Alexander Freeman (film director)

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Alexander Freeman
Alexander Freeman B&W.jpg
Born
Alexander James Freeman

(1987-06-19) June 19, 1987 (age 37)
NationalityAmerican
EducationFilm Production (Directing), Emerson College, 2014
Occupation(s) Film Director, Producer, and Screenwriter
Website https://myownnormalmovie.com/

Alexander Freeman (born June 19,1987) is an American film director, producer, and screenwriter with cerebral palsy. [1] [2]

Contents

Early life and education

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

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]

In 2024, Freeman's documentary My Own Normal which followed his life with cerebral palsy and his journey of becoming a partner and father and confronting the pain of his parent's reaction. The documentary world premiered at Independent Film Festival Boston. [8] [9] [10]

Freeman is also the founder and owner of Outcast Productions LLC. [7]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleContributionNotes
2006The PoetWriter, Producer, Director, EditorShort film
2007Young HeroesProducer, Director, EditorShort film
2008The RavenDirector, Co-EditorShort film
2009The Tell-Tale HeartWriter, Executive Producer, Producer, Director, EditorShort film
2010Meet AnnabelleWriter, Executive Producer, Producer, Director, EditorShort film
2011The Power of a DollarWriter, Producer, Director, EditorShort film
2011Faceless BeautyWriter, Producer, Director, EditorShort film
2012Does Your Uncle Know?Writer, Producer, Director, Co-EditorShort film
2013I Care: A Documentary About Independent LivingWriter, Executive Producer, Producer, Co-Director, EditorDocumentary
2013The Last TabooWriter, Co-Producer, DirectorDocumentary
2013Seven DaysWriter, Executive Producer, Producer, Director, EditorShort film
2013A Life ImperfectCo-Writer, Executive Producer, Producer, Co-Director, EditorShort film
2013Love and Hope of the Next GenerationWriter, Executive Producer, Producer, Director, EditorShort film
2014One Day At A TimeCo-Writer, Producer, Director, EditorShort film
2014Thank YouWriter, Executive Producer, Director, EditorShort film
2014Dark Into LightWriter, Director, EditorShort film
2014BarrenExecutive ProducerShort film
2014Look At Me: Michael's StoryWriter, EditorShort film
2014Jesse Hanson: These WordsWriter, Director, EditorMusic Video
2015The BagWriter, Executive Producer, Producer, Director, EditorShort film
2015A Little HopeWriter, Executive Producer, Director, EditorShort film
2015Depression: The Silent Killer PSAWriter, EditorShort film
2016Going UpWriter, Executive Producer, Producer, Director, EditorShort film
2017The Wounds We Cannot SeeWriter, Executive Producer, Producer, Director, Co-EditorDocumentary
2017What Jamal SawWriter, Executive Producer, Producer, Director, Co-EditorShort film
2019The Last StrawCo-Writer, Executive Producer, Producer, Co-Director, Co-EditorShort film
2019Blind Eye to Differences Kissed by LoveWriter, Executive Producer, Producer, Director, EditorShort film
2021The Afterlife OfficeCreator, Co-Writer, Executive Producer, Producer, Director, Camera Operator, Co-EditorWeb Series
2022Making A Better FutureWriter, Executive Producer, Producer, Director, Camera Operator, Co-EditorDocumentary
2022The Next BreathWriter, Executive Producer, Producer, Director, Camera Operator, Co-EditorDocumentary
2024My Own NormalWriter, Producer, DirectorDocumentary
2024I Am the Voice for All My PeopleWriter, Executive Producer, Producer, Director, Music ArtistMusic Video
2024Faceless BeautyWriter, Executive Producer, Producer, Director, Music ArtistMusic Video
2024One HomeWriter, Executive Producer, Producer, Director, Music ArtistMusic Video

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Sex And Disability: Boston Filmmaker Turns Lens On 'The Last Taboo'". WBUR News . July 20, 2012.
  2. Bolton-Fasman, Judy. "Wounds We Cannot See: A New Film About What Ails Us and Heals Us". Jewish Boston.
  3. "Alexander Freeman". Rotten Tomatoes .
  4. 1 2 3 "Filmmaker: "We Need to Open Up the Door" to People with Disabilities". Emerson Today. June 28, 2017.
  5. "Ex-Madam Uses Her Sex Skills to Run 'Brothel' for Disabled". ABC News.
  6. Poulisse, Adam (February 17, 2013). "Love, intimacy in disabled community at forefront amid recognition of acclaimed movies". The Berkshire Eagle .
  7. 1 2 3 Clossey, Erin (May 28, 2019). "Four Alumni to Be Honored for Professional Achievement June 1". Emerson Today.
  8. Grady, Pam. "6 films you can't miss at SF DocFest". Datebook | San Francisco Arts & Entertainment Guide. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
  9. Jeffrey M., Anderson (30 May 2024). "SF DocFest returns this week with locals in lineup". San Francisco Examiner. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
  10. LePire, Bobby (6 May 2024). "My Own Normal Featured, Reviews Film Threat". Film Threat. Retrieved 6 August 2024.