Cynthia Wade
Encyclopedia
Cynthia Wade is an American
television and film director
, producer
and cinematographer
based in New York City
. She has directed documentaries on social issues including Shelter Dogs
in 2003 about animal welfare
and Freeheld
in 2007 about LGBT rights.
, the founder of Young & Rubicam
. She attended Smith College
where she received her Bachelor of arts
degree, and Stanford University
where she received a master's degree
in Documentary Film Production. In 1999 she married Matthew Syrett. She teaches film production and runs two production companies — Cynthia Wade Productions and Lieutenant Films. She lives in New York City with her husband and two daughters.
, a documentary about the animal welfare
system in the United States and the ethics
of animal euthanasia
. For this film she won the Grand Prize at the Director's View Film Festival, the Audience Award at the Newport International Film Festival
, the Best of the Fest award at the Northampton Film Festival and the Audience Award at the Orinda Film Festival. It was aired on television as part of the documentary series America Undercover
.
In 1999, Wade’s personal documentary Grist for the Mill aired on Cinemax. In 2007 she made Freeheld
, a documentary telling the story of terminally ill New Jersey
police officer Laurel Hester
. Hester came to public attention when she appealed to her local authorities to change the policy that prevented her female domestic partner from receiving pension benefits on Hester's death. While filming Freeheld, Wade spent time living with Hester and her partner Stacie Andree in New Jersey. Wade and producer Vanessa Roth
won the Academy Award for Best Documentary (Short Subject) at the 80th Academy Awards
in 2008. The film won 16 other awards including the Special Jury Prize in Short Filmmaking at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival
, a Special Jury Prize at the Seattle International Film Festival
, the Audience Award at the Boston Independent Film Festival, the Audience Award at L.A. Outfest.
In 2008 and 2009 Wade spent 14 months shooting the documentary Living the Legacy: The Untold Story of Milton Hershey School at Milton Hershey School
in Hershey, Pennsylvania
, one of several films she has made for schools and non profit organizations. It is to be shown on the Sundance Channel and the Independent Film Channel
. In January 2010, Wade’s documentary Born Sweet, about a Cambodian boy who is poisoned with arsenic, had its World Premiere at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival; the film was awarded Honorable Mention.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
television and film director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
, producer
Film producer
A film producer oversees and delivers a film project to all relevant parties while preserving the integrity, voice and vision of the film. They will also often take on some financial risk by using their own money, especially during the pre-production period, before a film is fully financed.The...
and cinematographer
Cinematographer
A cinematographer is one photographing with a motion picture camera . The title is generally equivalent to director of photography , used to designate a chief over the camera and lighting crews working on a film, responsible for achieving artistic and technical decisions related to the image...
based in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. She has directed documentaries on social issues including Shelter Dogs
Shelter Dogs
Shelter Dogs is a 2003 documentary film directed and produced by Cynthia Wade about animal welfare in the United States and the ethics of animal euthanasia.-Synopsis:...
in 2003 about animal welfare
Animal welfare
Animal welfare is the physical and psychological well-being of animals.The term animal welfare can also mean human concern for animal welfare or a position in a debate on animal ethics and animal rights...
and Freeheld
Freeheld
Freeheld is a 2007 documentary film directed by Cynthia Wade, and produced by Wade, Matthew Syrett and Vanessa Roth. It chronicles the story of Laurel Hester in her fight against the Ocean County, New Jersey Board of Chosen Freeholders to give her earned pension benefits to her partner, Stacie. On...
in 2007 about LGBT rights.
Background
Wade is the daughter of a computer systems architect and a psychiatric nurse, and the great-granddaughter of John Orr YoungJohn Orr Young
John Orr Young was an American advertiser who, with Raymond Rubicam, founded the Young and Rubicam advertising agency....
, the founder of Young & Rubicam
Young & Rubicam
Y&R is a marketing and communications company specializing in advertising, digital and social media, sales promotion, direct marketing and brand identity consulting.-History:...
