rachel morrison – ALLIANCE OF WOMEN FILM JOURNALISTS

SPOTLIGHT February 2025: Rachel Morrison, Director, THE FIRE INSIDE

January 30, 2025January 30, 2025 Leslie Combemale american sociey of cinematographers, asc, Cameraperson, cinematographer, dee rees, mudbound, oscars, rachel morrison, ryan coogler, the fire inside, women cinematographers. female directors

Cinematographer/director Rachel Morrison has the distinction of being the first female DP to be both nominated for an Academy Award, for the 2012 Dee Rees drama Mudbound, and lens a Marvel feature film, with 2018’s Black Panther. As an Oscar nominee, she broke a 90-year male monopoly on the category. Although she is a trailblazer and an outspoken advocate for women in film, she has said she wishes nothing better than for the screen industries to get beyond gender, and for women to be known simply for their work. Only through talented women like Rachel Morrison getting hired and recognized will that be achieved. When she was inducted as a member of the American Society of Cinematographers, only 18 out of the 390 members were women.

Reviews

THE FIRE INSIDE – Review by Diane Carson

December 30, 2024December 31, 2024 Diane Carson Barry Jenkins, boxing, Brian Tyree Henry, Claressa Shields, Jason Crutchfield, Jazmin Headley, Olympics gold, rachel morrison, ryan destiny, the fire inside

Some rare, remarkable real-life stories deserve cinematic dramatization. In that esteemed group is first-time director Rachel Morrison’s The Fire Inside. Written and co-produced by the award-winning Barry Jenkins (Moonlight 2016, If Beale Street Could Talk 2018), the inspirational story captures the talent and grit of American boxer Claressa “T-Rex” Shields as she trains for the 2012 London Olympics.

Movie of the Week

MOVIE OF THE WEEK December 20, 2024: THE FIRE INSIDE

December 15, 2024December 15, 2024 Jennifer Merin Barry Jenkins, betsy bozdech, boxing, Brian Tyree Henry, Cate Marquis, Claressa Shields, Jason Crutchfield, Jazmin Headley, jennifer merin, leslie combemale, liz whittemore, loren king, motw, Movie of the Week, nell minow, Olympics gold, rachel morrison, ryan destiny, sherin nicole, the fire inside

There’s nothing quite like a sports underdog movie to stir the emotions — even if you know where it’s ultimately headed, when it’s done right, there’s something about watching a “triumph against the odds” drama that makes you want to stand up and cheer, especially when it’s based on a true story. And while there are plenty of boxing films on that list, virtually none have told a story like Claressa Shields’. Rachel Morrison more than fills that gap with the stirring The Fire Inside.

Reviews

THE FIRE INSIDE – Review by Loren King

December 10, 2024December 14, 2024 Loren King Barry Jenkins, boxing, Brian Tyree Henry, Claressa Shields, Jason Crutchfield, Jazmin Headley, Olympics gold, rachel morrison, ryan destiny, the fire inside

Bryan Tyree Henry makes everything he is in better. He is the expansive soul of The Fire Inside, the feature directorial debut of notable cinematographer Rachel Morrison, who shot Mudbound and Black Panther. Her film, written by Barry Jenkins, is the true story of American boxing champion Claressa “T-Rex” Shields (played by Ryan Destiny) that will be a revelation for anyone who doesn’t follow the sport. Morrison captures the decay and poverty in Flint, Michigan, home to Henry’s boxer-turned-coach Jason Crutchfield and the surly, determined kid who shows up at his grungy gym.

News

WEEK IN WOMEN: Rachel Morrison’s THE FIRE INSIDE in theaters for Christmas – Brandy McDonnell reports

December 5, 2024December 5, 2024 Brandy McDonnell biopic, Brian Tyree Henry, clarissa shields, rachel morrison, the week in women, twiw, tyan destiny

Acclaimed and Oscar-nominated cinematographer Rachel Morrison‘s directorial debut, the inspirational fact-based sports drama, The Fire Inside, is scheduled to open in theaters on Christmas. The movie tells the the inspirational true story of Claressa Shields (played by Ryan Destiny), arguably the greatest female boxer of all time. A high school junior from Flint, Michigan, Claressa – aided by her tough-love coach, Jason Crutchfield (played by Oscar-nominated actor Brian Tyree Henry) – pushes past all limitations to become the first American woman to win an Olympic gold medal in boxing.

