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WHAT I DO

Hello! I’m Joe Singer. I produce, direct, write, edit, and animate narrative and documentary features and shorts. I produce work independently here at Happy Jak Films, drawing on my film and animation contacts when needed, and also collaborate with well-established film teams and studios on their projects. I offer my services as an award-winning film professional (from writer and producer to editor and animator), whose innovative work with ProPublica, Disney, 40 Acres and a Mule, Human Rights Watch and others has sparked sociopolitical change as well as creative innovation.

SERVICES

This site is currently under construction. PLEASE stay-tuned, as I will be updating my “Services” section in the very near future. I look forward to working together soon!

Story Consulting

Production

Post-Production

FILM WORK

Dear Joe:
We’ve never met, though Nick has spoken about you. When a filmmaker shows a work-in-progress, the notes you gave is just what that filmmaker yearns to get back: overall positive (yes of course we yearn for that) but more than that: insightful, responsive, with really thought-provoking suggestions. Your notes are connected to what you actually saw, in other words, to the film that we’re trying to help get to emerge — that ‘s the hardest, rarest part in feedback, to connect to that thread of filmmakerly [sic] intentions.

Can’t thank you enough.

Tom Lennon
Director “Knife Skills”

FEATURES

I’m currently working on my 14th feature film project, “Bloodguilt,” with ProPublica and Retro Report. Some other recent work is available for viewing now.

“Unprotected”

Edited the Edward R. Murrow award-winning feature documentary “Unprotected,” which aired on the BBC and premiered at the Double Exposure Film Festival in Washington D.C. “Unprotected” is ProPublica’s first full-length feature. The film, distributed for free online, was key to bringing this story to the right audiences in Liberia, where literacy rates are low, and led to swift, meaningful impact on the ground.

“Knife Skills”

Edited Oscar-nominated documentary “Knife Skills” (40 minutes). Worked closely with Academy Award-winning director Thomas Lennon and producer Nick August-Perna to structure and edit the film. “Knife Skills” follows the hectic launch of Edwins restaurant in Cleveland. It asks (and answers) the questions: What does it take to build a world-class French restaurant? And what if the staff is almost entirely men and women just out of prison?

“Queen of New York”
Now Playing (the film festival circuit) + Coming to Amazon Prime Video soon!

Provided story structure and final edits for feature documentary “Queen of New York,” the uplifting story of drag queen and NY City Council hopeful, Marti Gould Cummings, a fan favorite at its New Fest 2023 premiere.
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“Silver Dollar Road”
Now Playing on Amazon Prime Video!

I was one of the original producers and the lead editor on this feature project. Unfortunately, filming had to stop during the Pandemic. And the team moved on to other projects. Not wanting this important film to languish, we decided to enlist the help of Raoul Peck, who finished filming and editing. I remained on the project as a story and editorial consultant.
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“Heterosexuals”
Now Playing on Netflix and/or Fandango At Home!

Edited and supervised post-production on “Heterosexuals,” a story that follows three couples as they navigate romance in the Big Apple. From romantic disaster and the boundaries of friendship, to first dates, matchmakers, and the trials of commitment, storylines intersect in a comedic climax that will make anyone in a relationship squirm in their seat. Starring Natasha Lyonne.
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I was simply blown away by Joe Singer’s artistry; please let him know this.

Dr. Sherman James

SHORTS

Choosing the best vehicle for your story ideas can be one of the hardest things to do and this is where my deep background in all manner of storytelling can be useful to clients and collaborators, exploring and developing projects in film and journalism. Here are just a few examples.

“Rescuing Her Father”

Edited and co-produced (with Katie Campbell) the Emmy-winning short documentary “Rescuing Her Father from an Assisted Living Facility in the Coronavirus Epicenter,” a compelling pandemic story that takes place in Queens but could (and did) happen anywhere. (This is Pro Publica’s first solo Emmy Award.) The documentary, which was produced for ProPublica and Frontline/PBS, prompted New York Attorney General Letitia James to look into allegations that the Queens adult care facility failed to protect residents from the coronavirus and misled families about its spread.

