Morgan Spurlock is a New York based writer, director and producer. His first film "Super Size Me" premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2004 and won him Best Directing honors. The film went on to win the inaugural Writers Guild of America best documentary screenplay award as well as garner an Academy Award nomination for best feature documentary. Since then, he has directed, produced and distributed multiple film and TV projects, including the critically acclaimed FX television series, “30 Days,” and the films "Where in the World is Osama Bin Laden," "Confessions of a Superhero," "Czech Dream," "Chalk," "The Future of Food," "What Would Jesus Buy?," and "Freakonomics."
In 2010, Morgan was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award as well as a Writer’s Guild Award for "The Simpsons 20th Anniversary Special: In 3-D! On Ice!" His latest film "The Greatest Movie Ever Sold" and its accompanying TED talk explore the world of product placement and advertising, while being completely funded byproduct placement and advertising. The film premiered at Sundance 2011 and was the first film to be sold. Currently, Morgan is in post-production on his next feature documentary "Comic-Con Episode Four: A Fan’s Hope."
This co-director/producer duo created "The Eyes of Tammy Faye" (2000), a look at the rise, fall and ultimately, acceptance, of former televangelist Tammy Faye Messner as told by Messner herself. Their 2005 film "Inside Deep Throat" explores the origins, circumstances and aftermath of the pivotal and iconic pornographic film.
Blitz was the director/producer of the Academy Award nominated documentary, "Spellbound" (2002), about the kids who compete in the National Spelling Bee. His other documentaries include "Rocket Science" and "Lucky."
“Mr. Brainwash” is a pseudonym for Thierry Guetta, an artist and gallerist featured in the Academy Award nominated documentary, "Exit Through the Gift Shop" (2010).
Bragman is a public relations executive who founded the agency, Bragman Nyman Caffarelli in 1989. In 2001, Interpublic, one of the world’s largest marketing holding companies, purchased BNC. Bragman went on to found the strategic public relations firm, Fifteen Minutes. Bragman specializes in entertainment and crisis management and is a gay rights and First Amendment activist.
This acclaimed British director/producer’s work includes the documentaries "Kurt & Courtney" (1998), "Biggie and Tupac" (2002), "Aileen: Life and Death of A Serial Killer" (2003), and "Battle for Haditha" (2007).
Burstein was the director/producer of 2002’s "The Kid Stays In The Picture," the story of legendary filmmaker Robert Evans and "On The Ropes, which was nominated for an Academy Award for best documentary in 2000. She won the Best Documentary Director at Sundance in 2008 for her film, "American Teen."
Caouette wrote/directed/produced and edited the acclaimed documentary "Tarnation" (2003), his personal story about growing up with a schizophrenic mother.
Cheel is the director of 2011’s "Beautiful Day," a documentary about Ralph Zavadil, aka Cap’n Video, the man who filmed himself doing outlandish, often painful acts, and was arguably the template for Jackass series. Cheel also writes ,The Documentary Blog, a blog dedicated to news, reviews and information about documentary films.
Churchill was the cinematographer of many acclaimed documentaries including "Biggie and Tupac" (2002), "Shut Up and Sing" (2006), and "Kurt & Courtney" (1998), and was both cinematographer and director of "Aileen: Life and Death of a Serial Killer" (2003).
Diablo Cody won the Academy Award for Best Screenplay in 2007 for "Juno." She also wrote the screenplay for "Jennifer’s Body." Cody is the creator and executive producer of the Showtime television series, "The United States of Tara," starring Toni Collette.
Curry was the director/editor/producer/cinematographer of 2005’s "Street Fight," the riveting story of the 2002 mayoral campaign in Newark, N.J. His other documentaries include "Racing Dreams" (2009), and "If A Tree Falls: A Story Of The Earth Liberation Front" (2010).
De Lory worked as one of Madonna’s two singer/dancer companions in the "Who’s That Girl" and "Drowned World" tours and was featured in the documentary "Truth or Dare." A dedicated yogi, she recently recorded a Sanskrit chant CD.
Film critic and author Alonso Duralde appeared frequently on “The Rotten Tomatoes Show” on Current TV.
Erlich is a writer, producer and appeared on Current TV’s “InfoMania,” a comedic news show.
This co-director/producer team created such documentaries as "Paragraph 175" (2000), the story of the Nazi persecution against homosexuals, as told by survivors, and "The Celluloid Closet" (1995), a look at how Hollywood portrays homosexuals on film. Epstein won Academy Awards for Best Documentary Feature in 1984 for "The Times of Harvey Milk," and also in 1989 for "Common Threads: Stories From The Quilt."
"Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room," Gibney’s look at the corrupt business practices that ultimately brought down the wildly successful energy company, Enron, was nominated for an Academy Award for best documentary in 2006. Two years later, Gibney won the Oscar for his documentary "Taxi To The Dark Side," an in-depth examination of American uses of torture, focusing on the torture and death on an innocent taxi driver in Afghanistan in 2002 at the hands of American forces.
Former Vice President Al Gore is Chairman and co-founder of Current Media, an Emmy award winning, independently owned cable and satellite television nonfiction network for young people based on viewer-created content and citizen journalism. He also serves as chairman of Generation Investment Management, a firm that is focused on a new approach to sustainable investing. Al Gore is chairman of the Alliance for Climate Protection, a non-profit he founded to educate citizens in the U.S. and around the world about solutions to the climate crisis. He is a member of the board of directors of Apple, a senior adviser to Google, a partner with the venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers and is a Visiting Professor at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tenn. He is the author of the bestsellers “Earth in the Balance” and “An Inconvenient Truth, Our Choice: A Plan to Solve the Climate Crisis” and is the subject of the Oscar-winning documentary, "An Inconvenient Truth (2006). Al Gore is the co-winner, with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, of the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize for “informing the world of the dangers posed by climate change.”
Gordon was the director/cinematographer/editor of the 2007 documentary, "The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters." He was the cinematographer of "Shut Up & Sing," (2006) and director of a segment of the 2010 documentary "Freakonomics." He directed the feature film comedies, "Four Christmases" (2008) starring Vince Vaughn and "Horrible Bosses" (2011), starring Jennifer Aniston and Jason Bateman.
Television executive Brian Graden commissioned a comedic animated Christmas card from filmmakers Trey Parker and Matt Stone and went on to develop the animated series, “South Park,” with the duo. He has served as the President of Programming for MTV, VH1, CMT, the LGBT channel and Logo, which he helped to launch. He is also executive producer of Current TV’s series , “4th and Forever.”
Grady and Ewing directed and produced "Jesus Camp" (2006), the Academy Award nominated documentary about a summer camp in the Bible Belt where devout Christian children study scripture and are submersed in Born Again philosophy. They also are the team behind "The Boys of Baraka," and each directed and wrote sections of the 2010 documentary "Freakonomics."
Tony Hawk is an iconic skateboarding legend. He turned pro at age 14 and won the World Championship for 12 consecutive years. The "Tony Hawk's Pro Skater" video game series dominates the genre and a number of Six Flags Amusement parks now feature Tony Hawk-themed rides.
Chris Hegedus was awarded the prestigious 2002 Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Documentaries for "STARTUP.COM." An inside look at the recent dot com mania, "STARTUP.COM" follows the adventures of two high school buddies as they create an Internet company. The film was also awarded the International Documentary Association Award for Distinguished Feature Film. Most recently Hegedus and co-director Nick Doob released theatrically "Al Franken: God Spoke." The film follows the transformation of political satirist Al Franken.
This French filmmaker was a biologist before picking up a camera. He worked in a research outpost in Antarctica in 1991, tagging and studying penguins, and his love of photographing these animals changed his career direction. He returned to Antarctica in 2004, this time to film the annual the migration of Emperor Penguins as they make their annual journey across one of the world’s harshest environments to reach their breeding ground. Jacquet’s resulting documentary, "The March of the Penguins," became an international smash, winning the Academy Award for Best Documentary and grossing more than $100 million worldwide.
James set the mold for sports-related documentaries in 1994 with the breakthrough film, "Hoop Dreams." The film was nominated for an Academy Award. James’ other documentaries include "Stevie (2002)," "Reel Paradise" (2005) and "The War Tapes" (2006) and he wrote and directed the feature film, "Prefontaine" (1997), starring Jared Leto.
"Capturing the Friedmans" (2003), the first feature-length documentary produced and directed by Jarecki, was nominated for an Academy Award and won the Grand Jury Best Documentary Award at The Sundance Film Festival and many more accolades. Jarecki extended his coverage of the Friedmans with the short film about David Friedman’s career as the children’s party clown "Silly Billy," in "Just a Clown." Jarecki was named "Best New Filmmaker" by the Boston Society of Film Critics in 2003. His first feature film, the thriller "All Good Things," starring Kirsten Dunst and Ryan Gosling, debuted in 2010. A talented musician, Jarecki co-composed and performed the theme music for the television show, "Felicity." He is also a success in the business world: he co-founded and built MovieFone and serves as the company’s CEO.
