# Lesley Chilcott

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{{short description|American film producer and director|bot=PearBOT 5}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Lesley Chilcott
| image              = Lesley Chilcott on RealTVfilms.jpg
| caption            = Chilcott in 2009
| occupation         = [Film producer](/source/Film_producer), [Film director](/source/Film_director)
| years_active       = 2003 -  Current
| notable_works      = An Inconvenient Truth, Watson, Arnold
| website            = http://www.lesleychilcott.com/
}}

'''Lesley Chilcott''' is an American filmmaker known for her work addressing [social](/source/Social_justice) and [environmental justice](/source/environmental_justice), [education](/source/education), [gender equality](/source/gender_equality), and [pop culture](/source/Popular_culture) phenomena. In 2019, she directed ''[Watson](/source/Watson_(2019_film))'', an action-adventure documentary about [Sea Shepherd](/source/Sea_Shepherd_Conservation_Society) founder and eco-activist [Paul Watson](/source/Paul_Watson) and his lifelong mission to save the oceans, which the ''[Los Angeles Times](/source/Los_Angeles_Times)'' described as “excellent and urgent,” adding that the “riveting documentary should be required viewing for all.”<ref>{{Cite news |last=Walsh |first=Kate |title='Watson' delivers fierce message from eco-warrior and Sea Shepherd captain |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2019-10-24/paul-watson-documentary-sea-shepherd |work=Los Angeles Times |date=2019-10-24 |access-date=2025-08-17}}</ref>

Chilcott produced the Academy Award–winning ''[An Inconvenient Truth](/source/An_Inconvenient_Truth)'' (2006), a critical and commercial success that earned the [Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature](/source/Academy_Award_for_Best_Documentary_Feature) and the [Academy Award for Best Original Song](/source/Academy_Award_for_Best_Original_Song).<ref>{{Cite web |title=The 79th Academy Awards (2007) Nominees and Winners |url=https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2007 |website=Oscars.org |access-date=2025-08-17}}</ref>

== Life and career ==

Chilcott was born in [Bellflower, California](/source/Bellflower%2C_California), and developed a love for the outdoors during family trips to the [Colorado River](/source/Colorado_River). She earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the [University of Southern California](/source/University_of_Southern_California) and has credited both her appreciation for nature and the 1988 documentary ''[Cane Toads: An Unnatural History](/source/Cane_Toads%3A_An_Unnatural_History)'' with inspiring her career in filmmaking. “When I saw ''Cane Toads'', I realized this was a different genre than I’d been led to believe,” she told ''Produced By'' magazine. “Not only is this hilarious, but it’s pure craziness… and I thought, That’s what I want to do.”<ref>{{Cite magazine |title=March 2016 Cover Story: Lesley Chilcott |magazine=Produced By |publisher=Producers Guild of America |date=February 1, 2016 |url=https://issuu.com/moontidemedia/docs/pga_feb-mar16_digipub |access-date=2025-08-22}}</ref>

Chilcott was selected as a 2025 Bellagio Center resident by the [Rockefeller Foundation](/source/Rockefeller_Foundation). She is scheduled to spend November 2025 in Italy as part of the residency, joining 13 international leaders working on solutions to major climate change challenges.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rockefeller Foundation Announces 2025 Bellagio Residents and Issues Open Call for 2026 Residencies |url=https://www.rockefellerfoundation.org/news/rockefeller-foundation-announces-2025-bellagio-residents-and-issues-open-call-for-2026-residencies/ |website=Rockefeller Foundation |date=2025-06-27 |access-date=2025-08-22}}</ref>

