History-making cinematographer Rachel Morrison is adding another major credit to her resume. Deadline reports that she’s been tapped by Starz to direct “Hightown,” an upcoming crime drama.
Penned and executive produced by “Gotham” writer and producer Rebecca Cutter, “Hightown is “set amid the drug trade on Cape Cod.” A National Marine Fisheries Service officer, Jackie Quinones (Monica Raymund), discovers a body that washes ashore, and “[she’s] determined to help solve the murder even if the state cops want her nowhere near the case,” the source summarizes.
Morrison is the first female director of photography to be nominated for an Oscar for best cinematography. She received the nod in 2018 for Dee Rees’ “Mudbound.” Her other credits as a DP include “Black Panther,” “Dope,” and “Fruitvale Station.” “Hightown” won’t mark her directorial debut. She previously helmed episodes of “American Crime” and “Quantico.”
“Rachel is more than ready to set the tone, atmosphere, and authenticity of ‘Hightown,’” said Carmi Zlotnik, President of Programming for Starz. “Rachel is a true trailblazer whose experience and remarkable creative vision have proved to be both impactful and impressive. I can’t wait to see the results from Rachel, Rebecca, and the entire cast working together.”
Morrison has spoken out out about the industry’s sexist attitudes towards pregnant women and moms — and how these attitudes result in fewer opportunities for women. “I just wrapped a feature #againstallenemies at 8+ months pregnant,” she wrote in an Instagram post last August. “Now I’m on to a commercial and I plan to keep shooting for as long as anyone will hire me knowing in a few weeks I may have to replace myself if I go into labor on set… the point is I am NOT a superhero. I am just going about my life doing the thing that I love for as long as I can because the more I work before baby the longer I can take off after,” she explained. “Which should also be MY choice and no one else’s. Physically speaking I could have gone back to work within a week of having my son. At the time, I lost many jobs because people were nervous to hire me so soon after the birth but again I say this should be left up to us.”
