Vulcan Productions
{{Short description|American documentary production company}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Vulcan Productions
| type = Private
| founder = Paul Allen and Jody Allen
| hq_location_city = Seattle, Washington
| key_people = Jody Allen {{small|(Founder and Interim Chairman)}}
| industry = Motion picture
| products = Movies, documentaries, television films and specials
}}
Vulcan Productions produced documentary films, television programming and virtual reality experiences that drove awareness around environmental and social issues. The company was founded in 1997 by late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen and his sister Jody Allen. It closed in 2021.
The company financed and co-produced films with directors such as Martin Scorsese,{{Cite web|url=https://www.pbs.org/theblues/|title=The Blues {{!}} PBS|website=www.pbs.org|access-date=2019-06-20}} Clint Eastwood{{Cite web|url=https://www.vulcanproductions.com/our-work/martin-scorseses-the-blues|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160315113607/http://www.vulcanproductions.com/our-work/martin-scorseses-the-blues/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=March 15, 2016|title=Martin Scorsese's The Blues - Vulcan Productions|website=www.vulcanproductions.com|access-date=2019-06-20}} and Robert Redford.{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2016/11/robert-redford-animal-planet-ocean-conservation-series-ocean-warriors-1201853923/|title=Robert Redford & Animal Planet Team On Ocean Conservation Series|last=Petski|first=Denise|date=2016-11-14|website=Deadline|language=en|access-date=2019-06-20}} Its films and TV series had aired on video on-demand services like Netflix, HBO and Hulu and across networks like The Discovery Channel and National Geographic.{{Cite web|url=https://www.paulallen.com/four-vulcan-productions-films-you-can-stream-at-home/|title=Four Vulcan Productions Films You Can Stream At Home|website=Paul Allen|language=en-US|access-date=2019-06-20}} Films produced by Vulcan Productions won Peabody Awards{{Cite web|url=http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=16619|title=Vulcan Productions Wins First Peabody Award|website=www.spaceref.com|access-date=2019-06-20}} and received Academy Award nominations.{{Cite web|url=https://www.vulcan.com/news/articles/2016/body-tean-12-oscar-nomination|title=Body Team 12 Oscar Nomination - Vulcan|website=www.vulcan.com|access-date=2019-06-20}} The company focused on raising awareness on issues like mental health, girl's education, veterans, parenting, wildlife conservation, ocean health, climate change and modern-day slavery.
History
Vulcan Productions began under the name "Clear Blue Sky Productions"{{Cite web|url=https://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b9922e983|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190620234847/https://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b9922e983|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 20, 2019|title=Clear Blue Sky Productions|website=BFI|language=en|access-date=2019-06-20}} and received its first critical success with the feature film Titus (1999). The company continued to produce feature films including Far From Heaven,{{Citation|title=Far from Heaven|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0297884/|access-date=2019-06-20}} Where God Left His Shoes,{{Citation|title=Where God Left His Shoes|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0756725/|access-date=2019-06-20}} and Hard Candy.{{Citation|title=Hard Candy|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0424136/|access-date=2019-06-20}} With a name change in 2011, the then-Vulcan Productions shifted its measure of success from box office numbers and critical ratings to driving social impact and world change.{{Cite web|url=https://www.geekwire.com/2015/geek-of-the-week-vulcan-productions-gm-carole-tomko-drives-social-change-through-storytelling/|title=Geek of the Week: Vulcan Productions GM Carole Tomko drives social change through storytelling|date=2015-07-16|website=GeekWire|language=en-US|access-date=2019-06-20}} The company exclusively produced Social impact entertainment with a focus on topics ranging from wildlife and conservation, global health, contemporary social issues, science, technology, history and exploration.
As part of the larger Vulcan Inc. organization, Vulcan Productions’ mission was to “change minds and ignite action through the power of storytelling.”