As a director, Chilcott’s films include ''[Watson](/source/Watson_(2019_film))'' (2019), which won the Zelda Penzel Giving Voice to the Voiceless Award at the [Hamptons International Film Festival](/source/Hamptons_International_Film_Festival) and Best Feature Film at the [International Wildlife Film Festival](/source/International_Wildlife_Film_Festival);<ref>{{Cite web |title=HIFF 2019 Awards |url=https://hamptonsfilmfest.org/features/2019-award-winners |website=Hamptons International Film Festival |date=2019-10-14 |access-date=2025-08-22}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=IWFF 2019 Award Winners |url=https://wildlifefilms.org/2019-festival/award-winners-2019/ |website=International Wildlife Film Festival |date=2019-04-20 |access-date=2025-08-22}}</ref> documentary ''A Small Section of the World'' (2014);<ref>{{Cite news |title='A Small Section of the World': Film Review |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/a-small-section-world-film-review-758137/ |work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=2014-12-18 |access-date=2025-08-22}}</ref> and documentary ''[CodeGirl](/source/CodeGirl)'' (2015), the first feature film to premiere exclusively on [YouTube](/source/YouTube) before moving to theaters.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Walsh |first=Kate |title=Review: 'CodeGirl': Documentary looks at bridging the tech gender gap, one app at a time |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/movies/la-et-mn-codegirl-review-20151101-story.html |work=Los Angeles Times |date=2015-11-01 |access-date=2025-08-22}}</ref> Selected for the [American Film Showcase](/source/American_Film_Showcase),<ref>{{Cite web |title=American Film Showcase – Films |url=https://americanfilmshowcase.com/codegirl/ |website=American Film Showcase |access-date=2025-08-22}}</ref> the documentary follows an annual competition in which teenage girls from around the world design an app to solve a problem in their community. Her television work includes [Netflix](/source/Netflix)’s three-part docuseries ''Arnold'' (2023), which examines the life and career of [Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger](/source/Arnold_Schwarzenegger),<ref>{{Cite news |last=Roeper |first=Richard |title='Arnold' doc tells Schwarzenegger's amazing story in three acts |url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/movies-and-tv/2023/6/6/23748822/arnold-review-netflix-schwarzenegger-documentary |work=Chicago Sun-Times |date=2023-06-06 |access-date=2025-08-22}}</ref> and the six-part [MGM+](/source/MGM%2B) series ''Helter Skelter: An American Myth'' (2020), which explored the decades-long cultural fascination with [Charles Manson](/source/Charles_Manson).<ref>{{Cite news |last=LaSalle |first=Mick |title=Review: 'Helter Skelter' a brilliant dive into Manson and the dark side of '60s counterculture |url=https://datebook.sfchronicle.com/movies-tv/review-helter-skelter-a-brilliant-dive-into-manson-and-the-dark-side-of-60s-counterculture |work=San Francisco Chronicle |date=2020-07-22 |access-date=2025-08-22}}</ref>

Chilcott’s directing is marked by immersive storytelling that blends journalistic depth with a strong cinematic style. Writing about ''Helter Skelter: An American Myth'', ''[San Francisco Chronicle](/source/San_Francisco_Chronicle)'' critic [Mick LaSalle](/source/Mick_LaSalle) noted that she “visually and sonically … locks us in this 1969 world,” using archival broadcasts, period footage, and ambient sound in place of narration, and called the series “artful and extraordinary… documentary filmmaking at its best.”<ref>{{Cite news |last=LaSalle |first=Mick |title=Review: 'Helter Skelter' a brilliant dive into Manson and the dark side of '60s counterculture |url=https://datebook.sfchronicle.com/movies-tv/review-helter-skelter-a-brilliant-dive-into-manson-and-the-dark-side-of-60s-counterculture |work=San Francisco Chronicle |date=2020-07-22 |access-date=2025-08-22}}</ref>

Similarly, [Kate Walsh](/source/Kate_Walsh_(film_critic)) of the ''[Los Angeles Times](/source/Los_Angeles_Times)'', reviewing ''Watson'' (2019), described its “fierce, urgent” tone and its ability to immerse audiences in the activist’s struggle, highlighting Chilcott’s use of her subjects’ voices and intense visuals to create a sense of immediacy. This approach—allowing characters to speak for themselves while anchoring stories in rigorous research—has become a hallmark of her filmmaking.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Walsh |first=Kate |title='Watson' delivers fierce message from eco-warrior and Sea Shepherd captain |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2019-10-24/paul-watson-documentary-sea-shepherd |work=Los Angeles Times |date=2019-10-24 |access-date=2025-08-22}}</ref>

