BIG VOICE chronicles a challenging year in the life of a determined public high school choir director as he pushes his students to achieve a high level of artistry and become “one big voice”, despite the many obstacles they face. Santa Monica High School Choir Director Jeffe Huls’ passion for the choral arts and music fuels his desire to exceed all standards and expectations. The results are hard won, yet exquisite. Following a series of competitive auditions, Mr. Huls compiles his dream ensemble - the most ideal combination of voices he’s ever had. He soon discovers that these thirty-two talented teenagers are also the most unwieldy group he has ever taught. Mr. Huls must convince his students to set aside their egos, conflicting styles, and teenage angst to achieve the artistry he knows they are capable of.BIG VOICE is a story brimming with musical performances as it interweaves slices of life, interviews, and masterwork performances that will sweep you away.
Award-winning DGA director Varda Bar-Kar has directed an array of productions, including documentaries, episodic television, short films, and branded content. She transitioned to directing after working as a Script Supervisor for maverick feature directors like Jim Jarmusch, Wayne Wang, and Carroll Ballard. Varda was born in England, to a South African mother and Romanian father. She lived on three different continents by the time she was ten years old. She is an activist filmmaker focusing her lens on meaningful stories exploring the breadth and diversity of the human condition.
Varda's short films have had robust festival runs and garnered multiple awards. Her music documentary Big Voice was screened at the Capitol in advocacy of Arts Education, broadcast on PBS winning a Bronze Telly Award, and streamed on Netflix. HBO has picked up Varda's new documentary Fandango at the Wall which follows son jarocho musicians from Veracruz, Mexico to the United States-Mexico border where they join renowned New York Maestro Arturo O’Farrill and his Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra for a music festival that takes place on both sides of the border transforming it from an object that divides to one that unites.
Varda participated in Ryan Murphy’s Half Foundation television directing mentorship program and has since directed for Fox's hit show 9-1-1. Varda is excited to be expanding into directing episodic television and scripted features.
Varda sits on the board of New Filmmakers Los Angeles.
