Eddie Schmidt

Eddie Schmidt is an Oscar-nominated filmmaker, writer/producer, and commentator. He has produced four feature documentaries that premiered at the Sundance Film Festival: IFC’s acclaimed and irreverent THIS FILM IS NOT YET RATED (which he also co-wrote), HBO’s powerful TWIST OF FAITH (for which he was nominated for an Academy Award), the groundbreaking teenage tapestry CHAIN CAMERA, and, most recently, the all-star music documentary TROUBADOURS, which was released theatrically, broadcast on PBS’ “American Masters” and BBC4, and is now on DVD.

For television, Schmidt has directed, produced, and written documentary and comedy specials and series for HBO, IFC, NBC/Universal, Lionsgate, PBS, A&E, E!, Current, GSN, and Adult Swim. As a pundit, Schmidt has been seen on G4, MSNBC, IFC, and The Documentary Channel, featured in the Starz/Encore specials IN THE GUTTER and SEX AND THE CINEMA, and heard on NPR’s THIS AMERICAN LIFE. He appears throughout Current’s mini-series 50 DOCUMENTARIES TO SEE BEFORE YOU DIE, and was one of the six experts consulted on the series.

For thee years, 2009 through 2011 – the maximum term – Schmidt served as President of the Board of IDA, a nonprofit community and resource for documentary filmmakers (www.documentary.org). During the latter half of 2008, Schmidt was also the organization’s interim Executive Director. His work for the org included leading many groundbreaking advocacy efforts for free speech, fair use, and net neutrality.

On the other side of the coin, Schmidt was an actor/writer responsible for infamous media pranks as a member of the sketch group, OOZE. OOZE’s collective output resulted in viral videos with views over 500,000 as well as a Fox TV Studios development deal and a book (which Schmidt co-authored), entitled THE FINGER: A COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE TO FLIPPING OFF. Eddie’s naturally comedic bent often rears its scary head during his many appearances as moderator, panelist or host at industry events for Film Independent, the Sundance Film Festival, the American Film Market, South by Southwest, Digital Hollywood, etc.

Schmidt is currently in production on a new documentary with BMP Films (Emmy-winning AUTISM: THE MUSICAL), and recently orchestrated the rollout of Harry Shearer’s documentary, THE BIG UNEASY, in a 75-city theatrical release before bowing wide on VOD. Eddie also served as Executive Producer of the comedic documentary CANDYMAN, a bittersweet tale of the inventor of the Jelly Belly jellybean (now on Netflix), and the upcoming BEAUTY IS EMBARRASSING, about one-of-a-kind artist Wayne White, which premieres at the 2012 South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Festival.

Soon, Schmidt, along with Steve James, Barbara Kopple, and many other notable documentary filmmakers, will direct a short film for Morgan Spurlock’s “Focus Forward” initiative with Cinelan and GE.

Follow all things Schmidty on Twitter (@Eddie_Schmidt).