
The Writers Lab (4/4 deadline + discount)
Union Docs Summer Documentary Labs (4/7 deadline)
Moonshot Pilot Accelerator (4/14 deadline + discount)
Catapult Development Grant (4/15 deadline)
Jerome Foundation Artist Fellowship (4/15 deadline)
Anonymous Was a Woman Grant (4/16 deadline)
Crosscuts Origins Grant (4/17 deadline)
Roy Dean Short Film Grant (4/29 deadline + waivers)
Black List x TRW Collection (5/1 deadline)
The Georgia List (6/15 deadline)
SFFILM Rainin Grant (5/3 deadline + discount)
2024 Black List Labs (7/1 deadline)
2024 Diversity Lists (7/1 deadline)
See more spring + rolling deadlines in our interactive database in the app.
Jobs/Gigs Roundup
Have a job to share? Share it on the app or fill out our form.
Senior Editor, The Daily, The New York Times.
Producer, Tennis Channel.
Post Production Manager, AMC Networks.
Visual and Digital Producer, Fresh Air - Part Time, WHYY Inc.
Associate Producer, Matter of Opinion, The New York Times.
Camera Operator, Studios (Temporary), Warner Bros. Discovery.
Senior Manager, Slate Marketing, Netflix.
Brand Partnerships Director, Hollywood Branded.
Media & Entertainment Partnerships, Creative Artists Agency (CAA).
Professor of Cinematic Arts - John C. Hench Division of Animation and Digital Arts, USC.
Associate Producer, Peacock.
Social Video Producer and Editor, Entertainment Tonight.
Multimedia Video Producer Consultant (Production/Editor), The World Bank Group.
See more jobs/gigs in our interactive, filterable database in the app.
End Credits: Portrait Post of the Week
Until next week, friends. See you on Portrait.
Receive this guide from a friend? Request an invite to Portrait here.