Chilcott served as executive producer of [Hulu](/source/Hulu)’s three-part series ''Mastermind: To Think Like a Killer'' (2024), about [Dr. Ann Burgess](/source/Ann_Wolbert_Burgess), the architect of the FBI’s “mindhunter” method, which earned a 2025 [News & Documentary Emmy](/source/News_%26_Documentary_Emmy_Award) nomination for Outstanding Crime and Justice Documentary.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mastermind: To Think Like a Killer |url=https://press.hulu.com/shows/mastermind-to-think-like-a-killer/ |website=Hulu Press |access-date=2025-08-22}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=46th News & Documentary Emmy Awards – Nominees (PDF) |url=https://theemmys.tv/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/46th-Annual-News-Documentary-Emmy-Awards_Nominees_with-namers_2025-07-01-3.pdf |website=The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences |date=2025-07-01 |access-date=2025-08-22}}</ref> She also executive produced the four-part series ''Amityville: An Origin Story'' (2023) for [MGM+](/source/MGM%2B).<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rice |first=Lynette |title='Hoodlum' TV Remake & 'The Emperor of Ocean Park' Adaptation From John Wells Leads MGM+ Development Slate |url=https://deadline.com/2023/01/mgm-tv-development-slate-hoodlum-the-emperor-of-ocean-park-1235215010/ |work=Deadline |date=2023-01-10 |access-date=2025-08-22}}</ref>

Chilcott produced the education documentary ''[Waiting for "Superman"](/source/Waiting_for_%22Superman%22)'' (2010), which earned her the [Producers Guild of America](/source/Producers_Guild_of_America) Award for Outstanding Producer of Documentary Theatrical Motion Pictures.<ref>{{Cite web |title=PGA Awards Winners 2011 |url=https://producersguild.org/page/awards-2011 |website=Producers Guild of America |access-date=2025-08-22}}</ref> Her other producing credits include the Academy Award–winning ''[An Inconvenient Truth](/source/An_Inconvenient_Truth)'' (2006);<ref>{{Cite web |title=The 79th Academy Awards (2007) Nominees and Winners |url=https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2007 |website=Oscars.org |access-date=2025-08-22}}</ref> the cult rock documentary ''[It Might Get Loud](/source/It_Might_Get_Loud)'' (2008), which profiles guitarists [The Edge](/source/The_Edge), [Jimmy Page](/source/Jimmy_Page), and [Jack White](/source/Jack_White);<ref>{{Cite web |last=Renner |first=Brian D. |title=It Might Get Loud (2009) |url=https://www.movieinsider.com/m5641/it-might-get-loud |website=Movie Insider |date=2009-11-26 |access-date=2025-08-22}}</ref> and ''[An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power](/source/An_Inconvenient_Sequel%3A_Truth_to_Power)'' (2017), which continued former [Vice President](/source/Vice_President_of_the_United_States) [Al Gore](/source/Al_Gore)’s campaign to address [climate change](/source/climate_change).<ref>{{Cite web |title=An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/an_inconvenient_sequel_truth_to_power |website=Rotten Tomatoes |access-date=2025-08-22}}</ref> Her films have screened at major festivals including the [Sundance](/source/Sundance_Film_Festival), [Cannes](/source/Cannes_Film_Festival), [Toronto](/source/Toronto_International_Film_Festival), and [Berlin](/source/Berlin_International_Film_Festival) film festivals.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sundance Institute – Film Archive |url=https://festival.sundance.org/program/#film-content |website=Sundance.org |access-date=2025-08-22}}</ref>

