Sheila Tendy, the founding partner of Tendy Law Office LLC, was recently quoted and her legal work was featured in an article in The Hollywood Reporter. The article titled, The 9/11 Documentary You’ll Never See, examines the complex journey behind We Go Higher, which was supposed to be a documentary featuring children of 9/11 victims, including Delany Colaio, who lost his father and two uncles on 9/11. Tendy recently achieved a successful resolution on behalf of Colaio against the documentary’s producers.
Documentary Overview
We Go Higher was supposed to be a poignant documentary that shared the personal stories of children who lost their parents in the 9/11 attacks. The film was meant to focus on their experiences, grief, and resilience, providing a platform for them to express their journey. But that never came to pass. Colaio sued Women Rising Productions, with whom he had partnered to produce the documentary.
Legal Dispute and Resolution
Sheila Tendy succeeded in her fight to get Colaio his rights to hundreds of hours of footage and any production related work. The lawsuit, which highlighted how production management can go wrong, and the complexities of ownership rights and creative control in the documentary film making process, was settled confidentially in February of 2024.
Tendy was quoted in the article stating, “We can confirm, however, that Delaney Colaio-Coppola owns and controls the exclusive, worldwide full rights to any and all footage and any and all work product related to the documentary film project.”
The resolution of the case ensures that Colaio has complete creative and legal control over the documentary, allowing the project to move forward under his direction.
Impact on Documentary Filmmaking
The article sheds light on the legal challenges that can arise in documentary filmmaking, particularly when dealing with sensitive and personal subjects like the 9/11 attacks. Tendy’s work not only protected Colaio’s rights but also ensured the integrity of the footage and the future of any documentary that could be made. Read the full article in The Hollywood Reporter: The 9/11 Documentary You’ll Never See.