Leigh is a journalist and film critic who co-hosts the BBC’s "Film 2011" series in the UK. He also writes a weekly column about film for The Guardian.
Lemire is the co-host of "Ebert Presents At The Movies and is the film critic for the Associated Press.
Kenner is director of Academy Award nominated documentary "Food, Inc." (2008), a unflinching look at the global food production business.
Leto is an actor and musician. He gained national attention on the 2004 television series, “My So-Called Life,” and went on to act in such films as "Fight Club," "Girl Interrupted," "Panic Room," "Alexander," "Prefontaine," and "Requiem for a Dream." He is also the lead singer and rhythm guitar player for the multi-platinum emo-rock band, 30 Seconds to Mars.
D’Cruz produced and King edited the Academy Award nominated documentary, "Exit Through the Gift Shop" (2010), a look at the work and agenda of select L.A. street artists with, perhaps, a few winks built into the narrative.
"Paris is Burning" (1990), directed by Livingston, explored the subculture of the fashion-obsessed gay New Yorkers who created the Vogue dance craze and lavish, wonderfully outrageous Drag Balls. The revealing and touching film won the Jury Prize for Documentaries at the Sundance Film Festival.
"Man on Wire" (2008), Marsh’s look at tightrope walker’s Phillippe Petit’s 1974 controversial stunt of walking suspended between and above the Twin Towers of New York’s World Trade Center, won the 2009 Academy Award for best documentary. Petit’s illegal act, which some call an artistic expression, took years of planning and ultimately landed him in jail. Marsh’s film details the highs and lows of this death-defying feat.
Kevin MacDonald creates acclaimed documentary and feature films. His documentary, "One Day in September" (1999), the gripping story of the Israeli athletes who were held hostage by the Palestinian terrorist group, Black September, at the 1972 Olympic games in Munich, won the Academy Award. His 2004 documentary about a mountain climbing accident in Peru, "Touching The Void," and he recently released "Life in a Day," a time capsule look at how people around the world experience July 24, 2010. The English director’s narrative feature films include "The Last King of Scotland," based on the dictator Idi Amin of Uganda and "State of Play," starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Russell Crowe.
A film critic and author, McCreadie’s books include “Documentary Superstars: How Today’s Filmmakers are Reinventing the Form,” and “Women Who Write the movies: From Frances Marion to Nora Ephron.”
Dr. McLane is the Project Director for the American Documentry Showcase. She is the co-author of “The New History of Documentary Film” and the former President of the University Film and Video Association.
Mitchell, a legendary “gamer,” is the focus of Seth Gordon’s "The King of Kong: A Fist Full of Quarters" (2007), a documentary about fans competing to break Mitchell’s "Donkey Kong" world record and Mitchell’s conflicts with defending his title.
Activist/filmmaker Michael Moore is one of the most influential and successful documentary filmmakers of all time. Moore was a journalist before becoming a documentarian, and he has made a career out of tackling complex issues. His first film, "Roger and Me" (1989) detailed Moore’s quest to confront General Motor’s CEO Roger Smith about the harm Smith did to Moore's hometown of Detroit, when he implemented massive layoffs. It shined a light on the struggling American middle class and sparked a national dialogue. "Bowling for Columbine" (2002), which won the Academy Award for best documentary, explored the roots of America’s predilection for gun violence and how it manifests today. Among other notable films is "Capitalism: A Love Story," Moore’s 2009 project, which dissects the ailing economy and bank system in The States. Moore has also produced documentaries for television. He was the host and executive producer of “The Awful Truth,” a series that uncovered wrongdoings by the powerful every week. Moore is a featured contributor to “Countdown with Keith Olbermann” on Current TV.
Roger Ebert has said, “After twenty years of reviewing films, I haven't found another filmmaker who intrigues me more…Errol Morris is like a magician, and as great a filmmaker as Hitchcock or Fellini.” "Tabloid" is Morris’ ninth feature-length documentary film. Other films include: "Standard Operating Procedure" (2008); "The Fog of War" (2003); "Mr. Death: The Rise and Fall of Fred A. Leuchter, Jr." (1999); "Fast, Cheap & Out of Control" (1997); "A Brief History of Time" (1992); "A Thin Blue Line" (1988); "Vernon, Florida" (1981); and "Gates of Heaven" (1978). Morris’ films have won many awards, including an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature, an Emmy, the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance Film Festival, the Silver Bear at Berlin International Film Festival, the Golden Horse at the Taiwan International Film Festival and the Edgar from the Mystery Writers of America. A book of Morris’ collected essays, "Believing is Seeing" will be published by Penguin in 2011. Morris has received five fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, a Guggenheim Fellowship and a MacArthur Fellowship. In 2007, he was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
Musto is a columnist for the Village Voice, where he writes the nightlife column “La Dolce Musto”.
