Jacob Paul Bricca
- Professor, School of Theatre/Film and Television
- Member of the Graduate Faculty
Contact
- (520) 621-7008
- Louise Foucar Marshall Bldg., Rm. 226
- Tucson, AZ 85721
- jbricca@arizona.edu
Biography
Jacob Bricca is an award-winning film editor and director whose work has been screened theatrically across the globe. Among the dozen feature films he has edited are the international theatrical hit Lost In La Mancha (IFC Films), the New Yorker Films theatrical release Con Artist, and two films that have shown in prime time on PBS's Independent Lens series. His directorial credits include Pure, which was one of only four American shorts invited to the 2009 Berlin International Film Festival, Indies Under Fire: The Battle for the American Bookstore, which screened in over a dozen venues around the country and won awards at the Newburyport Documentary Festival and the Santa Cruz Film Festival, and Finding Tatanka, which premiered at the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival and has screened at over a dozen film festivals across the country.
He was born and raised in Palo Alto, California, and graduated from Wesleyan University with degrees in Film Studies and Sociology in 1993. He then moved to San Francisco to pursue documentary filmmaking, working as an in-house shooter and editor for Interval Research Corp. and directing the documentary shorts Distance, Nothing, and All Of It, which won a Silver Hugo for Editing from the Chicago International Film Festival.
Bricca moved to Los Angeles in 1996 to complete the American Film Institute’s MFA program in Film Editing. Practicing under the tutelage of editors such as Howard Smith (Glengarry Glen Ross, The Abyss), Dan Hanley (A Beautiful Mind, Apollo 13), and Farrell Levy (NYPD Blue), he became passionate about the power of editing to shape the rhythm, energy, and narrative drive of all genres of film. He spent six years in Los Angeles developing his career as a documentary editor, cutting such films as the PBS Independent Lens Audience Award winner Jimmy Scott: If You Only Knew (2002), the independent feature Beyond the Border (2001)and the international theatrical hit Lost In La Mancha (2002), which was on the short list for an Academy Award nomination. He established longtime working relationships with several other filmmakers, and has since cut multiple films for director Matthew Buzzell, producer Brian Gerber, and the directing/producing team of Eren McGinnis and Ari Palos. Buzzell and fellow AFI colleague Liz Massie were co-directors with Bricca on What A Girl Wants (2000), a Media Education Foundation documentary about the impact of sexist media images on young girls.
In 2002 Wesleyan University ran a national search for someone to run the production program in the Film Studies department, and Bricca was awarded the job. He taught at Wesleyan between 2002-2013, running the senior thesis program and later teaching classes on documentary studies and production. His thesis students went on to make names for themselves in the film industry, including Benh Zeitlin (director of Beasts of the Southern Wild), Ami Boghani, (producer of The Reluctant Fundamentalist) and Jennifer Lame (editor of Frances Ha).
During this time, he continued to edit feature documentaries, including the Rhino Home Video release Tell Me Do You Miss Me (2006), the New Yorker Films theatrical release Con Artist (2009), and the PBS Independent Lens filmPrecious Knowledge (2011), which has screened at over 80 colleges and universities across the country. He also edited the narrative feature The Destiny of Lesser Animals, which screened at the Mill Valley Film Festival and Lincoln Center’s New Directors New Films series and was awarded the Paul Robeson Award for Best Long Narrative, and the narrative short Sucker Punch, which won an Audience Award at the DC Shorts Film Festival. He also worked regularly producing videos for Long Wharf Theatre, one of the country’s premiere regional theatres.
In 2013 Bricca was awarded a tenure-track job in the School of Theatre Film and Television, where he currently teaches courses on editing, documentary and narrative production, and documentary studies.