“John Henryism Explained”

I worked in collaboration with Nadia Sussman, Nina Martin and Akilah Johnson on a collection of stories that won a number of awards, including the National Magazine Award (ASME). The ASME Award was in the Coverage of Race in America category for “How COVID-19 Hollowed Out a Generation of Young Black Men” and “Black Men Have the Shortest Lifespans of Any Americans. This Theory Helps Explain Why.” I co-produced, directed, and animated a story based on an audio-only interview with Dr. Sherman James for this project. The animation also won a National Press Photographer’s Association’s Best of Photojournalism award: Online Video Storytelling – Race and Identity in America – Large and Small Team First Place.

“Adrift”

Edited the short documentary “Adrift,” part of Pro Publica’s “Disaster in the Pacific” investigation on the staggering leadership failures that led to deadly accidents in the Navy and Marines, which won the 2020 Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting.

“Secret IRS Files”

I co-produced, edited, designed, and animated this episode of the Emmy-nominated series on how the wealthy avoid income tax.

“The Night Doctrine”

Many years ago, ProPublica Managing Editor, Tracy Weber, talked to me about making an animated film about an Afghan journalist who embarks on a journey to find out who murdered her family 30 years ago. The film had to be animated because of security concerns. I wrote a script, storyboarded the film, and then made an animatic, on which the finished product is based. There were many delays in production (due to the sensitive nature of the subject matter) and it took three years to complete the 17 min. animated film. I moved onto other projects in the meantime and served as a story consultant for colleague Mauricio Rodrigues Pons, who did an incredible job finishing the film. “The Night Doctrine” premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2023.

“Replacement Parts: Organs on Demand | Moving Upstream”

I was the Senior Editor on “Moving Upstream,” a weekly documentary news series, featuring Jason Bellini of The Wall Street Journal. “Organs on Demand” is an inside look at the organ-donor matching problem in America, and how researchers are working to solve it. This episode set the style for the rest of the series.

“Stereopsis” trailer

Emmy-nominated director Joe Singer presents the story of three-year-old Jake, kidnapped by his grandparents and great aunt, who don’t believe that he is safe in his father’s care. Five years pass and Jake wants to know why his father has not returned for him. Characters in an old stereoscope occupy his world, offering friendship and advice in his search for his father. Starring Broadway veterans Larry Pine (“The Ice Storm” & “Dead Man Walking”) and Angela Pietropinto (“Welcome to the Dollhouse” & “Goodfellas”).

“Dear Obama”

Edited and co-wrote 2011 two-time Webby award winner “Dear Obama: A Message from Victims of the LRA.” “Dear Obama” is a short documentary on the abduction of child recruits in central Africa, produced by Human Rights Watch with the Pulitzer Center and made specifically for President Obama.

About ME

Joe Singer is a film producer, writer, director, editor and animator

His work with ProPublica, Human Rights Watch, ABC, NBC, PBS, Disney and others has earned Emmy, Murrow, Pulitzer, Peabody, Malofiej, Webby, and National Magazine awards as well as an Oscar nomination. Singer is one of the founding members of ProPublica’s documentary films department (he is currently a consultant for ProPublica, in addition to other independent film work). He edited and produced (with Katie Campbell) the Emmy award-winner “Rescuing her Father” (ProPublica/Frontline) and edited ProPublica’s first feature, “Unprotected,” which won an Edward R. Murrow award and aired on the BBC. Prior to that, Singer edited the Academy-award-nominated documentary “Knife Skills and directed the Emmy-nominated 1950s parody, “HowThings Werk” (Disney/ABC). Singer has an MFA in film production from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts and a BA in Design/Media Arts from the University of California, Los Angeles.

Find Out More

SHALL WE GET THE
BALL ROLLING?

Whether you’re curious about features, shorts, or
animation–or narrative or documentary film–
I’m here to answer any questions.

Let’s Talk Now