Film Discussion Lunch: Sean Baker

Sean Baker has one of the most fascinating director trajectories in recent history - from microscopically-budgeted independent efforts to Oscar winners, and in between advancing the possibilities of filmmaking with "Tangerine" (made entirely with footage from iPhone cameras). Throughout he's shown an emphasis (and empathy) with people and groups on the margins of society. This month we'll take a look at how he maintained that focus while growing as a filmmaker, as we look at these following films of his:

"Hi Fi" (2000 - short): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lyADpeQHJw
"Take Out" (2004 - co-directed with Shih-Ching Tsou): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMp5Vw6FfWE
"Prince of Broadway" (2008): https://fawesome.tv/movies/10376378/prince-of-broadway
"Starlet" (2012): https://canela.tv/player/movie/starlet-2013 (Spanish-language site, but film is in English, also on Apple and Criterion)
"Tangerine" (2015) (Free on Kanopy and Hoopla, also Amazon, Apple & YouTube)
"The Florida Project" (2017) (Free on Hoopla, also Amazon, Apple & YouTube)
"Red Rocket (2021): https://watch.plex.tv/watch/movie/red-rocket (Free on Hooplah, also Amazon, Apple, & Netflix)
"Anora" (2024): (Free on Kanopy, also on Amazon, Apple, and Disney+ (For maximum irony))