On May 27, 2020 Vulcan Inc. announced that Vulcan Productions would be shutdown in 2021 citing the "economic impacts of the COVID-19 crisis"{{Cite web|date=2020-05-27|title=Future of Seattle's Cinerama and Living Computers museum in doubt as Paul Allen's Vulcan shutters arts and production divisions|url=https://www.geekwire.com/2020/paul-allens-vulcan-inc-shuttering-divisions-impact-cinerama-cultural-institutions/|access-date=2022-01-31|website=GeekWire|language=en-US}} as well as "the ongoing transition after Paul Allen's passing in 2018."{{Cite web|last=McNary|first=Dave|date=2020-05-27|title=Film News Roundup: Paul Allen's Vulcan Productions to Close in 2021 Due to Pandemic|url=https://variety.com/2020/film/news/paul-allen-vulcan-productions-closing-2021-1234618001/|access-date=2022-01-31|website=Variety|language=en-US}} A few weeks after winning top honors at the Sundance Film Festival for Summer of Soul, Vulcan Productions ceased operations.{{Cite web|date=2021-03-08|title=Vulcan Productions shuts down, 23 years and more than 80 films after Paul Allen launched the venture|url=https://www.geekwire.com/2021/vulcan-productions-shuts-23-years-80-films-paul-allen-launched-venture/|access-date=2022-01-31|website=GeekWire|language=en-US}}
Films
| class="wikitable"
!Year !Film !Type !Release Date !Director !Co-producers !Starring !Distributor !Awards |
| 1997
|1997 |Argo Films | | | |
| rowspan="2" |1999
|25 December 1999 |Overseas Film Group | |
| Me & Isaac Newton
|1999 | | |
| rowspan="2" |2001
|Nova: Cracking the Code of Life |17 April 2001 |Elizabeth Arledge |PBS |Robert Krulwich (Journalist) |PBS | |
| Evolution
|2001 |David Espar "Darwin's Dangerous Idea" Susan K. Lewis "Darwin's Dangerous Idea" Joel Olicker "Great Transformations" Kate Churchill "Extinction!" Richard Hutton "Extinction!" Gail Wilumsen "Evolutionary Arms race" |PBS |Liam Neeson (Narrator) |PBS | |
| rowspan="2" |2003
|10 January 2003 | |
| The Blues (film series)
|28 September 2003 |Martin Scorsese "Feel Like Going Home" Wim Wenders "The Soul of a Man" Richard Pearce (director) "The Road to Memphis" Charles Burnett (director) "Warming by the Devil's Fire" Marc Levin "Godfathers and Sons" Mike Figgis "Red, White and Blues" Clint Eastwood "Piano Blues" Laurence Fishburne (Narrator) |PBS | |
| rowspan="3" |2004
|Black Sky: The Race For Space |3 October 2004 |Sandy Guthrie Jill Shinefield Scott B Gail Willumsen Gemini Productions Antenna Films | |
| Lightning in a Bottle
|5 August 2004 |Jigsaw Productions | |
| Strange Days on Planet Earth
|2004 |David Elisco |Edward Norton (Narrator) |PBS | |
| rowspan="3" |2005
|21 January 2005 |Launchpad Productions |Elliot Page{{efn|name=Elliot|Credited as Ellen Page; Hard Candy was released before Page came out as transgender.{{Cite web |last=Shoard |first=Catherine |date=December 1, 2020 |title=Elliot Page: star of Juno and X-Men announces he is transgender |url=http://www.theguardian.com/film/2020/dec/01/elliot-page-star-of-juno-x-men-announces-he-is-transgender |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201201183149/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2020/dec/01/elliot-page-star-of-juno-x-men-announces-he-is-transgender |archive-date=December 1, 2020 |access-date=December 1, 2020 |website=The Guardian}}}} | |
| Success at the Core
|2005 |Richard Hutton | | |
| Rx For Survival
