On Friday, Prime Video released the four-part coming-of-age docuseries Always Jane – a production of Amazon Studios, Mutt Film, and Union – an intimate and unguarded look at transgender teenager Jane Noury and her family as she prepares to leave home for college. Jonathan C. Hyde directed the series and also serves as executive producer with Union’s James Haygood and Michael Raimondi, along with Mutt Film’s Beth George and Shannon Lords-Houghton. Jane Noury is also an executive producer, with Union’s Katherine LeBlond serving as producer.
According to The Guardian, “The series offers a compassionate and understated window into a late adolescent experience still massively underrepresented on-screen and under siege in several states.” The Advocate described Always Jane as “a much-needed salve for the heart and a beacon of hope in a year that has proven to be especially painful and deadly for trans people. It’s not just a story of resilience against adversity, but of compassion as well, and it will tug at your heartstrings.” The New York Times counted Always Jane among the new shows that “reflect a changing culture that allows for deeper and more nuanced explorations of their subjects — even as the films themselves contribute to those cultural changes.”
These responses to Always Jane come as no surprise to Raimondi. “Jane's story is a testament to love, compassion and the true meaning of family,” he said. “The hard part is behind us. Now it’s time for the rest of the world to fall in love with the Nourys the way we all did.”
“When Jonathan came to us with hours of footage of Jane and her family, and a ton shot by the Nourys themselves, we could see this project had the essential element – characters you can’t take your eyes off of,” Haygood recalled. “We sensed there was a four-episode story there, and fortunately Amazon believed us. After a few months of editorial madness, the show is dropping and we can’t wait for everyone to meet this incredible family, and witness how beautiful growing up trans can be.” In addition to his role as EP, Haygood served as Supervising Editor on the series, which was cut by Zach Kashkett of Union, Rodrigo Brazão, Meghan Parkansky and Jessica Potter.
Jane Noury lives with her family in rural New Jersey, and like any teenager, must balance friends, family, and school. As the show’s press materials assert, “While today’s political and social climate might not seem like the easiest time for a transgender teenager to grow up, you haven’t met her family.” The Nourys wear their hearts on their sleeves and find irreverent humor in daily life, while Jane sets her sights on life beyond her family. The Amazon Original series reveals a family with unconditional love that shines through as they tackle obstacles head-on so that Jane can live authentically. Navigating deeply personal and challenging issues, the Noury family’s uplifting humor and kindness is always present, revealing the transformative power of acceptance, support, and love.
Always Jane is the latest example of Union’s expansion into original content development, consulting, and financing for branded content, features, and documentary series.
In October, House of Secrets: The Burari Deaths (Netflix India), became a surprise international hit, in the top 10 for Britain, Australia, and most of the Asian countries. The docuseries was cut at Union Editorial, where the project team comprised Managing Director/ Partner Michael Raimondi, Partner/Editor James Haygood (as Executive Producer/Supervising Editor), Katherine LeBlond (Producer), and Zach Kashkett (Editor). Additional endeavors include A BEAUTIFUL CURSE (Les Producers 2021), the feature debut of writer/director Martin Garde Abildgaard. Raimondi and Union Partner/Editor Marco Perez are among the executive producers of the film, which has received numerous honors, including Best Editing for Perez, at the RiverRun International Film Festival, and Grand Jury Prize for Best Genre Film at Cinequest 2021, where it had its World Premiere.
The November 12 premiere of Always Jane included more than 240 countries and territories worldwide.
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, Nicholas Wayman-Harris, Rachael Waxler, Zach Kashkett, Andrea MacArthur, Amanda Perry, Justin “Q” Quagliata, and Rick Lawley, as well as select projects with Teddy Gersten, Tim Thornton-Allan, Matt Chesse, John Mayes, Spencer Ferszt, Paul Plew and the Marshall Street roster.
