Speaking is Difficult premieres at Sundance
It’s been an exciting start to the new year so far, with lots of new mixing projects premiering in festivals, on TV, and on the web.
First up Speaking is Difficult, the new film by AJ Schnack, premiered at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. Produced by Will Lennon and Executive Produced by Citizen Four Oscar Winner Laura Poitras and Charlotte Cook for Field of Vision, the film takes a poignant stance against gun violence in America.
Indiewire called it a hidden gem of the film festival, both the New York Times and the Los Angeles Times published articles on it, and Newsweek called it “One of the most harrowing films that audiences may see at this year’s Sundance— and maybe even all year”
Next up the film will play at True/False at the beginning of March.
Truth and Power launches on Pivot TV
Narrated by Academy Award Nominee Maggie Gyllenhaal, the 10-part investigative docuseries Truth and Power premiered in January on Pivot, Participant Media’s television network.
Executive Produced by Brian Knappenberger, director of The Internet’s Own Boy and whom I’ve worked with in the past mixing Ice Warriors, the show highlights the stories of ordinary people going to extraordinary lengths to expose large-scale abuses of power, and has been fascinating to work on.
Originally announced on Deadline, the series has been covered on KCRW, The Washington Post, The International Business Times, Good Magazine, The Takeaway, and multiple episodes have made the New York Times What to Watch List
Also, two episodes were selected to play at the Berlin Film Festival, which is an exciting and exceptional honor.
Two Films in SXSW
I’m very excited to have two films play at the SXSW Film Festival this year.
First, The Black Belt will have its World Premiere. Directed by Margaret Brown, who won the Grand Jury Prize in 2014 for her film The Great Invisible, the Black Belt was also produced by Field of Vision and delves into voting registration roadblocks and impediments that have been enacted by the state of Alabama.
Also playing at the festival is the film Two Cities. Directed by Darius Clark Monroe, the film take a poetic look into the mind and memories of Dr. Mtangulizi Sanyika as he reflects on being displaced by hurricane Katrina ten years ago. Originally mixed this past summer as part of Time Inc’s New Orleans Here and Now project, I’m thrilled that festival audiences will get to experience the surround mix for the film.
This marks the fifth straight year I’ve had films at SXSW, and I feel very honored for that streak and for all the wonderful projects I’ve been able to work on over that time.
The Dean Scream Debuts Online
Recently released, and made in collaboration with Nate Silver’s FiveThirtyEight Films and ESPN Films, The Dean Scream takes a look back at Howard Dean’s 2004 presidential campaign and the infamous ‘scream’ that haunted him in the press.
This was a wonderful short film to work on, and I got to collaborate again with director Bryan Storkel whom I’ve mixed Fight Church with as well as another ESPN 30-for-30 The Bad Boy of Bowling.
The Dean Scream was the launch film for a new joint political media venture between Nate Silver and ESPN, and I’m thrilled that it was the one chosen to kick everything off. The film has received media coverage from ABC, Politico, The Wrap, and many more. Official ESPN press release here.
More ESPN debuts, End of Year top movie lists, and an article in Sonic Scoop
Also debuting on ESPN is the official premiere of The Bad Boy of Bowling. This ESPN 30-for-30 short played the festival circuit last year, but will debut on ESPN and SportCenter at the end of February.
Western made another set of Top Movie lists, being chosen by Film Comment and Sight and Sound Magazine as one of the best documentaries of last year.
And lastly I had the pleasure of chipping in my thoughts on iZotope’s newest RX 5 noise reduction software for Sonic Scoop Magazine. The article was written by Zach McNees and I was honored to be asked to weigh in with my thoughts and expertise.
Overall it’s been an amazing start to the new year, and I’m hard at work on a new set of documentary features that I can’t wait to share about in upcoming months, including my next collaboration in March with the Ross brothers and David Byrne!
