Geoff Blackwell is a New Zealand publisher, author, and film director. He is the founder of publishing companies PQ Blackwell, Blackwell & Ruth (with co-founder Ruth Hobday), and MILK Books. He worked with Nelson Mandela and later the Nelson Mandela Foundation to produce several books, including Conversations with Myself, and is the creator and director of the Netflix original series Live to Lead (2022), in partnership with the foundation. In 2018, he created the 200 Women: Who Will Change the Way You See the World initiative, comprising a book and exhibition.
Career
editGeoff Blackwell has created books, exhibitions, and films on subjects of humanity, equality, and the environment.[1] He has created books with international photographers Tim Flach, Platon, Albert Watson, Elliott Erwitt, Andrew Zuckerman, and others.[2][3]
In 1998 he created M.I.L.K: Moments of Intimacy, Laughter and Kinship, an international photographic competition which received 40,000 entries from 164 countries.[4]
In 2003 he established an independent publishing house, PQ Blackwell.[2]
Over a number of years, Blackwell worked alongside Nelson Mandela and later the Nelson Mandela Foundation,[5][6] with whom he created five books, including New York Times bestseller[7] Conversations with Myself [8] and The Prison Letters of Nelson Mandela (2017).[9]
In 2011 he published Tutu: The Authorized Portrait with Archbishop Desmond Tutu[10] and two books on the struggle for freedom in South Africa with anti-apartheid activist Ahmed Kathrada.[2]
In 2012 he founded print-on-demand photo book business, MILK Books.
In 2017 he co-founded Blackwell and Ruth in partnership with Ruth Hobday, his long-time creative partner.[11][12]
200 Women: Who Will Change the Way You See the World is a book and exhibition gender equality initiative launched in 2018.[13] Co-authored with Ruth Hobday, it combines original interviews with photographic portraits by Kieran E. Scott, and was the result of a global journey to find two hundred women from diverse backgrounds, and to ask them what really matters to them.[14]
In 2020 Blackwell and co-author Ruth Hobday published Human Nature: Planet Earth In Our Time.[15][16] The book examines the age of the Anthropocene and the effect of humanity's intersection with nature, asking photographers Joel Sartore, Paul Nicklen, Ami Vitale, Brent Stirton, Frans Lanting, Brian Skerry, Tim Laman, Cristina Mittermeier, J Henry Fair, Richard John Seymour, George Steinmetz, and Steve Winter about their view on the present geological era for the planet.[17]
In 2020 Blackwell published I Know This to Be True, a series of books featuring original interviews with modern leaders, including Jacinda Ardern, Bryan Stevenson, Stephen Curry, Greta Thunberg and Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Inspired by Nelson Mandela and produced in collaboration with the Nelson Mandela Foundation,[18] the project shares the ideas, work and values of modern leaders. I Know This to Be True is the basis for the Netflix documentary series Live to Lead, also created and directed by Blackwell.
Film and other media
editIn 2022 Netflix released the original series Live to Lead, directed by Blackwell and produced by Ruth Hobday.[19] The series was created in partnership with the Nelson Mandela Foundation and executive-produced by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Harry and Meghan.[20][21]
Blackwell has created multi-platform projects including Wisdom, a book, film and exhibition with photographer Andrew Zuckerman[22] featuring portraits and interviews with fifty famous 65-year-olds; and 200 Women: Who Will Change the Way You See the World, a book and exhibition project with co-author Ruth Hobday and photographs by Kieran E. Scott.[23][14]
Exhibitions
edit- M.I.L.K.: Moments of Intimacy, Laughter and Kinship,[4] at New York's Grand Central Terminal,[24] the Sydney Opera House[25] and Science Museum, London[26]
- Wisdom, by Andrew Zuckerman, at the State Library of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia;[27] New York City;[28] Los Angeles, Dublin, and Toronto[citation needed]
- 200 Women: Who Will Change the Way You See the World exhibition in New York City, Sydney,[29] Munich,[30] and Sweden[31]
Filmography
edit- Wisdom (2008) – Executive Producer
- Music (2010) – Executive Producer
- Live to Lead (2022) – Director, Executive Producer
References
edit- ^ "Geoff Blackwell & Ruth Hobday: books celebrating humanity". RNZ.
