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Ramaa Mosley

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American film director
Ramaa Mosley
Born (1981-10-29) October 29, 1981 (age 43)
New Orleans, Louisiana
EducationLaurel Springs School
Alma materBennington
Occupation(s)American commercial, music video and feature film director, and screenwriter.
Notable workThe Brass Teapot (director)
Grace (director)
Girl Rising (producer, Afgan section)
Tatterdemalion (director)
SpouseCameron Gray (2004)

Ramaa Devi Mosley (born October 29, 1981) is an American filmmaker, director, and writer based in Los Angeles. She began directing commercials, music videos, and documentaries at the age of 16. She is also an activist, known for raising national and international awareness about the importance of education of girls globally. She has supported the victims of the Chibok schoolgirl kidnapping in Nigeria by using social media to raise global awareness.

Life and career

Mosley was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, the daughter of Marilyn Mosley Gordanier and Rick Mosley. She has two brothers, Raphael and Michael. Mosley was born on an ashram and grew up in Ojai, California. She attended Laurel Springs school. She is married to Cameron Gray (2004) and has two children.

Mosley has directed three documentaries, We Can Make A Difference, Two Seasons and Home, and Girl Rising. Mosley has written and directed two short films, The Brass Teapot and Grace. She is considered to be one of the most successful female commercial directors in the industry, winning multiple awards, including a Clio in 2018 for the Chevrolet "Goal Keeper" Campaign. To date, Mosley has won best director at the First Glance Film Festival for her short film Grace. In 2011, she won the Audience Choice Award at Dance Camera West for her short film In Dreams I Run Wild. Mosley directed the Afghanistan segment of 10x10's feature film Girl Rising. Mosley co-wrote and directed the feature film Tatterdemalion.

Commercials

At the age of 16, Mosley began directing music videos. By the age of 19, Mosley was directing award-winning national and international commercials for clients such as Adidas, ESPNW, and Powerade. Most recently, Mosley has directed commercials for ESPN, Levi's, and Nike. In February 2018, Mosley completed commercial campaigns for South West Airlines and Fuji Instax and won a Clio for her direction of the Chevrolet "Goal Keeper's" Campaign.

Adolescent Content

In October 2013, Mosley launched Adolescent Content. Adolescent is a "GenZ Global Creative Youth Studio": with think tank, production company and digital platform dedicated to content made for youth by youth. The production company represents young directors ages 11 to 26 years old for work directing commercials, branded contented, web series, television, and films. Their directors have recently completed campaigns for Beats Music Apps, Diesel, ESPN, American Girl, Vice, Tom's Shoes, Disney, and Skype.

Adolescent Content represents teen and young millennial directors, photographers and social media influencers (as young as 11 years old). She has given a Ted Talk about the advantages of being a teen director called "The Power of Adolescent Directors".

In December 2015, Adolescent launched their original scripted division, focused on the creation and distribution of entertainment content "created by youth for youth".

On September 16, 2016, Adolescent Content launched their digital platform www.adolescent.net. Adolescent's recent Instagram series "The Out There" aired its second season in June 2018.

Feature films

The Brass Teapot

Mosley's first feature film, was based on the comic book series that Mosley and Tim Macy co-wrote. The Brass Teapot starring Juno Temple and Michael Angarano was shot for a budget of 850k over 21 days in the summer of 2012. The movie premiered at the 2013 Toronto International Film festival where it was warmly received. New York-based distribution company Magnolia Picture inked a deal for The Brass Teapot, which Mosley shot in Upstate New York. The film was released on April 5, 2013.

In Movie Nation, critic Roger Moore says of The Brass Teapot, "Equal parts dark and comically disturbing, "The Brass Teapot" is a fantasy parable for our times, a film that literally equates pain with greed." In Variety, chief international Film Critic Peter Debruge called the movie "a fresh riff on 'be careful what you wish for; fables". Film Journal said of it "Few farces have started out with such an outlandish premise, but director Ramaa Mosley has complete conviction in it that, along with the engaging lead performances, keep the comedy percolating." and of Mosley's directing of the actor's, Hollywood Reporter critic Frank Schenk says, "The two leads deliver highly appealing performances, with the comely Temple showing no reluctance to frequently doff most of her clothing and Angarano displaying an offbeat comic sensibility."

Paste Magazine's film critic, Leland Montgomery says of Mosley, "Though The Brass Teapot is Ramaa Mosley's first feature, it feels as if it's steered by a much more experienced hand. The story is set up and unfolds in a very subtle, nuanced manner that enriches each reveal. Though the story is sweet, Mosley mostly avoids sentimentalism and keeps the plot grounded, despite the supernatural elements." Debruge of Variety said of Mosley " Despite the inherent perversity of the concept, Mosley succeeds in maintaining a certain sweetness throughout. Even more impressively, she makes her low-budget enterprise look as slick as most midrange studio comedies, demonstrating herself a director with both imagination and technical ingenuity. If she wishes to work again, The Brass Teapot is likely to make it so."