|2005 |Mike Beckham (Producer) “Disease Warriors” Sara Holt (Producer) “Rise of the Superbugs” Andy Young (Producer) “Deadly Messengers” Tabitha Jackson (Producer) “Back to the Basics” Rob Whittlesey (Producer) “How Safe Are We?” |Brad Pitt (Narrator) |PBS | |
| rowspan="2" |2007
|Judgment Day: Intelligent Design on Trial |13 November 2007 |Gary Johnstone Joseph McMaster | |PBS | |
| Where God Left His Shoes
|2007 | | |
| 2010
|This Emotional Life |4 January 2010 |Matt Boatright-Simon |Kunhardt Films McGee Media |Daniel Gilbert (psychologist) |PBS | |
| rowspan="2" |2013
|2013 |The Documentary Group Double Exposure Studios |Narration by Anne Hathaway | |
| Pandora's Promise
| |Robert Stone Productions | | |
| 2014
|We The Economy: 20 Short Films You Can't Afford To Miss |2014 |22 directors including, but not limited to: |Cinelan among others |45 different distribution partners Including, but not limited to: | |
| rowspan="2" |2015
|2015 | |HBO | |
| Racing Extinction
|18 September 2015 Insurgent Docs | |
| rowspan="4" |2016
|Midsummer in Newtown |1 April 2016 | | |
| Naledi: A Baby Elephant's Tale
|5 June 2016 |Ben Bowie Geoffrey Luck |Off the Fence | | |
| The Ivory Game
|November 12, 2016 |Terra Mater Factual Studios Malaika Pictures |Elisifa Ngowi Craig Millar Andrea Crosta Hongxiang Huang Ofir Drori Ian Craig Georgina Kamanga | |
| Ocean Warriors
|4 December 2016 |Sundance Productions Brick City TV |Sid Chakravarty Peter Hammerstedt | |
| 2017
|Unseen Enemy |7 April 2017 |Janet Tobias |Sierra/Tango Productions CNN Films | | |
| rowspan="4" |2018
|4 June 2018 |Stick Figure Studios |Hulu | |
| X-Ray Fashion
|VR short |29 August 2018 |Francesco Carrozzini |MANND |Francesco Carrozzini | | |
| Chasing the Thunder
|2 February 2018 |Brick City TV |Sid Chakravarty Peter Hammerstedt | |
| Memphis Belle: The Restoration
|2018 |William Wyler |Creative Differences | | | |
| rowspan="7" |2019
|USS Indianapolis: The Final Chapter |8 January 2019 |Kirk Wolfinger |Lone Wolf Media | |PBS | |
| Everest VR
|VR short |10 April 2019 |Jon Griffith Matthew Dejohn |Alpine Exposures Legend 3D |Sherpa Tenji Jon Griffith | | |
| Drop in the Ocean
|VR short |25 April 2019 |Philippe Cousteau Jr. |Vision3 |Philippe Cousteau Ashlan Cousteau | | |
| Guardians of the Kingdom
|VR short |26 April 2019 |Sophie Ansel Christophe Bailhache |Underwater Earth Seaview 360 Projects for Good ITRAMAS Spinifex |Sylvia Earle Finau Molisi | | |
| The Cold Blue
|6 June 2019 |Erik Nelson |Creative Differences | |HBO | |
| Ghost Fleet
|7 June 2019 |Shannon Service Jeffrey Waldron |Seahorse Productions |Patima Tungpuchayakul Tun Lin Chutima "Oi" Sidasathian Bustar Maitar |TBD | |
| Oliver Sacks: His Own Life
|August 31, 2019 |Steeplechase Productions Motto Pictures PBS American Masters | |
- Winner – The Humanitas Prize: 2008 Best Sundance Feature Film{{cite web|url=http://www.humanitasprize.org/Prize_PastWinners.html|title=The Humanitas Prize, Past Winners|access-date=May 2, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100511190423/http://www.humanitasprize.org/Prize_PastWinners.html|archive-date=May 11, 2010|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}
- 2008 Imagen Awards
- Nominated - Best Film {{cite web |url=http://www.imagen.org/awards/2008/nominees|title= Imagen Awards 2008 Nominees|access-date=May 2, 2011}}
- Nominated - Best Actor - John Leguizamo
- Nominated - Best Supporting Actor - David Castro