Degrees
- M.F.A. Film Editing
- American Film Institute, Los Angeles, California
- "6 1/2" (Short Film)"Odd Man" (Short Film)
- B.A. Film Studies, Sociology
- Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut
- "Escape From America" (Short Documentary Film)
Work Experience
- University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona (2018 - Ongoing)
- University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona (2013 - 2018)
- Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut (2006 - 2013)
- Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut (2002 - 2006)
Awards
- Finalist, Alfred I. duPont-Columbia Awards
- Columbia Journalism School, Spring 2023 (Award Finalist)
- Winner, George Foster Peabody Award
- Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication, University of Georgia, Spring 2023
- Honorable Mention, Best Documentary Feature
- Ojai Film Festival, Fall 2021 (Award Finalist)
- Nominee, Best Political Documentary, Critics Choice Documentary Awards
- Critics Choice Association, Fall 2021 (Award Nominee)
- Winner, Audience Choice Award for Best Feature
- Tacoma Film Festival, Fall 2021
- Winner, Best Documentary Feature Film
- Toronto Arthouse Film Festival, Fall 2021
- Winner, Best Feature
- Newburyport Documentary Film Festival, Fall 2021
- Winner, Human Rights Award
- Mystic Film Festival, Fall 2021
- Winner, Best Documentary Feature
- Atlanta Docufest, Summer 2021
- Winner, Best Feature Documentary Film
- Doc.Boston Documentary Film Festival, Summer 2021
- Winner, Human Rights Award for Documentary
- River Run International Film Festival, Summer 2021
- Honorable Mention, Best Documentary Feature "Missing in Brooks County"
- Fargo Film Festival, Spring 2021
- Nominee, Greg Gund Memorial Standing Up Award
- Cleveland International Film Festival, Spring 2021 (Award Nominee)
- Winner, Audience Award, Best in the Fest, "Missing in Brooks County"
- San Luis Obispo International Film Festival, Spring 2021
- Winner, Best Documentary Feature, "Missing in Brooks County"
- Red Dirt Film Festival, Spring 2021
- San Luis Obispo International Film Festival, Spring 2021
- Thin Line Festival, Spring 2021
- Winner, Les Blank Award for Best Feature Documentary
- Ashland Independent Film Festival, Spring 2021
- Winner, Premio Ihota for Outstanding Documentary, and El XicanIndie (First Prize in Festival)
- XicanIndie Film Festival, Spring 2021
- Best Feature Documentary, "Missing in Brooks County"
- Lake Worth Playhouse L-Dub Film Festival, Fall 2020
- Lost River Film Festival, Fall 2020
- Best Southern Documentary, "Missing in Brooks County"
- Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival, Fall 2020
- Participant, 2017 IFP Film Week Spotlight on Documentaries
- Independent Feature Project, Fall 2017
- Fellow, Film Independent Fast Track Program
- Film Independent, Summer 2017
- Nomination by the Film and Television Program for the Charles and Irene Putnam Teaching Award
- College of Fine Arts, University of Arizona, Spring 2017 (Award Nominee)
- U.S. Documentary Special Jury Award for Verité Filmmaking
- Sundance Film Festival, Spring 2016
- Best of Arizona Award, "Many Bones, One Heart" (Story Advisor)
- Arizona International Film Festival, Spring 2015
- Honorable Mention, Best Documentary Feature, "Finding Tatanka"
- Workers Unite! Film Festival, Fall 2014
- Best Documentary Short, "School's Out: Lessons From A Forest Kindergarten" (Editorial Consultant)
- Prescott Film Festival, Summer 2014
