"There is no existing ecosystem... And I want to fight for that."
Mark Duplass on indie TV; Signs of life in indie film; SeriesFest and HotDocs winners
Happy Thursday, friends. April showers bring… better markets for indies:
The indie market is showing signs of life after a “dreary April.”
I Saw The TV Glow delivered one of the best limited openings of the year.
Netflix acquired US Rights to Mark Duplass and Mel Eslyn’s Penelope. Mark and Mel spoke at length about building an independent TV market at SeriesFest, following similar discussions at Sundance and SXSW.
The Portrait community made many of the films and shows driving this market momentum. And we certainly saw the independent spirit blazing at SeriesFest, Hot Docs, and AFF this week. Let’s dive in.
Roll of Honor
Premieres, Awards, and More. Say hello to featured members on the app.
What To Watch: Indie Films + Returning Shows
Dark Indie Visions: Sundance Thriller, Telluride Biopic, Cannes Insider Doc
I Saw the TV Glow. “A profound vision of the trans experience” (The New Yorker). Taylor Shung, EP; Brandon Tonner-Connolly, Production Designer; Paige Mitchell, Set Decorator; Justin Landsman, Production Assistant. Limited release. Nationwide May 17.
Wildcat. “Drawing upon the distinctive voice of Flannery O’Connor, it’s a sublime portrait of a great writer” (THR). Shepherd Ahlers, 2nd AD. Limited release.
Catching Fire: The Story Of Anita Pallenberg. Featuring Scarlett Johansson, “the intimate, insidery new documentary” offers a fuller appraisal “of one of the mid-20th century’s most influential It girls” (Vanity Fair). Bill Kirstein, DP; Elizabeth Westrate, Line Producer; Alyse Spiegel, Editorial Consultant; Nyneve Laura Minnear, Addl. Editor; Konrad Waldmann, Asst. Camera; Anthony Rhoads, Visual Effects; Julia Sub, Finishing Producer. Limited Release and VOD.
Back in Action: Acclaimed Second and Third Seasons Out Now
Hacks. “Hacks has never been better… [it] now asks the question of what to do with success when you have finally achieved it” (Slate). Ali Greer, Editor; Ben Wilkins, Re-Recording Mixer; Aubrey Marie, Hair Dept. Head; Debra Schrey, Makeup Dept. Head. MAX.
Smiling Friends. “After an almost two-year hiatus, Adult Swim’s gleefully silly and surreal [show] returns” (Paste). Victoria Arslani, Animator, IDs. Adult Swim.
On The Festival Circuit
SeriesFest and HotDocs announce award winners. Browse and connect with the award-winning teams in our SeriesFest and Hot Docs special features on Portrait. Congrats to winning teams!
Seattle International Film Festival and CAAMFest kick off. Browse industry attendees and film teams - and let others know you’re attending — in the SIFF and CAAMfest homes on the Portrait app.
GLAAD Awards this weekend. See the 96 members with nominated films in our GLAAD special feature on Portrait.
On the Awards Beat
Canon adds six visionary filmmakers to its Explorers of Light program. Congrats to Portrait members Christine Ng and Shana Hagan, ASC.
2024 Pulitzer Prize winners announced. Congrats to Kirsten Luce, photographer for Hannah Drier’s winning series on migrant child labor, and to Alex Gittleson, Baldwin Tang, and the Bloomberg team for the short doc and feature on US gun exports, an Investigative Reporting finalist.
The Morning Show and Palm Royale are among activations at Apple’s FYC Emmy House. The house opens this weekend. Check out the Portrait teams behind these FYC shows here.
Weekend Long Reads and Listens
No Film School: Editor Erick Sasso on editing Tyler Perry’s life story.
Wrap Drinks Podcast: DP Fletcher Wolfe on her career path and favorite rigs
Gold Derby: Costume Designer Katie Irish on ‘finding the character and the humanity’ in Manhunt’s look and feel
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.
BlackStar Pitch (5/10 deadline)
Sony Pictures Television Directors Program (5/10 deadline)
Redford Center Grants (5/10 deadline)
Firelight Documentary Lab (5/13 deadline)
Gotham Spotlight on Documentaries (5/16 deadline)
Sundance Development Track (5/16 deadline)
North Fork TV Script Competition (5/21 deadline)
Gotham U.S. Shorts to Features (5/30 deadline)
Spotlight Documentary Residency (5/31 deadline)
The Disruptors Fellowship (6/7 deadline)
Film Independent Doc Producing Lab (6/11 deadline)
The Georgia List (6/15 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.
Dallas-based Video Producer/Editor. See more details in Portrait member Kristina Budelis’ post on Portrait.
Post Production Manager, Sony Pictures.
Production Technical Director, Disney Branded Television.
Director, National Football League.
Director of Media Relations, Directors Guild of America.
Senior Video Producer - Paid Media, Biden for President.
Newscast Director, Hearst.
Video Editor, 2Perf Productions.
Director III, WCPO, The E.W. Scripps Company.
Manager, Post Production - Features, Sony Pictures Entertainment.
Video Editor, NHRA: Championship Drag Racing.
Broadcast Graphics Director, National Basketball Association (NBA).
Field Producer, NBCUniversal.
See more jobs/gigs in our interactive, filterable database in the app.
End Credits: Portrait Launch of the Week
All across the industry circuit we roam. Until next week, friends. See you on Portrait.
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