- Winner - Best Supporting Actress - Leonor Varela {{cite web |url=http://www.imagen.org/awards/2008/|title= Imagen Awards 2008 Winners|access-date=May 2, 2011}}
Bickford Shmeckler's Cool Ideas
- 2006 U.S. Comedy Arts Festival
- Best Actress - Olivia Wilde{{cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0421045/awards|title= IMDb > Bickford Shmeckler's Cool Ideas (2006) > Awards |website= IMDb |access-date=May 2, 2011}}
- 2006 Malaga Film Festival
- Best Film
- Best Director - David Slade
- Best Actress - Elliot Page{{efn|name=Elliot}}
- Best Cinematographer - Jo Willems
- 2005 Sitges Film Festival
- Best Motion Picture
- Best Screenplay
- Audience Award for Best Motion Picture {{cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0424136/awards|title= IMDb > Hard Candy (2005) > Awards |website= IMDb |access-date=May 2, 2011}}
- 75th Annual Academy Award nominations{{cite web |url=http://www.oscars.org/awards/academyawards/oscarlegacy/2000-present/75nominees.html|title= Nominees & Winners for the 75th Academy Awards|access-date=May 2, 2011}}
- Best Actress in a Leading Role - Julianne Moore
- Best Cinematography - Edward Lachman
- Best Writing (Original Screenplay) - Todd Haynes
- Best Music (Score) - Elmer Bernstein
- Independent Spirit Awards winner:{{cite web|url=http://www.spiritawards.com/files/SPIRIT%20AWARDS_26%20Years%20of%20Nominees%20and%20Winners.pdf|title=Twenty-Six Years of Nominees & Winners (.pdf)|access-date=May 2, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110304042517/http://www.spiritawards.com/files/SPIRIT%20AWARDS_26%20Years%20of%20Nominees%20and%20Winners.pdf|archive-date=March 4, 2011|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}
- Best Picture
- Best Director - Todd Haynes
- Best Female Lead - Julianne Moore
- Best Supporting Male - Dennis Quaid
- Best Cinematography - Edward Lachman, A.S.C.
- Golden Globe Award nominations:{{cite web |url=http://movies.about.com/library/weekly/aagoldenglobes2003.htm|title= 2003 Golden Globe Nominees and Winners |access-date=May 2, 2011}}
- Best Actress - Julianne Moore (Drama)
- Best Supporting Actor - Dennis Quaid
- Best Screenplay - Todd Haynes
- Best Music Score - Elmer Bernstein
- Deauville Festival of American Film
- International Critics Prize
- Best Performance: Patricia Clarkson,
- Ralph Lauren Fragrances Prize
- Seattle Women in Cinema Film Festival
- Third-place prize
- San Sebastian International Film Festival
- Nominated: Golden Seashell Award
- 2000 Academy Awards
- Nominated: Best Costume Design
- 2000 Art Directors Guild
- Nominated: Excellence in Production Design Award
- 2000 Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists
- Winner: Silver Ribbon Award – Best Production Design
- 2000 Edgar Allan Poe Awards
- Nominated: Best Motion Picture
- 2000 Las Vegas Film Critics Society Awards
- Nominated: Sierra Award – Best Costume Design
- Best Screenplay – Adapted
- 2000 Satellite Awards
- Winner: Gold Satellite – Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role, Drama
- Nominated: Best Art Direction, Production Design
- Best Costume Design
- Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role, Drama
- Best Screenplay – Adapted
- Best Visual Effects
- 2001 London Critics Circle Film Awards
- Nominated: Best British Actor of the Year
Notes
{{notelist}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Vulcan Inc.}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Film production companies of the United States