:: Rainlake Productions ::

LAURIE MACMILLAN
VP, Editorial

Laurie MacMillan wrote, produced and edited Crossing Arizona, an official selection of the 2006 Sundance Film Festival that has won numerous awards, including the Munich Film Festival’s One Future Prize and the Cine Golden Eagle, Cine Special Jury Prize and Cine Master Series awards for best independent documentary feature. Crossing Arizona is viewed by many as the definitive film about the current state of the US/Mexico immigration debate and has been broadcast internationally on Sundance Channel, NHK, TV2 and Al Jazeera. Laurie contributed as a story editor to the documentary feature Four Seasons Lodge, which was executive produced by Albert Maysles, premiered at the Silverdocs 2008 and will be released theatrically in October 2009 by First Run Features. She also recently edited the award-winning one-hour documentary Odd Ones Out, which was acquired by Granada International. Laurie has an MFA from Concordia University in Montreal and a BFA from the University of Victoria where she studied photography and taught herself to edit on a tape-to-tape system as a work/study student in the Audio Visual & Television Services department. After moving to New York City in 1999, she was invited to join the National Board of Review. She is the co-founder of the Coney Island Film Festival and served as the festival’s program director from 2001-2006. During those years Laurie evaluated thousands of films, a process that gave her remarkable insight into the art of editing and honed the keen understanding of story and structure that she brings to all of her work.

FEATURE DOCUMENTARIES

Editor & Story Editor - THE INSULAR EMPIRE (Horse Opera Productions, 2009)
Six thousand miles west of California, the Marianas Islands are a part of America that most Americans know nothing about: a part of America that calls into question the very core ideals of American democracy. Part political tragedy, part personal history, The Insular Empire follows four indigenous characters on a journey to discover how America came to control this ‘insular empire’ in the Pacific – and how the islanders have resisted, accommodated, assimilated, and survived. Commissioned by PBS through Pacific Islanders in Communications.

Editor - PLAYER HATING (Film Fatale & Mad G Productions, 2008)
PLAYER HATING is a feature length documentary that follows the lives of hip hop artist Half-a-Mill and his Brooklyn crew as they write, perform and launch Half’s first album, “Milion” in a desperate bid to escape hopelessness, poverty and death. Through the eyes of an urban poet and philosopher, Player Hating reveals the tragedy of living in a violent community, abandoned by government and maintained through humor, dignity, and the sheer will to survive.

Editor & Writer - ODD ONES OUT (a RAINLAKE film, 2008)
Odd Ones Out documents four years in the courageous lives of three transgender teens, Naomi, David and Tot, as they transition into adulthood and face life-altering events. Family intolerance, abuse, homelessness, sex work, violence and harassment in their schools and community are only the backdrop for a dramatic story of acceptance and rejection, identity and change. Bronze Telly award winner. Acquired by Granada International.

Editor & Writer - IN THE BLOOD (2008)
In The Blood is a feature length documentary about the struggles, setbacks and triumphs of the Brentford Football Club and their loyal supporters. Much more than a scrappy underdog sports story, In The Blood is a portrait of a working class community that finds it’s values and traditions on a collision course with the realities of Premier League economics, encroaching gentrification and political apathy. With the clock running down for the struggling Brentford F.C. and a “do or die” season drawing to a close, a group of dedicated fans organize a run for office that blindsides the Labour Party and exposes the passion and loyalty amongst the club’s supporters in this corner of working-class London – it’s in the blood.

Story Editor - FOUR SEASONS LODGE (in association with Rainlake Productions, 2008)
Executive Producer Albert Maysles (Grey Gardens,Salesman) and New York Times reporter Andrew Jacobs capture the final
summer at Four Seasons Lodge, bringing to the foreground the remarkable characters whose intoxicating passion for life
stands in bracing contrast to lives marked by harrowing loss. Premiered at AFI SilverDocs 2008. Distributed by First Run Features.

