PENNEBAKER HEGEDUS FILMS

CHRIS HEGEDUS – Director, Producer, Cinematographer

Chris Hegedus has been working as a director, cinematographer and editor for 40 years. In 2001 she received the prestigious DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement for Startup.com. With her long-time collaborator D A Pennebaker, she directed The War Room, a behind-the-scenes look at Bill Clinton’s 1992 presidential campaign. The film received an Academy Award® nomination and won the National Board of Review’s D.W. Griffith Award for Best Documentary. Hegedus has received the Golden Eagle CINE award and lifetime achievement awards from several organizations, including the International Documentary Association. 

Hegedus first collaborated with Pennebaker as editor of Town Bloody Hall, filmed at the infamous 1971 women’s liberation debate moderated by Norman Mailer. Their other early films include the three-part PBS special, The Energy War, which followed the unprecedented congressional fight and filibuster over President Carter’s Energy Bill; DeLorean, featuring auto entrepreneur John DeLorean; Rockaby, written by Samuel Beckett specially for their project starring his muse Billie Whitelaw; and the acclaimed 1998 feature Moon Over Broadway, which chronicled Carol Burnett’s tumultuous return to Broadway theater.

Other feature releases include the HBO special, Elaine Stritch at Liberty, which won a 2004 Primetime Emmy™ Award; Al Franken: God Spoke and recently Kings of Pastry which was broadcast around the world. Depeche Mode 101; Down From the Mountain, a companion concert film to the Coen Brothers’ O Brother, Where Art Thou?; and the soul musical tribute Only The Strong Survive are some of Hegedus and Pennebaker’s music films.

In addition to making films Hegedus has conducted film seminars at numerous universities and taught documentary filmmaking at Yale for 8 years.

D A PENNEBAKER – Director

D A (Donn Alan) Pennebaker is widely regarded as one of the pioneers of cinéma vérité filmmaking. In the early sixties, Pennebaker and his colleague Richard Leacock developed one of the first fully portable 16mm synchronized camera and sound recording systems, which revolutionized filmmaking and introduced the immediate style of shooting so popular today.  Pennebaker’s many professional honors include the IFP’s Gotham Award and a Lifetime Achievement Academy Award.

Pennebaker first film was the 1953 expressionistic short Daybreak Express. In 1959, he joined Drew Associates, which produced for Time-Life the celebrated “Living Camera” series in the early 1960s. The subjects ranged from Jane Fonda’s Broadway debut, Jane, to Kennedy’s 1960 Wisconsin Democratic primary, Primary, to the desegregation of the University of Alabama, Crisis. 

In 1967, Pennebaker released his seminal classic Don't Look Back, which followed Bob Dylan’s last acoustic concert tour in England. The film was one of the first feature-length documentaries to be released in theaters. He continued to capture the musical moment in subsequent films, including the influential Monterey Pop which launched the careers of Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin, and Keep On Rockin’ with America’s fifties legends; Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard and Bo Diddle; Company – The Original Cast Album, about the recording of the Stephen Sondheim musical’s cast album featuring Elaine Stritch; and David Bowie’s last performance in Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars. 

In 1976, Pennebaker began his collaboration with his partner and future wife, Chris Hegedus, co-directing such acclaimed films as 1998’s Moon Over Broadway and 1993’s The War Room, which received an Academy Award® nomination and won the National Board of Review’s D.W. Griffith Award for Best Documentary. The team’s early films include the three-part special The Energy War; Town Bloody Hall, and DeLorean, and Depeche Mode 101. Their last feature release, Kings of Pastry, played theatrically in the US and was broadcast around the world.

FRAZER PENNEBAKER – Executive Producer, Producer

Frazer Pennebaker, executive producer and producer, has produced all of Hegedus and Pennebaker’s films since 1980, including the Emmy award-winning Elaine Stritch At Liberty and the company’s current release Unlocking the Cage. Pennebaker also produced Jimi Plays Monterey and Shake! Otis At Monterey, featuring unused performance footage that his father shot at the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival. In 1989 he produced the feature length Depeche Mode 101, which went platinum upon its release. Teaming up with co-producers Wendy Ettinger and R.J. Cutler, Pennebaker’s 1993 film The War Room was nominated for an Academy Award. 1998 saw the release of Moon Over Broadway starring Carol Burnett, followed by Startup.com, Down from the Mountain in 2001, Only the Strong Survive in 2003, Al Franken: God Spoke in 2006, and Kings of Pastry in 2009. In addition to his role as producer, Frazer oversees film distribution and sales for Pennebaker Hegedus Films.  Most recently, Frazer produced the newly restored Don't Look Back, a multiple DVD edition, released by Criterion Collection.

PAX WASSERMANN – Editor

Pax Wassermann is a film editor and producer with twenty years in features, television and documentaries. In addition to Unlocking the Cage, his recent work includes the 2015 Sundance award winner Cartel Land, 2013 Jury Award winner Pussy Riot: A Punk Prayer, and Salero, which recently premiered at the IDFA. Other past documentaries includes Devil's Playground, Knuckleball!, the Sally Mann documentary What Remains, Elaine Stritch: Shoot Me, and Which Way Home, which was nominated for an Academy Award in 2009. His fiction work includes Peter Bogdanovich's She's Funny That Way and Noah Buschel's directorial debut Bringing Rain. He lives in Brooklyn with his wife and two sons.

