Jeremy Workman
{{Short description|American filmmaker and editor}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Jeremy Workman
| image = Jeremy Workman TheaterLobby 2019 (cropped-J1).jpg
| alt = white caucasian male in suit, around 30 years old, appears concerned with arms crossed, dark hair with fine blond highlighted fringe
| caption = Workman at Illyuzion Theater, Moscow in 2019
| birth_name =
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| birth_place = New York City, U.S.
| death_date =
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| other_names =
| occupation = Filmmaker, editor
| years_active =
| known_for = Secret Mall Apartment, Lily Topples The World, The World Before Your Feet
| education = Columbia University
}}
Jeremy Workman is an American filmmaker and editor. His documentary films frequently focus on artists, eccentrics, outsiders, and those with extreme passions. His acclaimed films include Secret Mall Apartment, Deciding Vote, Lily Topples The World, The World Before Your Feet, Magical Universe, and Who Is Henry Jaglom? In many of his films, Workman serves as the director, cinematographer, and editor.
Life and career
Workman was born in New York City and grew up in Los Angeles. He is the son of filmmaker/editor Chuck Workman and began editing documentary projects under his father's tutelage when he was in his teenage years. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from Columbia University.{{cite web |date=22 August 2019 |title=Take Five with Jeremy Workman |url=https://www.college.columbia.edu/cct/latest/take-five/take-five-jeremy-workman-94}}
Workman's debut film, Who Is Henry Jaglom? (co-directed with Henry Alex Rubin) was presented at numerous film festivals before premiering on PBS's acclaimed documentary series POV.{{cite web |date=23 January 1997 |title=Who is Henry Jaglom? |url=http://archive.pov.org/whoishenryjaglom/film-description/}} The documentary on filmmaker Henry Jaglom has a 86% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes.{{cite web |date=25 March 2008 |title=Who Is Henry Jaglom? |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/who_is_henry_jaglom |website=Rotten Tomatoes |publisher=Rotten Tomatoes}}
Workman's 2014 documentary Magical Universe was released theatrically on October 31, 2014, with IFC Films.{{cite web |title=IFC Films Magical Universe |url=http://www.ifcfilms.com/films/magical-universe}} The film is about reclusive outsider artist Al Carbee who created elaborate dioramas and collages featuring Barbie dolls. The film grew out of Workman's 2002 short film Carbee's Barbies and encompasses the final years of Carbee's life, a time when Workman was Carbee's closest friend and his only link to the outside world.{{cite web |title=Jeremy Workman Talks About Finding His 'Magical Universe' In Maine |url=https://www.tribecafilm.com/stories/jeremy-workman-magical-universe-interview |website=Tribeca Film}} The film won several film festival awards.{{cite web |last1=Gómez |first1=Edward |date=10 May 2014 |title=Al Carbee's Art of Dolls and Yearning: "Oh, for a real, live Barbie!" |url=http://hyperallergic.com/125248/al-carbees-art-of-dolls-and-yearning-oh-for-a-real-live-barbie/ |website=Hyperallergic}}
Workman's 2018 documentary The World Before Your Feet premiered in competition at the 2018 SXSW Film Festival{{Cite web |author=T. H. R. Staff |date=2018-03-10 |title='The World Before Your Feet': Film Review {{!}} SXSW 2018 |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/world-before-your-feet-1092119/ |access-date=2022-06-09 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}} and was acquired by distributor Greenwich Entertainment.{{cite web |date=25 June 2018 |title=Jesse Eisenberg-Produced Documentary 'The World Before Your Feet' Finds Distribution (EXCLUSIVE) |url=https://variety.com/2018/film/news/jesse-eisenberg-the-world-before-your-feet-1202855760/}} The documentary, about Matt Green's mission to walk every street of New York City, was widely hailed upon its release.{{Cite web |last=Harvey |first=Dennis |date=2018-11-22 |title=Film Review: ‘The World Before Your Feet’ |url=https://variety.com/2018/film/reviews/the-world-before-your-feet-review-1203034938/ |access-date=2024-03-18 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title='The World Before Your Feet' is an eye-opening stroll with a stranger: EW review |url=https://ew.com/movie-reviews/2018/11/21/the-world-before-your-feet-is-an-eye-opening-stroll-with-a-stranger-ew-review/ |access-date=2024-03-18 |website=EW.com |language=en}} It was a New York Times Critic's Pick,{{cite news |last=Kenigsberg |first=Ben |date=November 21, 2018 |title='The World Before Your Feet' Review: Walk a Mile — or 8,000 — in Another Man's Shoes |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/20/movies/the-world-before-your-feet-review.html |access-date=November 21, 2018 |work=The New York Times}} a Los Angeles Times Critics Choice,{{cite news |last=Rechtshaffen |first=Michael |date=November 20, 2018 |title=Review: Man walks New York step by step, borough by borough in the uplifting documentary 'The World Before Your Feet' |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-the-world-before-your-feet-review-20181120-story.html |access-date=November 20, 2018 |work=Los Angeles Times}} and has a 100% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes.{{cite web |date=21 November 2018 |title=The World Before Your Feet |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_world_before_your_feet |accessdate=21 November 2018 |website=Rotten Tomatoes}} The film also marked the producing debut of actor Jesse Eisenberg.{{Cite news |last=Setoodeh |first=Ramin |date=March 11, 2018 |title=Jesse Eisenberg on SXSW Doc 'The World Before Your Feet,' Returning to Lex Luthor |url=https://variety.com/2018/film/news/jesse-eisenberg-the-world-before-your-feet-lex-luthor-1202723448/ |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180316215616/http://variety.com/2018/film/news/jesse-eisenberg-the-world-before-your-feet-lex-luthor-1202723448/ |archivedate=March 16, 2018 |access-date=March 12, 2018 |work=Variety |language=en-US}} The film played in theaters across the United States for over a year.{{Cite web |title=The World Before Your Feet |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl3624371713/ |access-date=2024-03-16 |website=Box Office Mojo}}
Workman's 2021 documentary, Lily Topples The World, about domino toppling artist Lily Hevesh, premiered at the 2021 SXSW Film Festival where it was awarded Grand Jury Prize for Best Documentary.{{cite web |date=19 March 2021 |title=SXSW Film Festival Announces 2021 Jury and Special Awards |url=https://www.sxsw.com/film/2021/sxsw-film-festival-announces-2021-jury-and-special-awards/}} Soon after, the film won the Audience Award for Best Documentary at the 2021 San Francisco International Film Festival.G. Allen Johnson, [https://datebook.sfchronicle.com/movies-tv/sffilm-names-naked-singularity-cuban-dancer-lily-topples-the-world-top-winners-during-virtual-awards-ceremony "SFFilm names ‘Naked Singularity,’ ‘Cuban Dancer,’ ‘Lily Topples the World’ top winners during virtual awards ceremony"]. San Francisco Chronicle, April 17, 2021. Actress Kelly Marie Tran serves as an Executive Producer, which marks her producing debut.{{cite web |date=3 March 2021 |title=The Resurrection of Kelly Marie Tran: On Surviving 'Star Wars' Bullying, the Pressures of Representation, and 'Raya and the Last Dragon' |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/features/resurrection-of-kelly-marie-tran-on-surviving-star-wars-bullying-the-pressures-of-representation-and-raya-and-the-last-dragon/ |website=The Hollywood Reporter}} In May 2021, it was announced that the documentary was a high-profile acquisition of Discovery+.{{cite web |date=14 May 2021 |title=Discovery+ Acquires 'Lily Topples The World,' "Can't Miss Doc" On Domino Tipping Sensation Lily Hevesh |url=https://deadline.com/2021/05/discovery-plus-acquires-jeremy-workman-documentary-lily-topples-the-world-1234756490 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210514183530/https://deadline.com/2021/05/discovery-plus-acquires-jeremy-workman-documentary-lily-topples-the-world-1234756490/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 14, 2021 |accessdate=14 May 2021 |publisher=Deadline |ref=1}} Celebrated by critics, the film has a 91% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.{{Citation |title=Lily Topples The World |date=27 August 2021 |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/lily_topples_the_world |access-date=2021-09-02 |language=en}}
Workman's 2023 short documentary Deciding Vote, about Assemblyman George M. Michaels and his deciding vote in New York's 1970 abortion bill, premiered at Tribeca Film Festival,{{Cite web |title=Deciding Vote {{!}} 2023 Tribeca Festival |url=https://tribecafilm.com/films/deciding-vote-2023 |access-date=2024-02-29 |website=Tribeca}} was released on The New Yorker,{{Cite news |last=Yorker |first=The New |date=2023-11-29 |title=Revisiting New York’s Historic Abortion Law in “Deciding Vote” |url=https://www.newyorker.com/culture/the-new-yorker-documentary/revisiting-new-yorks-historic-abortion-law-in-deciding-vote |access-date=2024-02-29 |work=The New Yorker |language=en-US |issn=0028-792X}} was Shortlisted for the 96th Academy Awards in the Documentary Short Film category,{{Cite web |title=96TH OSCARS® SHORTLISTS IN 10 AWARD CATEGORIES ANNOUNCED |url=http://press.oscars.org/news/96th-oscarsr-shortlists-10-award-categories-announced |access-date=2024-02-29 |website=press.oscars.org |language=en}} and was nominated for a News and Documentary Emmy Award for Most Outstanding Short Documentary.{{Cite web |date=2024-07-25 |title=The 45th News & Documentary Nominations - The Emmys |url=https://theemmys.tv/news-45th-nominations/ |access-date=2024-10-04 |website=theemmys.tv |language=en-US}}
