Paul Devlin (filmmaker)
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Paul Josiah Devlin is an American independent filmmaker. He is also a professional video editor, often working in sports broadcasting.
As a director and producer, Devlin's films include Power Trip, SlamNation, BLAST!, The Frontman, and Freestyle: The Art of Rhyme. His films have won awards in the Berlin International Film Festival, the Florida Film Festival, Northampton Film Festival, Hot Docs, and Philafilm. He has received an Independent Spirit Awards nomination for Best Documentary and an Individual Artist Grant from the New York State Council of the Arts.
As video editor, his credits include TV shows, films, music videos and advertisements. For his work in sports broadcasting, Devlin has won seven Emmy awards including NBC's coverage of the 24th Olympic Winter Games and the 32nd Olympics, and CBS' coverage of the Super Bowl and the Tour de France.
Life and career
While attending high school in New Jersey, Devlin penned a now widely-shared "I reject your rejection"[1] letter to the admissions department at Harvard University. The letter was published twice[2] [3]in the New York times, copied and re-purposed, as well as performed by prominent actors onstage through the London-based group Letters Live. Himesh Patel performed the letter at the Royal Albert Hall in October 2022.
While attending the University of Michigan, Devlin produced, directed and edited his first documentary Rockin' Brunswick[4] starring Matt Pinfield; broadcast his first music video "You Don't Know Me" on MTV's Basement Tapes, hosted by Billy Crystal; participated in a screenwriting workshop led by Lawrence Kasdan; and worked as a production assistant on Robert Altman's Secret Honor, filmed in Ann Arbor. Devlin graduated with a BA in English and Language Literature.
Devlin's professional career began in Hong Kong, at Take Two Film and Video, where he edited a movie for the Hong Kong Tourist Association's Inside Hong Kong. Devlin's career in sports broadcasting began when he was hired locally in Seoul, Korea, by NBC Sports to work as a runner at the Games of the XXIV Olympiad.
Personal life
Devlin is married to Emily Raabe.[5]
Filmography
- SlamNation
- Power Trip
- BLAST!
- Freestyle: The Art of Rhyme
- The Front Man
- Slammin': The Sport of Spoken Word
References
- ^ "How a high school senior responded to a rejection letter from Duke". The Christian Science Monitor. 2 April 2015. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
- ^ Devlin, Paul (May 5, 1996). "Make Rejection Work for You". The New York Times. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
- ^ Devlin, Paul (1981-05-31). "Personally Speaking". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-02-03.
- ^ Ciraulo, Lauren (20 January 2011). "Film recalls famed music scene of 1980s". centraljersey.com. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
- ^ "Emily Raabe, Paul Devlin". The New York Times. 22 July 2011. Retrieved 27 January 2022.