Courtney Fathom Sell

Courtney Fathom Sell (born in Boston, Massachusetts 28 January 1985) is an American filmmaker and video artist who specializes in documentary films. He is the founder of Slumlord Productions, an independent film production company, and has shot a majority of his work on a Hi8 video camera. His films often explore important social issues, and commonly involve individuals working to overcome their personal challenges. Along with documentaries, Sell has directed numerous music videos and experimental films.

Biography

Personal life

When Sell was sixteen years old, his Father was diagnosed with an aggressive form of Prostate Cancer and given only two months to live. After outliving his initial diagnosis by seven years, Rev. Bradley Sell died on June 16, 2007 at 54 years old. Before his passing, Bradley Sell asked his son to document the few months leading up to his death in hopes to raise awareness for prostate cancer. The footage soon became the basis of Sell's award winning short documentary 'My Dying Day'.

After leaving PRATT Institute at the age of 18, Sell began traveling the country with his Hi8 video camera documenting life on the road. Many times homeless while traveling, Sell lived in Washington Square Park for a brief amount of time.

"It was fun. It was the first place I went to. I got off the Chinatown bus after running away from home, in Boston. I came for a screening of my films at Cinema Classics on East 11th. This was the only place that said they could give me a real opportunity."

In a separate interview with the Providence Phoenix, Sell spoke more of his homeless experience:

"I didn't want to go home, I was stubborn and naïve. It was a lonely feeling."

While living in Northern California, Sell slept in a graveyard and played his guitar on the street for money.

By the age of twenty, he had produced a number of personal documentaries involving close friends or family members as main subjects.

Documentaries

No Place Like Home

His debut film "No Place Like Home", which documented the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in the Gulf Coast as well as the growth of New Orleans non-profit organization 'Defend New Orleans', went on to win 'Best Picture' at the 2006 'Blue November Film Festival', in Tulsa Oklahoma, and screen at the Casablanca Theater in Dresden, Germany. The film depicts Defend New Orleans’ transition to a valid social aid project and features some of the earliest produced footage of Post Katrina Mississippi Gulf Coast and New Orleans.

All proceeds generated from DVD sales of the documentary go directly towards Gulf Coast restoration and Hurricane Katrina relief funds. The film was picked up by 'Emphasis Entertainment', and saw its official DVD release in the summer of 2008.

The film is now recognized by the Danish Film Movement Dogme95 as Dogme95 #267

My Dying Day

His short documentary "My Dying Day", which is a personal account of the last months of his late father Bradley Sell, went on to win "Best Short Documentary" at the 2007 'Evil City Film Festival'. Shot in Cinéma vérité style, the film includes personal scenes such as the main subject planning out his own funeral, plotting his grave site, and comforting those who also live in hospice care.

Regarding his late Father, Sell commented to a Journalist:

"He's proven to me life is precious and the most unexpected terms can come about. You need to live life to the fullest. My father's given me the courage to be a successful filmmaker to go out with no budget, no crew.

In 2009, Sell completed a short documentary entitled 'Under the Bridge', which is based around a community of homeless individuals from Providence, Rhode Island who created a shelter underneath the Crawford Street Bridge. Revisiting familiar subject matter such as homelessness and alienation, Sell's film featured personal interviews with the residents of 'Hope City', as it was being referred to at the time, as well as document their extreme living conditions. The film is apparently the first in a series of short documentaries to be made by Sell, based around the homeless population in and around Rhode Island.

Music Videos

Along with directing the controversial Xiu Xiu music video for their single 'Master of the Bump' from their album 'Women as Lovers',Sell directed the experimental concert documentary entitled 'Xiu Xiu - You Can't Hear Me', which features a live performance by the band accompanied by various music video vignettes.

Additionally, Sell participated in an online film festival sponsored by Nine Inch Nails, where fans were given the opportunity to create visuals for the instrumental tracks from the bands album 'Ghosts.' The entries were then broadcast on the bands official youtube page. Sell's videos included track numbers 4, 8, and 9.

Journalism

A contributing Journalist to various publications, Sell has gone on to interview many acclaimed filmmakers, artists, and performers who have influenced his career.

In December 2008, Sell launched an online publication entitled 'Know Your Heroes!' which concentrates on independent film and art

Filmography