JENNIFER GRAUSMAN | Director and Producer

Jennifer Grausman directed and produced the Emmy-nominated feature documentary ART AND CRAFT (2014), which was acquired by Oscilloscope and released in theaters in 50 US cities. The film was shortlisted for the Academy Awards and was winner of the National Board of Review Top 5 Documentaries. Art and Craft opened theatrically across the country, as well as in France and Japan, and was broadcast on PBS via POV. Previously she directed and produced the Emmy-nominated feature documentary PRESSURE COOKER (2008), which was executive produced by Participant Media and garnered awards from festivals across the country before opening theatrically and being broadcast on BET.

Grausman is currently directing and producing a documentary about a female private investigator and is a consulting producer on the feature documentary, Instant Life, that explores the stranger-than-fiction story behind the Amazing Life Sea Monkeys novelty toy. Previously, she was a consulting producer on Halston (2019), which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and she co-produced the narrative feature film 3 Backyards (2009), which won Best Director at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival. She also produced several short films. Grausman’s work has been supported by the Sundance Documentary Fund, the Tribeca Film Institute, Catapult Film Fund, the Jerome Foundation, Candescent Films, and the New York State Council on the Arts, among other institutions

In addition, Grausman acted as co-director of the Screenwriters Colony in Nantucket, MA from 2010 to 2012. Prior to receiving her MFA from the film program at Columbia University, she was the manager of exhibition and film funding at The Museum of Modern Art. She earned her BA in art history at Duke University.

MARK BECKER | Director and Editor, Cinematographer

Mark Becker co-directed and edited the documentary ART AND CRAFT (2014), which was shortlisted for the 2015 Academy Awards, nominated for an Emmy Award, won recognition with the National Board of Review, and screened theatrically via Oscilloscope Laboratories. He produced, directed and edited the documentary ROMANTICO (2005), which was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival, received two Independent Spirit Award nominations (including Best Documentary), and was released theatrically by Kino International. Becker co-directed and edited the Emmy-nominated film PRESSURE COOKER (2008) for Participant Media. Becker was one of two editors on the acclaimed THE LOST BOYS OF SUDAN (2003), winner of an Independent Spirit Award. He is currently directing a new documentary project through 2021. In addition, Becker has supervised and consulted on dozens of documentaries in various stages of production, many of which have screened at Sundance, Tribeca, and SXSW Film Festival, among others. Becker worked at Lucasfilm as a documentary editor for several years and earned a master’s from Stanford University. meteorfilms.org

JUSTIN SCHEIN | Cinematographer

A director, cinematographer and sound recordist, Justin Schein has shot over 45 films internationally for broadcasters including A&E, PBS, National Geographic, BBC, The Discovery Channel, HBO, The Learning Channel, and MTV. For PBS he recently completed RETURN TO GROUND ZERO, a one-hour look at rebuilding the World Trade Center and a companion piece to his AMERICA REBUILDS: A YEAR AT GROUND ZERO, which chronicled the rescue and recovery efforts in the aftermath of 9/11/01. Most recently he completed work as director and cameraman on the feature documentary No Impact Man: The Documentary (2009).

LEIGH IACOBUCCI | Cinematographer

After working on educational documentary videos for The George Lucas Educational Foundation, Leigh Iacobucci was inspired to enter her own classroom, teaching a course in documentary video production at a non-profit film school in Ghana. In the fall of 2004, Leigh enrolled in Stanford University’s Documentary Film Program and completed her Master’s Degree in June 2006. During her time at Stanford, she produced, directed, shot and edited four short films. Currently, she works as a freelance shooter and assistant editor in New York City and Philadelphia.

MYNA JOSEPH | Co-Producer

Myna Joseph is a recent graduate of the MFA film program at Columbia University. Her thesis short MAN screened at Sundance, SXSW, New Directors/New Films, and Cannes. The film won the New Line Cinema Award for Best Director in the 2007 Columbia University Film Festival and the Grand Jury Prize for Best Narrative Short at the Florida Film Festival. Short films she’s produced have received awards from USA Film Festival, New Line Cinema, HBO, and Eastman Kodak. Most recently, she co-produced THE SECOND LINE, which won a Special Jury Prize at SXSW and showed at Sundance this year. Currently she is developing two feature-length projects.