O’Brien is a devout Christian youth featured in the Academy Award nominated documentary, "Jesus Camp" (2006).
Oppenheim has been the editor for many acclaimed documentaries including "Paris is Burning" (1990), "Streetwise" (1984), "Arguing The World" (1998), and "The Oath" (2010).
Osbourne, the son of Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne, first came to national attention in 2002 MTV’s reality show, “The Osbournes.” He went on to host the series "Jack Osbourne: Adrenaline Junkie,” and executive produced the 2009 series, “Osbournes Reloaded.”
Brazilian filmmaker Padilha served as writer/director/producer for the 2002 documentary "Bus 174," which detailed the violent and tragic occurrences that transpired when a bus in Rio de Janeiro was hijacked by an armed gunman in 2000.
Padilla is a dancer featured in Jennie Livingston’s documentary, "Paris Is Burning" (1990). He teaches master classes in dance and celebrates his birthday every year with an incredible late night dance party.
D.A. (Donn Alan) Pennebaker is widely regarded as one of the pioneers of cinema verite filmmaking. In 1959, he joined with Drew Associates to produce the highly acclaimed and revolutionary "Living Camera" series of documentaries and developed one of the first fully portable 16mm synchronized camera and sound recording systems, making possible the revolutionary cinema verite movement. Subjects ranged from the presidential campaign of John Kennedy to the Broadway debut of Jane Fonda. In the 60s, Pennebaker's portrait of Bob Dylan, "Don't Look Back" and "Monterey Pop," starring Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix, were two of the earliest films using real-life drama to have a successful theatrical distribution. In the early seventies his music films included "Company," which follows the cast album recording of a Broadway show, and "Ziggy Stardust," David Bowie's final Ziggy concert. Since 1977, Pennebaker has partnered with Chris Hegedus on a host of acclaimed films including, "The Energy War," "Town Bloody Hall," "Delorean," and "Moon Over Broadway." The team received the D.W. Griffith Award for Best Documentary of the Year and an Academy Award® nomination for their 1994 Clinton presidential campaign film "The War Room." Most recently they co-directed with Nick Doob "Elaine Stritch at Liberty" which won two Primetime Emmy® Awards. Music-related films they have made together include "The Music Tells You (about Branford Marsalis)," "Depeche Mode 101," "Keine Zeit," "Searching for Jimi Hendrix," "Down for the Mountain," and "Only the Strong Survive." "Kings of Pastry," the latest feature film co-directed with Hegedus, has been broadcast internationally and distributed theatrically throughout the US.
Los Angeles native Peralta is a natural athlete. In his teens was an original member of the Z-Boys, a surfing team that ultimately switched over to skateboarding when its members discovered the joys of skating in empty pools. By the time he was 19, Peralta was the best skateboarder in the world. He ultimately stopped competing and turned his skills and experience to directing films. He wrote and directed the acclaimed "Dogtown and Z-Boys" (2001), an unflinching chronicle of the birth of modern skateboard culture, a culture he helped to shape. "Dogtown and Z-Boys" won both the Director’s Award and the Audience Award at the 2001 Sundance Film Festival and the Best Documentary at the Independent Spirit Awards. Peralta also wrote the screenplay for the feature film, "Lords of Dogtown," which was based on the characters in his documentary. "Riding Giants," his second feature documentary, explored the world of big wave surfing. It was chosen for the opening night premiere at the 2004 Sundance Film Festival—an honor never before bestowed on a documentary. His most recent documentary, "Bloods and Crips: Made in America (2008)," is an unflinching look at the devastating gang violence in South Los Angeles.
Actress Perrette plays Abby Sciuto on the CBS television series, “NCIS: Naval Criminal Investigation Service.”
This French high wire artist was the subject of James Marsh’s Academy Award winning documentary, "Man On Wire (2008)," a film that detailed the execution of Petit’s daring plan to walk between New York City’s Twin Towers in 1974.
Poole is a former L.A.P.D. detective turned private detective who investigated the murder of rapper Notorious B.I.G. He appeared in the 2002 documentary, "Biggie and Tupac."