ROSADEL VARELA – Producer

After growing up in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Rosadel moved to New York to pursue a career in television and film. Early in her career she worked at MTV Networks in the News/Documentary and Production divisions as a producer. Some of her credits include: Unfiltered, The State, House of Style, and many programs for the True Life documentary series. She then switched gears to fiction film and became a member of the highly selective Directors Guild of America Assistant Director Training Program. There, she worked on the directors' teams of such acclaimed filmmakers as Woody Allen, Penny Marshall, John Singleton, and Nicole Holofcener. Her work with the Director's Guild also included key roles on some of the most successful television series in history, including Law & Order and Sex & the City. In 2004, Rosadel partnered with award-winning director, Jehane Noujaim to produce the highly acclaimed documentary, Control Room, about Al Jazeera and the Iraq war. On a global scale, she worked with TED Conferences and Events for Change as a producer for Pangea Day – a four-hour live, multi platform event in the effort to unite the world through the power of film. Rosadel graduated with a self-designed, mass media and culture major, from Trinity College in Connecticut.

JULIA McINNIS – Associate Producer

Julia is a first-year MBA student at the University of Chicago's Booth School of Business. She’s passionate about media and entrepreneurship, is the host of the podcast “That Startup Moment with Chicago Booth,” and is a contributor for the Financial Times's Business Education blog. Before Booth, Julia worked as an associate producer for the award-winning filmmakers Chris Hegedus and D A Pennebaker. Her films include the upcoming HBO release Unlocking the Cage. While working with Pennebaker Hegedus Films, she started a NYC-based international film festival and launched new ventures for two New York-based environmental groups. Julia holds a bachelor degree in International Studies and English Literature from Trinity College in Hartford, CT.

JAMES LAVINO – Composer

James Lavino's music for film and television includes scores for Oscar-nominated and Emmy-winning HBO documentaries, songs for Disney and two collaborations with Radiohead’s Colin Greenwood. His music for the opening ceremony of the National 9/11 Museum in New York City was an integral part of President Obama’s museum-dedication speech.

Current film work includes Todd Solondz’s Wiener-Dog, starring Greta Gerwig, Danny DeVito and Ellen Burstyn, and Camille Thoman’s You Were Never Here, starring Mireille Enos & Sam Shepard).

Lavino’s choral music has been performed throughout Europe and the USA, and has been broadcast on NPR, the BBC and Classic FM. Commissions include pieces for the choirs of Westminster Abbey, St Paul’s Cathedral (London) and Merton College, Oxford.

JOHN PAUL ‘Jojo’ PENNEBAKER – Co-Cinematographer

Jojo Pennebaker has worked as a cinematographer in both television and feature documentaries.  Some of his credits include We have Arrived, After Innocence, Empathy, Our Brand is Crisis, My Secret Record, Youssou N’dour, and Meru. Pennebaker has directed and filmed nearly eight seasons of the PBS and A&E international series, Live From the Artists Den. He was the original director for Jerry Seinfeld’s online series, Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee as well as of several episodes of Live from Daryl’s House. Pennebaker has filmed some of the most celebrated musicians of the last twenty years telling their stories and recording their performances around the world. Pennebaker is the son of the director D A Pennebaker.

NATE PENNEBAKER – Assistant Producer

Nate Pennebaker graduated from Pitzer College in 2015 with a degree in Media Studies. During his time there he directed, shot, and edited his own short film projects as well as worked collaboratively on a documentary short Roll. He interned at Vh1 and MTV in 2014 working primarily on the new artist platform. Since joining Pennebaker Hegedus Films he has worked on publicity and promotion as well as legal clearances for Unlocking the Cage.

The POV Interview: D.A. Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus - ‘Unlocking the Cage’ - POV, 5/9/16

This Man is Trying to Help Chimps — and Soon, Elephants — Sue Their Owners - Interview with Steven Wise - The Washington Post, 5/24/16

We Respond: D.A. Pennebaker & Chris Hegedus on ‘Unlocking the Cage’ - RogertEbert.com, 5/24/16

Live Podcast with Chris Hegedus & D.A. Pennebaker - Filmwax Radio, 5/24/16

Do Chimpanzees Deserve Rights and Legal Protections? Filmmakers Chris Hegedus and D.A. Pennebaker discuss their new documentary 'Unlocking the Cage,” along with Steven Wise -  The Leonard Lopate Show, 5/25/16

D.A. Pennebaker: Why the 90-Year-Old Documentarian Is Still Driven to Find the Truth in People - Indiewire, 5/27/16

In ‘Unlocking The Cage,’ A Man Fights To Achieve Legal Rights For Animals: Interview with Chris Hegedus and D.A. Pennebaker - NPR's All Things Considered, 5/30/16

Harambe's rights were violated long before his tragic death: Op-ed by Steven Wise - New York Daily News, 5/31/16

