HBO, 2023
Directors Guild of America Award
Documentary featuring Philadelphia teenagers from Hill-Freedman World Academy who are engaged in a unique songwriting collaboration that captures both the hard times they’re living in and the joy that music brings. Executive Producers: Get Lifted Film Co’s Mike Jackson, John Legend, Ty Stiklorius, Tommy Benjamin and HBO’s Nancy Abraham, Lisa Heller, and Sara Rodriguez.
“This is like the movie ‘Fame’ for a modern era.” - The New York Times
HBO MAX, 2021
The classic children’s book is brought to animated life in an exploration of love and childhood. The film features a restless little bunny who dreams of leaving home and songs that accompany the bunny on his imaginary, magical adventures into the world and back home to the comfort of his mother's love. Songs by Mariah Carey, Rosanne Cash, Kimya Dawson, Michael Kiwanuka, Ziggy Marley, Tracee Ellis Ross, Kelly Rowland, and Rufus Wainwright. Animation by Maciek Albrecht.
“Emotionally intense, beautiful and abstract. My kid loved it.” - NBC News
HBO, 2020
Directors Guild of America Award
Emmy Award
Every year hundreds of kids take the stage at the Oakland MLK Oratorical Fest, performing poetry and speeches inspired by the life and legacy of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The documentary features passionate young people raising their voices about issues they care about and the unique community that supports them. Executive Producers: Mahershala Ali, Amatus Karim Ali, Mimi Valdés, Julie Anderson, Nancy Abraham, and Lisa Heller. Producer: Diane Kolyer, Director of Photography: Alex Rappoport, Editor: Tom Patterson
“The most adorable inspiration ever” – The Root
“A heartwarming testament to the voices of the next generation” – SF Gate
“Simply beautiful...concrete evidence that King still lives” – The Source
HBO, 2019
When the Twin Towers were attacked on September 11, 2001, students had just started their day at Stuyvesant High School, a few blocks away. The documentary offers a unique eyewitness perspective on that tragic day – how it felt to be a young person at ground zero and how it forever changed the lives, and dreams, of eight former students and their families. Editor: Tom Patterson. Director of Photography: Alex Rappoport.
“People don’t really talk about the fact that there were kids there.” - Himanshu Suri, Stuyvesant ‘03
HBO, 2018
Animation Emmy Award
This short documentary features a conversation between a young boy and his great-grandfather, an Auschwitz survivor. Their exchange is woven with historical footage and hand-painted animation to tell a heartbreaking story of Jewish life in Eastern Europe, sharing memories and lessons of the Holocaust with a new generation. Animation by Jeff Scher.
“Impeccably crafted, warmly poetic” - Chicago Tribune
“Finally, an age-appropriate Holocaust movie for young viewers” - Tablet Magazine
“A lovely, sweetly made little film” - Boston Globe
“Gentle and genius” - NY Daily News
HBO, 2014, 2015
Two Directors Guild of America Award Nominations
Gracie Award
This 6-part collaboration with the American Museum of Natural History features kids from around the world who take on our biggest environmental challenges -- from endangered animals and pollution to climate change. Museum scientists talk with kids about how plants and animals are affected by a changing earth. A collection of science, songs, and stories of wildlife in danger, the series is a call from kids to all of us to take better care of the planet and everything on it.
Performances, readings, and appearances by Alan Cumming, Audra McDonald, Laura Dern, Tina Fey, Lennon & Maisy, Ziggy Marley, Jason Mraz, Liam Neeson, Karen O, Willie Nelson, Susan Sarandon, Pete Seeger, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Pharrell Williams, Jeffrey Wright, Dan Zanes, and others.
"Utterly winning must-see for all ages." - Channel Guide
"*****" - TV Guide
HBO, 2019
Directors Guild of America Award
Two Emmy Nominations
Featuring the Marjory Stoneman Douglas drama students and their teacher, Melody Herzfeld, who harness the power of music and theater to heal themselves and their community. Director of Photography: Alex Rappoport, Editor: Tom Patterson.
“A wallop of emotion, inspiration” - LA Times
“Equal parts uplifting and heartbreaking” - CNN
HBO, 2005, 2017
Three Emmy Awards
Peabody Award
Two Animation Emmy Awards
Parents' Choice Award
Animated series designed as an introduction to masterpieces from the worlds of music, art, and dance – for the very young and the young-at-heart. Featuring animation by Maciek Albrecht.