- Bronze Plaque for Education & Information, "School's Out: Lessons From A Forest Kindergarten" (Editorial Consultant)
- Columbus International Film and Video Festival, Summer 2014
- Best Documentary Feature, "The Hill" (Co-Producer)
- Greenpoint Film Festival, Fall 2013
Licensure & Certification
- Active Member, American Cinema Editors, American Cinema Editors (2018)
- Avid Certified Instructor for Media Composer, Avid, Inc. (2015)
Interests
Research
Film Editing, Documentary Filmmaking
Teaching
Film Editing, Narrative Filmmaking, Documentary Filmmaking, Documentary Studies
Courses
2024-25 Courses
-
Editing Fundamentals
FTV 318 (Spring 2025) -
Documentary Production
FTV 314A (Fall 2024) -
Practicum
FTV 394 (Fall 2024)
2023-24 Courses
-
Editing Fundamentals
FTV 318 (Spring 2024) -
History of Documentary
FTV 309 (Spring 2024) -
Honors Thesis
FTV 498H (Spring 2024) -
Preceptorship
FTV 391 (Spring 2024) -
BFA Capstone:Preprod+Prd
FTV 498D (Fall 2023) -
Editing Fundamentals
FTV 318 (Fall 2023) -
Honors Thesis
FTV 498H (Fall 2023) -
Preceptorship
FTV 491 (Fall 2023)
2022-23 Courses
-
BFA Capstone II: Post-prodctn
FTV 498E (Spring 2023) -
History of Documentary
FTV 309 (Spring 2023) -
Practicum
FTV 394 (Spring 2023) -
Practicum
FTV 494 (Spring 2023) -
Preceptorship
FTV 391 (Spring 2023) -
Documentary Production
FTV 314A (Fall 2022)
2021-22 Courses
-
BFA Capstone II: Post-prodctn
FTV 498E (Spring 2022) -
History of Documentary
FTV 309 (Spring 2022) -
Practicum
FTV 394 (Spring 2022) -
Documentary Production
FTV 314A (Fall 2021)
2020-21 Courses
-
Editing Fundamentals
FTV 318 (Spring 2021) -
History of Documentary
FTV 309 (Spring 2021) -
Practicum
FTV 394 (Spring 2021) -
BFA Capstone:Preprod+Prd
FTV 498D (Fall 2020) -
Documentary Production
FTV 314A (Fall 2020) -
Independent Study
FTV 599 (Fall 2020) -
Preceptorship
FTV 391 (Fall 2020)
2018-19 Courses
-
Editing Fundamentals
FTV 318 (Spring 2019) -
History of Documentary
FTV 309 (Spring 2019) -
Editing Fundamentals
FTV 318 (Fall 2018) -
Intro Productn Practices
FTV 210 (Fall 2018)
2017-18 Courses
-
BFA Capstone II: Post-prodctn
FTV 498E (Spring 2018) -
Editing Fundamentals
FTV 318 (Fall 2017) -
Independent Study
FTV 599 (Fall 2017) -
Preceptorship
FTV 491 (Fall 2017)
2016-17 Courses
-
BFA Capstone II: Post-prodctn
FTV 498E (Spring 2017) -
Editing Fundamentals
FTV 318 (Spring 2017) -
Honors Thesis
FTV 498H (Spring 2017) -
Practicum
FTV 394 (Spring 2017) -
Practicum
FTV 494 (Spring 2017) -
Preceptorship
FTV 491 (Spring 2017) -
Documentary Production
FTV 314A (Fall 2016) -
Editing Fundamentals
FTV 318 (Fall 2016) -
Independent Study
FTV 599 (Fall 2016)
2015-16 Courses
-
BFA Capstone II: Post-prodctn
FTV 498E (Spring 2016) -
Editing
FTV 497G (Spring 2016) -
Preceptorship
FTV 391 (Spring 2016)
Scholarly Contributions
Books
- Bricca, J. P. (2023). Documentary Editing: Principles and Practice (2nd Edition). Focal Press (Routledge).More infoI submitted my revisions on the final proofs for the book in Fall, 2022. It was published in May, 2023.
- Bricca, J. P. (2023). How Documentaries Work. Oxford University Press.More infoI began work on my new book, "How Documentaries Work," in October, 2019, and finished the first full draft in December 2020. I turned in the full, completed manuscript to my editor Norm Hirschy at Oxford University Press in December, 2021. it went to the copy editor in late spring, 2022, and my revisions on the final proofs and the index were completed in Fall 2022. The book was published in January, 2023.
