George Chignell

George Chignell’s name pops up in some of the most interesting documentary credits in recent years. He was part of “Listen to Me Marlon,” that wild, haunting ride through Marlon Brando’s own audio diaries—like, you literally get the man’s voice in your head, spilling secrets and insecurities you’d never hear anywhere else. Then there’s “Project Nim,” which, honestly, is one of those stories that’s so bizarre you’d think someone just made it up after a few too many drinks. It’s all about this chimp, Nim, who gets brought up like a human kid as part of an experiment in the ‘70s. It’s weird, it’s heartbreaking, it’s kind of hilarious in a sad way—science gone rogue, basically. And then you’ve got “Neither Confirm Nor Deny,” the espionage doc with all the cloak-and-dagger energy you’d expect. Think Cold War secrets, spy ships, the CIA—real-life stuff that’s stranger than any fiction Hollywood could cough up. Chignell’s stuff isn’t just a string of facts or a highlight reel; the films have this emotional punch that sticks with you. He seems to gravitate to complicated stories—people, animals, or even government projects that don’t fit neatly into any one box. There’s always that little twist, something that makes you squint and go, “Wait, what?” If his name’s on a doc, you can bet you’re in for a ride that’ll mess with your head a bit, and maybe your heart too.