Christopher Summa
Directing
Biography
Christopher Summa is the director and producer of the acclaimed feature-length documentary "The Boy Who Found Gold" about world-renowned artist and Roman Catholic priest William Hart McNichols. Prior to this he directed four award-winning short films that played at numerous festivals internationally including the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. He's won film grants from the Connecticut Commission on the Arts as well as the Aldrich Museum of Contemporary Art. He received special recognition at The Brooklyn Film Festival for his unique union of Italian-American and African-American themes in his work. Summa spent a year at the Actors Studio in New York and was also an invited guest at the Work Center of Jerzy Grotowski in Pontedera, Italy. He credits these two experiences with creating his method of working with actors. He is a graduate of the School of Visual Arts in New York city.
Known For
William Hart McNichols is a world renowned artist, heralded by Time magazine as "among the most famous creators of Christian iconic images in the world". As a young Catholic priest from 1983-1990 he was immersed in a life-altering journey working as a chaplain at St. Vincent's AIDS hospice in New York city. It was during this time that he became an early pioneer for LGBT rights within the Catholic church. "The Boy Who Found Gold" is a cinematic journey into the art and spirit of William Hart McNichols. The film follows his colorful life as he crosses paths with presidents, popes, martyrs, and parishioners, finding an insightful lesson with each encounter. McNichols' message as a priest, artist and man speaks to the most powerful element of the human spirit: Mercy.
The Boy Who Found Gold
The legend of John Henry, historically celebrated in song and story, is the account of an ex-slave and steel driver who victoriously raced a drilling machine through a mountain, died of exhaustion shortly after and hence became an African-American folk hero. Anthony Milo is the strongest and fastest sprinter at New York City's Gonzaga College, whose 4 x 400 meter relay team is on their way to winning a national championship title. What do these two men have in common? In both of their stories they are destined to race towards death to let their true spirits live. THE ANCHOR MAN is the story of strength reborn into the heart of a young man, whose convictions lead him on a journey from the explosion of the starting gun to an explosion of artistic expression.
The Anchor Man
Christopher Summa's BE MY BROTHER is a 15-minute film that is inspired by both biblical and current events. It asks the timeless question of humanity: Can we treat the person whom we do not know, the stranger whom we fear and maybe even see as the enemy, as a brother? Shot on the streets of New York City the film celebrates the idea that every person has a dream and that it is never too late to be a pioneer of peace and truth in this world.
Be My Brother
"Waiting for the Passion" is a volatile male character study of a college student who wants to leave America to escape the turbulent relationships he has with both his father and brother. Through a series of visualized letters and dramatically edited montage sequences the film captures the confusion and fear so many young people feel as their college days wind down.