Vanessa Block

Last updated

Vanessa Block
Alma mater
Occupations
  • Film director
  • Producer
  • Screenwriter
Years active2015–present

Vanessa Block is an American film director and producer who wrote the story for 2021 film Pig with Michael Sarnoski and was one of the film's producers. [1] Prior to Pig, she directed the short documentary The Testimony , which was one of the 10 short-listed considerations for five available nominations for the Academy Award for Best Documentary Short Film. [2]

Contents

Background

Block went to Yale University and pursued a degree in chemistry, and also enrolled in the pre-medical track, to become a physician. She enjoyed writing screenplays as a hobby and met Sarnoski who was producing a zombie-themed short film. Block went on to Keck School of Medicine of USC to pursue a master's degree in global medicine and became motivated to make a documentary about sexual violence in the Congo. She wrote, produced, and edited The Testimony, and Sarnoski helped as editor and executive producer. After The Testimony, she launched the BlockBox Entertainment banner, under which Pig was produced. [3] She wrote the story for Pig with Sarnoski, who then wrote the screenplay and directed the film. [1]

Credits

Block's credits
YearTitleMediumNotes
2015 The Testimony Short documentaryWrote, produced, directed
2021 Pig Feature filmStory credit with Michael Sarnoski; producer

Accolades

Vanessa Block received several awards and nominations for the 2021 film Pig .

Accolades received by Vanessa Block for Pig
AwardCeremonyResultRef.
Austin Film Critics Association Award for Best Original Screenplay with Michael Sarnoski 2021 ceremony Won
Gotham Independent Film Award for Best Feature with Michael Sarnoski, et al. 2021 ceremony Nominated
Independent Spirit Award for Best First Screenplay with Michael Sarnoski 37th ceremony Won
Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Original Screenplay with Michael Sarnoski 2021 ceremony Won

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References

  1. 1 2 Nordine, Michael (July 12, 2021). "'Pig' Review: Nicolas Cage Is at His Melancholic Best in This Strange, Sad Porcine Drama". Variety . Retrieved July 2, 2024.
  2. Galuppo, Mia (November 6, 2015). "'The Testimony' Trailer: A Short Documentary About the Largest Rape Trial in Congo's History". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved July 2, 2024.
  3. Sneider, Jeff (July 19, 2021). "'Pig' Producer Vanessa Block on Nicolas Cage's Elusive Magic and the Film's 'Ghost of the Feminine'". Collider . Retrieved July 2, 2024.