Celebrities Like Jennifer Lawrence and Emma Thompson Are Going to Bat for Indie Docs

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As a seasoned movie buff with a penchant for documentaries and a soft spot for tales of resilience, I find it truly inspiring to witness the transformative role celebrities are playing in the world of nonfiction filmmaking. Jennifer Lawrence, Emma Thompson, and Jesse Eisenberg, among others, have demonstrated that A-list status can be wielded not just for self-promotion but also as a powerful tool to amplify voices that may otherwise go unheard.

As the time for the Oscars approaches, it’s typical for a well-known star to take on the role of executive producer in a documentary film. Having a famous name attached to a documentary title generates excitement and requires minimal effort from the celebrity.

However, following a period of chaos in the documentary marketplace several years back, more and more celebrities have chosen not to just endorse films by slapping their names on titles. Instead, they’ve been leveraging their influence to boost lesser-known, independently produced nonfiction films, often focusing on significant political matters.

Lately, Jennifer Lawrence, Emma Thompson, and Jesse Eisenberg leveraged their celebrity influence to assist in producing and showcasing three independent documentaries.

Following the takeover of Kabul by the Taliban in 2021, Lawrence and her production partner at Excellent Cadaver, Justine Ciarrocchi, contacted Afghan filmmaker Sahra Mani (“A Thousand Girls Like Me”) to discuss the possibility of directing a documentary focusing on the plight of the approximately 15 million Afghan women who found themselves effectively imprisoned in their own homeland.

Just like everyone else, I watched in disbelief as Kabul fell into Taliban control and women’s rights were abruptly taken away,” states Lawrence. “It was a terrifying sight. As a fellow human being, I felt helpless and compelled to act in some capacity. The only tool at my disposal, if you will, is filmmaking. I felt it necessary to create something enduring. Given our awareness of Sahra’s work, we reached out to her.

Mani was gathering videos from numerous women on Afghan soil, and it was during this process that she received an email from Lawrence.

Mani remembers receiving an email from Jennifer Lawrence’s production company which stated, ‘If you’re interested in creating a movie about this (topic), we’d be glad to assist you.’ At first, he thought it was junk mail and discarded it. However, a week later, the email resurfaced. After conducting some investigation, Mani discovered that Excellent Cadaver was a legitimate entity. Subsequently, they assembled a team and commenced work on the film.

The film eventually came to be known as “Bread & Roses,” a documentary that chronicles the journeys of three women as they strive for independence against Taliban repression. Mani shares that without Lawrence’s participation, it’s probable that “Bread & Roses” – which debuted at the Cannes Film Festival in May – may not have seen the light of day.

Mani mentions that he likely wouldn’t have been able to fund the movie without Excellent Cadaver’s assistance,” or simply, “Mani credits Excellent Cadaver for helping him finance the film.

Lawrence openly acknowledged that securing funding through an independent financier for the documentary proved to be extremely challenging.

She explains that the movie was shot spontaneously and in real-time. We didn’t have a clear idea of how it would conclude, as communication with the production team wasn’t constant. There were periods where we wouldn’t hear from them for weeks at a time. Therefore, we feel fortunate to have secured funding for the project.

In April, Apple Original Films obtained worldwide rights for the film “Bread & Roses.” This timing proved advantageous as some popular streaming platforms have recently shied away from political content. (Another documentary produced by Lawrence, titled “Zurawski v Texas,” focusing on anti-abortion laws, is now available for streaming on Jolt.film.)

Despite garnering success during its festival run, Hasan Oswald’s documentary “Mediha” has yet to secure streaming or broadcast distribution deals. This compelling film, which revolves around Mediha Alhamad, a young Yazidi girl documenting her own healing process following three years in ISIS captivity, debuted at DOC NYC in 2023. The movie has maintained its prominence for more than a year due in large part to the involvement of Emma Thompson, who served as an executive producer.

The actress encountered Oswald following her viewing of a brief YouTube video he created, which depicted the hardships faced by Syrian refugees as they fled conflict in their native land and sought refuge in Europe.

Thompson expresses that the short film had a profound emotional impact on him. Afterward, he sought out the filmmaker, Hasan, to pen a message. Since then, they’ve maintained communication.

Thompson shares that the character “Mediha” particularly captivated her because of her involvement in helping those who have survived sex trafficking.

Thompson, who has been working with survivors of sexual exploitation and other forms of inhumanity for several decades, shares that he collaborates with artists to portray these challenging tales in unique ways, avoiding victimization. He finds a resonance between this film and his previous works.

Initially, Oswald assumed that Thompson would merely lend her name to the documentary titled “Mediha,” but it turned out she was deeply engaged in its release. Not only did she organize screenings, but according to Oswald, Thompson also held discussions with journalists and media professionals regarding the film. This interaction helped boost the documentary’s visibility and attracted supporters.

The director expressed his gratitude, stating, ‘We’re incredibly fortunate to have Emma on our team.’ She’s been instrumental in getting us to where we are with this movie.

Regarding “The Secret Mall Apartment,” Jeremy Workman shares a similar sentiment towards Jesse Eisenberg. Eisenberg was one of the executive producers for this documentary detailing a collective of artists, who covertly established an apartment within a bustling mall in Rhode Island back in 2003.

Eisenberg points out what makes this movie intriguing is its exploration of broader themes like housing, gentrification, urban development, class, and race as artists ponder their own privileged positions. He felt compelled to assist Jeremy in any way possible because he’s passionate about documentaries and understands their struggle to gain an audience. Using his influence to bring attention to the film seemed logical.

Eisenberg recently attended the premiere of the movie at the South by Southwest Film Festival held in Austin, Texas, in March. Since then, he’s been reaching out to potential distributors to secure a release for this independent film.

Workman remarks, “He passionately advocates for the movie, so enthusiastically that it leaves me embarrassed.” He is known for sending straightforward emails directly to the leaders of documentary departments at streaming platforms or specific companies. He doesn’t hesitate to make personal phone calls too. Truly remarkable!

“Secret Mall Apartment” is still seeking distribution.

Eisenberg mentions, “I simply do whatever I’m able to,”. He enjoys sending emails unexpectedly as it makes him feel like he’s tipping the scales a bit in favor of fairness within the industry and giving focus to projects that may struggle to get noticed.

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2024-12-08 21:46