She is currently directing ''Howling'', a documentary examining the clash between old and new ideals in the [American West](/source/Western_United_States) through the lens of one of its most misunderstood animals: the [wolf](/source/wolf).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Campfire Studios Announces 'Howling' |url=https://deadline.com/2025/05/campfire-studios-howling-lesley-chilcott-documentary-123456789/ |website=Deadline |date=2025-05-15 |access-date=2025-08-22}}</ref>

==Filmography==
{{BLP sources section|date=July 2023}}
'''Feature Films:'''
* ''[An Inconvenient Truth](/source/An_Inconvenient_Truth)'' (2006)
* ''[It Might Get Loud](/source/It_Might_Get_Loud)'' (2008)
* ''[Waiting for “Superman”](/source/Waiting_for_%22Superman%22)'' (2010)
* ''[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3225948/ Gahan Wilson: Born Dead, Still Weird]'' (2013)
* ''[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3906440/ A Small Section of the World]'' (2014)
* ''[CodeGirl](/source/CodeGirl)'' (2015)
* ''[An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power](/source/An_Inconvenient_Sequel%3A_Truth_to_Power)'' (2017)
* ''[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10214220/ Maxima]'' (2019)
* ''[Watson](/source/Watson_(film))'' (2019)
* ''Howling (Status: In Production)''

'''Television Series:''' 
* ''[Helter Skelter: An American Myth](/source/Helter_Skelter%3A_An_American_Myth)'' (2020)<ref>{{cite web | url=https://datebook.sfchronicle.com/movies-tv/review-helter-skelter-a-brilliant-dive-into-manson-and-the-dark-side-of-60s-counter-culture/amp | title=Review: 'Helter Skelter' a brilliant dive into Manson and the dark side of '60s counterculture &#124; Datebook }}</ref>
* ''[Amityville: An Origin Story](/source/Amityville%3A_An_Origin_Story)'' (2022)<ref>{{cite web | url=https://nytimes.pressreader.com/the-new-york-times | title=The New York Times Replica Edition }}</ref>
* ''[Arnold](/source/Arnold_(TV_series))'' (2023)<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/netflix-arnold-schwarzenegger-documentary-trailer-1235483315/| title=Netflix Releases Arnold Schwarzenegger Documentary Trailer, The Hollywood Reporter | website=[The Hollywood Reporter](/source/The_Hollywood_Reporter) | date=10 May 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-06-05 |title='Schwarzenegger Jokes That He's Going to Live Forever': The Story Behind Netflix's 'Arnold' |url=https://www.esquire.com/uk/culture/a44075563/netflix-arnold-interview/ |access-date=2023-06-16 |website=Esquire |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |author=D Kumar |date=2023-06-05 |title=Arnold: A must-watch documentary series on the life of a living legend |url=https://showsnob.com/2023/06/05/arnold-documentary-series-on-life-of-living-legend/ |access-date=2023-06-16 |website=Show Snob |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Writer |first=Guest |date=2023-06-05 |title=Review: 'Arnold' Documentary on Netflix |url=https://www.thecosmiccircus.com/review-arnold-documentary-on-netflix/ |access-date=2023-06-16 |website=The Cosmic Circus |language=en-US}}</ref>
* ''Mastermind (2024)''<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bell |first=BreAnna |date=2023-04-28 |title=Hulu Announces 'Mastermind' Documentary from Campfire Studios and Dakota and Elle Fanning's Lewellen Pictures |url=https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/hulu-mastermind-documentary-campfire-studios-dakota-elle-fanning-lewellen-pictures-1235598045/ |access-date=2023-06-16 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{IMDb name|2026261}}
*{{Twitter}}
* [https://www.instagram.com/lesleychilcott/ Lesley Chilcott on Instagram]

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chilcott, Lesley}}
Category:Living people
Category:American documentary film directors
Category:American documentary film producers
Category:American women documentary filmmakers
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
Category:21st-century American women

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Lesley Chilcott](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lesley_Chilcott) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lesley_Chilcott?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.