Menasheh Fogel – Filmmaker
Issues I depict
As a documentary filmmaker, I strive to give voice to those who have not been heard before. I focus on personal and intimate stories of the individuals who appear on the screen. I am compelled by history, not so much in its retelling, but rather how it impacts people living today. The issues I deal with range from social justice, fairness, religion and mental health, taking these abstract concepts and illustrating through the lives people lead. Most importantly, I like documentary films to take the viewer to a world they have not seen before, but nevertheless a world that exists somewhere on Earth.
Aesthetic I strive for
I don’t see myself as a purist, especially considering that much of documentary filmmaking is beyond the control of the maker. Rather, I see filmmaking as a set of decisions both grand— strategy, story, location— and miniscule, like camera stabilization in post, color correction and background noise removal. I like to think of this decision-making as being informed by a set of priorities and aspirations, not being afraid to compromise on one aspect for the benefit of another.
Story comes first and foremost: what is the narrative arc and what are the changes the protagonists go through? After story, comes developing cinematic dynamic that unfolds in front of the camera, creating as much of an effect of a fly on the wall as possible. However, should the story not come across through these situations, I’m not afraid to add some narration or interviews to bring the audience forward in understanding. After dynamic, then I look for quiet, natural light, shooting outdoors and depicting subjects in space through compelling composition.
My Professional Background
I hold a BA in Film Studies from the University of Utah and a MS in Industrial Engineering from UC Berkeley. My career spans three main poles: creativity, leadership and technical skill. Yet I always had a passion for the all-encompassing creativity of film.
Even while building a career as an IT Executive, I developed diverse creative projects, from short story writing, to mapping the European Continental Divide at a topographical level (see continental-divide.eu), to applying clawhammer banjo to Jewish liturgical music (see jewishbanjo.org) and to sponsoring 24 Stolpersteins for relatives lost in the Holocaust throughout Amsterdam.
Just as my filmmaking provides competitive advantage to my work as a software developer and then later leader, my skills in IT provide a unique skillset to my filmmaking. The competencies of strategy, structured work, technical learning, team motivation, digital enablement, impact generation, distinguished communication, and creating something from nothing all easily transfer to the task of creating films.
Perhaps my superpower, however, is that as a multipotentialite: I’m good at a great many things and can easily fill any gaps in my skills. This allows me to delve deeply into a new topic, following wherever my current interests lead, but also to work on the wildly diverse field of making a film, from concept to idea, production to post, from story to cut.
I’m always open for new collaborations and new ideas. Feel free to reach out!
* Photo of Menasheh Fogel by Ana Rodriguez Schlittgen