Bailey Synclaire
Jan. 26, 2021
The path of Bailey Synclaire, a 2019 graduate of MU’s Jonathan B. Murray Center for Documentary Journalism and a freelance filmmaker, might seemed charmed. But in many ways, she experienced struggles common to fellow first-generation college students. Those experiences navigating an often uncertain future are partly why she jumped at the chance to work on Cusp — a documentary about navigating teenage life in Texas and an official selection for the 2021 Sundance Film Festival. Synclaire is the film’s associate producer.
Her responsibilities included talking with lawyers, wrangling music licensing and handling purchase orders. Attending the Sundance Film Festival — which, like so many events during the pandemic, will be a hybrid of digital and in-person events from Jan. 28 through Feb. 3 — is a dream come true for Synclaire.
“I didn’t think I would be going to Sundance until I was like 30 years old,” Synclaire said. “And most people don’t get there at all.”
Synclaire credits her success to her time at Mizzou — specifically the support she received from the TRiO Student Support Services program. She said the friends and mentors she met through TRiO pushed her to succeed and excel.
“I wouldn’t be where I am today if I hadn’t attended Mizzou. I can say that with 100% conviction.”