. She attended Smith College
Smith College
Smith College is a private, independent women's liberal arts college located in Northampton, Massachusetts. It is the largest member of the Seven Sisters...
where she received her Bachelor of arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree, and Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
where she received a master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
in Documentary Film Production. In 1999 she married Matthew Syrett. She teaches film production and runs two production companies — Cynthia Wade Productions and Lieutenant Films. She lives in New York City with her husband and two daughters.
Work
In 2003, Wade directed and produced Shelter DogsShelter Dogs
Shelter Dogs is a 2003 documentary film directed and produced by Cynthia Wade about animal welfare in the United States and the ethics of animal euthanasia.-Synopsis:...
, a documentary about the animal welfare
Animal welfare
Animal welfare is the physical and psychological well-being of animals.The term animal welfare can also mean human concern for animal welfare or a position in a debate on animal ethics and animal rights...
system in the United States and the ethics
Ethics
Ethics, also known as moral philosophy, is a branch of philosophy that addresses questions about morality—that is, concepts such as good and evil, right and wrong, virtue and vice, justice and crime, etc.Major branches of ethics include:...
of animal euthanasia
Animal euthanasia
Animal euthanasia is the act of putting to death painlessly or allowing to die, as by withholding extreme medical measures, an animal suffering from an incurable, especially a painful, disease or condition. Euthanasia methods are designed to cause minimal pain and distress...
. For this film she won the Grand Prize at the Director's View Film Festival, the Audience Award at the Newport International Film Festival
Newport International Film Festival
Newport International Film Festival was an annual film festival in Newport, Rhode Island, established in 1998 .The Newport Film Festival was generally held the first week in June and featured various international films at several local cinemas...
, the Best of the Fest award at the Northampton Film Festival and the Audience Award at the Orinda Film Festival. It was aired on television as part of the documentary series America Undercover
America Undercover
America Undercover is a television series of documentaries that airs on the cable television network HBO. Within the series are several sub-series, such as "Autopsy", "Real Sex" and "Taxicab Confessions". The series began in 1983 and, after a brief time being broadcast weekly in 2001, is now...
.
In 1999, Wade’s personal documentary Grist for the Mill aired on Cinemax. In 2007 she made Freeheld
Freeheld
Freeheld is a 2007 documentary film directed by Cynthia Wade, and produced by Wade, Matthew Syrett and Vanessa Roth. It chronicles the story of Laurel Hester in her fight against the Ocean County, New Jersey Board of Chosen Freeholders to give her earned pension benefits to her partner, Stacie. On...
, a documentary telling the story of terminally ill New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
police officer Laurel Hester
Laurel Hester
Lt. Laurel Hester was a New Jersey police officer who rose to national attention with her deathbed appeal for the extension of pension benefits to domestic partners....
. Hester came to public attention when she appealed to her local authorities to change the policy that prevented her female domestic partner from receiving pension benefits on Hester's death. While filming Freeheld, Wade spent time living with Hester and her partner Stacie Andree in New Jersey. Wade and producer Vanessa Roth
Vanessa Roth
Vanessa Roth is an American filmmaker and the daughter of award-winning screenwriter Eric Roth. For over a decade, Vanessa has been making pivotal documentaries on important social issues....
won the Academy Award for Best Documentary (Short Subject) at the 80th Academy Awards
80th Academy Awards
The 80th Academy Awards ceremony honored the best films in 2007 and was broadcast from the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, California on ABC beginning at 5:30 p.m. PST/8:30 p.m. EST, February 24, 2008 . During the ceremony, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences presented Academy Awards in 24...
in 2008. The film won 16 other awards including the Special Jury Prize in Short Filmmaking at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival
2007 Sundance Film Festival
The 2007 Sundance Film Festival ran from January 18 until January 28, 2007 in Park City, Utah with screenings in Salt Lake City, Utah and Ogden, Utah. It was the 23-rd iteration of the Sundance Film Festival...
, a Special Jury Prize at the Seattle International Film Festival
Seattle International Film Festival
The Seattle International Film Festival , held annually in Seattle, Washington since 1976, is among the top film festivals in North America. Audiences have grown steadily; the 2006 festival had 160,000 attendees...