Editor & Writer - DENIED: HEALTH CARE CRISIS IN AMERICA (Talking Eyes Media, 2007)
This film by the award-winning documentary team of writer/director Julie Winokur and photographer Ed Kashi, exposes the toll on individuals, communities, the health care system and the US economy of having 46 million Americans living without health insurance. Denied examines the convoluted disincentives to streamlining the system, the growing demand for sweeping changes and the innovative reforms being introduced to address the problem.

Writer, Producer & Editor - CROSSING ARIZONA (a RAINLAKE film, 2006)
Official selection of the 2006 Sundance Film Festival - American Documentary Competition. Crossing Arizona examines America's immigration and border security crisis through the eyes of those directly affected and reveals the surprising political stances people take when government policy fails everyone. Winner of numerous awards, including the Munich Film Festival’s One Future Prize and a Cine Golden Eagle award for best independent documentary feature. Broadcast premiere on Sundance Channel, Nov. 2006.

"Deftly sustains many points of view... engrossing" - Dennis Harvey, VARIETY

Story Editor - FOLLOW MY VOICE: WITH THE MUSIC OF HEDWIG (a RAINLAKE film, 2006)
Produced in association with Sundance Channel. One record producer, the creators of a cult film classic and some of the most influential indie rockers record a benefit album for a controversial LGBTQ youth center in New York City. Follow My Voice: With the Music of Hedwig”documents the stories of four teens, echoing their struggles and aspirations with the music from the rock drama “Hedwig and the Angry Inch. Premiered at the 2006 Tribeca Film Festival. Broadcast premiere on Sundance Channel, June 2006.

SHORT FORM

Editor - STUDIO ONE SERIES (2009)
Instructional web spots. Produced by Marabella Productions.

Editor - THE ENEGRY ENGAGEMENT EXPERIENCE (2009)
IWeb branding/promotional doc spot for Unit 7.

Writer & Director - MAN IN THE MAZE (2009)
Featurette on Tohono O'odham activist Mike Wilson. Produced for the DVD release of Crossing Arizona.

Story Editor - SANITATION COPS (2008)
Mini-pilot featuring the detectives of the New York City Department of Sanitation Task Force. Commissioned by Planet Green.

Story Editor - CIRCUS STORIES: THE ZOPPE BROTHERS (2008)
Extended trailer for docu-soap concept. Co-produced with Scout Productions.

Story Editor - MEDJET ASSIST (2008)
Promotional web doc spots for a specialized travel insurance company.

Writer - TAKING THE LEAD (2007)
Fundraising trailer for feature doc.

Writer & Director - GRAPHIC! (2007)
Sizzle reel for a competitive reality TV series concept.

Writer & Editor - EAST NEW YORK FOOD CO-OP: TWO YEARS IN (2007)
Two years ago you'd have a hard time finding any fresh fruit in this corner of the Big Apple, but the East New York Food Co-op has changed all that. This four year project documents the start-up of a community-run food co-op in one of New York City's most economically disadvantaged neighborhoods.

Editor - BLUE COLLAR GOES GREEN (2007)
Promotional video for the New York Industrial Retention Network's North Brooklyn Energy Grant Program.

Multimedia Designer - AGAINST ALL ODDS (2006)
DVD design & authoring for short form educational documentary for the Women’s Learning Partnership.

Multimedia Designer - SUCH GREAT HEIGHTS (2006)
DVD design & authoring. Short form promotional video for the Empire State Pride Agenda.

Editor & Multimedia Designer - REEBOK HUMAN RIGHTS AWARDS (2006)
Compilation of live ceremony footage, recipient profiles and promotional shorts. DVD design & authoring.

Writer & Editor - MENUS FROM THE MAESTROS (2004 - 2005)
Web series commissioned for Condenet’s Epicurious.com. Cooking demos, behind-the-scenes tours and interviews with America’s most celebrated chefs: Thomas Keller, Alice Waters, Shea Gallente, Jasper White, Charles Phan & Jacques Torres.

Writer & Editor - SHELTER (2004)
Pilot episodes “God’s Light” & “Nehemiah” for docu/reality television series based on Toni Schlesinger’s popular Village Voice real estate column.

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