Director producer
Resume:
Sherman Oaks, CA *****
***********@*****.***
COMPANY
Vertical Ascent is a small company with a wide footprint in entertainment. From their groundbreaking work with iN DEMAND on iNDEEP, a 14 part series in 3D to reality shows like Pirate Hunters for SPIKE TV as well as award-winning docudramas like The Crash of Flight 191 for the History Channel and A&E Biographies on everyone from John Travolta to Brad Pitt, Richard Gere and Bruce Willis to LL Cool J. Founded by award-winning filmmaker, documentarian, and music video director Adam Friedman, Vertical Ascent is a full service, integrated production company, overseeing original content from conception through to development, production, post-production, and final delivery. In its first two years of operation, Vertical Ascent has produced over 20 hours of programming that includes everything from the last launch of the Space Shuttle Atlantis to the Broadway adaptation of SPIDER-MAN in 3D, and were even given unprecedented access to shoot SEAL Team Six by the U.S. Navy. Vertical Ascent continues to break new ground, whether in 2D, or with its development of a high-definition- high-resolution, lower cost 3D system called the 3D VPA (Vast Production Array). Vertical Ascent and Adam Friedman have won two Emmy Awards and have been nominated for numerous others, as well as having won ten CINE Golden Eagle Awards, four Gold Medals at the New York Film Festival, seven TELLY Awards, as well as the CableACE Award for Best Documentary Series (Epic Biography). Adam and Vertical Ascent have just finished work on a feature-length documentary called Shout Gladi Gladi on African healthcare narrated by Meryl Streep, and are currently developing a 4K scripted series for iN DEMAND TV.
Currently they are shooting “THE WATCH” a pilot for AMC on the Chicago Police Department. 11530 Doña Teresa Drive
Studio City, CA 91604
***********@*****.***
Adam Friedman
Vertical Ascent Founder Adam Friedman brings over 22 years of entertainment industry experience to the company. An award-winning filmmaker and television producer, Adam began his career directing a documentary titled Wolves in Winter, which went on to receive two Emmy nominations. Adam’s next project Color Me Blue, about the NYPD and it’s many heroes, won him his first Emmy.
Adam then moved on to shooting music videos, where he found success with his video for The Rolling Stones
“Emotional Rescue,” which was part of the Whitney Museum Biennial celebration, and his video for the rap group Whodini, “Big Mouth,” is part of the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art. Adam is also a renowned director of feature films and his debut, “Medium Straight,” was shown in Critics Week at the Cannes International Film Festival, with Variety magazine citing Adam as a “name to watch.” “Medium Straight” also won Best Picture at the Seattle Film Festival, and won Adam Best Director at the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival. Of his horror film “To Sleep with a Vampire”, legendary auteur/impresario Roger Corman said,
“Adam Friedman is an artist. He does an incredible job of bringing this film to life.” Adam has also produced and directed a multitude of biographies for A&E, including figures as diverse as Kevin Costner, Dolly Parton, and LL Cool J. Adam’s biography on John Travolta tripled A&E’s viewership and went on to receive Emmy nominations for Best Non-Fiction Series as well as Best Director. With Vertical Ascent, Adam produced and directed the documentary series iNDEEP for iN Demand, which looks at such diverse subjects as the Kentucky Derby, the final launch of the Space Shuttle Atlantis, and embedded Spec Ops forces, including SEAL Team Six.
