These life-affirming biopics will inform and inspire through narratives of excellence and achievement from across the globe. The shorts will emphasize the meaning and importance of innovative thinking and commitment to resilient practice. The documentary investigates human narrative through the lens of brilliant lives, offering a path for viewers, especially the youth, to follow and learn from.

Explore Their Stories has evaluated the scope of the project and established content and selection criterion and priorities on which to base the interviews. The team at Explore Their Stories researched the first batch of 7-9 characters to be covered, and have established a plan, with key connections to lay out visual content and interviews with the candidates, along with those of their contemporaries, examination of studio practices, site visits and key elements of life that inform their personalities and influence their practice. The team at Explore Their Stories will create a filming schedule and travel arrangements.

This will be an ongoing project with production of shorts and a feature length documentary to evolve out of this research and development. We are in development and pre- production since August 2-16

Phase One: Interviews with seven - nine key characters (Two - three sets of interviews at various locations)

• First set will be in the artist homes, studios, social and work environments of the characters across cultures and geographic regions.
• Second set will cover their activities and interests outside of their art practice, along with characters that are major influences on their personalities and development of their skills.

Phase Two: Interviews with contemporaries, key family members, collections and contacts

• Footage of environments, activities, related museums, collections and/or individuals.
• Interviews with community members, contemporaries in practice, supporters and related institutions.

Explore Their Stories will edit footage and photographs from both phases of production. The team will identify connections and establish agreements to provide additional elements such as: maps, logos, sponsor recognition, music, and graphics. Footage and additional elements will reflect the nature and culture of each character’s environment of practice and the culture that fosters their studio productions.

After internal revisions of the first cut, a final cut will be made considering additional feedback within the scope of the documentary’s core concept.

After the final cut is complete and signed-off the first short will be released by end of 2017. The trailer for the overarching project will be released by end of February 2017. The feature length documentary is in the pre production/ development phase.