Let the Church Say Amen (2004)
SPECIAL SCREENING
SUNDAY, JUNE 14, 2015 BETWEEN 2-4PM
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION
ANACOSTIA COMMUNITY MUSEUM
1901 Fort Place SE
Washington, DC 20020-3230
Strictly Ballet (2015)
DOCUMENTARY SERIES
Completed in 2015, David Petersen directed the eight-part documentary series, sponsored by Teen Vogue and that aired on the Condé Nast Entertainment network in June. The critically acclaimed series follows the challenges and aspirations of six young dancers at Miami City Ballet School. Following the success of the first series about the School of American Ballet in New York City which David story-produced and edited, this series focuses on the American immigrant experience as it relates to ballet. Since the school makes a special effort to recruit abroad, the series tracks not only the aspirations of these talented young dancers, but also the dreams that many immigrants share who hope to make it in America.
Billy and Ray
Dramatic Feature IN PROGRESS
After further refining the script with New Yorker writer Alex Kotlowitz last year, David Petersen and Beaufort 9 Films have launched the feature length dramatic film into the casting phase with producers Mike Ryan (Junebug), Amy Hobby (Secretary), and Dan Satorius (12:30). Casting Director Susan Shopmaker will cast the film, slated to go into production in the summer 2016. Based on a fascinating true story first published in The New Yorker about two mid-western men who lived unassuming lives, Billy Kirkpatrick and Ray Bowman kept an extraordinary secret: they quietly and politely robbed banks for 15 years, becoming the best in American history, but remain unknown today because at the time they were caught the Monica Lewinsky scandal broke.
Lift (2014)
DOCUMENTARY IN PROGRESS
Currently in production, the feature length documentary continues shooting through 2016, with editing and completion expected that year. Petersen was awarded a MacDowell fellowship in the summer 2014 to edit the project. Lift tracks the journey of four kids (age 8 –16) who are either homeless or come from underprivileged background as they learn to become professional ballet dancers at the New York Theater Ballet in New York City. As they struggle against the odds of class and race among the arts, the film reveals the astonishing talent and drive of these kids and their families to make a better life for themselves through the expression of dance.
David Petersen Awarded MacDowell Artist Fellowship Summer 2014.
In July - August 2014, Petersen received an individual artist fellowship to edit his feature length documentary Lift, as well as refine the script and begin casting on the dramatic feature film Billy & Ray.