A documentary highlighting positive examples of living life openly at all levels in the workplace, told by those who've broken through multiple barriers.
Despite increasingly positive representations of LGBT people in popular culture and incremental moves toward legislative equality, LGBT people still face discrimination and negative stereotyping. Even when company non-discrimination policies include sexual orientation and gender identity, many LGBT employees endure anti-gay remarks or jokes, and are left to wonder if it really is safe to be out at work.
As people at all levels within the workforce share how they broke through barriers – from race and gender to sexual orientation and gender identity – their stories inspire people from all walks of life to bring their whole selves to work.
BREAKING THROUGH THE COMPANY CLOSET PARTNERS
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The film has been met with overwhelming support, including audiences wanting to know “what’s next?” and asking for a film focusing on the workplace. This network of diverse and engaged supporters will be mobilized for BREAKING THROUGH THE COMPANY CLOSET and an even greater reach is ensured through the participation of the film’s fiscal sponsor, Out & Equal.
Share Your Story.Are you out at work? Did you have to overcome multiple barriers on your career path? Would you like to share your story with others of similar backgrounds who aren't sure they can be out at work and be successful?
If so, please tell us a bit about your life experience. |
Discover Partnership Opportunities.BREAKING THROUGH THE COMPANY CLOSET offers your organization a way to connect with our shared audience in a uniquely entertaining and emotional way and an opportunity to fulfill your company’s mission of community engagement and support for inclusion.
In addition to levels and benefits described in the Partnership packet, your participation can be customized to tap directly into the needs and desires of your employees and customers. We'll work with you to highlight your organization's forward-thinking commitment to equality and will help create promotional content to fit your existing outreach avenues and your normal channels of communication, including email, direct mail and social media. We’ll also work closely with your team to assure a strong presence in our ongoing engagement campaign. Out & Equal’s relationships provide a built-in audience for the film, showcasing inclusive companies in a positive and compelling manner to other like-minded companies and potential business and community partners, and extending to general audiences of consumers who are determined to support companies with a strong record of inclusion. 
To receive a detailed Corporate Partnership Packet that includes an overview of BREAKING THROUGH THE COMPANY CLOSET, the filmmakers and Partnership descriptions, send a note via the form below or contact Beverly Seckinger, Producer: 404.307.2001 or [email protected]. | ||
Stay connected with the director, Cindy L. Abel, on Huffington Post.
Find out the latest information about Breaking Through on our blog.
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Director and Producer Cindy L. Abel formed Atlantis Moon Productions in 2007 to develop film-related projects that launch conversations and impact popular culture. Her first full-length documentary, the award-winning BREAKING THROUGH, was conceived in response to the high number of teens who were taunted because of being gay or perceived to be and committing suicide. Having struggled with coming out, Abel knew the importance of having positive role models and wanted to highlight openly LGBT leaders living authentic and fulfilled lives.
In addition to BREAKING THROUGH, she directed shorts DISTURB THE UNIVERSE and BACK TO SALEM. Abel also combines her experience in managing multi-million dollar, award-winning communications projects with filmmaking to create videos and webisodes for corporate and public affairs clients. She writes for Huffington Post and previously served as Co-Chair of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, Vice-Chair of Atlanta Film Festival 365 and Vice President of Communications of Women in Film & Television Atlanta. Cindy L. Abel
Director / Producer |
Director of Photography and Editor Michael Bruno applies the art of filmmaking to his commitment to equality in BREAKING THROUGH. Driven by a desire to show the truth about LGBT people and the struggle for full civil rights, he delivers visually compelling footage and skillfully weaves traditional editing techniques with cutting edge motion graphics.
Bruno began his career filming musicians, which lead to the role as Director of Photography for an independent zombie musical. With diverse skills in both the production and post-production process he later worked extensively with Georgia Public Broadcasting, including roles as a Lead Editor, Assistant Director, and Cameraman for several programs. He was Director of Photography for the Emmy-nominated documentary, THE PLAZA, and was the Editor and VFX artist for the award-winning Sci-Fi webseries, 31. In addition to filmmaking, he applies these skills to his work with Atlantis Moon Productions, creating videos and webisodes for corporate and public affairs clients. Michael Bruno
Director of Photography / Editor |
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Writer Jesse Stephen Freeman is an Emmy-nominated freelance writer and video producer who holds an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Maryland, where he was the winner of the 2012 Katherine Anne Porter Prize for Fiction.
In 2010 he was nominated for an Emmy for SOMEBODY ELSE, SOMEWHERE ELSE: THE RAYMOND ANDREWS STORY, a documentary film he wrote and directed. He also co-wrote the award-winning documentary BREAKING THROUGH. From 2002-2010, Freeman appeared on various Georgia Public Broadcasting programs, including Lawmakers and Prep Sports Plus. He also hosted Cover to Cover, a literary talk show on GPB Radio, and has written features and book reviews for Lake Oconee Living magazine. |
Denise Gentilini
Composer Specializing in film music, Denise Gentilini is a three-time Emmy award winning composer with 30 years experience in music composition and production. After 20 years of performing and doing session work in Los Angeles, Denise moved to Colorado where she owns and operates a digital recording/video editing studio and produces artists as well as composing music for independent films and documentaries.
Denise is also a humanitarian whose love and compassion has led her to become “the voice for the voiceless” in creating genocide awareness. Denise has served on the boards of the Armenians of Colorado and the Colorado Coalition for Genocide Awareness and Action which have been responsible for major social change on a local, national and international level. She is the creator of WE ARE VOICES ®, a dynamic, annual Denver music concert event that raises awareness and funds for causes such as autism, LGBT issues, and ending genocide. |