Putzel is a senior correspondent and producer for Current TV’s documentary news series, “Vanguard.”
Renov is a professor of Critical Studies and Associate Dean of Academic Affairs at the USC School of Cinematic Arts.
Fashion designer Rice was a contestant on “Project Runway” and currently serves as a judge on VH1’s “RuPaul’s Drag Race.”
Musician/writer/actor/activist Henry Rollins has always had a way with words. He was the lead singer of Black Flag, the influential band that was central to the hardcore punk music movement in the United States. Today, he fronts the Rollins Band. Rollins also tours the world as a spoken word artist. He appeared in the film “Jackass,” and on television, hosted and wrote IFC’s “The Henry Rollins Show” and had a recurring role on the series, “Sons of Anarchy.” As an activist, he actively supports LGBT rights and war cessation and he also tours with the USO to support American troops.
Rubin was the director/cinematographer of the Academy Award nominated documentary, "Murderball" (2005), which detailed the aggressive athleticism and culture of wheelchair rugby. He produced the 2000 documentary, "Freestyle: The Art of Rhyme."
Schmidt is the President of the International Documentary Association. He was the cinematographer and producer of the Academy Award nominated documentary "Twist of Faith" (2004), and the producer/writer of "This Film Is Not Yet Rated" (2006), a film that examines the convoluted ratings process in the U.S.
Shapiro’s Oscar nominated film, "Murderball" (2005), for which he was the director/producer, details the aggressive and artful sport of Quad Rugby, and the paraplegic gladiators in wheelchairs who play it. He is also an author. His novel, "The Every Boy,” was a New York Times Editors’ Choice in 2005.
Singer was the director/producer and cinematographer of the 2000 documentary, "Dark Days," which details the life of the homeless people who live underground in the train tunnels of New York City.
Often referred to as a Rock 'n Roll anthropologist, Spheeris currently lives in Los Angeles. As a child, Spheeris lived with her family in different trailer parks throughout southern California. She graduated from Westminster High School with a daunting “most likely to succeed” label, and put herself through film school. A holder of a UCLA Master of Fine Arts degree in Theater Arts, she worked as a film editor and a cinematographer before forming her own company, Rock N’ Reel, the first production company to specialize in music videos. She produced, directed, and edited videos for major bands through the 70s and 80s, concluding her music video work with the Grammy nominated, "Bohemian Rhapsody" video for "Wayne’s World." Spheeris' feature film debut was the 1979 documentary on the Los Angeles punk scene, "The Decline of Western Civilization." She went on to write and direct "Suburbia," her first narrative film in 1983. In 1991, Spheeris directed her seventh feature and her first studio film, "Wayne’s World." Subsequently she directed and produced "The Beverly Hillbillies," "The Little Rascals," "Black Sheep," "Senseless" and "The Kid & I." In 1999, Spheeris traveled with many prominent metal bands to document in Hi-Def OZZFEST. The final film is titled "We Sold Our Souls for Rock ‘N Roll." Her current film is "Balls To The Wall," a comedy based in the world of male exotic dancing.
Journalist Anne Stockwell has interviewed many high profile celebrities and served as was the editor-in-chief of the gay news magazine, “The Advocate."
Comedic actress Aisha Tyler started her career as a standup comic and first gained national attention as the host of E’s “Talk Soup.” Her filmography includes "Santa Clause 2," "Balls of Fury" and "Bedtime Stories."
Van Zeller is a Portuguese journalist who is a correspondent and producer for Current TV’s news documentary series, Vanguard. Her work has earned her the Peabody Award for her documentary "The OxyContin Express," and the 2011 Livingston Award for young journalists.
Zack Weinstein is an actor who plays Sean, a football player who is paralyzed from the waist down, on the popular television series, “Glee.” Weinstein himself is paralyzed after suffering a spinal chord injury while rafting during summer break when he was in college. He is an ambassador for the Christopher Reeve Foundation.
Dancer/Voguer Hector Xtravaganza founded House of Xtravaganza, a collective of fashion-focused young drag queens and transgender youths who compete in elaborate drag balls. He is featured in "Paris is Burning" (1990).
Yeldham produced the 2008 documentary, "Anvil! The Story of Anvil," the story of the tribulations of the Canadian metal band. The narrative feature films she has produced include "The Motorcycle Diaries," and "The Kite Runner," and she is currently in production with "On The Road," directed by Walter Salle and based on the classic Jack Kerouac novel.
Zupan is a wheelchair rugby player who was featured in the documentary "Murderball" (2005).
