A Documentary Film
Directed by Sam Shahid
“Every artist has the right to be judged by his best work.
Certainly the best of these nudes
are my best.”
—GEORGE PLATT LYNES
George Platt Lynes began his career photographing celebrities, and it’s those portraits along with his extravagant fashion work that he’s best remembered for today. However, George’s heart, his passion, and his greatest talent lay elsewhere, in his work with the male nude. This work, sensuous and radically explicit for its time, has only recently begun being fully discovered and appreciated for the revolution that it represents — a man capturing his fantasies as a gift, a window to a future his camera saw coming before anyone else.
From visionary art director Sam Shahid, HIDDEN MASTER features a stunning collection of photography from the 1930s-50s, uncovering the life of Lynes less known: his gifted eye for the male form, his longterm friendships with Gertrude Stein and Alfred Kinsey, and his lasting influence as one of the first openly gay American artists.
FILM STILLS
George Platt Lynes working in his studio
Photograph by George Platt Lynes
Charles Leslie, Co-Founder, Leslie-Lohman Museum of Gay and Lesbian Art
Monroe Wheeler, George Platt Lynes, Glenway Wescott by George Platt Lynes
Photograph by George Platt Lynes
Gertrude Stein's correspondence with a young George Platt Lynes
George Platt Lynes in the studio photographing Paul Cadmus
"Concerto Barocco" by George Platt Lynes
Mary Panzer, Art Historian & Curator
Diana Vreeland by George Platt Lynes
A young George Platt Lynes's photograph of Monroe Wheeler in a travel album
Photograph by George Platt Lynes
Festival Calendar
May 17th
Seattle International Film Festival
Seattle, WA
3:00 PM
Followed by a Q&A with Director Sam Shahid
May 18th
Seattle International Film Festival
Seattle, WA
6:00 PM
Followed by a Q&A with Director Sam Shahid
HONORS
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HIDDEN MASTER: The Legacy of George Platt Lynes
Feature Documentary, 2023, 96 minutes
Director & Producer: Sam Shahid
Writers: Sam Shahid, Matthew Kraus, John MacConnell
Producers: Matthew Kraus, John MacConnell, Nando de Carvalho
Executive Producers: O’Brien Kelley, Raja Sethuraman
Co-Executive Producers: Charles W. Leslie & Rocco Lofaro Buonpane
Cinematography: Matthew Kraus
Sound & Lighting: John MacConnell
Editor: Conor McBride
Original Score: Sarah Lynch
Design & Animation: Grant Nellessen
Post Producer: Alan Balian
PRODUCTION
Art Direction: Shahid / Kraus & Company
Production Manager: Nando de Carvalho
Archival Producer: Laura Coxson
Rights & Clearances Manager: Robyn Lange
Music Supervisor: Anita Nedeljkovic
Score Mixer: Ciaran Byrne
Sound Mixer: Josh Heilbronner / Digital Arts
Sound Producer: Zennia M. Barahona / Digital Arts
Senior Colorist: Sean Ross / Gloss VFX
Senior Post Producer: Jessica Choi / Gloss VFX
Colorist Assistant: Yibin ‘Ab’ Su / Gloss VFX
Conform Artist: Justin Andrews / Gloss VFX, Andrew Marfoli / Gloss VFX
Proof Department Manager: Laxman Sethu / Gloss Studio
Senior Stills Producer: Jacqueline Bernal / Gloss Studio
Still Photographer: Peter Riesett
Copyright Counsel: Nancy E. Wolff
Production Legal: The Kelley Firm, PLLC
End credits created with: Endcrawl.com