Striking like it's January 1960
Strike Doc in Production; Invisible Beauty Acquired, Peers on the Pods, New August Deadlines + Jobs
Happy Thursday, friends.
That’s right — for those of you who haven’t been devouring your strike history — the last time writers and actors came together to strike was… 1960, when the rise of a tech platform — TV — meant the old pay system no longer worked. Sound familiar?
Thank you to everyone sharing strike commentary on Portrait. A quick sampling:
Time to Break Up Hollywood: Trapped in a Death Spiral (h/t Victoria Korty)
The Business with Kim Masters (podcast episode - h/t Kimberly Dilts: “Its hard for me to imagine the Hollywood that emerges after these strikes…”)
Netflix Adds Nearly 6 Million Subscribers in Q2 (h/t Katie Irish: “This doesn’t look like new media or “unproven” media to me. Time for some new language in the contracts.”
Documentary Filmmakers Don’t Have the Option to Strike for a Better System (h/t Beth Levison featured throughout the piece: “… I would like to think we would strike if we could. But if we could strike is a whole other question.”
Check out more on the app, and keep’em coming.
Let’s dive into your great work this week, even as the ecosystem evolves (explodes?) around us.
— Jean Ellen & Kasia
Co-Founders, Portrait
Roll of Honor
Premieres, Press, Awards, and Standout Member Work This Week
In the News (and Getting Great Reviews)
“Have You Got It Yet? The Story of Syd Barrett & Pink Floyd.” The film “illuminates [Pink Floyd Frontman] Barrett to a greater degree than any other account.” NYT Critic’s Pick. Julius Beltrame, producer; Karen Skloss, editor and co-producer; Rupert Truman, cinematographer. In theaters.
"Somebody Somewhere.” The comedy series “brought together a powerful collaboration between cinematographer Shana Hagan, ASC, and Harbor senior colorist Nick Hasson.” Post Magazine. Season 3 announced. Seasons 1-2, HBO.
“Last Call: When A Serial Killer Stalked Queer New York.” “An emotional and educational odyssey that transcends the standard boundaries of true crime.” Entertainment Weekly. If you didn’t start this after the premiere, now’s the time. Grace Fardella, Yusef Alsuhaimi, producers; Persephone Whiteside McFadden, story producer; Rebecca Z. Stern, archival producer; Meghan Doherty, additional footage: recreations. HBO.
New Work: Around the Web, Around the World
Listening to Children in Ukraine. From Mona El-Naggar and Jonah Kessel at New York Times Opinion, we hear from Ukrainian children who’ve lost a parent during the conflict.
Hunting in Latvia. On the Hunt with Janis Putelis: Hunting in Latvia is now live. Joe Van Eeckhout, cinematographer.
Train Hopping the US: Don’t miss Dean Peterson’s cross country trek from LA to NYC on Amtrak, evaluating the history of passenger rail in the US.
Productions Making Moves
In Production: A Different Strike Story. From Deadline: Documentary In The Works About UPS And Its Union Workers as the company braces for a potentially devastating strike. Congratulations to Yael Bridge, Yoni Golijov, Mars Verrone, Jeremy Flood, and Erick Stoll.
Newly Acquired: Pioneering Fashion Icon Doc. Magnolia Pictures has acquired “Invisible Beauty.” Congratulations to Andrea van Beuren, Paul Dallas, and Mia Cioffi Henry.
Peers on the Pods
On The ICF+C Podcast, Veronica Bouza shares her journey from electrician to cinematographer, the road to getting representation, and more.
On The Alizee Yeezy Show, Toby Muse discusses his years investigating Colombian cartels.
Screenings This Week
Brooklyn, this Saturday: Juan Blanco Garcia’s short “The (Other) 700 Club” screens at Rooftop Films. Check his post on the app for more.
Los Angeles, this Sunday: Producer Aya Hamdan’s film “Cousins” screens this Sunday at American Cinematheque.
NYC, July 26th: Cinematographer Barbie Leung’s “The Albatross Cafe” premieres at the Asian American International Film Festival.
DC, July 26th: Abundance: The Farmlink Story in the US Capitol. This bipartisan screening brings together Members of Congress for a discussion around a youth-driven approach to end hunger. Owen Dubleck, director; Zach Ingrasci and Chris Temple, executive producers; Jenna Kelly, producer.
Window of Opportunity
Weekly Jobs, Grants, Labs, Intensives, Workshops, and More
Closing Soon: July/August Deadlines
Film Independent Project Involve (7/24 deadline)
Teri Rogers Film Grants (7/24 deadline)
Sundance Sandbox Fund (7/24 deadline)
Visions Sud Est Fund (7/27 deadline)
AXS Film Fund (7/31 deadline)
Chopard x BTTL Action Grant (7/31 deadline)
The BDC Films Fellowship Program (7/31 deadline)
DOC NYC: 40 Under 40 (8/1 deadline)
DOC NYC’s 2023 Documentary New Leaders (8/1 deadline)
South Arts Cross-Sector Impact Grants (8/1 deadline)
Lynn Shelton “Of a Certain Age” Grant (8/1 deadline)
DTLA Screenwriting Contest (8/1 deadline)
IDA Documentary Awards (8/8 deadline)
iTVS Open Call (8/11 deadline)
New Orleans Film Society South Pitch (8/11 deadline)
Film Independent Screenwriting Lab (8/28 deadline)
Berlinale Talents Summit (9/4 deadline)
Jobs/Gigs Roundup
Shoot these folks a note on the Portrait app for more:
Joe Van Eeckhout needs a local sound operator in the Jackson, WY area.
Ivy Chiu needs an Assistant Editor for “I Need Space.”
Quincy Ledbetter needs a solo violinist in NYC.
Spencer Chumbley needs production folks in Missoula.
Producer, NBCUniversal.
Health & Science Video Producer, Associated Press.
Visuals Producer - NBCU Local, NBCUniversal.
Associate Producer, CNN Digital Video News, Warner Bros. Discovery.
Video Producer, Performance Innovation, HelloFresh.
Video Producer, Engagement, Atlantic Council.
Executive Director, International Documentary Association.
End Credits: Post of the Week
Congrats to Arbel Bedak, Allyson Newman, Sam Carlin, and Brittany Douziech on a great panel at Outfest — and to everyone with films and events there this past week.
Until next week, friends. See you on the app.