THE FILMMAKERS of SHAKESPEARE BEHIND BARS

JILANN SPITZMILLER and HANK ROGERSON have been making films together for 30 years, since they met at Dartmouth College. Their passion is character-driven, documentary verite filmmaking that tracks the profound transformation of people over time. SHAKESPEARE BEHIND BARS premiered in competition at the Sundance Film Festival and has won many awards including Audience Award, Best of Show, and many Best Documentary Awards. Jilann and Hank’s award-winning work has also debuted festivals such as SXSW, Edinburgh and Santa Barbara International Film Festival, and has been broadcast around the world. They are three time recipients of ITVS funding, two time recipients of Sundance Institute funding, and have been Sundance Documentary Lab fellows. Other productions include HOMELAND which aired on National PBS and was a part of ITVS’ global TRUE STORIES, and STILL DREAMING, which is currently airing on PBS. Jilann also co-directed MEOW WOLF: ORIGIN STORY, which played in 600+ theaters, on iTunes, and on airlines including Delta, American, Lufthansa and Singapore.

NEW PROJECTS from HANK and JILANN

Jilann and Hank currently are developing a sequel to SHAKESPEARE BEHIND BARS, which will be shot in early 2021 and will follow the inmates of the first film in the next chapter of their lives. Big G is up for parole. Sammie is out and making a new life. Hal is forging a path to forgiveness within his family. There are many stories that continue to spiral deeper into the human condition and shine a light into past darkness. KEEP UP TO DATE with the progress of the sequel HERE.

Philomath Films continues to also make nonfiction content for companies and causes such as MEOW WOLF, PROJECT ME, LITTLEGLOBE, FILM NEST and many more. Jilann frequently freelances as a Director/DP/Editor, and Hank as a Producer/Director/Writer/Actor.

WORKSHOPS AND CONSULTING

Jilann and Hank believe in sharing the hard-won knowledge they’ve gathered from being in this quixotic industry for 30 years. They have a deep mastery of nonfiction storytelling and a vast trove of producing knowledge that is up to the minute with current trends. They have both taught documentary classes and workshops for the last 20 years at places such as AFIDOCS, Berkeley School of Journalism, NALIP Producer’s Conference, DOC CAMP, Santa Fe University of Art & Design, SFCC and many more. If you need help with your own project, don’t hesitate to reach out for a consultation.