JEFF SKOLL | Executive Producer

Jeff Skoll founded Participant Productions (now Participant Media) in January, 2004 and serves as Chairman. Skoll’s vision for Participant is to create a long term, independent, global media company to produce and finance entertainment focused on long term benefit to society. He cites classic films such as To Kill a Mockingbird, Gandhiand Erin Brockovich as examples. Skoll most recently served as executive producer on Participant’s films GOOD NIGHT, AND GOOD LUCK, NORTH COUNTRY, SYRIANA, AMERICAN GUN, AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH, THE WORLD ACCORDING TO SESAME STREET, FAST FOOD NATION, ANGELS IN THE DUST, JIMMY CARTER MAN FROM PLAINS, DARFUR NOW, THE KITE RUNNER, CHARLIE WILSON’S WAR, CHICAGO 10, THE VISITOR and STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE.

DIANE WEYERMANN | Executive Producer

As Participant Media’s Executive Vice President, Documentary Films, Diane Weyermann is responsible for Participant Media’s documentary slate. This includes the 2008 releases, Brett Morgen’s CHICAGO 10 and Errol Morris’ STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE, which won the Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize at this year’s Berlin International Film Festival, as well as the 2007 releases ANGELS IN THE DUST, JIMMY CARTER MAN FROM PLAINS and DARFUR NOW and 2006’s Oscar® winning AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH. Prior to joining Participant in October 2005, Weyermann was the Director of the Sundance Institute’s Documentary Film Program. Before that, she was the Director of the Open Society Institute New York’s Arts and Culture Program for seven years. In addition to her work with contemporary art centers and culture programs in the Soros Foundation network, which spans over thirty countries, she launched the Soros Documentary Fund (which later became the Sundance Documentary Fund) in 1996. Since the inception of the Fund, she has been involved with the production of over three hundred documentary films from around the world.

PRINCE PAUL | Score

Beginning his career as a DJ for Stetsasonic, rapper and producer Prince Paul has lent his skills to albums by Boogie Down Productions, Gravediggaz, MC Lyte, Big Daddy Kane, and 3rd Bass, among others. Paul’s big break came when he produced De La Soul‘s 3 Feet High and Rising album. In 1994, Paul returned to rapping, joining RZA and Stetsasonic member Frukwan in Gravediggaz, a side project that debuted with 6 Feet Deep. He also began working with the new elite in underground rap, recruiting the Automator, New Kingdom‘s Scott Harding, and Spectre for his debut solo album, 1997’s Psychoanalysis: What Is It? A Prince Among Thieves followed in 1999, and later that year Paul formed Handsome Boy Modeling School with the Automator to release the albumSo…How’s Your Girl?. His own Politics of the Business, another concept album surfaced in 2003 (a year after a second Handsome Boy Modeling School album), and was followed by 2004’s 2nd Handsome Boy Release, White People and 2005’s Itstrumental as well as The Dix’ The Art of Picking Up Women.  In 2008 Paul co-produced Baby Elephant with long-time collaborator Don Newkirk and the world renowned Bernie Worrell (of Parliament Funkadelic fame).  Most recently Paul created Baby Loves Hip Hop presents The Dino 5 with guest appearances from Chali 2na, Ladybug Mecca and Wordsworth.  Among Prince Paul’s previous film credits are the scores forPootie Tang, and The Best Thief in the World.

DONALD NEWKIRK | Score

A former Def Jam recording artist, Donald Newkirk came onto the scene with his release Funk City.  Also known for his feature on the classic Prince Paul CD A Prince Among Thieves where he covered the classic “Mood For Love”.  However, many only know Newkirk’s voice, which resides in the collective subconscious of the hip-hop community of the world due to his infamous voice-overs on legendary hip hop albums such as De La Soul’s Three Feet High and Rising and 3rd Bass’s The Gas Face. Currently he produces tracks for artists such as The Black Flames, Alyson Williams and Keon Bryce. Newkirk’s affiliation with best friend and legendary hip hop producer Prince Paul has been responsible for the projects Bigger and Blacker and I Aint Never Scared (Chris Rock), music for the movie POOTIE TANG, several commercials and the score for the Showtime independent film, THE BEST THIEF IN THE WORLD.

ABOUT PARTICIPANT MEDIA

Participant Media is a Los Angeles-based entertainment company that focuses on socially relevant, commercially viable feature films, documentaries and television, as well as publishing and digital media. Participant Media is headed by CEO Jim Berk and was founded in 2004 by philanthropist Jeff Skoll, who serves as Chairman. Ricky Strauss is President. Participant exists to tell compelling, entertaining stories that bring to the forefront real issues that shape our lives. For each of its projects, Participant creates extensive social action and advocacy programs which provide ideas and tools to transform the impact of the media experience into individual and community action. Participant films include THE KITE RUNNER, CHARLIE WILSON’S WAR, DARFUR NOW, AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH, GOOD NIGHT, AND GOOD LUCK, SYRIANA, STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE and THE VISITOR.

