Genre: Documentary
Running Time: 14 minutes Shot on Sony FX6 Language: English Subtitles: English For distribution questions, visit the Contact page. |
Logline
BESTSELLER is a revealing exploration of the New York Times Bestsellers List, examining the myths and realities of the List's curation and what impacts it has on diversity in the publishing industry.
Synopsis
BESTSELLER is a short documentary that delves into the inner workings of the highly regarded New York Times Bestsellers List. While making it onto the List is seen as a mark of success for authors and publishers, it is an open secret within the industry that the List is curated. In this film, viewers will hear from industry professionals who share their experiences and insights into the NYT’s famous List, revealing the truth behind its curation. The documentary also explores the impact the List has on the publishing industry and the wider cultural landscape as diverse authors' stories are continually left behind.
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Director's Statement
When we arrived in New York City to shoot interviews for BESTSELLER, the HarperCollins Publishers Union had been on strike for 19 work days – nearly a full calendar month. They would be on strike for a total of three months before HarperCollins agreed to negotiate with the union. During that time, thousands of books were published by HarperCollins – thousands of books that were boycotted to support the union. Those authors, many of whom were marginalized debuts – have become collateral damage.
As a transgender and queer filmmaker committed to diversity in publishing, I am proud to present my latest project BESTSELLER, a short documentary that explores the New York Times Bestseller List’s curation and its impact on diverse authors. Through interviews with industry experts, we delve into the ways in which this influential list perpetuates systemic biases and disadvantages marginalized voices.
As an author and literary agency intern, I have a personal stake in the issues explored in this film. My crew reflects the diverse perspectives we seek to amplify, bringing a unique lens to this topic and highlighting the experiences of those whose voices are often silenced in traditional publishing spaces. By shining a light on the challenges faced by diverse authors in a world that often prioritizes white, cisgender, and heteronormative perspectives, we hope to spark conversations about how we can all work towards a more equitable and inclusive literary landscape.
I approached the animation in BESTSELLER with a style that is both engaging and informative, inspired by the easily digestible motion graphics of Vox Media’s short docs. Through this film, we hope to raise awareness about the NYT Bestsellers List's curation and challenge viewers to consider the impact of systemic biases in all areas of our lives. We are excited to share this film with audiences who are passionate about diversity and social justice, and who are eager to work towards a more equitable future for all authors and readers.
As a transgender and queer filmmaker committed to diversity in publishing, I am proud to present my latest project BESTSELLER, a short documentary that explores the New York Times Bestseller List’s curation and its impact on diverse authors. Through interviews with industry experts, we delve into the ways in which this influential list perpetuates systemic biases and disadvantages marginalized voices.
As an author and literary agency intern, I have a personal stake in the issues explored in this film. My crew reflects the diverse perspectives we seek to amplify, bringing a unique lens to this topic and highlighting the experiences of those whose voices are often silenced in traditional publishing spaces. By shining a light on the challenges faced by diverse authors in a world that often prioritizes white, cisgender, and heteronormative perspectives, we hope to spark conversations about how we can all work towards a more equitable and inclusive literary landscape.
I approached the animation in BESTSELLER with a style that is both engaging and informative, inspired by the easily digestible motion graphics of Vox Media’s short docs. Through this film, we hope to raise awareness about the NYT Bestsellers List's curation and challenge viewers to consider the impact of systemic biases in all areas of our lives. We are excited to share this film with audiences who are passionate about diversity and social justice, and who are eager to work towards a more equitable future for all authors and readers.