Produced by A24 and Change Content, directed by The Fines, and with graphics created by Union Editorial, “The Sixth” is our most narrative window to date into the events of January 6, 2021, in all of its chilling context. The narrative unfolds through the firsthand accounts of six individuals, each sharing their experiences directly to the camera or through voice-over.
Academy Award-winning documentarians Andrea Nix Fine and Sean Fine, known for their work on "Inocente" (2012), skillfully plunge viewers into the sensory overload of the day-long assault by Donald Trump supporters who breached the U.S. Capitol building. The filmmakers’ immersive approach captures the sounds, sights, emotions and disbelief, as the attempt to disrupt the official tabulation of votes aimed to derail Joe Biden's certification as the 46th president.
Just as the first-person accounts convey perspective, and the footage lays bare the violent reality from every angle, the visual aids created by Union provide a sense of the scene from 30,000 feet: Lead Designer/Animator Chris Bialkowski, with Animators Sean Vickery and Michael Merlino, have created a schematic timeline of the events of that day, representing the advancing mob and the volatile, fraying tether that each narrator held to their own survival that day. Their proximity to those who perished, and what it meant for Democracy and the United States as the siege unfolded, are conveyed precisely and powerfully.
“We turned to Union because this is a hard thing to tackle, to tell this story cinematically, and have the graphics feel personal. Sometimes in illustrating things, it removes the viewer from the emotion,” said The Fines. “How do you show where these six people are, show the magnitude of the crowd, show the locations of where everyone is, and ultimately, have people understand that the Capitol at one point is surrounded by more than 10,000 insurrectionists? That’s something you don't get from any of the existing footage. We knew from our past work with Chris that he has the ability to keep it intimate and powerful.”
“It was a pleasure working with Andrea, Sean, and Jeff (Consiglio, who edited the film with Chrystie Martinez-Gouz) again, on such an important film,” said Union’s Bialkowski who previously collaborated with the filmmakers on their HBO Max/CNN film, “LFG” (“Let’s F***ing Go”), a documentary following the U.S. women's soccer team's fight to close the gender pay gap. “My favorite projects allow us to pair impeccable research with striking visuals and contribute to telling the bigger story. We consider it an honor to be trusted with mapping out the events of that day – one in which the future of a nation hung in the balance.”
The official trailer for the film was cut at Union by Nadine Mueller. “The trailer has been such an important aspect of getting attention for this film,” The Fines shared. “Nadine cut something that beautifully conveys the film, with a sense of gravitas and action that is absolutely riveting. And it's actually made the difference in how many people watch ‘The Sixth’.”
The individuals who tell their stories in “The Sixth” are: acclaimed photographer Mel D. Cole, who continuously captured images and footage as he was swept along with the throng of protestors towards the Capitol steps; Metropolitan Police officer Officer Daniel Hodges, the individual widely recognized for his distressing ordeal of being crushed in a doorway; Officer Christina Laury, who endured a direct spray of bear repellent while facing off against demonstrators outside the Capitol; Robert J. Contee III, recently appointed as acting chief of the D.C. police, who provides a broader context to the events; Erica Loewe, the communications director for Rep. James Clyburn (D-SC), who witnessed with escalating apprehension as protestors breached police lines just outside her window; and finally, Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), who on January 5 had laid his 25-year-old son, Tommy, to rest, reflecting on the unfolding events from within the House chamber.
“The Sixth” is available for rent on Apple, Google Play, Prime Video, YouTube and other platforms. Mob violence, language.
To find out more about the film and the "Screen it Forward" impact campaign, please visit www.thesixthmovie.com.
About Union
Union Editorial has offices located in Los Angeles, New York, Austin, and London, where it maintains an alliance with Marshall Street Editors. The company also develops and produces original content. Other Union companies include Hunter, which provides finishing services, vfx, graphics and mix for commercials, features and gaming. Union is presided over by Partner/Managing Director Michael Raimondi alongside Executive Producer Joe Ross and Head of Production Dani DuHadway in LA, Partner/Managing Director Caryn Maclean alongside Executive Producer Melissa Lubin in NY, Executive Producer Vicki Russell in Austin, and Logan Aries, Executive Producer of Hunter. The Union roster is comprised of Partner/Editors Jim Haygood, Einar Thorsteinsson, Jay Friedkin, Sloane Klevin, Marco Perez, Merritt Duff, Graham Turner, and Chris Huth, editors Daniel Luna, Laura Milstein, Jason Lucas, Karen Kourtessis, Kevin Ray, Rachael Connelly, Zach Kashkett, Andrea MacArthur, Amanda Perry, Justin “Q” Quagliata, Vinnie Hobbs, Rodrigo Brazão, Rick Lawley, and Jono Griffith, as well as select projects with Guicho Flores, Teddy Gersten, Tim Thornton-Allan, Matt Chesse, John Mayes, Spencer Ferszt, and the Marshall Street roster.
