Photo: Jeffrey Mayer © WireImage.com

Brett Morgen, born and raised in Los Angeles, CA, and Nanette Burstein met while film students in the graduate program at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts in 1995. Ms. Burstein first conceived the idea for ON THE ROPES as her 2nd year project and was assisted by Mr. Morgen. Subsequently, Mr. Morgen submitted it as his 3rd year thesis film, for which he received his MFA in 1999. Morgen's other notable credits include OLLIE'S ARMY (1996, director), "On Tour" (1997, TV series: director), "Say It Loud: A Celebration of Black Music in America" (2001, TV mini-series: producer), THE KID STAYS IN THE PICTURE (2002, writer, producer & director), "Kid Notorious" (2003, TV series: writer, director & exec. producer), THE LIMBO ROOM (2006, exec. producer), "Nimrod Nation" (2007, TV series: exec. producer & director), CHICAGO 10 (2007, writer, producer & director) and ONE TRAIN LATER (scheduled for release in 2009, producer). Morgen was invited to join the Academy in 2007.  Nominated for Achievement in Documentary Features 1999: ON THE ROPES - Producer (w. Nanette Burstein) 1 nomination