Directors Elena Parasco and Emily Elizabeth Thomas have joined New York-based Sibling Rivalry for commercial representation in the U.S.
Born and raised in New York, and a graduate of Wesleyan University, Parasco is known for her engaging, docu-grounded style, Through a carefully considered lens, influenced by the female POV, she looks to redefine how stories in culture, sport, and movement are approached. Her work is unapologetic and raw, a constant play of hard meets soft and anthemic meets authentic. Perhaps her most representative work to date is downtowngirlsbball, where her aim was to leverage the strength of the quick-cut montage, while experimenting with breaking down and rebuilding the gaze in which subjects are filmed, especially within sports.
Parasco has worked with numerous world-renowned artists and brands, including Nike, Levi’s, Warner Brothers, Samsung, Calvin Klein, A$AP Rocky, the New York Knicks, and the New York City Ballet. She directed independently prior to joining Sibling Rivalry.
A current resident of Brooklyn, NY, Thomas was raised in Austin, Texas and is a cowgirl at heart. A graduate of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, she received an MA in Screenwriting and Gender Studies from New York University. A multi-faceted director, Thomas’ work has garnered awards from multiple film festivals. Her most recent project, The Gathering, is a branded short film created for the Brooklyn Film Festival, in collaboration with TBWAChiatDay. The film takes on the subject of sexual misconduct and gender-based bias in the film industry. Thomas directed independently before joining Sibling Rivalry though she had also done work at production house Derby.
Shelby Ross, Sibling Rivalry executive producer, said of Parasco and Thomas, ““They each represent their own individual type of storytelling and bring unique sensibilities that make our roster all the stronger. Not only does their work feel so right for this moment, but they are also each a unique and necessary addition to the Sibling Rivalry family.”
Maggie Meade, Sibling Rivalry managing director, added, “We have been waiting to grow our roster with the right talent to complement our aesthetic. Emily and Elena immediately felt like part of the Sibling family with the right energy and talents, and lucky us to support and work with two smart women.”
First-Time Feature Directors Make Major Splash At AFI Fest, Generate Oscar Buzz
Two first-time feature directors who are generating Oscar buzz this awards season were front and center this past weekend at AFI Fest in Hollywood. Rachel Morrison, who made history as the first woman nominated for a Best Cinematography Oscar---on the strength of Mudbound in 2018--brought her feature directorial debut, The Fire Inside (Amazon MGM Studios), to the festival on Sunday (10/27), and shared insights into the film during a conversation session immediately following the screening. This came a day after William Goldenberg, an Oscar-winning editor for Argo in 2013, had his initial foray into feature directing, Unstoppable (Amazon MGM Studios), showcased at the AFI proceedings. He too spoke after the screening during a panel discussion. The Fire Inside--which made its world premiere at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival--tells the story of Claressa “T-Rex” Shields (portrayed by Ryan Destiny), a Black boxer from Flint, Mich., who trained to become the first woman in U.S. history to win an Olympic Gold Medal in the sport. She achieved this feat--with the help of coach Jason Crutchfield (Brian Tyree Henry)--only to find that her victory at the Summer Games came with relatively little fanfare and no endorsement deals. So much for the hope that the historic accomplishment would be a ticket out of socioeconomic purgatory for Shields and her family. It seemed like yet another setback in a cycle of adversity throughout Shields’ life but she persevered, going on to win her second Gold Medal at the next Olympics and becoming a champion for gender equality and equitable pay for women in sports. Shields has served as a source of inspiration for woman athletes worldwide--as well as to the community of... Read More