- Bricca, J. P. (2017). Documentary Editing: Principles and Practice. Focal Press/Routledge.
Presentations
- Bricca, J. P. (2021). Beyond Story? Expository Cinema and the Making of Meaning. University Film and Video Association Annual Conference. Online.More infoI gave a paper entitled "Beyond Story? Expository Cinema and the Making of Meaning" at the 2021 UFVA Conference. Please note that the title of the presentation is different in the official conference proceedings
- Bricca, J. P. (2018, July). "The Strategic Use of Pauses and Silence in Documentary Editing" at the 2018 UFVA Conference. University Film and Video Association 2018 Conference. Las Cruces, NM: University Film & Video Association.More infoI gave a talk entitled "The Strategic Use of Pauses and Silence in Documentary Editing" at the 2018 UFVA Conference in Las Cruces, New Mexico
- Bricca, J. P. (2018, March). "The Strategic Use of Pauses and Silence in Documentary Editing" at the CILECT North America Sound Conference. CILECT North America Sound Conference. Chapman University: Centre International de Liaison des Ecoles de Cinéma et de Télévision.More infoI delivered an invited presentation titled "The Strategic Use of Pauses and Silence in Documentary Editing" at the CILECT North America Sound Conference at Chapman University in Orange, California.
Creative Productions
- Bricca, J. P. (2020. Almost An Island. PBSOpen Lens Productions / Vision Maker Media. https://www.visionmakermedia.org/films/almost-islandMore infoI began editing on Jonathan VanBallenbergh's feature documentary "Almost An Island" in June, 2019, and spent 15 weeks editing on it in the fall of 2019. The documentary is a cinematic portrait of the Goodwins, an Inupiat family living above the Arctic Circle in Kotzebue, Alaska, and is slated for completion in spring, 2020.
- Bricca, J. P. (2020. Missing in Brooks CountyMissing in Brooks County, LLC.More infoI am the Editor of Missing in Brooks County, a feature documentary about a town in South Texas where large numbers of migrants regularly go missing.
- Bricca, J. P. (2020. Sweet Sunshine (scripted feature film). Amazon PrimeFit Via Vi Productions.More infoI was hired as a second editor on the scripted feature film Sweet Sunshine.
- Bricca, J. P. (2019. Soledad. http://centralamericanfilmfestival.com/films/More infoI served as one of the Cinematographers and one of the Executive Producers on Soledad, a 24-minute short film about the harrowing journey of a Central American asylum seeker.
- Bricca, J. P. (2018. Body Parts sizzle reel. IFP Week Spotlight on Documentaries. New York, NY: Chuparosa Films / Independent Feature Project. https://vimeo.com/288808967/3a4087f5fdMore infoI was hired for four days of editing work to create a 3-minute sizzle reel for the documentary work-in-progress Body Parts, which is supported by the Sundance Documentary Fund, Fork Films, and is a California Humanities California Film Project grantee.
- Bricca, J. P. (2018. Documentary Editing: Creating Amalgam Scenes. Documentary Editing: Principles & Practice Vimeo and YouTube Channels. https://vimeo.com/285942500More infoDocumentary Editing: Creating Amalgam Scenes is a 2-minute tutorial video that is part of the Vimeo and YouTube Channels for my book "Documentary Editing: Principles and Practice."
- Bricca, J. P. (2018. Documentary Editing: Cutting a Verité Scene. Documentary Editing: Principles & Practice Vimeo and YouTube Channels. https://vimeo.com/232540633More infoDocumentary Editing: Cutting a Verité Scene is a 20-minute tutorial video that is part of the Vimeo and YouTube Channels for my book "Documentary Editing: Principles and Practice."
- Bricca, J. P. (2018. Documentary Editing: Invisibility. Documentary Editing: Principles & Practice Vimeo and YouTube Channels. https://vimeo.com/232538187More infoDocumentary Editing: Invisibility is a 3-minute tutorial video that is part of the Vimeo and YouTube Channels for my book "Documentary Editing: Principles and Practice."
