I’ve been directing, producing, & editing feature documentaries for over twenty years, making films on all kinds of subjects. I've ended up specializing in intimate character-driven films that follow people at critical turning points in their lives. I believe the personal is political, and in using film to explore the gray areas of life, to shine new light on subjects we take for granted or don’t often think about. I like looking at situations and people in new ways, and opening hearts and minds to new perspectives.
I firmly believe that strong narrative and character-driven films can change the world, one story at a time. That the path to social change is through the heart – whether rethinking gender role stereotypes by following one person’s transformation from man to woman (Metamorphosis: Man into Woman); exploring the larger ramifications of interfaith marriage by following one family grappling with estrangement, guilt, and love (Out of Faith); or rethinking our relationship to animals and the planet, through the story of a circus producer doing right by his ‘star’ elephant and retiring her (One Lucky Elephant).
I spent a decade editing social issue docs (see my credits here) and I’ve written magazine articles about the ethics of documentary filmmaking, and the international doc scene. I’m on the faculty of the University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts, and I’ve enjoyed teaching doc workshop intensives from Los Angeles, CA, to Beijing, China, & Amman, Jordan.
Screenings
One Lucky Elephant will be premiering on Oprah Winfrey's network, OWN, on December 1st, 2011! Keep an eye out for more news about this! Check out the trailer here!
Crazy Wisdom will be showing in New York City at the Rubin Museum of Art on November 25, 2011. You can buy tickets here.
One Lucky Elephant HELD OVER!!!
Laemmle Music Hall Theater in Beverly Hills, now through Thursday July 7
Showtimes: Sat 2:50, 8pm, 10pm Sun 2:50, 8pm Mon 2:50, 8pm Tues-Thurs 8pm
Q & A!! The film team appears for Q&A after Friday, Saturday and Sunday night 8pm screenings. Special Guests for next week screenings to be announced here & on our Facebook page.
Your attendance determines how widely we're able to release the film in theaters around the country. Thank you for supporting the film, elephants, and indie filmmaking!
One Lucky Elephant opens theatrically in Los Angeles June 24, at the Laemmle Music Hall Theater in Beverly Hills, & runs through June 30.
Lisa Leeman & film team at Q&A after Friday 6/24 7:20 screening, & Lisa at Q&A's after Saturday & Sunday 5:10 & 7:20 screenings. Special Guests to be announced here & on our Facebook page. Opening weekend attendance will determine whether the film is held over in LA, and how widely we're able to release the film in theaters around the country - please come support the film, elephants, and indie filmmaking!
ONE LUCKY ELEPHANT PREMIERES THEATRICALLY JUNE 8 AT NYC'S FILM FORUM
I'll be there in person for Q&A Wed - Satrday nights, June 8-11. Special Guest Wed. night - Iain Douglas Hamilton, renowned elephant expert (see Save the Elephants)
Crazy Wisdom screens June 15 at the Museum of Tolerance, Los Angeles. buy tickets online before it sells out!
Crazy Wisdom festivals screenings: Buddha Fest in Washington, DC Friday, June 17, pm - buy tickets here
Crazy Wisdom: The Life & Times of Chogyam Trungpa, Rinpoche
WORLD PREMIERE SANTA BARBARA FILM FESTIVAL Feb 5, 7:20 pm
OWN has acquired rights to Lisa Leeman’s “One Lucky Elephant” – IndieWire
Lisa Leeman and Cristina Colissimo’s Interspecies Love Story “One Lucky Elephant”