Festivals

TIFF 2024: Female Filmmaker Preview – Rachel West reports

August 21, 2024August 21, 2024 Rachel West angelina jolie, Coralie Fargeat, elizabeth lo, Female Filmmaker, gia coppola, Halina Reijn, Julie Delpy, Marielle Heller, mati diop, rachel morrison, Sydney Freeland, TIFF 2024

Of the 278 films playing at TIFF in 2024, according to our calculations, approximately 25% are directed or co-directed by women – a number down from the festival’s all-time high of 45% women-directed films in the pandemic-era 2020 online-only festival. Women-helmed films comprised 36% of the festival lineup in 2019 and 2023. Though TIFF may have to make leaps and bounds to reach gender parity, there are still a number of women-helmed films directed by cinematic stalwarts, up-and-comers, and award winners scheduled to hit the screen at the 2024 festival. With more than 65 films, series, and shorts directed by women, there are many opportunities to take in female-helmed films this festival, which runs September 5th through 15th.

News

WEEK IN WOMEN: Dee Rees’ MUDBOUND gets Criterion Blu-ray/DVD release – Brandy McDonnell reports

January 25, 2024January 26, 2024 Brandy McDonnell Carey Mulligan, criterion collection, dee rees, garrett hedlund, Jason Clarke, Jason Mitchell, Jonathan Banks, Mary J. Blige, mudbound, rachel morrison, rob morgan

Writer-director Dee Rees‘ groundbreaking 2017 Oscar-nominated drama Mudbound is getting a new Blu-ray and DVD release through The Criterion Collection. Although it didn’t win any Oscars, Mudbound achieved multiple breakthrough nominations for the 90th Academy Awards.

News

WEEK IN WOMEN: AFI’s 2022 Cinematography Intensive for Women – Brandy McDonnell reports

July 19, 2022July 24, 2022 Brandy McDonnell afi, Aja Pilapil, Allyson Hoover, Amber Steele, american film institute, Angelica Perez-Castro, Anjuli Arreola-Burl, Cinematography Intensive for Women, Demi Waldron, Guisel Contreras, Hannah Freeman, Leeann Leonard, Mimi Leder, Miriam Ouchi, Nicky Fuchs, Olga Wagner, Olivia Steede, Paula Huidobro, rachel morrison, Rebecca Richard, Sarah Crowley-Kelly, Stephen Lighthill, Susie Shircliff

Returning after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, the four-day Cinematography Intensive for Women program took place on the AFI Campus in Los Angeles from July 15 to 18. Designed for aspiring cinematographers, the goal of the program is to provide participants with a toolkit to secure on-set experience in the field and first-hand industry insights demonstrating the path to professional career success.

Commentaries Interviews News

Celebrating Women Cinematographers — Nikki Baughan reports

March 8, 2018October 1, 2018 Nikki Baughan 0 Comments camera women, rachel morrison, women cinematographers

Rachel Morrison made history this year by becoming the first woman to be nominated for the best cinematography Oscar, for

News SPOTLIGHT

SPOTLIGHT March 2018: Rachel Morrison, Cinematographer, Oscar Nominee for MUDBOUND

March 1, 2018June 19, 2019 Courtney Howard (archived contributor) 0 Comments american sociey of cinematographers, asc, Cameraperson, cinematographer, dee rees, mudbound, oscars, rachel morrison, women cinematographers

Bringing a moving image to life takes much more acquired technical skill. Capturing that collection of indelible images requires an understated ability to tap into the director’s vision and the actors’ emotions to produce breathtaking visual poetry. Cinematographer Rachel Morrison’s impressive work has long exhibited these traits.

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