- Bricca, J. P. (2018. Documentary Editing: Microbeats. Documentary Editing: Principles & Practice Vimeo and YouTube Channels. https://vimeo.com/232538526More infoDocumentary Editing: Microbeats is a 3-minute tutorial video that is part of the Vimeo and YouTube Channels for my book "Documentary Editing: Principles and Practice."
- Bricca, J. P. (2018. Documentary Editing: The Pop-In Moment. Documentary Editing: Principles & Practice Vimeo and YouTube Channels. https://vimeo.com/232537904More infoDocumentary Editing: The Pop-In Moment is a 3-minute tutorial video that is part of the Vimeo and YouTube Channels for my book "Documentary Editing: Principles and Practice."
- Bricca, J. P. (2018. Documentary Editing: Using Body Language. Documentary Editing: Principles & Practice Vimeo and YouTube Channels. https://vimeo.com/302906495More infoDocumentary Editing: Using Body Language is a 2-minute tutorial video that is part of the Vimeo and YouTube Channels for my book "Documentary Editing: Principles and Practice."
- Bricca, J. P. (2018. Documentary Editing: Working with Pauses. Documentary Editing: Principles & Practice Vimeo and YouTube Channels. https://vimeo.com/232167770More infoDocumentary Editing: Working with Pauses is a 4-minute tutorial video that is part of the Vimeo and YouTube Channels for my book "Documentary Editing: Principles and Practice."
- Bricca, J. P. (2018. Everything's Fine.More infoI worked as Editor of Michael Mulcahy's short narrative film "Everything's Fine."
- Bricca, J. P. (2018. Grey Gardens: Cutting A Dialogue Scene Entirely Out of Cutaways. Documentary Editing: Principles & Practice Vimeo and YouTube Channels. https://vimeo.com/280239035More infoGrey Gardens: Cutting A Dialogue Scene Entirely Out of Cutaways is a 90-second tutorial video that is part of the Vimeo and YouTube Channels for my book "Documentary Editing: Principles and Practice."
- Bricca, J. P. (2017. Our Desert Farms.More infoI worked as Editorial Consultant on this short documentary about climate change and drought in Arizona.
- Bricca, J. P. (2016. Focusing The Universe. Tucson, Arizona: Supernaut Films.More infoI am credited with "Additional Editing" on the short documentary "Focusing The Universe."
- Bricca, J. P., & Carpenter, K. D. (2016. You Try Living Here. Los Angeles, CA: Bird Pictures. http://karendeecarpenter.com/you-try-living-here/More infoI was co-editor of this short narrative film.
- Bricca, J. P., & Lampson, M. (2016. The Bad Kids. 2016 Sundance Film Festival. Park City, Utah. https://www.sundance.org/projects/the-bad-kids
- Bricca, J. P., & Molomot, L. (2016. The Camino Way. Tucson, Arizona: Dos Vatos Productions.More infoI worked with Lisa Molomot to complete the editing of a 12-minute work-in-progress reel for the feature documentary "The Camino Way."
- Bricca, J. P. (2015. "Many Bones, One Heart" (Story Advisor). Small Wheel Films.More infoI am credited as Story Advisor on Leslie Epperson's documentary feature "Many Bones, One Heart".
- Bricca, J. P. (2015. The Bad Kids. Low Key PicturesSundance Institute, Sundance Documentary Fund, Pare Lorenz Documentary Fund, Threshold Foundation, The Filmmaker Fund. http://www.thebadkidsmovie.comMore infoI was Editor of the feature documentary film The Bad Kids. I have lead billing as Editor on the film, which also includes Mary Lampson as a second Editor.
