Addison O'Dea

Addison O'Dea
Born
Hugh Addison White O'Dea

(1979-06-15) June 15, 1979 (age 45)
New York City, U.S.
EducationNew York University (BSc)
Occupations
  • Explorer
  • film director
  • screenwriter
Known for
Partner(s)Minnie Driver (2019–present; engaged)
Websiteaddisonodea.com

Addison O'Dea (/oʊˈdeɪ/, oh-DAY; born June 15, 1979) is an American filmmaker and writer who specializes in anthropology.[1] His work has been published and broadcast by National Geographic,[2] Discovery, and Ozy.[3]

Family and education

Hugh Addison White O'Dea was born on June 15, 1979, in New York Hospital to Sara (née Greenway) and Hugh Patrick O'Dea Jr. He has two younger brothers. Based in New York City, the family traveled internationally extensively for both personal and professional reasons.[4] O'Dea was a boarding student at Indian Mountain School in Lakeville, Connecticut. O'Dea attended the Dwight School in Manhattan for international baccalaureate and holds a BSc from New York University.

O'Dea's father, Hugh Patrick O'Dea Jr., was murdered in Louisville, Kentucky in August 2007.[5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12]

Work

O'Dea, a former contributing editor at National Geographic Traveler,[13] has written and directed a number of virtual reality documentary films focusing on subjects such as the origin of voodoo through West African Vodun in Togo and Benin;[14] and ancient Quranic libraries in the Sahara.[15]

As of 2019, O'Dea was producing an action film set in the Sahara written and directed by Eugene Jarecki. Featuring a Tuareg character as the protagonist, the working title is "Tuareg Project".[16] He is also the writer and producer of a documentary series called Beat Nation, currently in development with Ginedo Films, also produced by Nabil Elderkin and Mattia Bogianchino.

It was reported in 2021 that O'Dea is directing a feature film financed by Endeavor Content titled Unlikely Heroes.[17]

Discovery TRVLR

His largest project to date is writing and directing the thirty six-episode series Discovery TRVLR for Discovery, Inc. and Google. Filmed on all seven continents, the series centers around a "Guru, Renegade, Entertainer or Explorer" in each environment as they pull the curtain back on varying rituals, unique traditions and life-threatening quests that encompass their culture." At that time, Discovery TRVLR was Discovery's largest virtual reality project to date.[18]

The series was designed by O'Dea to go to as remote locations as possible and focus on the universality of the people who live there. Rather than sending a message of 'we are all the same' or forcing Western ideals on the characters, the idea is to create an elegant juxtaposition at a hyperlocal level. "Defying convention" in Communist Vietnam is significantly different when contrasted alongside the same idea in Catholic Mexico.[19]

From an interview with Addison in Filmmaker about the show:

A core tenet of TRVLR is access, getting into closed communities that are otherwise not open to visitors. Given how popular the travel genre is, you have to work harder as a producer and director to seek out these communities and earn their trust. That meant we were shooting in locations that required negotiations for safe passage through gangland and armed security.[19]

Personal life

In September 2019, O'Dea was reported to be engaged to be married to actress Minnie Driver.[20]

Additional reading

References

  1. ^ Robinson, Eugene S. (June 7, 2019). "When Albanian Singers Crushed the World". OZY. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
  2. ^ O'Dea, Addison (August 19, 2010). "Hiking Through Capri's History". National Geographic. Retrieved January 4, 2021.[dead link‍]
  3. ^ Alcinii, Daniele (November 3, 2017). "Addison O'Dea talks Discovery, Google VR's "Discovery TRVLR"". Realscreen. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
  4. ^ Romanek, Neal (December 5, 2017). "'Discovery TRVLR': Exploring and Experiencing the Discovery/Google VR Series". Creative Planet. Archived from the original on September 24, 2019. Retrieved September 23, 2019.
  5. ^ "Obituary, Patrick O'Dea". Louisville Courier-Journal. August 15, 2007. Retrieved January 4, 2021. O'DEA, HUGH PATRICK, 69,of Louisville passed away Saturday, August 4, 2007. He was the son of the late Hugh Patrick Sr. and Edna Deters O'Dea and was a sales associate for Rodes Department Store. Survivors include three sons, Hugh Addison White O'Dea, John Remsen Varick O'Dea, and Patrick Gannon Greenway O'Dea; two sisters, Jean O'Dea Green and Mary Kimball O'Dea; two brothers, Don Alan O'Dea and Kevin Deters O'Dea; the mother of his children, Sara Greenway O'Dea, and many relatives and friends. Visitation will be 4-8 p.m. Thursday, August 16, at Ratterman's, 3711 Lexington Road, with a private family burial. Memorial contributions in memory of Patrick may be made to the Wayside Christian Mission Men's Shelter.
  6. ^ MacPherson, James. "Murder suspect caught in a field". Bismarck Tribune. Bismarck, North Dakota. Associated Press. Retrieved March 17, 2022.
  7. ^ "Couple charged with two murders in Kentucky". Pioneer Press. August 20, 2007. Retrieved March 17, 2022.
  8. ^ Reid, Molly (October 31, 2007). "Slidell crime started spree that ended in Midwest murder, police say". The Times-Picayune. New Orleans, Louisiana. Archived from the original on November 1, 2007. Retrieved March 17, 2022.
  9. ^ "Authorities identify second Ky. man in case against fugitives". Jamestown Sun. Jamestown, North Dakota: Forum Communications. August 22, 2007. Retrieved March 17, 2022.
  10. ^ Leonard, Connie (August 16, 2007). "Louisiana couple to be charged in Louisville murders". WAVE 3. Retrieved March 17, 2022.
  11. ^ "Hugh Patrick O'Dea Obituary (2007) Courier-Journal". Legacy.com. Retrieved March 17, 2022. Published by Louisville Courier Journal on August 15, 2007.
  12. ^ Reaves, Shayla (July 29, 2007). "WAVE 3 Investigates: The disappearance of Hugh O'Dea". WAVE 3. Retrieved March 17, 2022.
  13. ^ "Speakers, corporate sponsors boost Energy session". Florida Weekly. March 3, 2011. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
  14. ^ O'Dea, Addison (Director) (May 12, 2017). Witness the Mysterious World of West African Voodoo (Virtual Reality). Togo: Seeker.
  15. ^ O'Dea, Addison (Director) (April 19, 2017). Discovering the Hidden Treasures of Mauritania's Deadly Sahara Desert (Virtual Reality). Mauritania: Seeker.
  16. ^ Dale, Martin. "Sundance Winner Eugene Jarecki Prepares 'Tuareg Project' in Morocco". Variety. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
  17. ^ Kroll, Justin (September 29, 2021). "Endeavor Content, Division7 and Film 45 Producing Addison O'Dea Giant Panda Doc 'Unlikely Heroes'". Deadline. Retrieved January 7, 2022.
  18. ^ Spangler, Todd (October 5, 2017). "Discovery Sets Biggest VR Project to Date, Teaming With Google on Epic Travel Series". Variety. Retrieved September 23, 2019.
  19. ^ a b Astle, Randy (December 4, 2017). ""Speaking to a New World": Addison O'Dea on the Virtual Reality Series Discovery TRVLR". Filmmaker Magazine. Retrieved September 23, 2019.
  20. ^ Williams, Marielle (September 23, 2019). "Minnie Driver Debuts Blinged Out Engagement Ring From New Love Addison O'Dea At Emmys After Party". Access Hollywood. Retrieved December 9, 2020.