Pennebaker & Hegedus on Clinton, Bowie & Animal Rights - Pure Non Fiction, 6/2/16

The lawyer fighting for animal rights in 'Unlocking the Cage' asks: 'What kind of being are you?' - Los Angeles Times, 6/24/16

D.A. Pennebaker on Bringing out the Humanity in the Fight for Animal Rights in 'Unlocking the Cage' - The Moveable Feast, 6/27/16

“Thoughtful, Compelling and Heroic. The film made me proud to be a primate.” - Jon Stewart

“‘Unlocking The Cage’ is a smart, heroic act of film-making.” - Isa Freeling, The Huffington Post

“In their new documentary, D A Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus bring their relaxed, acute observational style of filmmaking to bear on a thorny tangle of legal and philosophical questions. Observant and absorbing.” - A.O. Scott, The New York Times

“Fascinating.” - Andrew O'Hehir, Salon

“Illuminating.” - Sam Weisberg, Village Voice

“A surprisingly suspenseful and compelling courtroom thriller... Simply put, Unlocking the Cage tells a great story.” - Anthony Kaufman, Screen Daily

“Veteran doc-makers D.A. Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus follow attorney Steven Wise - and his activist collaborators, the Nonhuman Rights Project - as they attempt to prove in a court of law that chimpanzees deserve the same legal protection as humans. The outcome of their efforts could forever alter how the judicial system handles to concept of inter-species rights, or at the very least how captive animals at zoos, marine parks etc. are treated. An eye-opener, this.” - David Fear, Rolling Stone

“A crisp  and convincing doc.” - Duane Byrge, The Hollywood Reporter

“Eye-opening.” - Laura Berger, Indiewire

“A thoughtful work of advocacy and an insightful profile of Wise, yet another subject of Pennebaker's who is changing the system from the inside out.” - Noah Gittell, RogerEbert.com

“A fascinating film about a passion-raising topic.” - Jim Slotek, Toronto Sun

“A thoughtful, hopeful film, filled with dedicated and  inspiring advocates. The courtroom scenes are absolutely fascinating.” - Jason Bailey, Flavorwire

“Oscar worthy. Like all Pennebaker Hegedus Films, access here is mesmerizing.” - Roger Friedman, Showbiz 411

“A uniquely hairy courtroom drama. Thought-provoking.” - Daniel Walber, NonFics

“Legendary filmmakers D.A. Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus (The War Room) document the pioneering work of animal protection attorney Steven Wise, who seeks personhood rights for animals. If the courts see corporations as  people, why not chimps? That complex question makes ‘Unlocking the Cage’ gripping stuff.” - Jason Guerrasio, Business Insider

“Impeccably shot and paced.”  - Farran Smith Nehme, New York Post

“In the past it was assumed that persons were individual human beings. But then came the Citizens United case, where the personhood of corporations was affirmed. Might the definition be expanded to include certain non-human, non-corporate individual beings?” - Godfrey Cheshire, RogerEbert.com

”Unlocking the Cage is an extraordinary documentary about a dedicated, patient, clever, and wise advocate for animal rights.” - Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice

“Should animals – nonhumans – be granted personhood under the law? As outlandish as this may seem, the documentary “Unlocking the Cage,” directed by Chris Hegedus and D.A. Pennebaker, makes a reasonable case for it.” - Peter Rainer, Christian Science Monitor

“In the new documentary ‘Unlocking the Cage,’ attorney Steven Wise makes his case for why animals need legal personhood for their own safety.” - Lewis Beale, The Daily Beast

“Wise proves to be a fascinating communicator. He makes for an interesting and engaging subject.” - John Soltes, Hollywood Soapbox

“Pennebaker and Hegedus are renowned for their unadorned studies of process, and Unlocking The Cage is no different. They ultimately find its thesis statement in a sequence of Wise and his team working to reduce 30 years of his crusade to a single core principle: the detention of an autonomous being is, simply, inhuman. That idea should stay with you long after the credits roll.” - Norman Wilner, Now Toronto

“By the film's finale, it is pretty amazing how convincing, moving and even kind of thrilling Hegedus and Pennebaker have made the Nonhuman Rights Project's cause.” - James Van Maanen , Trust Movies

”Veteran documentarians Chris Hegedus and D.A. Pennebaker have teamed up again for a timely film about a subject that has been much in the news lately.” - Marina Zogbi, Art for Progress

“Pioneering animal rights lawyer Steven Wise's recent groundbreaking successes are chronicled by legendary filmmaker team Chris Hegedus and D A Pennebaker in their riveting new documentary which plays like a legal thriller.” - Robin Holland, Talking Pictures

“‘Unlocking the Cage’ follows Steven Wise's groundbreaking journey to grant basic legal rights for our evolutionary kin.  When he finally wins it will be a giant leap forward for our own humanity.” - Louie Psihoyos, Director, Racing Extinction and The Cove

“‘Unlocking the Cage’ follows the heroic effort to recognize the legal rights of sentient animals. Steve Wise's tireless pursuit is an inspiration – we need more people like him in the world.” - Gina Papabeis , Co-producer, Racing Extinction