Tina Turner: Creative Phoenix; Badass Anti-Heroine
Plus new streaming debuts, Cannes shout outs, creative collabs, & more from Portrait
This woman rose like a Phoenix from the ashes of abuse, a derailed career, and no money to a renaissance like I’ve never seen in entertainment. She became fully herself and showed us all how it’s done.
Well said, Sherrilyn Ifill (for those who want the best rolling retweets of celebrity homages and films-to-watch in remembrance, Sherrilyn is here for you).
We’ve loved seeing your tributes to the queen of rock over the last 24 hours. So much of the work coming out of the Portrait community this week — women pushing back on the aftermath of abuse; champions pushing themselves further — feel like they speak to Tina Turner’s legacy.
May you feel your creative power this week as Tina always did.
— Jean Ellen & Kasia
Co-Founders, Portrait
Roll of Honor
Premieres, Press, Awards, and Standout Member Work This Week
Victim/Suspect: Now Streaming on Netflix
We’ve been looking forward to the streaming debut of “Victim/Suspect,” the story of law enforcement indicting sexual assault victims, since its Sundance premiere. Congrats to Portrait members Jenni Morello, cinematographer and Elyse Kelly, animation.
This Week’s Premieres, Flora and Fauna Edition
The second season of Growing Floret, chronicling a family-run flower farm, is now streaming on Discovery+, Magnolia Network, Max, and Prime Video. From Chris Janjic and the Blue Chalk Media team.
Voices of Nature, a film about scientists using AI technology to decode animal language, went live on Scripps News this week. Joe Van Eeckhout, DP; Spencer Chumbley, Camera Operator.
Wild Life, the decades-long love story of two conservationists, starts steaming on Hulu and Disney Plus this Friday. Clair Popkin, DP.
New Collabs on the Commercial Beat
Directed by Cassandra Giraldo and shot by Kadri Koop, “What Are You Working On” is a new three-part documentary series for Nike featuring WNBA champion A’ja Wilson.
Producer and editor Jeremiah Glazer worked on this new cool video for D'Addario x Taylor Guitars.
This Week’s Awards Rundown
Emmys Nomination: Congratulations to Jeremy Raff, nominated for an Emmy, DOP, on “Fault Lines: How the NFL Failed its Black Former Players.”
Film Independent Award: “She Cried That Day,” directed and producers by Amanda Erickson, was chosen for Film Independent’s 2023 Documentary Lab.
American Cinematographer: Congratulations to Veronica Bouza, who will be featured in the August issue as a Rising Star of Cinematography.
Sean and Heard…
In Variety: Producer Yoni Golijov received a nice shout out for his ‘Anatomy of a Scene’ session at Cannes.
In Short Films Matter: Editor Dean Gonzalez’s film These Final Hours received a coveted 5/5 review from the short film platform.
In Telluride: Congrats to all the great films heading to Mountain Film this weekend, including Between Earth & Sky (Joe Van Eeckhout, DP) and Bad Press (Tyler Graim, DP).
Window of Opportunity
Weekly Jobs, Grants, Labs, Intensives, Programming, Events, and More
Coming Soon: Fundraising Pitch Workshop
Join Keith Ochwat and Show and Tell Film at their virtual webinar, the Fundraising Pitch Deck Workshop, May 25th (today!) at 1pm PST! Grab a guest pass here!
Closing Soon: June Deadlines
Chicken & (Egg)celerator Lab (5/31 deadline)
Future of Film Incubator (5/31 deadline)
Makazan Films Directing Program (6/2 dealine)
Women Write Now (6/5 deadline)
The Georgia List (6/15 deadline)
Claims Conference Contest (6/19 deadline)
Athena Film Fest Writers Lab (06/26 deadline)
Roy W Dean Summer Grant (6/30 deadline + waivers)
Film Independent Fast Track (7/10 deadline)
Jobs/Gigs Roundup
Lead Producer, Gearbox Entertainment.
Creative Services Producer - NBC4 Los Angeles, NBCUniversal.
Art Director, Studios (Temporary). Warner Bros Media.
Cinematographer, Tellwell Story Co.
Deputy Director of Photography, LA Times.
Film Producer, LifeView Technologies.
Arts and Entertainment Editor, The Washington Post.
Multi-platform Producer- NBC Dallas, NBCUniversal.
Video Editor, That’s No Moon.
Senior Creative Producer, Meow Wolf.
Video & Multimedia Producer, Northeastern University.
Educational Media Producer, Editor, Brown University.
Associate Producer, North Shore Productions.
End Credits Scene: Tina Turner, Badass Aunty Entity
This feels like the right time to remind you that Tina Turner played the epic action anti-heroine in “Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome” (and she insisted on doing as much of her own stunt work as she was allowed). The film followed her comeback album, "Private Dancer,” and coincided with her big resurgence (at the age of 44).
Both works will be on our streaming/listening playlist this weekend.
Rest in Power Ballad Peace, Aunty Entity.