Why Bother Productions

. Film and Video Editing

narrative

documentary

motion graphics

My new short film project, Immersion. Find out all about it at www.immersionfilm.com

Richard Levien has a PhD in theoretical physics from Princeton University, but has found his real passion in film. As a freelance film editor, he co-edited the feature documentary D Tour, which won the Golden Gate award for Best Bay Area documentary at the 2009 San Francisco International Film Festival, and appeared on the PBS series Independent Lens in Fall 2009. He edited the short film Remigration (directed by Barry Jenkins, "Medicine for Melancholy") which premiered at the South by Southwest Film Festival and appeared in the ITVS web series "Future States" in 2011, and edited and did motion graphics for the short film "On the Assassination of the President" which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2008. He also edited the cult internet hit Store Wars, which was seen by 5.5 million people in the first 6 weeks of its release.

Levien's first film as a director is Immersion (2009), a short film about a ten-year-old immigrant from Mexico who speaks no English, and struggles to fit in at his new school in the U.S. "Immersion" won the "No Violence" award at the Ann Arbor film festival, and the Golden Gate award for Best Bay Area short film at the San Francisco International Film Festival. It has also screened or will screen at the Slamdance, Aspen Shortsfest, Palm Springs International Shortfest, Seattle International, Cinequest, New Zealand International, Media that Matters, LA Shorts Fest, Sarasota, Chicago International Children's, Arizona International, Cucalorus, Mill Valley, South Alabama, Mendocino, San Joaquin, Bodega Bay, Bernal Heights Outdoor Cinema, Milwaukee Children's, Seattle Children's, San Francisco Latino, ReFrame Peterborough International, REDCAT International Children's, and Brussels International Independent Film Festivals.

In 2009 Levien won a $35,000 San Francisco Film Society/Kenneth Rainin Foundation Filmmaking Grant, the first in a cycle of grants that will infuse $3 million dollars into narrative feature filmmaking in the Bay Area in the next five years. Levien won for screenwriting and script development of "La Migra", the story of an 11-year-old girl whose mother has been taken away by U.S. immigration police. He is working with author Malin Alegria on this project.

Levien was born in Auckland, New Zealand in 1968. He enjoys a good cup of tea and follows the (mostly ill) fate of the New Zealand cricket team. He is one of the few New Zealanders who played no part whatsoever in the making of the Lord of the Rings film trilogy.

Store Wars would never have been what it was without Richard's hard work.
- Louis Fox, director, Store Wars

As a former physicist Richard brings to any project an uncanny skill for detail and tenacity. Equal to having an excellent mind he has a delightful personality and is easy to work with.
- William Farley, director, Darryl Henriques Is In Show Business and Arianna's Journey

Richard's persistence and willingness to go beyond what's asked of him make him a very professional and endearing person.
- John Givens, director, Working Title

For Levien's resume and more contact information, click here.

(510) 610 2900 . richard.levien@gmail.com

	narrative
	documentary
	motion graphics
	My new short film project, Immersion. Find out all about it at www.immersionfilm.com
	Richard Levien has a PhD in theoretical physics from Princeton University, but has found his real passion in film. As a freelance film editor, he co-edited the feature documentary D Tour, which won the Golden Gate award for Best Bay Area documentary at the 2009 San Francisco International Film Festival, and appeared on the PBS series Independent Lens in Fall 2009. He edited the short film Remigration (directed by Barry Jenkins, "Medicine for Melancholy") which premiered at the South by Southwest Film Festival and appeared in the ITVS web series "Future States" in 2011, and edited and did motion graphics for the short film "On the Assassination of the President" which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2008. He also edited the cult internet hit Store Wars, which was seen by 5.5 million people in the first 6 weeks of its release. Levien's first film as a director is Immersion (2009), a short film about a ten-year-old immigrant from Mexico who speaks no English, and struggles to fit in at his new school in the U.S. "Immersion" won the "No Violence" award at the Ann Arbor film festival, and the Golden Gate award for Best Bay Area short film at the San Francisco International Film Festival. It has also screened or will screen at the Slamdance, Aspen Shortsfest, Palm Springs International Shortfest, Seattle International, Cinequest, New Zealand International, Media that Matters, LA Shorts Fest, Sarasota, Chicago International Children's, Arizona International, Cucalorus, Mill Valley, South Alabama, Mendocino, San Joaquin, Bodega Bay, Bernal Heights Outdoor Cinema, Milwaukee Children's, Seattle Children's, San Francisco Latino, ReFrame Peterborough International, REDCAT International Children's, and Brussels International Independent Film Festivals. In 2009 Levien won a $35,000 San Francisco Film Society/Kenneth Rainin Foundation Filmmaking Grant, the first in a cycle of grants that will infuse $3 million dollars into narrative feature filmmaking in the Bay Area in the next five years. Levien won for screenwriting and script development of "La Migra", the story of an 11-year-old girl whose mother has been taken away by U.S. immigration police. He is working with author Malin Alegria on this project. Levien was born in Auckland, New Zealand in 1968. He enjoys a good cup of tea and follows the (mostly ill) fate of the New Zealand cricket team. He is one of the few New Zealanders who played no part whatsoever in the making of the Lord of the Rings film trilogy. Store Wars would never have been what it was without Richard's hard work. - Louis Fox, director, Store Wars As a former physicist Richard brings to any project an uncanny skill for detail and tenacity. Equal to having an excellent mind he has a delightful personality and is easy to work with. - William Farley, director, Darryl Henriques Is In Show Business and Arianna's Journey Richard's persistence and willingness to go beyond what's asked of him make him a very professional and endearing person. - John Givens, director, Working Title For Levien's resume and more contact information, click here.