Alexander Freeman (film director) explained

Alexander Freeman
Birth Name:Alexander James Freeman
Birth Date:19 June 1987
Nationality:American
Education:Film Production (Directing), Emerson College, 2014
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] [3] He is dedicated to producing and directing documentaries, feature films, and series that bring visibility to those otherwise ignored by society and reinforce themes of morals and ethics.

Early life and education

Freeman was born in 1987 in Newton, Massachusetts.[4] 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.[5]

Career

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 gained international recognition and led to his selection for the Very Special Arts/AFI-Discovery Channel Silverdocs Apprenticeship program.[1] His film Meet Annabelle was also featured at several film festivals in 2011 and 2012, such as the 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.[6] [7] Two years later, The HSC Foundation honoured Freeman with the National Advocates in Disability Award for his advocacy work.[5]

In 2017, Freeman's documentary The Wounds We Cannot See chronicled Nancy Ross's struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and addiction.[5] He received the Best Director (Documentary Feature) award at the 2016 Independent Film Festival Awards in Los Angeles for the film.[8] The film also won Best Documentary Feature at the Long Beach Indie International Film, Media, and Music Festival.[8]

In 2024, Freeman’s documentary My Own Normal premiered at the Independent Film Festival Boston and the San Francisco Documentary Film Festival. The film delves into Freeman’s personal life, chronicling his journey towards fatherhood and the emotional challenges he faced, particularly the difficult reaction of his parents to the pregnancy of his daughter Maya. Renowned for its intimate and heartfelt narrative, the documentary explores themes of relationships, love, courage, family, acceptance, resilience, having a career, caregiving, and living within the boundaries of government assistance with a disability. Kevin S. Bright, known for his work as an executive producer on the hit television series Friends, served as an executive producer. Oscar winner Chris Cooper and Marianne Leone Cooper also served as executive producers on this poignant film. [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18]

Freeman is also the founder of Outcast Productions.[8]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleContributionNotes
2006The Poet Writer, Producer, Director, Editor Short film
2007Young Heroes Producer, Director, Editor Short film
2008The Raven Director, Co-Editor Short film
2009The Tell-Tale Heart Writer, Executive Producer, Producer, Director, Editor Short film
2010Meet Annabelle Writer, Executive Producer, Producer, Director, Editor Short film
2011The Power of a Dollar Writer, Producer, Director, Editor Short film
2011Faceless Beauty Writer, Producer, Director, Editor Short film
2012Does Your Uncle Know? Writer, Producer, Director, Co-Editor Short film
2013I Care: A Documentary About Independent Living Writer, Executive Producer, Producer, Co-Director, Editor Documentary
2013The Last Taboo Writer, Co-Producer, DirectorDocumentary
2013Seven DaysWriter, Executive Producer, Producer, Director, Editor Short film
2013A Life Imperfect Co-Writer, Executive Producer, Producer, Co-Director, Editor Short film
2013Love and Hope of the Next Generation Writer, Executive Producer, Producer, Director, Editor Short film
2014One Day At A Time Co-Writer, Producer, Director, Editor Short film
2014Thank You Writer, Executive Producer, Director, Editor Short film
2014Dark Into Light Writer, Director, Editor Short film
2014Barren Executive ProducerShort film
2014Look At Me: Michael's Story Writer, Editor Short film
2014Jesse Hanson: These Words Writer, Director, Editor Music Video
2015The BagWriter, Executive Producer, Producer, Director, Editor Short film
2015A Little Hope Writer, Executive Producer, Director, Editor Short film
2015Depression: The Silent Killer PSA Writer, Editor Short film
2016Going UpWriter, Executive Producer, Producer, Director, Editor Short film
2017The Wounds We Cannot See Writer, Executive Producer, Producer, Director, Co-Editor Documentary
2017What Jamal Saw Writer, Executive Producer, Producer, Director, Co-Editor Short film
2019The Last Straw Co-Writer, Executive Producer, Producer, Co-Director, Co-Editor Short film
2019Blind Eye to Differences Kissed by Love Writer, Executive Producer, Producer, Director, Editor Short film
2021The Afterlife Office Creator, Co-Writer, Executive Producer, Producer, Director, Camera Operator, Co-Editor Web Series
2022Making A Better Future Writer, Executive Producer, Producer, Director, Camera Operator, Co-Editor Documentary
2022The Next Breath Writer, Executive Producer, Producer, Director, Camera Operator, Co-Editor Documentary
2024My Own Normal Writer, Producer, Director Documentary

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Sex And Disability: Boston Filmmaker Turns Lens On 'The Last Taboo'. July 20, 2012. WBUR News.
  2. Web site: Wounds We Cannot See: A New Film About What Ails Us and Heals Us. Judy . Bolton-Fasman . Jewish Boston.
  3. Web site: Alexander Freeman Producer, Director, Writer . IMDb . 1 August 2024.
  4. Web site: Alexander Freeman. .
  5. Web site: Filmmaker: "We Need to Open Up the Door" to People with Disabilities. June 28, 2017. Emerson Today.
  6. Web site: Ex-Madam Uses Her Sex Skills to Run 'Brothel' for Disabled . ABC News.
  7. Web site: Love, intimacy in disabled community at forefront amid recognition of acclaimed movies. Adam . Poulisse . February 17, 2013. The Berkshire Eagle.
  8. Web site: Four Alumni to Be Honored for Professional Achievement June 1. Erin. Clossey. May 28, 2019. Emerson Today.
  9. Web site: Ertischek . David . Emerson-Directed Films Aplenty at IFFBoston . Emerson Today . 1 August 2024 . 30 April 2024.
  10. Web site: Onanian . Nora . Interview: Filmmaker Alexander Freeman is "Defying the Odds" . Independent Magazine . 1 August 2024 . 11 November 2023.
  11. Web site: Arceneaux . Bill . Special Coverage: The 2024 San Francisco Documentary Festival, Part 1 . www.moviegoing.rocks . 2 August 2024 . en.
  12. Web site: Grady . Pam . 6 films you can’t miss at SF DocFest . Datebook San Francisco Arts & Entertainment Guide . 2 August 2024.
  13. Web site: Propes . Richard . Movie Review: My Own Normal . The Independent Critic . 2 August 2024.
  14. Web site: Jeffrey M. . Anderson . SF DocFest returns this week with locals in lineup . San Francisco Examiner . 2 August 2024 . en . 30 May 2024.
  15. Web site: LePire . Bobby . My Own Normal Featured, Reviews Film Threat . Film Threat . 6 August 2024 . 6 May 2024.
  16. Web site: Wong . Peter . Wrap-up Reviews From SF DocFest 2024 . Beyond Chron . 6 August 2024 . 3 June 2024.
  17. Web site: Kakadelis . Tina . “My Own Normal” - Film Review . Beyond the Cinerama Dome . 6 August 2024.
  18. Web site: Kermode . Jennie . My Own Normal (2024) Movie Review from Eye for Film . www.eyeforfilm.co.uk . 6 August 2024.