Lost Child

Mosley's second feature film was initially known as Tatterdemalion, before being re-named to Lost Child. The dramatic thriller was shot in the Ozarks starring Leven Rambin, Taylor John Smith and Jim Parrack. The film premiered at The Heartland Film Festival, Bentonville Film Festival, Florida Film Festival and screened in film festivals nationally and internationally to wide acclaim. The film was written by Mosley and Tim Macy and went on to win Best Narrative Film at Kansas City Film Festival. Leven Rambin also won Best Actress at the 64th Taormina Film Festival in Italy.

Lost Child was acquired for distribution by Breaking Glass. The name was changed to Lost Child and premiered September 14, 2018 in theaters across the US.

Lost Child is a dramatic thriller about an army veteran (Fern) who returns home to the Ozarks to look for her brother (Billy) and finds an abandoned boy in the woods. As she searches for answers about the child's identity, she discovers a mysterious world of folklore, clan rules and lies.

The film was produced by Gina Resnick along with Tim Macy, Ramaa Mosley, and Paul Cameron Gray. The film was financed by Green Hummingbird Pictures.

Nelson

In January 2017, it was reported that Mosley is attached to direct the supernatural thriller Nelson aka Hypergraphia which started to start shoot in the Fall of 2018. The script is based on an original idea that Mosley and Tim Macy developed five years prior to their collaboration on The Brass Teapot.

Sometimes Thieves

In February 2015, it was reported that Mosley is attached to direct Sometimes Thieves, a crime romance movie, written by Ryan Cannon, which she developed with producers Dallas Brennan and Jeff Elliot. The movie was set to begin principal photography in July 2015.

Other projects

In October 2017, it was reported that Mosley is in development on the supernatural love story The Reason, about a high school student who wakes up from a car accident with superhuman powers. Mosley wrote the script to direct under her production company banner, Laundry Films, Inc.

Mosley co-wrote The Mommy Group with Jamie Pachino. The feature script is currently in development with Laundry Films set to produce and Mosley to direct. The premise of this film finds a group of new moms that find their diverse lives intersecting so they form a 'Mommy Group' to help them survive the war zone of motherhood.

Girl Rising

In 2013, Mosley directed the Afghan segment of the documentary Girl Rising which follows the harrowing stories of girls around the world struggling to get an education. Girl Rising "is a global campaign for girls' education," which uses "the power of storytelling to share the simple truth that educating girls can transform societies. Girl Rising unites girls, women, boys and men who believe every girl has the right to go to school and the right to reach her full potential."

Mosley is one of five directors who were asked by 10x10 Documentary Group to direct a segment of the documentary and, though she is not part of the Girl Rising organization, she has spoken out repeatedly in the news about the importance of educating girls and remains a supporter of the cause.

Music videos

Mosley has directed over a dozen music videos since she began directing in 1998 for artists including Fizzy Bangers, Jill Sobule, Kristen Berry, The B-52's ("Debbie"), Creed, Brendan Benson, Tonic, and Five for Fighting ("Superman (It's Not Easy).")

#BringBackOurGirls campaign

In the wake of the Chibok schoolgirl kidnapping in Nigeria, Mosley gained national recognition for raising awareness about the atrocity. Utilizing social media to support the Bring Back Our Girls movement in Abuja, Nigeria. Mosley re-tweeted #BringBackOurGirls, which became a prominent part of the hashtag activism surrounding the incident. In an interview with ABC News Mosley said she wept upon hearing of the kidnapping, and originally planned to travel to Chibok to cover the story, but later decided to campaign on social media instead, because of her young children. The subsequent ABC News story was originally titled "Los Angeles Mother of Two Creates Viral Hashtag", but was later updated when Mosley wrote the producers to complain with a note reflecting the fact that Mosley was not the first to tweet the hashtag.

The hashtag had been started by Nigerian Ibrahim M. Abdullahi, echoing a phrase said by the former vice president of the World Bank, Oby Ezekwesili in a speech. Originally retweeted 95 times, including by Ezekwesili who has 125,000 followers on Twitter. Mosley began tweeting the hashtag to her friends, and then the President of the United States, Barack Obama. Mosely described the hashtag as an "SOS to the world". A Facebook page about the kidnapping started by Mosley had more than 43,000 likes by early May and 230,000 by July. Mosely said the incident had "...consumed my life and I believe it will until the girls are rescued." Mosley organized and attended five protest rallies in Los Angeles, drawing hundreds of people who collectively chanted the slogan. The Guardian's story on the kidnapping was tweeted more than 3,500 times on April 23 and but received its largest boost from the performer Chris Brown. The majority of prominent uses of the hashtag was by accounts related to the news network CNN. Subsequently, Mosley co-organized a Mother's Day vigil. On May 22, Mosley also held a global schoolgirl march, in which thousands of school girls in cities around the world marched to raise awareness about the Chibok girl's plight.

