“Barbara and Stanley: A Modern Romance” is a fascinating exploration of the forty-year long-distance romance between Barbara Flood and Stanley Dorfman. The short documentary film marks the first collaboration between director Rachel Fleit and editor Sloane Klevin. It was co-produced by Killer Films Media, where Fleit serves as Creative Director, and Union Editorial, where Klevin is Partner/Editor. For more than four decades, Dorfman and Flood have been in a relationship, despite never living in the same time zone. Dorfman, a film director, producer and co-creator of iconic British music show Top of the Pops lives in Los Angeles; former actress/model turned stylist and interior designer Flood lives in New York City. The documentary premiered on Nowness.com March 24.
While the film’s eponymous couple tout the virtues of a bicoastal relationship, Fleit and Klevin can testify to the benefits of working in close proximity to your collaborators. Fleit had been spending quite a bit of time at Union NY, cutting a fashion film with Eric Argiro, then a UBS spot with Laura Milstein, and a Cadillac campaign for Spike DDB with Andrew Doga. “We became friendly and chatted whenever we could, usually in the kitchen, and Rachel told me she was making a short documentary film,” Klevin recalled. “She told me almost nothing about the film except that she was terribly excited about it, and that it was a love story.”
“I thought Sloane might offer a little advice, but she said, ‘I’d love to cut your film!’ and we were off,“ Fleit said. “This film would not be possible without the support and talent at Union Editorial.”
“Rachel had already filmed a couple of days, so I watched the footage and we made a shot list that was kind of a wish list of what else she could get with Barbara and Stanley,” Klevin said. Over time, as Fleit kept filming and Klevin kept cutting, the film’s potential and charm grew. “The cool thing was, even though it's not a big story, whenever we would show it to people they just fell in love with Barbara and Stanley,” Klevin marveled. “So, everybody we asked for help said yes without hesitation. We were really lucky to have Union’s Zivkovic mix the film and Chris Bialkowski animate the titles. Mike Howell from Color Collective did the color correct. We submitted to a few festivals, but my dream from the beginning was to have this film premiere on Nowness. So it was such a thrill when they said they wanted this film at the full length, and didn't even ask us to cut it down.” (Nowness does have its own font and style rules that all their films adhere to. As such, the version done by Bialkowski does not appear on that site.)
“Their relationship is modern, cool and aspirational,” said Fleit, who views this as the first in a series of short documentary films about interesting older people. “I started filming them separately in New York and Los Angeles and when they were together in their respective homes. What struck me about them at first is that they literally have separate lives; they are such individuals on so many levels, and when they come together they are the most dynamic duo, deeply bonded and truly in love.”
About Union
Union Editorial has offices in Los Angeles, New York, Austin, and London, where it maintains an alliance with Marshall Street Editors. The company also develops and produces original content, in partnership with Killer Content companies through its Union Entertainment Group banner. Other Union companies include Platform, a creative and advertising solution for the gaming industry; and Resolution, a visual effects boutique specializing in commercials, features and gaming.
Union is presided over by Partner/Managing Director Michael Raimondi and Partner/Executive Producer Caryn Maclean. The Union roster is comprised of Partner/Editors Jim Haygood, Einar, Jay Friedkin, Sloane Klevin, Marco Perez, and editors Nico Alba, Jinx Godfrey, Nicholas Wayman-Harris, Rachael Waxler, Daniel Luna, Jason Lucas, Paul Plew, Ben Longland, Laura Milstein, Eric Argiro, Karen Kourtessis, Zach Kashkett and Andrew Doga, as well as select projects with Tim Thornton Allen and Phil Hignett.
About Killer Films
Killer Films Media is the digital content division of Killer Content. Killer Films Media creates short form digital content for brands, organizations and movements for social change. Recent clients include: Cadillac, UBS Bank, Mackage, Ohlin/D, Kate Spade and Conde Nast. Under the leadership of Creative Director Rachel Fleit, who has been creating content for luxury and lifestyle brands for a decade, Killer Films Media gives brands direct, high-level, and efficient access to the world’s best storytelling talent, producing for multiple platforms to create highly engaging content. Every member of the Killer team has spent a lifetime telling stories: stories for moviegoers and television viewers, stories for voters and investors, stories for consumers and critics. Stories with purpose and passion.
Killer Content is a media and technology company producing award-winning, multiplatform entertainment with a curated group of storytellers and brands. The company is comprised of Killer Films, Killer Films Media and Killer Impact. Combined, Killer’s properties have earned 75 Oscar, Emmy and Golden Globe nominations, most recently for STILL ALICE, starring Julianne Moore, and CAROL, starring Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara. Past films include BOYS DON’T CRY. The upcoming Killer slate includes the feature film WONDERSTRUCK, based on the novel by Brian Selznick, the Amazon television series Z: THE BEGINNING OF EVERYTHING, and ONLY EVER YOURS, being adapted from the award-winning, international bestseller.
