Editor Zach Kashkett of bicoastal Union caps a string of notable longform projects with his directorial debut, THE MAD WRITER, a 70-minute documentary feature about rising hip-hop phenom L’Orange (given name Austin Hart) that had its premiere January 20 at Slamdance Film Festival 2023. A flurry of coverage and acclaim has followed with Film Threat saying, “The Mad Writer will steel toe you in the heartstrings. It is the Brian’s Song of hip hop.” Michael Talbot-Haynes goes on to say, “If cynicism could be compressed into a diamond, it would glitter as The Mad Writer does. L’Orange’s instant contrariness makes the sympathy Kashkett develops for him all the more impressive.”
“I have grown so much here at Union,” said Kashkett, “and to have this family produce my first feature film is beyond gratifying. It speaks to the future of our work together, and my output as a filmmaker.”