{{Short description|American film and television production company}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2014}} {{Infobox company | name = FenceSitter Films | logo = | type = | founded = 1995 | hq_location_city = Los Angeles | hq_location_country = | hq_location = | key_people = Kyle Schickner | area_served = | industry = Entertainment | products = Motion pictures, television programming, new media | services = | revenue = | operating_income = | net_income = | num_employees = | parent = | owner = | divisions = | subsidiaries = | website = {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20020121171844/http://www.fencesitterfilms.com/ www.fencesitterfilms.com]}} | footnotes = }}

'''FenceSitter Films''' is a film production and television production company founded by Kyle Schickner an American film producer, writer, director, actor and a bisexual civil rights activist.

==History== It was originally formed in 1995 as FenceSitter Productions, but later the name was changed to the current FenceSitter Films. According to the official website, FenceSitter Films was ''"founded on the belief that films don't need straight white men as heroes in order to be successful and entertaining."''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fencesitterfilms.com|title=FenceSitter Films Official Site|access-date=August 18, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090904141921/http://fencesitterfilms.com/|archive-date=September 4, 2009|url-status=usurped}}</ref> Schickner said, ''"I wanted to make films [that] a person of color, a woman, or a bisexual person would enjoy watching."''<ref name="rutger">{{cite web |url=http://www.rutgersalumni.org/1766/1766Spring2008.pdf |work=1766 Magazine |publisher=Rutgers Alumni Association |access-date=June 26, 2008 |title=Spring 2008 |archive-date=November 16, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091116191953/http://www.rutgersalumni.org/1766/1766Spring2008.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The first feature film made in 1997 was the romantic comedy ''Rose by Any Other Name...'' and was the film version of Schickner's most successful Off-Off-Broadway play.<ref name="LATimes1">{{cite news |work=Los Angeles Times |title=MOVIES; Having It Both Ways; If you think there are more bisexuals in films, it's because there are |date=July 20, 1997 |page=20 |first=Michael |last=Szymanski |quote= In his "Rose by Any Other Name," due in October, New Jersey filmmaker Kyle Schickner stars as a straight man baffled by the idea of dating a lesbian.}}</ref><ref name="SF Weekly">{{cite news |work=SF Weekly |title=MOVIES; Zoom Lens; Bisexual Film Festival |date=July 22, 1998 |first=Morris |last=Morris |url=http://www.sfweekly.com/1998-07-22/film/zoom-lens/ |quote=Saturday's double bill begins with a world premiere, Kyle Schickner's often hilarious indie Rose by Any Other Name ... (1997). |access-date=November 15, 2009 |archive-date=June 10, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110610133329/http://www.sfweekly.com/1998-07-22/film/zoom-lens/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Additional feature films have included the mockumentary ''Full Frontal'' and the critically acclaimed thriller ''Strange Fruit''.<ref name="svd">{{cite news |work=Southern Voice |title=A ripe discourse; Black arts festival includes gay films among offerings |url=http://www.southernvoice.com/2005/7-15/arts/feature/eclipse_nationalblackarts.cfm |date=July 15, 2005 |first=Brian |last=Moylah}}</ref> The most current feature film, ''Steam'', stars Oscar-nominated actress Ruby Dee, 1980s and indie icon Ally Sheedy as well as up-and-coming young actress Kate Siegel.<ref name="lacb">{{cite news |work=LA City Beat |title=Gays Gone Wild! Quicksilver queers flaunt it at Outfest |first=Paul |last=Birchall |url=http://www.lacitybeat.com/cms/story/detail/gays_gone_wild/7231/ |date=July 9, 2008 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090615051343/http://www.lacitybeat.com/cms/story/detail/gays_gone_wild/7231/ |archive-date=June 15, 2009 |df=mdy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |work=University Wire |title=Rutgers: Filmmakers cast the spotlight on Rutgers |url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-26933317_ITM |date=November 20, 2006 |first=Milalie |last=Francisco |quote=Most recently, former Highland Park resident and Rutgers alumnus Kyle Schickner returned from California to film his independent movie, "Steamroom." Selesky said Schickner filmed at various sites in New Brunswick, including Passion Puddle.}}</ref>

In late 2008 into 2009 FenceSitter Films began working with an American Cable TV Network to spin-off Rose by Any Other Name... into a weekly TV series. However, according to Schickner "at the 11th hour as they were setting up to shoot the pilot the network expressed concern over how the cutting-edge social theme might play with some of their core viewership and decided to look at more data to see what kind of response the show might get". So with the assistance of American Institute of Bisexuality the project was turned into a Web series with each Webisode being posted on the FenceSitter Films YouTube channel.<ref name="Bi Media">{{cite news |work=Bi Media |title=Making our own TV |date=November 8, 2009|url=http://www.bimedia.org/635/making-our-own-tv|quote=Manchester had Queer As Folk. The USA has The L Word – and there's talk of the BBC having set the cast for a UK equivalent… but it's all pretty much lesbian and gay television. It seems if we want bi telly, we are going to have to make our own.}}</ref><ref name="Bi Magazine">{{cite news|work=Bi Magazine|title=Rose By Any Other Name|date=November 9, 2009|url=http://bimagazine.org/index.php?id=157|quote=The web series "Rose By Any Other Name..." is based on Kyle Schickner's first film by the same title. The series follows the main character – Rose – as she tries to come to terms with her feelings for Anthony.|access-date=November 15, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091117015008/http://bimagazine.org/index.php?id=157|archive-date=November 17, 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Filmography==

===Feature films=== *''Steam'' (2007) (producer, director, writer)<ref name="lacb"/> *''Paradise Lost'' (2006) (producer, director, writer, actor) *''Strange Fruit'' (2004) (producer, director, writer, actor)<ref name="svd"/> *''Full Frontal'' (2001) (executive producer, director, writer, actor) *''Rose by Any Other Name...'' (1997) (producer director, writer, actor)<ref name="LATimes1"/>

===Web series=== *''Rose by Any Other Name...'' (2009) (producer director, writer, actor)<ref name="Bi Media"/><ref name="Bi Magazine"/>

== References == {{reflist}}

==External links== * {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20090904141921/http://fencesitterfilms.com/ FenceSitter Films]}} (Main Website) * [http://www.facebook.com/pages/FenceSitter-Films/120417158540?ref=sgm FenceSitter Films on Facebook] * [https://www.youtube.com/user/fencesitterfilms FenceSitter Films Youtube Channel]

{{Bisexuality topics}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:FenceSitter Films}} Category:Film production companies based in California Category:Entertainment companies established in 1995 Category:Television production companies based in California Category:Privately held companies based in Los Angeles