Alexander Freeman (film director)
Alexander Freeman | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Alexander James Freeman June 19, 1987 |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | Film Production (Directing), Emerson College, 2014 |
| Occupation(s) | Film Director, Producer, and Screenwriter |
| Known for | The Last Taboo, My Own Normal |
| Partner | Orina Umansky Freeman |
| Children | Maya Ella Freeman |
| Website | https://www.outcast-productions.com/ |
Alexander Freeman (born June 19,1987) is an American film director, producer, and screenwriter with cerebral palsy.[1][2]
Early life and education
[edit]Freeman was born in 1987 in Newton, Massachusetts.[3] He was interested in filmmaking from an early age and began to use his parents' video camera to create stories with his brother and a friend, including a makeshift version of Titanic in Brookline, Massachusetts.[1] His interest in the craft further developed during his time at Brookline High School, where he participated in the theatre program and took a life-changing video production class during his junior year.[1]
After completing high school, he worked for City Year in Boston, producing a recruitment film, before beginning his college education at Fitchburg State University in 2007.[1] A year later, he transferred to UMass Amherst due to dissatisfaction with his living situation.[1] Eventually, he found his niche at Emerson College, where he excelled in the film program and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Film Production where he specialized in Directing.[4]
Career
[edit]Freeman's early works include a narrative adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe's The Raven, which screened at the Coolidge Corner Theatre in 2008, and the documentary I Care: A Documentary About Independent Living, which led to his selection for the Very Special Arts/AFI-Discovery Channel Silverdocs Apprenticeship program.[1] His film Meet Annabelle was also featured at the 2012 Picture This Film Festival and the Arlington International Film Festival.[1]
In 2012, Freeman made his directing dabut with the documentary The Last Taboo, which explored the sexual lives of people with physical disabilities.[5][6] Two years later, The HSC Foundation honoured Freeman with the National Advocates in Disability Award for his advocacy work.[4]
In 2017, Freeman's documentary The Wounds We Cannot See chronicled Nancy Ross's struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and addiction.[4] He received the Best Director (Documentary Feature) award at the 2016 Independent Film Festival Awards in Los Angeles for the film.[7] The film also won Best Documentary Feature at the Long Beach Indie International Film, Media, and Music Festival.[7] The Wounds We Cannot See was later released by Indie Rights.[8]
In 2024, Freeman's documentary My Own Normal premiered at Independent Film Festival Boston.[9][10][11]
Freeman is also the founder and owner of Outcast Productions LLC.[7]
Filmography
[edit]Film
[edit]| Year | Title | Contribution | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | The Poet | Writer, Producer, Director, Editor | Short film |
| 2007 | Young Heroes | Producer, Director, Editor | Short film |
| 2008 | The Raven | Director, Co-Editor | Short film |
| 2009 | The Tell-Tale Heart | Writer, Executive Producer, Producer, Director, Editor | Short film |
| 2010 | Meet Annabelle | Writer, Executive Producer, Producer, Director, Editor | Short film |
| 2011 | The Power of a Dollar | Writer, Producer, Director, Editor | Short film |
| 2011 | Faceless Beauty | Writer, Producer, Director, Editor | Short film |
| 2012 | Does Your Uncle Know? | Writer, Producer, Director, Co-Editor | Short film |
| 2013 | I Care: A Documentary About Independent Living | Writer, Executive Producer, Producer, Co-Director, Editor | Documentary |
| 2013 | The Last Taboo | Writer, Co-Producer, Director | Documentary |
| 2013 | Seven Days | Writer, Executive Producer, Producer, Director, Editor | Short film |
| 2013 | A Life Imperfect | Co-Writer, Executive Producer, Producer, Co-Director, Editor | Short film |
| 2013 | Love and Hope of the Next Generation | Writer, Executive Producer, Producer, Director, Editor | Short film |
| 2014 | One Day At A Time | Co-Writer, Producer, Director, Editor | Short film |
| 2014 | Thank You | Writer, Executive Producer, Director, Editor | Short film |
| 2014 | Dark Into Light | Writer, Director, Editor | Short film |
| 2014 | Barren | Executive Producer | Short film |
| 2014 | Look At Me: Michael's Story | Writer, Editor | Short film |
| 2014 | Jesse Hanson: These Words | Writer, Director, Editor | Music Video |
| 2015 | The Bag | Writer, Executive Producer, Producer, Director, Editor | Short film |
| 2015 | A Little Hope | Writer, Executive Producer, Director, Editor | Short film |
| 2015 | Depression: The Silent Killer PSA | Writer, Editor | Short film |
| 2016 | Going Up | Writer, Executive Producer, Producer, Director, Editor | Short film |
| 2017 | The Wounds We Cannot See | Writer, Executive Producer, Producer, Director, Co-Editor | Documentary |
| 2017 | What Jamal Saw | Writer, Executive Producer, Producer, Director, Co-Editor | Short film |
| 2019 | The Last Straw | Co-Writer, Executive Producer, Producer, Co-Director, Co-Editor | Short film |
| 2019 | Blind Eye to Differences Kissed by Love | Writer, Executive Producer, Producer, Director, Editor | Short film |
| 2021 | The Afterlife Office | Creator, Co-Writer, Executive Producer, Producer, Director, Camera Operator, Co-Editor | Web Series |
| 2022 | Making A Better Future | Writer, Executive Producer, Producer, Director, Camera Operator, Co-Editor | Documentary |
| 2022 | The Next Breath | Writer, Executive Producer, Producer, Director, Camera Operator, Co-Editor | Documentary |
| 2024 | My Own Normal | Writer, Producer, Director | Documentary |
| 2024 | I Am the Voice for All My People | Writer, Executive Producer, Producer, Director, Music Artist | Music Video |
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g "Sex And Disability: Boston Filmmaker Turns Lens On 'The Last Taboo'". WBUR News. July 20, 2012.
- ^ Bolton-Fasman, Judy. "Wounds We Cannot See: A New Film About What Ails Us and Heals Us". Jewish Boston.
- ^ "Alexander Freeman". Rotten Tomatoes.
- ^ a b c "Filmmaker: "We Need to Open Up the Door" to People with Disabilities". Emerson Today. June 28, 2017.
- ^ "Ex-Madam Uses Her Sex Skills to Run 'Brothel' for Disabled". ABC News.
- ^ Poulisse, Adam (February 17, 2013). "Love, intimacy in disabled community at forefront amid recognition of acclaimed movies". The Berkshire Eagle.
- ^ a b c Clossey, Erin (May 28, 2019). "Four Alumni to Be Honored for Professional Achievement June 1". Emerson Today.
- ^ "Watch The Wounds We Cannot See". Amazon. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
- ^ Grady, Pam. "6 films you can't miss at SF DocFest". Datebook | San Francisco Arts & Entertainment Guide. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
- ^ Jeffrey M., Anderson (30 May 2024). "SF DocFest returns this week with locals in lineup". San Francisco Examiner. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
- ^ LePire, Bobby (6 May 2024). "My Own Normal Featured, Reviews Film Threat". Film Threat. Retrieved 6 August 2024.