- ^ a b c Kilgallon, Steve (2 October 2011). "The big ideas man". Stuff.
- ^ "About PQ Blackwell - a NZ success story". Beattie's Book Blog. 11 April 2011.
- ^ a b "Milk of human kindness". NZ Herald. 16 July 2023.
- ^ "Small business: Adapt or die - Geoff Blackwell". NZ Herald. 16 July 2023.
- ^ "Geoff Blackwell: Nelson Mandela". RNZ. 16 October 2010.
- ^ "Hardcover Nonfiction Books - Best Sellers - Books - Oct. 31, 2010". The New York Times.
- ^ "Small business: Export markets - Geoff Blackwell". NZ Herald.
- ^ Williams, John (27 June 2017). "Liveright to Publish Nelson Mandela's Letters From Prison". The New York Times.
- ^ "Geoff Blackwell: Nelson Mandela". RNZ National. 16 October 2010.
- ^ "Geoff Blackwell & Ruth Hobday: books celebrating humanity". RNZ National.
- ^ "Kiwi duo complete incredible quest of interviewing inspirational women - but which New Zealander made the list?". Seven Sharp, 1News. 3 October 2017.
- ^ "Kiwi duo complete incredible quest of interviewing inspirational women - but which New Zealander made the list?". 1news. 3 October 2017.
- ^ a b "We chat to the creators of '200 Women' Ruth Hobday and Geoff Blackwell". The Cafe. 5 October 2017 – via www.youtube.com.
- ^ Fernandez, Lisa (19 February 2021). "The power of photography to motivate environmental engagement". Yale Programme on Climate Change Communication.
- ^ Park, City of Menlo (10 February 2021). "Human Nature: Planet Earth in Our Time". City of Menlo Park – via Vimeo.
- ^ Merry, Stephanie (1 July 2021). "What does climate change look like? Twelve photographers force us to confront reality". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
- ^ "I Know This to Be True". Nelson Mandela Foundation. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
- ^ Goldbart, Max (19 December 2022). "Harry & Meghan Set Next Netflix Project 'Live To Lead'". Deadline.
- ^ Yossman, K. J. (19 December 2022). "Prince Harry, Meghan Markle Set New Netflix Docuseries 'Live to Lead'". Variety.
- ^ Blistein, Jon (19 December 2022). "Harry and Meghan Are Already Back With Another Netflix Doc (Though This One Isn't About Them)". Rolling Stone.
- ^ Kilgallon, Steve. ""The big ideas man"". Stuff.
- ^ "200 Women: Who Will Change the Way You See the World by". www.publishersweekly.com. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
- ^ "Art Listings". NY Times. 5 August 2001 – via NYTimes.com.
- ^ "Moments of Intimacy Laughter and Kinship (M.I.L.K.) – Photo Exhibition". Archived from the original on 28 March 2019.
- ^ "Stars' bras sold for charity". BBC News. 4 October 2001.
- ^ "Andrew Zuckerman Launches Wisdom Book and Exhibition". 16 October 2008. Archived from the original on 9 January 2023.
- ^ C, Noel Y. (23 May 2010). "NYC ♥ NYC: PORTRAITS OF "WISDOM": A Photography Exhibit by ANDREW ZUCKERMAN". NYC Loves NYC.
- ^ "Moments of Intimacy Laughter and Kinship (M.I.L.K.) – Photo Exhibition". Archived from the original on 28 March 2019.
- ^ ""200 Women who will change the way you see the world" Exhibition – German Premier in Munich". BMW Group – via www.youtube.com.
- ^ "200 Women". Havre Magasinet.