Adam has just finished producing and directing the documentary Shout Gladi Gladi on African healthcare and Ebola, narrated by Meryl Streep. It was on the set of the film where Malawi’s paramilitary police stopped Adam and his wife at gunpoint and as Adam said, “Getting the shot takes on a whole new meaning.” 11530 Doña Teresa Drive
Studio City, CA 91604
***********@*****.***
Television
TIME WARNER
VIEWTOPIA
20 episodes
in DEMAND TV
iNDEEP 3D
17 x 30 episodes
DAMON RUNYON PSA
30-second Cancer Research Spot
DISCOVERY CHANNEL
Showdown: Air Combat (10 Episodes)
Inside the CIA (Pilot)
TRU
Tru Unauthorized (Pilot 13x60)
Repo The Rich (Pilot)
RIVE GAUCHE/BSKYB
The Cut (13 Episodes)
A&E BIOGRAPHY
Executive Producer/Director
John Travolta – Emmy-nominated
Kevin Costner - CINE Golden Eagle Award
Richard Gere - CINE Golden Eagle Award
Mario Andretti – TELLY Award
Bruce Willis - CINE Golden Eagle Award
Val Kilmer - CINE Golden Eagle Award
Sylvester Stallone
Paula Abdul
Tommy Lee
The Rock
HISTORY CHANNEL
Producer/Director
The Crash of Flight 191
The Crash of Flight 007
The Crash of Pan Am 103
Mr. Know It All (Pilot)
FOX TELEVISION
Producer/Director
When Good Pets Go Bad – Nash Entertainment
The Secret of Street Magic Revealed – Noxy Ent.
SPIKE TV
USN PIRATE HUNTERS
1 Hour Special
VERSUS
25 Worst Outdoor Disasters (5 Episodes)
25 Best Outdoor Movies
MOJO
Sea Quest (Pilot)
Beer Nutz (8 Episodes)
Experience (25 Episodes)
A&E EPIC BIOGRAPHY
Producer/Director
Michelangelo
Ben Franklin
Cleopatra
Thomas Jefferson
Pocahontas
Ponce de Leon
Susan B. Anthony
Andrew Jackson
Attila the Hun
George Washington
A&E NETWORK/U.S.NEWS
Producer/Director
Air Combat (26 Hours)
Masters of War (13 Hours)
HBO
Producer/Writer/Director
Unreal – pilot documentary on reality TV
Inside Out (3 Episodes)
VH1
Producer/Writer/Director
It’s Your Thing (Pilot)
ABC/DISNEY
Producer/Director
Color Me Blue – Emmy Award Winner
Blue Angels 50th Anniversary
World’s Deadliest Sea Creatures
11530 Doña Teresa Drive
Studio City, CA 91604
***********@*****.***
On Demand Television
Utilizing experience, incredible access, and its patent-pending 3D-VPA (Vast Production Array) system, Vertical Ascent has completed work on its 2nd amazing season of immersive and groundbreaking 3D programming, iN DEEP, produced for Comcast & iN DEMAND.
• RHYTHMIC GYMNASTICS
A unique look at the U.S. champions as they perform their mesmerizing sport.
• CHINESE LION DANCING
The majesty and Technicolor spectacle of this ancient Chinese art form.
• PARKOUR
Unprecedented and dizzying athletes and their gravity-defying sport.
• BMX PROS TRICK TEAM
The X-Gamers give us the ultimate BMX experience.
• CIRQUE SCHOOL
The magic and skill that goes into becoming a big top performer.
• TELLURIDE
A portrait of skiers and snowboarders on the slopes of this famous town.
• MARDI GRAS
The kaleidoscope of color and humanity during the most famous street party.
• DERBY DIARIES
Vertical Ascent was granted behind-the-scenes access to the trainers, Churchill Downs, and the thoroughbred horses who make this the "sport of kings."
• NASA: THE LAST LAUNCH
The only 3D special to bring the incredible story of the Atlantis's final mission and the people behind this historic event.
• SPECIAL OPS
Rare and unprecedented access to the men of the nation's most elite fighting force as they go through the maneuvers and training that make them so deadly.
• BROADWAY 3D
From Anything Goes to SPIDER-MAN, Phantom of the Opera to Avenue Q, Vertical Ascent has incredible access to the top shows of the great white way.
• USC: MARCHING BAND
A unique profile of college football's number one marching band, the Trojan Marching Band and its vociferous and charismatic director, Dr. Art Bartner.
• ICE SKATING 3D
Two-time Olympic Gold Medalist Oksana Grishuk and the future stars of the rink show us the artistry and athleticism of their sport.
11530 Doña Teresa Drive
Studio City, CA 91604
***********@*****.***
Awards & Nominations
11530 Doña Teresa Drive
Studio City, CA 91604
***********@*****.***
Awards & Nominations
Contact this candidate