Workman's 2024 documentary, Secret Mall Apartment, premiered at the 2024 SXSW Film Festival{{Cite web |title=Secret Mall Apartment |url=https://schedule.sxsw.com/2024/films/2196619 |access-date=2024-02-29 |website=SXSW 2024 Schedule |language=en}} to wide acclaim.{{Cite web |last=Jacobs |first=Matthew |date=2024-03-21 |title=The 12 Best Movies We Saw This Year at SXSW |url=https://www.vulture.com/article/sxsw-2024-the-12-best-movies-we-saw.html |access-date=2024-10-04 |website=Vulture |language=en}}{{Cite news |last=Spilde |first=Coleman |date=2024-03-09 |title=These Artists Built an Apartment Inside a Mall, and No One Noticed |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/obsessed/secret-mall-apartment-review-dazzling-doc-is-a-kiss-off-to-gentrification |access-date=2024-10-04 |work=The Daily Beast |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Morse |first=Erik |date=2024-04-15 |title=The Best (and Most Anticipated) Documentaries of 2024 |url=https://www.vogue.com/article/best-documentaries-of-2024 |access-date=2024-10-04 |website=Vogue |language=en-US}} It is about eight young Rhode Island artists who covertly built an apartment in a 750-square-foot (70 m2) empty space inside the architecture of the Providence Place Mall in 2003 after hearing an advertisement about imagining living in the mall.{{Cite web |last=McGowan |first=Dan |date=2024-02-29 |title=The Rhode Island documentary we’ve been waiting for - The Boston Globe |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2024/02/23/metro/rhode-island-documentary-weve-been-waiting/ |access-date=2024-02-29 |website=BostonGlobe.com |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Artists lived in a secret apartment inside Providence Place mall. Now it's a movie. |url=https://www.providencejournal.com/story/news/good-news/2024/02/26/artists-secret-apartment-hidden-inside-providence-place-mall-inspires-new-documentary/72712400007/ |access-date=2024-02-29 |website=The Providence Journal |language=en-US}} The crew lived secretly within the busy mall for nearly four years, filming much of their activity using inexpensive Pentax Optio cameras that they purchased at the mall's RadioShack and concealed in Altoids tins.{{Cite web |title='Secret Mall Apartment' by Jeremy Workman (CC '94) Captivates Audiences {{!}} School of the Arts |url=https://arts.columbia.edu/news/secret-mall-apartment-jeremy-workman-cc-94-captivates-audiences-0 |access-date=2025-02-12 |website=arts.columbia.edu}} Actor Jesse Eisenberg serves as an executive producer, a role he previously served on Workman's The World Before Your Feet.{{Cite web |last=Lang |first=Brent |date=2024-03-07 |title=Eight Friends Built a Secret Apartment in a Mall and Hid There Undetected for Years; A New SXSW Documentary Explains How and Why |url=https://variety.com/2024/film/markets-festivals/secret-mall-apartment-sxsw-movie-1235933334/ |access-date=2024-03-16 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Meza |first=Kimberly |date=2024-03-15 |title='Secret Mall Apartment' Reveals the 8 Rhode Islanders that Lived Inside a Mall for 4 Years |url=https://collider.com/secret-mall-apartment-jesse-eisenberg-jeremy-workman/ |access-date=2024-03-18 |website=Collider |language=en}}
Following Secret Mall Apartment, Workman began filming a documentary in South Korea about a tiny boarding school in which all 20 students are North Korean defectors.
In addition to being a director, Workman is known for his film editing, primarily as a sought-after editor of movie trailers for indie and documentary films.{{cite web|title=Jeremy Workman Workshop Instructor|url=http://www.dctvny.org/about/people/jeremy-workman/}} He has edited over 100 movie trailers and frequently speaks about trailers and movie marketing to filmmakers and film communities throughout the world.{{cite web|title=How To Cut a Trailer, "Audiencing" as a Verb, and Branded Content: A Report from DOC NYC's Marketing Bootcamp|date=21 April 2017|url=https://filmmakermagazine.com/102225-how-to-cut-a-trailer-audiencing-as-a-verb-and-branded-content-a-report-from-doc-nycs-marketing-bootcamp/}}{{cite web|title=Charla Pública: "El Éxito De Una Película Comienza Con Un Buen Tráiler"|url=http://www.chiledoc.cl/?p=22753}}{{Cite web |last=Administrator |date=2019-10-18 |title=Master Class with Jeremy Workman |url=https://journalism.nyu.edu/about-us/news-post/2019/10/18/master-class-with-jeremy-workman/ |access-date=2025-02-10 |website=NYU Journalism |language=en-US}}
Filmography
- Who Is Henry Jaglom? (1997)
- One Track Mind (2005)
- Magical Universe (2014)
- True New York (2016)
- The World Before Your Feet (2018)
- Lily Topples The World (2021)
- Deciding Vote (2023)
- Secret Mall Apartment (2024)
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|nm0941467}}
- [http://jeremyworkman.com Official website]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Workman, Jeremy}}
Category:American documentary filmmakers
Category:American documentary film directors
Category:American documentary film producers
Category:Columbia College (New York) alumni
Category:Columbia University alumni
Category:Film directors from New York City