- Bricca, J. P., & Gapultos, G. (2015. The Sons Of BenRothbury Road Productions. http://sonsofbenmovie.comMore infoMy work as an Editor on The Sons Of Ben, a feature documentary about a group of rabid soccer fans in Philadelphia produced by Rothbury Road Productions, continued this year. A second editor was added to the team to help further the work, and the first film festival screenings are now scheduled for Spring 2015.
- Bricca, J. P. (2014. Morrie Turner ITVS TrailerHanson Film Institute. https://vimeo.com/102664277More infoI edited this 12-minute trailer for the documentary film Morrie Turner: Keeping The Faith that was used by Heaven Sent Productions in their submission to the Independent Television Service for project funding. The two week paid job was commissioned by the Hanson Film Institute and supervised by its Director, Vicky Westover, and by the film's Director Angel Harper.
- Bricca, J. P. (2014. The Consultant trailer. Long Wharf Theatre Website. New Haven, Connecticut: Long Wharf Theatre. http://longwharf.org/consultantMore infoI was Editor of the trailer for the Long Wharf Theatre World Premiere production of The Consultant by Heidi Schreck. Long Wharf Theatre is an organization of international renown that has been at the forefront of the regional theatre movement in the United States, with over 30 Long Wharf productions making the jump to Broadway and Off-Broadway.
- Bricca, J. P. (2014. The Last Five Years trailer. Long Wharf Theatre Website. New Haven, Connecticut: Long Wharf Theatre. http://longwharf.org/last-five-yearsMore infoI was Cinematographer and Editor of the trailer for the Long Wharf Theatre production of The Last Five Years, starring Katie Rose Clarke (Broadway's Wicked) and Adam Halpin (national tour of Rent). Long Wharf Theatre is an organization of international renown that has been at the forefront of the regional theatre movement in the United States, with over 30 Long Wharf productions making the jump to Broadway and Off-Broadway.
- Bricca, J. P. (2014. The Shadow Of The Hummingbird trailer. Long Wharf Theatre Website. New Haven, Connecticut: Long Wharf Theatre. http://longwharf.org/shadow-hummingbirdMore infoI was Cinematographer and Editor of the trailer for the World Premiere production of The Shadow Of The Hummingbird at Long Wharf Theatre, written by and starring Athol Fugard ("The greatest active playwright in the English-speaking world." --Time Magazine). Long Wharf Theatre is an organization of international renown that has been at the forefront of the regional theatre movement in the United States, with over 30 Long Wharf productions making the jump to Broadway and Off-Broadway.
- Bricca, J. P. (2014. Wanda The Wonderful. Film FestivalsBoxelder Productions. http://wandathewonderful.comMore infoI am Associate Editor of Wanda The Wonderful, a feature documentary about one of the Wild West's most colorful figures, sharpshooter Wanda Savage. (Tagline: "She had four husbands, but she only shot one of them.") The film was completed in May, 2014 and has been making the rounds at film festivals across the world. I was hired for one week of work on the film, spaced out over the course of several months. My contributions included the re-cutting of key scenes, making detailed notes on the entire film, and discussing the editorial strategy with Director/Producer Carolyn Macartney.
- Bricca, J. P. (2013. Finding Tatanka. http://www.tatankamovie.comMore infoA feature documentary about a pioneering Sixties activist finally coming to terms with the consequences of his uncompromising idealism. Featuring Joan Baez, Cesar Chavez, Daniel Ellsberg and Dolores Huerta."A compelling study of a fascinating figure." -- Michael Gottwald, Producer of Beasts of the Southern Wild
Creative Works
- Cinema Verite and the Reality Infection; August 2013; Stand By For Mind Control; This essay argued that the methods, formal conventions and ethos of Reality Television have come to be adopted in subtle but important ways in so-called "serious" documentaries. It was published on the film criticism blog Stand By For Mind Control on Aug. 22, 2013 and I released it on my own blog. http://www.standbyformindcontrol.com/2013/08/cinema-verite-and-the-reality-infection/http://jacobbricca.com/2013/08/22/cinema-verite-and-the-reality-infection/
