CO-DIRECTOR / PRODUCER

TAYLOR LEE NAGEL

Taylor Lee Nagel is an independent film director and producer. Taylor is a graduate of Barnard College, Columbia University where she studied Political Science and pursued her passion for film. 

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In the tradition of the industry, she began as an intern for filmmakers and industry organizations (including Ken Burns, the Producers Guild of America, and the Film Society of Lincoln Center) while learning on-the-go while producing low-budget short films, some of which can be seen by the world, others are hidden in the depths of hard drives. 

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Since then Taylor has worked on both fictional and documentary film and digital projects, which have been screened at a variety of film festivals. After over two years working for veteran independent producers at NYC-based production and financing 

company, Locomotive, Taylor ventured out on her own to pursue even grittier independent films. 

CO-DIRECTOR / PRODUCER

JESS VOGEL

Jess Vogel was born in Albany, raised in Philadelphia, educated in Miami and Tokyo, and currently resides in beautiful Bushwick, Brooklyn. After majoring in Entrepreneurship at the University of Miami School of Business, Jess moved to New York to pursue a career in, well, many things.

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Prior to We Were Strangers, Jess produced a documentary series about a man who ran across America entitled Run Carlos Run. Shot over 73 days and across 12 states, with a budget of $100k, the series followed Carlos through big cities and small towns, collecting stories from and sharing moments with the wonderful and diverse individuals who identify as Americans.

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Jess has also produced an award-winning web series, started a tech company, managed an art gallery and has been intermittently paid for her words. Basically, people have given her various sums of money to use her creativity, intelligence and drive to help make great things happen. She believes We Were Strangers will be the greatest thing she’s made yet.