FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT’S MODERN MASTERPIECE
Directed by Lauren Levine
Narrated by Brad Pitt
Official Release | OCTOBER 6th, 2020
San Francisco – Lauren Levine Media in cooperation with Unity Temple Restoration Foundation (UTRF), is proud to announce the release of the new documentary, “Unity Temple: Frank Lloyd Wright’s Modern Masterpiece.” Frank Lloyd Wright fans will have an opportunity to see the film during a special preview screening window, Friday, October 30th – Sunday, November 15, 2020.
An homage to America’s most renowned architect, the 55-minute film brings to life the historic collaboration to restore Unity Temple back to its original beauty. The dedicated team of architects, craftspeople, historians, and members of the Unity Temple Unitarian Universalist Congregation and Unity Temple Restoration Foundation reveal the history of one of Wright’s most innovative buildings that merged his love of architecture with his own spiritual values. The film includes reflective quotes of the architect’s philosophies narrated by Brad Pitt.
The Exclusive Preview Community Fundraiser event viewing window is Friday, October 30th through Sunday, November 15, 2020. A $20 rental fee will help support five participating Frank Lloyd Wright sites; Unity Temple, Fallingwater, Taliesin, Taliesin West and Hollyhock House, five of the eight Wright works named for the UNESCO World Heritage Site, “The 20th-Century Architecture of Frank Lloyd right.” The fundraiser screening will culminate in a special online Virtual Zoom Panel Discussion on Sunday, November 15, 2020 at 3 PM, Pacific and 6 PM Eastern, led by the filmmaker and featuring lead architect Gunny Harboe, historian Joe Siry and artisans Julie Sloan and Dorothy Krotzer. To pre-order tickets and register www.unitytemplefilm.com
WATCH THE TRAILER
The film has already received high-praise from industry experts:
“The documentary is perfectly paced and accessible with just the right balance of technical information, inspiring commentary, and beautiful imagery. Along with Pitt’s narration of FLW, the interviewees, particularly Gunny (Harboe) and Paul (Goldberger), established a wonderfully eloquent tone throughout. A joy to watch,” said Justin Gunther, Director, Fallingwater.
“Congrats – I really thought this was EXTREMELY well done! Everything about it down to the titles on the interviews with the stained glass emblem – 1st class! Beautifully shot, edited, scored! I thought the content was able to transcend an “architectural” documentary and illuminate the greater overall vision of “life and art and living,” Rick Rosenthal, Director/Producer, Whitewater Films.
Filmmaker Lauren Levine said “I hoped to convey a window into Wright’s mind, beyond the often repeated autobiographical mainstream material, so that we could better understand Wright’s guiding philosophy and intent that his buildings reflect the people who use them. It was important to capture both the tremendous task and details of the restoration itself as well as the spirit, diversity and commitment of the congregation who continue to bring the building to life.”
“The UTRF board and staff are thrilled that Unity Temple has been restored to its original magnificence and couldn’t be happier with this remarkable documentary film that captures the commitment of the renowned professionals and restoration artisans who made this dream a reality,” said Heidi Ruehle, Executive Director, Unity Temple Restoration Foundation.
Located in Oak Park, Il, Unity Temple is an icon of 20th-century modern architecture. Designed for Wright’s own Unitarian Universalist congregation in 1905, Unity Temple was constructed between 1906 and 1908 and dedicated in1909. For over 100 years, the building has continued to serve as the home of the Unity Temple Unitarian Universalist Congregation. In 1973, Unity Temple Restoration Foundation (UTRF) was established by a dedicated group of volunteers to steward the restoration and preservation of the building. www.utrf.org
The Unity Temple Restoration Project has received numerous Awards for Restoration & Preservation:
2019 – Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Preservation Award from the National Trust for Historic
Preservation
2019 – American Institute of Architects Illinois, Crombie Taylor Award for Preservation
2019 – Urban Land Institute, Chicago, Vision Award for Projects
2018 – World Monuments Fund/Knoll, Modernism Prize
2018 – Docomomo, Special Award of Restoration Excellence
2017 – Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Preservation Award from Landmarks Illinois
All Press/Media Resource Materials including video clips, photos and additional information can be found at www.unitytemplefilm.com
Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flwunitytemple – Instagram: @flwunitytemple and Twitter: @unitytemplefilm.
Additional streaming rentals and licensing options for “Unity Temple: Frank Lloyd Wright’s Modern Masterpiece” go to www.UnityTempleFilm.com Contact: Nadine Glinski – LL Media – 201-563-1351
About the Filmmaker, Lauren Levine
Lauren has produced and directed hundreds of hours of network, reality and documentary content for 20+ years in Los Angeles. Her latest venture as Producer/Director/Editor delves into a chapter in the life of America’s greatest architect, revealing the history and restoration of one of Frank Lloyd Wright’s most iconic buildings, Unity Temple. The film intersperses the architects philosophies with quotes narrated by Brad Pitt who is an architectural enthusiast and a fan of Frank Lloyd Wright. Lauren launched her career at Whitewater Films in Los Angeles as Director of Development for director/producer Rick Rosenthal and is happy to be reuniting after many years with Whitewater Films on a longitudinal documentary following a diverse group of student activists immersed in the movement to end gun violence in their communities.
About UTRF
Unity Temple Restoration Foundation (UTRF) was founded in 1973 by volunteers dedicated to restoring and preserving Unity Temple. Arts and culture programming presented by UTRF include performances, films, and art exhibitions that complement and showcase the building’s unique design features. Humanities-based lectures and presentations, such as the popular break::the::box series have highlighted themes in keeping with Wright’s spirit of exploring creative nonconformity. UTRF has hosted visits by classrooms for experiential lessons in American history, architecture, and mathematics; and presented youth workshops and summer camps on building and design. Unity temple has also served as a site for meetings and conferences.
About “The 20th-Century Architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright” The World Heritage Committee has officially inscribed The 20th-Century Architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright, which includes eight major works spanning 50 years of Wright’s career as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There are more than 1,000 World Heritage sites around the world, and the group of eight Wright sites is now among only 24 sites in the U.S. The collection represents the first modern architecture designation in the country on the prestigious list. Frank Lloyd Wright described Unity Temple as ‘my contribution to modern architecture.’ The building is one of the first monumental edifices created entirely in concrete; Wright’s radical departure from traditional materials and visionary experimentation established Unity Temple’s reputation as among the most innovative structures of the 20th century,” states Heidi Ruehle-May, Executive Director of the Unity Temple Restoration Foundation. “The inscription as a World Heritage site will help introduce Unity Temple to a larger international audience, creating the opportunity for thousands to experience Wright’s architectural masterpiece.”
“This recognition by UNESCO is a significant way for us to reconfirm how important Frank Lloyd Wright was to the development of modern architecture around the world,” says Barbara Gordon, executive director of the Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy, an international organization dedicated to the preservation of all of Wright’s remaining built works. “Our hope is that the inscription of these eight major works also brings awareness to the importance of preserving all of Wright’s 400 buildings as a vital part of our artistic, cultural and architectural heritage. All communities where a Wright building stands should be inspired to appreciate what they have and share in the responsibility to protect their local—and world—heritage.” WWW.SAVEWRIGHT.ORG