ABOUT C-CAP

Careers through Culinary Arts Program (C-CAP) works with public schools across the country to prepare underserved high school students for college and career opportunities in the restaurant and hospitality industry. A national nonprofit, C-CAP manages the largest independent high school culinary scholarship program in the United States. Since 1990, C-CAP has awarded students $25 million in scholarships and donated $2.2 million in supplies and equipment to classrooms. In addition to awarding scholarships and providing high schools with needed products and supplies, C-CAP offers training and curriculum enrichment programs including: cooking competitions, teacher training, job shadows, job training, internships, college advising, and career guidance. C-CAP operates in seven locations including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, Hampton Roads,VA, Washington, D.C. and state-wide in Arizona.

Los Angeles Film Festival 2008

Aspen Film Festival 2008

Woodstock Film Festival 2008

Chicago International Film Festival 2008

Hawaii International Film Festival 2008

Starz! Denver Film Festival 2008

IDFA Amsterdam 2008

CMJ Film Festival 2008

Portland International Film Festival 2009

True/False Film Festival 2009

Philadelphia Cinefest 2009

Sarasota Film Festival 2009

Florida Film Festival 2009

Nashville Film Festival 2009

RiverRun International Film Festival 2009

DocAviv – The Tel Aviv International Film Festival 2009

Berkshire International Film Festival 2009

Emmy Nomination, Exceptional Merit in Nonfiction Filmmaking

Special Jury Prize, Los Angeles Film Festival

Best Documentary, Philadelphia Film Festival

Audience Award, Aspen Film Festival

Audience Award, Portland International Film Festival

Audience Award, Berkshire International Film Festival

Best Documentary (Honorable Mention), Nashville Film Festival

Editing, Honorable Mention, Woodstock Film Festival

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“…strong and powerful, and the final scenes are unbelievably moving; I basically spent the last twenty minutes of the picture either on the verge of tears, or just over the edge.”  Read the full review »
—Jason Bailey, DVDtalk.com

“Moving, inspirational and tremendously real.”  Read the full story »
—Gary Goldstein, Los Angeles Times

“Engaging and ultimately emotional”  Read the full story »
—Michael Lerman, indiewire.com

Pressure Cooker: A Very Healthy Meal
—Hammer to Nail

Has All the Right Ingredients
—New York Post

Pressure Cooker Explores Identity, High School Culinary Class
—The Village Voice

More than one recipe for success
—Boxoffice Magazine

Uplifting Documentary Chronicles Dedicated Teacher’s Tireless Effort to Inspire Pupils
—News Blaze

“…it’s hard to beat the humanity of Jennifer Grausman and Mark Becker’s Pressure Cooker…with its engaging and ultimately emotional look at the turning point in the lives of these children through the use vice of cooking.”  Read the full story »
—Michael Lerman, indiewire.com

Laff ’08 Interview with Pressure Cooker Directors Jennifer Grausman and Mark Becker —indiewire.com “Pressure Cooker is a completely uplifting documentary that charms in unexpected ways and teaches invaluable lessons—both culinary as well as life.”  Read the full story »
—Brit Whithey, Rocky Mountain News

“Well-paced and expertly edited, the film is especially moving as it tracks the growing affection between the students and their offbeat teacher, who, as one student says, is more of a mom than my mom.”  Read the full story »
—Sarah Coleman, Independent Magazine

“…inspiring, sweet and emotionally honest.”
—Stina Seig, Post Independent

“The filmmaking is unobtrusive, emotions arent forced, but the film is quite moving.”  Read the full story »
—Harris Smith, Negative Pleasure

“This one’s a bonafide charmer…it’s a better version of Mad Hot Ballroom, another inner city public school set documentary that charmed audiences a few years back.”
—Warren Curry, Einsider

“Pressure Cooker is a dynamic film that inspires faith in what motivated students can do if given the opportunity and stimulated by a dedicated, savvy teacher.”  Read the full story »
—William Wolf, Wolf Entertainment Guide

Feel the ‘Pressure’
—S.T. VanAirsdale, The Reeler