Honors

  • Dance Camera West audience Choice award
  • Global 500 UNEP award "We Can Make A Difference"

References

  1. ^ "Episode 67: Ramaa Mosley, Director, Activist, Entrepreneur". 5 October 2017.
  2. "OUR HISTORY - Educate Girls Now". 10 January 2019.
  3. "CNN.com - Transcripts". edition.cnn.com. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
  4. "5 Things to Know This Morning: Keeping Her Clothes On". ABC News. 7 May 2014. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
  5. "Chevrolet GoalKeepers" Clios.com. Retrieved 2018-07-20.
  6. ^ "Ramaa Mosley 'The Brass Teapot' TIFF 2012 - Hollywood Reporter". hollywoodreporter.com. 13 September 2012. Retrieved 2014-02-01.
  7. "Ramaa Mosley is Turning LA's Teens into Tomorrow's Filmmakers | LBBOnline".
  8. "Ramaa Mosley: Folklore and Family". 12 October 2017.
  9. "Chevrolet - GoalKeepers".
  10. "LOOKING FOR AN 11-YEAR-OLD DIRECTOR? CALL ADOLESCENT" AdAge. Retrieved 2018-07-20.
  11. "The Power of Adolescent Directors | TEDxHollywood". www.youtube.com. 29 July 2014. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
  12. "The Power of Adolescent Directors" TEDx Hollywood. Retrieved 2016-10-09.
  13. "ADOLESCENT CONTENT IS HELPING YOUNG PEOPLE TAKE CONTROL OF IMAGES OF YOUTH" Indie. Retrieved 2018-07-20.
  14. ""Adolescent" Sets Up Slate of Scripted Instagram Series, "The Out There" Premiered Today" Video Ink. Retrieved 2018-07-20.
  15. "'Teapot' Jackpot? Newlyweds Feel Fiscal Hurt In Dark Comedy" NPR. Retrieved 2016-10-09.
  16. "Film Review: 'The Brass Teapot' | Variety". variety.com. 2 April 2013. Retrieved 2014-02-01.
  17. "Film Review: The Brass Teapot". filmjournal.com. Retrieved 2014-02-01.
  18. "The Brass Teapot :: Movies :: Reviews :: Paste". pastemagazine.com. 5 April 2013. Retrieved 2014-02-01.
  19. "The Brass Teapot: Film Review - The Hollywood Reporter". hollywoodreporter.com. 2 April 2013. Retrieved 2014-02-01.
  20. "Movie Review: "The Brass Teapot" | Movie Nation". rogersmovienation.com. 30 March 2013. Retrieved 2014-02-01.
  21. Kroll, Justin (24 August 2015). "'True Detective' Star Leven Rambin Joins Drama 'Tatterdemalion'". Variety. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
  22. "TATTERDEMALION" Midwest Film Journal. Retrieved 2018-07-20.
  23. "'Tatterdemalion' filming complete, ready for release". West Plains Daily Quill. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
  24. "Best Narrative Feature | Kansas City FilmFest International".
  25. "Taormina Film Fest Awards: Polish Drama, Refugee Doc Among Winners". The Hollywood Reporter. 23 July 2018.
  26. "Breaking Glass Pictures Picks up PTSD Thriller 'Tatterdemalion' for Fall Release". 26 April 2018.
  27. "'Lost Child' Trailer: Leven Rambin Befriends Mysterious Abandoned Boy in Thriller". The Hollywood Reporter. 23 August 2018.
  28. "Watch: New Trailer for 'Hunger Games' Actress Leven Rambin's New Film 'Tatterdemalion'" Variety. Retrieved 2018-07-20.
  29. "Ramaa Mosley: Folklore and Family" Directed by Women. Retrieved 2018-07-20.
  30. "Bentonville Film Festival - Tatterdemalion - Ramaa Mosley & Kip Collins" Arkansas CW. Retrieved 2017-07-20.
  31. "Girl Rising". Girlrising.com. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
  32. Katie Couric interview
  33. ^ "'Bring Back Our Girls' Becomes Rallying Cry for Kidnapped Nigerian Schoolgirls". ABC News. May 6, 2014. Retrieved June 3, 2014.
  34. ^ "In Push to Free Nigerian Girls, a Tangled Web". Wall Street Journal. May 8, 2014. Retrieved June 3, 2014.
  35. "Exclusive Interview With Ramaa Mosley On The Brass Teapot". wegotthiscovered.com. 4 April 2013. Retrieved 2014-02-01.
  36. "Five Questions: Director Ramaa Mosley | Studio Daily". studiodaily.com. 12 November 2010. Retrieved 2014-02-01.
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