Highbrow was conceived by actor Ronald Guttman who, as a producer, is able to collaborate with talented writers, filmmakers, directors, and actors for stage, screen, and various other productions.
Highbrow was created to serve the arts as a contributor, nurturer, and advocate. Highbrow provides resources and encouragement to film and theatre production during the critical stages of development from concept to completion. While our focus is on independent film and theatre, Highbrow is also interested in sustaining all arts as a means of artist self-expression, cultural representation, geopolitical understanding, education, enlightenment, and entertainment. With a holistic approach to producing, Highbrow is interested in engaging in a full circle process where ideas can be fostered and developed into fully cultivated works that serve both their creators and audiences. Highbrow takes risks to help build a platform for directors and artists from which they can explore their own vision and creation process. We seek to bring an eclectic, introspective, international, understated, and original collection of works to fruition.
President/Head Producer: Ronald Guttman
Producer: Amy Guttman
Assistant to the Producers: Rebecca Tropp
Highbrow was created to serve the arts as a contributor, nurturer, and advocate. Highbrow provides resources and encouragement to film and theatre production during the critical stages of development from concept to completion. While our focus is on independent film and theatre, Highbrow is also interested in sustaining all arts as a means of artist self-expression, cultural representation, geopolitical understanding, education, enlightenment, and entertainment. With a holistic approach to producing, Highbrow is interested in engaging in a full circle process where ideas can be fostered and developed into fully cultivated works that serve both their creators and audiences. Highbrow takes risks to help build a platform for directors and artists from which they can explore their own vision and creation process. We seek to bring an eclectic, introspective, international, understated, and original collection of works to fruition.
President/Head Producer: Ronald Guttman
Producer: Amy Guttman
Assistant to the Producers: Rebecca Tropp
Tickling Leo: 2009 Stony Brook Film Festival Jury Award for Best Feature
DAI: 2008 Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Solo Show
MASKED: 2008 Drama Desk nomination for Best Featured Actor in a Play (Arian Moayed)
Christine Jorgensen Reveals: 2006 Drama Desk Award for Unique Theatrical Experience
A Tale of a Tiger: 2005 HELEN HAYES AWARD Nomination for Outstanding Non-Resident Production
Tollbooth: 2005 Jewish Image Award for Female Character in Film (Marla Sokoloff)
Milk and Honey: 2003 Jury Award for Best Screenplay at the Atlanta Film Festival (Joe Maggio)
Sound and Fury: 2001 Academy Award nomination for Best Documentary Feature
Sundance Film Festival Official Selection
New Directors New Films Official Selection
DAI: 2008 Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Solo Show
MASKED: 2008 Drama Desk nomination for Best Featured Actor in a Play (Arian Moayed)
Christine Jorgensen Reveals: 2006 Drama Desk Award for Unique Theatrical Experience
A Tale of a Tiger: 2005 HELEN HAYES AWARD Nomination for Outstanding Non-Resident Production
Tollbooth: 2005 Jewish Image Award for Female Character in Film (Marla Sokoloff)
Milk and Honey: 2003 Jury Award for Best Screenplay at the Atlanta Film Festival (Joe Maggio)
Sound and Fury: 2001 Academy Award nomination for Best Documentary Feature
Sundance Film Festival Official Selection
New Directors New Films Official Selection
Ronald Guttman, founder and president of Highbrow, is an actor, producer, and art collector. He has a passion for the arts and a great appreciation for the challenge and beauty of the creative endeavor. With his knowledge of the filmmaking processes, both in front of and behind the camera, Ron is inspired to create opportunities for the director’s vision to grow outside the confines of the corporate reign. This same sense of responsibility to the artist’s process drives Ron’s involvement in theatre and other collaborations within the New York creative community as well.
Ronald Guttman’s long list of acting credits includes HBO’s Mildred Pierce, 13, Blue Bloods, Gossip Girl, 27 Dresses, August Rush, Lost, Heroes, Sex and the City, The Guru, The Believer, Law and Order, Star Trek, Green Card, The Hunt for Red October, and Avalon. For a more complete listing, see IMDB.
Ronald Guttman’s long list of acting credits includes HBO’s Mildred Pierce, 13, Blue Bloods, Gossip Girl, 27 Dresses, August Rush, Lost, Heroes, Sex and the City, The Guru, The Believer, Law and Order, Star Trek, Green Card, The Hunt for Red October, and Avalon. For a more complete listing, see IMDB.
Sound and Fury
posted on April 20, 2012An interesting article on cochlear implants recently appeared on npr.org. More than a decade after the release of the documentary Sound and Fury, it is evident that the questions raised in the film regarding the pros and cons of cochlear implants and their potential to destroy deaf culture are still very much alive. Many people chose to comment on the article, from within and outside of the deaf community, creating quite a heated discussion.
The Tollbooth
posted on March 06, 2012New York Women in Film and Television (NYWIFT) will be screening The Tollbooth on Tuesday, March 27 from 7 to 9pm at Anthology Film Archives (32 2nd Avenue, at 2nd Street). There will be a Q&A following the screening, and an after-party with cash bar and complimentary food at Dempsey’s Pub (61 2nd Avenue, between 3rd & 4th Streets). For more information, visit the NYWIFT website.
30 Beats
posted on February 15, 2012Roadside Attractions has acquired all U.S. and Latin American rights to 30 Beats and will release the film June 1st theatrically and day-and-date on VOD.
The news first appeared in Variety earlier today, and the full press release can be found on Indiewire.
Destiny Hills
posted on February 14, 2012Destiny Hills aired again this month on the French/German TV channel ARTE, and we are pleased to report that it was the highest scoring program of the year in their Terres d’Ailleurs (Faraway Places) slot.
November at Highbrow
posted on November 30, 2011After a full rebuild, we are finally re-launching the Highbrow website! A big thank you to Amber and Peregrin at Dolphin Micro Inc. for transforming our finicky Flash site to HTML.
Here are a few things that Ronald Guttman and Highbrow have been up to in recent weeks:
Ronald Guttman
BSO at Carnegie Hall
After conducting an orchestra in Mildred Pierce, August Rush, and Law & Order, Ron finally enjoyed his Carnegie Hall debut on Saturday the 19th of November. For this moving performance of Arthur Honegger's 1935 oratorio Jeanne d'Arc au Bûcher (Joan of Arc at the Stake), the baton was actually held by Marin Alsop of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra while Ron performed the narrative role of Brother Dominic. A review in The New York Times is available HERE.
Highbrow
Welcome to the Punch
In May, Ron and Highbrow signed on as a co-executive producer of the British crime thriller Welcome to the Punch, written and directed by Eran Creevy, and starring James McAvoy and Mark Strong. An exciting larger venture for Highbrow, the film is currently in postproduction and scheduled to be released in 2012.
On the Board
Ron proudly serves on the boards of Performa and Naked Angels.
Performa recently finished up its Visual Art Performance Biennial, which ran November 1–21. Ron and Amy were proud co-producers of Guy Maddin’s Tales from the Gimli Hospital: Reframed.