“For your highbrow in diapers… it’s animated, it’s educational…a fantasia…dreamy, allusive music videos.” - The New York Times
"Frickin' adorable." - Time Out
HBO, 2012
Directors Guild of America Award Winner
Emmy Winner for Narration
Narrated by Lily Tomlin, An Apology to Elephants explores the beauty and intelligence of elephants and tells the troubling story of the exploitation of elephants by circuses and zoos. A call for compassion and better treatment, the film is also a plea to save what’s left of the wild in our world.
"[This] eloquent HBO doc is a kind of Pachyderms 101, informed by compassion, outrage and a sense of urgency." - Hollywood Reporter
HBO, 1999
Directors Guild of America Award
Peabody Award
Emmy Award
Parents' Choice Award
Animation Emmy
The beloved bedtime classic comes to television for the first time in an exploration of children's dreams. Featuring original recordings of lullabies and bedtime stories by Tony Bennett, Natalie Cole, Billy Crystal, Lauryn Hill, Patti LaBelle, Aaron Neville, and Susan Sarandon.
"Pitch-perfect." - New York Daily News
HBO, 2009
What makes a family? One little girl's answer: love. A celebration of the diversity of families today, this special was produced with Rosie O’Donnell and features performances by singing kids and their families and musicians Ziggy Marley, They Might Be Giants, Elizabeth Mitchell, and Sweet Honey in the Rock.
"A modern spiritual successor to Marlo Thomas's 1974 family classic, Free to Be You & Me." - USA Today
HBO, 2019
An introduction the events of 9-11 for a young audience. Produced in collaboration with the 9/11 Tribute Museum, the documentary features kids in conversation with survivors and family members, historical segments, and classroom scenes exploring 9-11 through artwork and poetry.
HBO, 2017
Featuring songs from around the world brought to life through magical animation, The Lullaby Shows are a transporting mix of music and art– and the perfect introduction to some of the dreamiest music ever written.
HBO, 2010
Directors Guild of America Award Nomination
Half-hour special profiles children of divorce alongside their drawings, songs, and heartfelt messages to parents on divorce do's and don'ts.
HBO, 2008
Directors Guild of America Award Winner
Emmy Award Winner
A lyrical introduction to some of the world’s greatest poets -- from William Shakespeare to Langston Hughes. With magical animation and kids reciting their favorites straight from the heart. Readings by Andy Garcia, John Lithgow, Gwyneth Paltrow, Susan Sarandon, Gertrude Stein, William Carlos Williams, Jeffrey Wright.
HBO, 2008
Directors Guild of America Award Nomination
A documentary about hard times and happiness during the 1930s, featuring kids in conversation with grandparents and others about life during the Great Depression. Kids interview Pete Seeger, Faith Ringgold, and more. Designed as a companion to the feature film, Kit Kittredge: An American Girl.
HBO, 2006
Peabody Award
Series featuring young musicians who share their passion and their playing. Schatz’s directing work on The Music in Me includes portraits of two talented 11 year olds — cellist, Nathan Chan, and rock guitarist, Úna Rose. Produced by Diane Kolyer, Directors of Photography Scott Sinkler and Alex Rappoport.
"'The Music in Me' is at once cheerfully hopeful and downright awe-inspiring. Nathan Chan, an 11-year-old cellist, performs Saint-Saens's 'Swan' so plaintively that it calls to mind the human voice." - The New York Times
HBO, 2010
Directors Guild of America Award Winner
Emmy Award Winner
Poetry classics are brought to animated life alongside kids discussing the meaning and mystery of poetry. With poems by William Butler Yeats, Langston Hughes, Edna St. Vincent Millay, William Wordsworth, Robert Frost, Emily Dickinson, and others. Readings by Claire Danes, Carrie Fisher, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Ziggy Marley, Dave Matthews, Natalie Merchant, Juliane Moore, Liam Neeson, Jeffrey Wright, and more.
HBO, 2001
Directors Guild of America Award Winner
Two Emmy Awards for Animation
Holiday special featuring favorite songs and stories of the season. Kids muse on family togetherness, the meaning of Santa Claus and what the holidays mean to them. Legendary performances and original recordings by Louis Armstrong, Nat King Cole, Judy Garland, Los Lobos, Bette Midler, Frank Sinatra, and others.
"Ebenezer himself would have trouble finding much fault with this sweet, sassy little holiday plum that deftly blends the old with the young, the nostalgic with the contemporary, the joyful with the bittersweet." - Hollywood Reporter
HBO, 2002
Directors Guild of America Award Nomination
Emmy Award Winner
Animation Award Winner
Documentary about kids’ experiences of September 11, 2001 and their wishes for a peaceful world.
