WHIRLYBIRD | Courtesy of Sundance Institute | photo by Los Angeles News Service
Matt Yoka tells the story of a marriage’s fraying against the backdrop of cutthroat news reporting in 1990s Los Angeles.
Festival Section:
US Documentary Competition
Sundance Program Description:
Flying high above Los Angeles in a whirling news helicopter, Marika Gerrard and Zoey Tur (known then as Bob) captured some of the city’s most epic breaking news stories. The two recount the salacious details of their career as a husband-and-wife journalist team doing whatever it took to catch an unfolding story. Their camera captured the extreme adrenaline of the culture of live news and, as a result, the strain it took on their relationship – and, ultimately, a major life transition for Zoey. A wholly unique take on the story of Los Angeles told through stunning aerial footage and remarkable home videos, WHIRLYBIRD reframes many of the city’s pivotal moments of the 1990s, including the OJ Simpson pursuit and the 1992 riots.
In Matt Yoka’s sprawling debut feature, he deftly mirrors the peaks and valleys of one unique American family to the city of Los Angeles, showcasing their parallel growing pains and their search for a sense of self. WHIRLYBIRD is a completely original and intricately woven tapestry that reveals the agony and the ecstasy of breaking news.
Some Background:
Director/Producer/Co-Editor:
Yoka makes his feature directorial debut with this project. He has a background producing series for Vice Media.
Producer:
Past Sundance docs:
INVENTING TOMORROW (2018)
LEGION OF BROTHERS (2017)
WE ARE X (2016)
MANHUNT: THE INSIDE STORY OF THE HUNT FOR BIN LADEN (2013)
SERGIO (2009, associate producer)
The Emmy-nominated Becker produces through her company with Melanie Miller, Fishbowl Films. She also lined produced Sundane alumni doc WE ARE THE GIANT (2014).
Co-Producers:
Past Sundance docs:
FINDERS KEEPERS (2015)
TV JUNKIE (2006, director)
Radecki won a Special Jury Prize at Sundance for TV JUNKIE. Together with co-producer Greg Lanesey, he operates LA postproduction house Different By Design.
Past Sundance docs:
TV JUNKIE
Lanesey co-founded LA postproduction house Different By Design with Matt Radecki.
Past Sundance docs:
THE VIOLENCE OF A CIVILIZATION WITHOUT SECRETS (2018, short, executive producer)
Holmgren is an entertainment attorney and producer. He previously was a longtime programmer at Brooklyn’s Union Docs. Holmgren is also executive produced fellow 2020 Sundance documentary feature MAŁNI – TOWARD THE OCEAN, TOWARDS THE SHORE, in New Frontier, and produced Sundance alumni fiction projects DEEP ASTRONOMY AND THE ROMANTIC SCIENCES and I USED TO BE DARKER.
Associate Producers:
Past Sundance docs:
STATION TO STATION (2015)
Jurriaans also associate produced Diane Becker’s two previous doc features, SID & JUDY and IF I LEAVE HERE TOMORROW: A FILM ABOUT LYNYRD SKYNYRD.
Kecher is Manager, Feature Films at A+E Networks. She has served as production manager or coordinator for past A&E IndieFilms at Sundance, most recently STUDIO 54 (2018) and CITY OF GHOSTS (2017).
Executive Producers:
Recent past Sundance docs:
STUDIO 54
CITY OF GHOSTS
LIFE, ANIMATED (2016)
AUTHOR: THE JT LEROY STORY (2016)
The Emmy-winning Thompson is head of documentaries for Apple. Previously she was the longtime head of documentary films for A+E Networks.
Past Sundance docs:
STUDIO 54
CITY OF GHOSTS
Frontain Bryant is the Emmy-winning EVP and head of programming for A+E Networks.
Recent past Sundance docs:
STUDIO 54
CITY OF GHOSTS
LIFE, ANIMATED
AUTHOR: THE JT LEROY STORY
Emmy-winner Sharenow is the president of programming for A+E Networks.
Past Sundance docs:
APOLLO 11 (2019)
THE EDGE OF DEMOCRACY (2019)
KUSAMA: INFINITY (2018)
WILD WILD COUNTRY (2018)
IVORY TOWER (2014)
PAGE ONE: INSIDE THE NEW YORK TIMES (2011)
Together with his twin Dan, the Emmy-winning Braun is co-founder and co-president of Submarine Entertainment, a leading sales agency that represents numerous titles at Sundance each year.
Past Sundance docs:
RUPAUL’S DRAG RACE: A RETROSPECTIVE OF THE CULTURAL PHENOMENON (2018, short)
MAPPLETHORPE: LOOK AT THE PICTURES (2016)
BECOMING CHAZ (2011)
MISS NAVAJO (2007)
INSIDE DEEP THROAT (2005)
THE EYES OF TAMMY FAYE (2000)
PARTY MONSTER (1998)
Veteran Sundance filmmakers Barbato and Bailey produce under their World of Wonder shingle, and are best known as the producers of RUPAUL’S DRAG RACE.
Co-Executive Producer:
Past Sundance docs:
INVENTING TOMORROW
Miller is the co-founder of production shingle Fishbowl Films with Diane Becker, and has background in music supervision, festival programming, marketing, and acquisitions.
Editor:
Past Sundance docs:
JAWLINE (2019)
HAL (2018)
GLEASON (2016)
FINDERS KEEPERS
Story Consultant:
Past Sundance docs:
AMERICAN MOVIE (1999, editor)
Why You Should Watch:
Adeptly combining the personal and the professional strands of the Turs’ lives with Los Angeles history, Yoka crafts a compelling, and sometimes tragic, dual narrative. Privileged with footage capturing both the city and the couple from a unique vantage point, the film offers unforgettable imagery and an indelible sense of place.
More Info:
Sundance’s Meet the Artist Profile
Website
Facebook
Twitter
For Sundance screening dates and times, click the film title in the first paragraph.
