Anonymous Content, Fremantle & Spinning Nancy Align for Mrs. America

Anonymous Content, Fremantle and Spinning Nancy have partnered for Mrs. America, a new original documentary directed by Penny Lane (Hail Satan?, Listening to Kenny G).

The doc will explore the changing role of American womanhood through the Mrs. America Beauty Pageant’s near half-century history. Nick Shumaker and Jessica Grimshaw will produce Mrs. America for Anonymous Content alongside Mandy Chang, Fremantle’s new global head of documentaries, and Gabriel Sedgwick for Spinning Nancy.

Amanda Branson-Gill and Whitney Sudler-Smith will also produce. Anonymous Content CEO Dawn Olmstead and CCO David Levine will executive produce the project, which is co-financed by Anonymous Content and Fremantle.

The Mrs. America Beauty Pageant was established by the husband-and-wife team of David and Elaine Marmel to celebrate the role of married women in society. Mrs. America will look at what the pageant tells us about America’s shifting and contested myths about wives and women through a journey through U.S. history, culture and society.

Anonymous Content’s Shumaker and Grimshaw said: “The Mrs. America Beauty Pageant has long represented a certain perspective on what it means to be a woman in the United States, which over the years has shifted considerably and continues to do so. We are so excited to partner with Fremantle, Spinning Nancy and the incredible Penny Lane to explore the massive impact the pageant has had on our society as we as a culture redefine the expectations of womanhood and vice versa.”

Fremantle’s Chang added: “I’m thrilled to be working with Anonymous Content and Spinning Nancy to bring this incredible story to life. Penny and Gabriel are two of the most talented and idiosyncratic creatives working in documentary filmmaking today, and I have no doubt will make a film that will make you think, laugh and feel real affection for the characters, whilst entertaining us with skillful storytelling. To partner with such a brilliant team speaks to our ongoing ambition at Fremantle to deliver best-in-class documentary films created by the best talent in the world.”

Lane commented: “Having the chance to collaborate with Anonymous and Fremantle is a total dream come true. I cannot wait to immerse myself in the world of Mrs. America—past, present and future. What an incredible opportunity to learn and think deeply about womanhood, marriage and American values. Plus, sequins! So many sequins!”