SYNOPSIS
New York’s rollout of legal cannabis came with the promise that NY State small farmers and businesses would have the exclusive right to grow, process, and sell cannabis with a three-year head start. But the rollout was so deeply dysfunctional that no one could make any money. In the end, the state let corporate players in a full year early. Can the equity-class licensees hold on?
Rollout (working title), a character-driven film, is told from the perspective of the farmers, processors, and retailers. Two years in, and there are bankruptcies, divorces, and dreams in tatters. The documentary will explore what happened—and what is still unfolding—in this troubled market.
Laure Sullivan: Co-director, producer, editor
Laure Sullivan is an editor, story consultant, and filmmaker based in Brooklyn, NY. She has worked on feature docs, narratives, and television programs. Her work as an editor has premiered at Sundance Film Festival,Toronto (TIFF), and others. Laure was invited to the Sundance Producer Lab and to pitch at IDFA. She has directed shorts that premiered at various festivals, including the Berkshire Film Festival. Her work has received support from Sundance Documentary Fund, ITVS, NYSCA, and others.
Paul Wilson: Co-director, cinematographer
Paul Wilson is an Emmy-winning Director of Photography based in Brooklyn, NY. His work in documentary has taken him to the Seneca Nation of Indians while they opened a casino, a group of justice reform activists in Bridgeport CT., on tour with the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and to a Jesuit Priest who is also a Zen Roshi. His work received support from ITVS, Sundance Institute, and NYSCA, among others, He was invited to pitch at IDFA in Amsterdam,Netherlands, and at the IFC in New York.
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