Interview by Paul Salfen
Interview with Jason Biggs for THE SUBJECT here
Zipoy’s “The Subject” follows a successful white documentary filmmaker dealing with the fallout from his previous film which caught the murder of a Black teen on tape.
“The Subject” is a riveting performance driven tour de force starring Jason Biggs (“Orange is the New Black,” and “American Pie”), Aunjanue Ellis (“If Beale Street Could Talk,” and Emmy nominee for “Lovecraft Country”), Anabelle Acosta (“Quantico,” “Ballers”), joining them in this nuanced layered drama are Carra Patterson (“Straight Outta Compton,” and Disney Plus’ “Turner & Hooch”), Nile Bullock (“Ray Donovan,” “Bull”), and Caleb Eberhardt (“Judas and the Black Messiah,” “The Post”). “The Subject” is America today. America 2020. America 2014. America 1992. America 1968. America 1919. America 1865. America 1619.
“The Subject” is led by a vastly talented team including a majority of female filmmakers with director Lanie Zipoy; written by Chisa Hutchinson; produced by Megan Kingery (Broadway’s “Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812,” “Blue Man World”), Gahlia Eden (“You Can’t Do That,” “The 8 Men You Meet in NYC”), Jess Weiss (“American Insurrection,” Not Without Hope”), and Lanie Zipoy; executive produced by Jason Biggs, Aunjanue Ellis, Anabelle Acosta& Chisa Hutchinson; director of photography Darren Joe (“Ode to Passion,” “Russian Roulette”); production designerChantal Demorial (“The Faith,” “Arm’s Length”); editor Sofi Marshall (“Villains,” “Chained for Life”); documentary editorJames Codoyannis (“Minor Premise,” “Boarding School”); associate producers Latresa Baker (“Ms. Monologue,” “MrJayV”), & Jolene Noelle (“Tuesday Night’s”); costume designer: Dircelene Torres (“Prelude,” “I Am in your Bed”); Composer Doug Wamble ( “Jackie Robinson,” “The Central Park Five”); with casting by Destiny Lilly of Telsey + Co (the upcoming “The Color Purple,” “Alina”).
“The Subject” is shot on four different cameras–one for the documentary about Malcolm, one for Phil’s new documentary footage, the narrative camera and a consumer camera that is used to record Phil. Each camera offers a different viewpoint on the world, coalescing into a film that asks us how exactly we belong to each other in this fractured world. “The Subject” is a film that stay with you long after you have seen it. Films like this encourage late-night discussions – that make you grapple with your soul. A film that you can’t shake, even if you want to.