, the Audience Award at the Boston Independent Film Festival, the Audience Award at L.A. Outfest.
In 2008 and 2009 Wade spent 14 months shooting the documentary Living the Legacy: The Untold Story of Milton Hershey School at Milton Hershey School
Milton Hershey School
The Milton Hershey School is a private philanthropic boarding school in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Originally named the Hershey Industrial School, the institution was founded and funded by chocolate industrialist Milton Snavely Hershey and his wife, Catherine Sweeney Hershey...
in Hershey, Pennsylvania
Hershey, Pennsylvania
Hershey is a census-designated place in Derry Township, Dauphin County in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The community is located 14 miles east of Harrisburg and is part of the Harrisburg–Carlisle Metropolitan Statistical Area. Hershey has no legal status as an incorporated municipality...
, one of several films she has made for schools and non profit organizations. It is to be shown on the Sundance Channel and the Independent Film Channel
Independent Film Channel
The Independent Film Channel is an American cable TV network that airs independent film and related programming. IFC programming includes commercially interrupted feature-length films, original documentaries, shorts, animated series, original series, acquired series, and content exclusively for...
. In January 2010, Wade’s documentary Born Sweet, about a Cambodian boy who is poisoned with arsenic, had its World Premiere at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival; the film was awarded Honorable Mention.
Director
- 1993: America UndercoverAmerica UndercoverAmerica Undercover is a television series of documentaries that airs on the cable television network HBO. Within the series are several sub-series, such as "Autopsy", "Real Sex" and "Taxicab Confessions". The series began in 1983 and, after a brief time being broadcast weekly in 2001, is now...
(TV series) - 1995: Almost Home
- 1999: Grist for the Mill
- 2003: Shelter DogsShelter DogsShelter Dogs is a 2003 documentary film directed and produced by Cynthia Wade about animal welfare in the United States and the ethics of animal euthanasia.-Synopsis:...
- 2007: FreeheldFreeheldFreeheld is a 2007 documentary film directed by Cynthia Wade, and produced by Wade, Matthew Syrett and Vanessa Roth. It chronicles the story of Laurel Hester in her fight against the Ocean County, New Jersey Board of Chosen Freeholders to give her earned pension benefits to her partner, Stacie. On...
- 2009: Living the Legacy: The Untold Story of Milton Hershey School
- 2010: Born Sweet
Producer
- 1995: Almost Home
- 1999: Grist for the Mill
- 2003: Shelter Dogs
- 2006: Gender Rebel
- 2007: Freeheld
Cinematographer
- 1995: Out of My Mind
- 1995: Almost Home
- 1997: Ancient MysteriesAncient Mysteries (documentary)Ancient Mysteries is a documentary television series that was produced by FilmRoos and originally broadcast on A&E from January 7, 1994 until May 3, 1998 with reruns airing until 2000. Reruns were also re-broadcast on The Biography Channel during the 2000s...
(TV series) - 1998: Taken In: Lives of America's Foster Children
- 1999: Grist for the Mill
- 2000: Parole: Prison Without Bars
- 2002: The Collector of Bedford StreetThe Collector of Bedford StreetThe Collector of Bedford Street is a 2002 documentary film about director Alice Elliott's neighbor, Larry Selman, a community activist and fundraiser who has an intellectual disability.-Film content:...
- 2003: Shelter Dogs
- 2003: Risk/RewardRisk/RewardRisk/Reward is a 2003 documentary film about women on Wall Street. It follows the lives of four Wall Street women - a research analyst, a currency trader, an NYSE floor broker and a rookie investment banker...
- 2004: Lookalike
- 2007: Freeheld
- 2008: In the FamilyIn the FamilyIn the Family is a 2008 documentary film, produced by Kartemquin Films, about predicting breast and ovarian cancer and the choices women make when they are faced with the dangers of a possible life-threatening disease. The film's director, Joanna Rudnick, tests positive for the familial BRCA...