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CURRENT 2009- FILM & VIDEO PRODUCTIONS Feature Length Documentary on a Jazz Master Wycliffe Gordon: My Cartoon Life tells the inspiring story of a jazz master and an exceptional individual during the challenges of a career move. We follow Wycliffe on his journey across the world of straight up jazz, from a key reunion in France with his musical family, The Wynton Marsalis Septet, to his home town in the deep south USA. He plans to play in Augusta, Georgia in a traditional jazz festival. But he also hopes to stage a break-out show as a Funk artist to launch a popular tour. This is the tale of a first-call sideman attempting to step out as band leader with an expanded repertoire and public persona.
With extraordinary musical performances, concert footage and interviews, world-renowned musicians appear as themselves as My Cartoon Life compassionately embraces an on- and off-stage transition for a creative genius: Trombone player, composer, arranger and conductor; Father, brother, son and man. Wycliffe’s professional credibility is at stake, particularly with his musical family. And his personal expression is tested against popular taste as he puts more than his own financial future on the line. The camera lens further challenges Wycliffe to reflect on his intent and behavior as it reveals the knotty ties that entangle professional, personal and creative life, family priorities, traditional upbringing and growing self-awareness. This documentary delivers a character-driven drama that demonstrates the real-life methods of a jazz master who’s reaching beyond the weight of his own history to risk more freely living his true purpose. Wycliffe grew into jazz, something often described as the only American art form and an art born of adversity. He is seen as that rare musician and individual who carries his enormous jazz talent off-stage to face joys and pains with improvisational skill and personal composure. We witness Wycliffe discovering the enormous depth of his own character. And we participate in his learning about the profound meaning of being human, while being moved to feel the process of overcoming adversity, to feel jazz in a new way. Informed by his self-characterization as someone living a “cartoon life”, the film shows Wycliffe’s emotional essence and coping skills through sparing use of animation. He is ever energetic dealing with everyday absurdities. Whether seen as an imaginary super hero racing against the clock or the two dimensional recipient of an unexpected anvil, we discover new ways for addressing daily pressures and pitfalls. Often funny, sometimes difficult, living in this world is a challenge even for those with super talents. Wycliffe Gordon: My Cartoon Life delights as it speaks of jazz and success in everyday life in a way that resonates with a broad international audience. The film builds on Leslie Hayman's body of professional work and challenges her to revive her award-winning tendencies from decades of hands-on, as well as business experience in the motion picture industry. PRIOR 1998 PRODUCTIONS BY LESLIE HAYMAN Executive Producer, Co-writer & Editor 1994 Co-writer, Producer, Director & Editor 1993 Writer, Producer, Director & Editor 1993 Producer, Director and Editor 1991 Director, Editor and Associate Producer AWARDS FOR FIRST-AND-ONLY COMPETITIONS Producer, Assistant Director & Editor Award in Summer Photo Competition 1983 Assistant to Producer & Director 1980
Ryerson Polytechnical Institute 1992- MANAGEMENT & CONSULTING EXPERIENCE Founding Director and Treasurer 1983 Feature Film Production Accountant 1983-
Strategic Planning & Consulting 1982
Innovative
Business Initiatives 1982- University of Western Ontario
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