
MEET BRIAN MIZER, A U.S. JAG OFFICER WHO IS CONVINCED AMERICA IS INTO TORTURE
On October 12, 2000, a small boat approached the USS Cole, a guided-missile destroyer, in the harbour of Aden and detonated explosives, killing 17 American sailors and injuring nearly 40. Prime suspect Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri was captured in 2002 and held in CIA “black sites” before being transferred to Guantanamo Bay. JAG officer Brian Mizer was assigned as Al-Nashiri’s defense counsel. According to Mizer the United States is undermining the moral values it once so valiantly fought for.

IT'S STORIES LIKE BRIAN'S THAT DRIVE LES LEMONS. WE ARE COMMITTED TO FUELING PEOPLE’S CURIOSITY
We are storytellers and documentary film is our core business. But in a world which is changing at such a dazzling speed, we firmly believe in shapeshifting. We like to tell our stories in cinema, on television, at streaming platforms or public televison channels, through moving images and photography, in books, magazines, café’s and restaurants. And even on a T-shirt.

ARE WE JUST ONE THING?
We are not merely defined by one aspect of ourselves, but rather by a myriad of factors that shape our identities. From our cultural backgrounds to our personal beliefs, from our roles in society to our ever-evolving aspirations, we are not just one thing; we are infinitely more.
Welcome to Les Lemons: a powerhouse of ideas and storytelling. Any role within the universe of nonfiction fits us. Whether as writers or directors, as showrunners or as producers, we offer expertise to forge meaningful partnerships.
On this website, you’ll find a rich tapestry of stories, op-eds, and anecdotes that capture the essence of who we are: incessantly curious. This curiosity led to the founding of Les Lemons, driven by our profound belief in the transformative power of stories. Come and see.

THE DANGERS OF TRUE CRIME
Crime narratives offer a unique lens through which to examine human nature and societal structures, making them a perennial subject of interest and discussion across cultures and societies. Yet, in a world completely overwhelmed by the speed and amount of information shared, a world where the word ’true’ has become a cheap and completely subjective commodity, writing a book, filming a documentary or producing a podcast on ’true crime’ bears more responsibilities than ever. Especially when ‘juice’ is added to insure the attention of its audience, the dangers of true crime become truly apparent.

CURIOSITY IN THE FACE OF IDENTITY POLITICS
We humans like to think of ourselves as an inquisitive and curious species, but deep down, we are mostly afraid. Our psychological makeup pushes us towards simplicity and clarity, ultimately discouraging curiosity. In the current cultural landscape dominated by identity politics, genuine curiosity is a rare gem, as the relentless pursuit of each and every other group’s self-righteousness smothers any inclination to question or explore. Welcome to the world of identity politics.

NO COUNTRY FOR TRUE DETECTIVES
We are intrigued why they call it True Detective. We understand True Romance. True Lies. True Confessions. True Grit. True that. But why True Detective? The show’s creator Nic Pizzolatto never explained the title of the show nor did streaming service HBO. Probably for good reason, for if they had, they might have put the spotlight on the show’s male fear for being utterly irrelevant.

IN A WORLD GONE MAD, A THING OF BEAUTY IS NOT A LUXURY BUT A NECESSITY. FOR US STORYTELLERS THIS THING IS JAPAN
Japan presents an enigma, a nation where deeply entrenched traditions of honour and shame coexist with uninhibited expressiveness. Japan embodies a mosaic of idiosyncrasies, where ancient temples stand in the shadow of neon-lit cities and serene tea ceremonies precede nights of raucous karaoke. The country’s ability to be at once beautiful and tawdry, to hold sacred its traditions while embracing the eclectic and the modern, makes it an endlessly fascinating puzzle.

WHEN FACTS CHANGE
There’s a difference between being right and getting credit for it. For people who hold their principles close, this can be a tough pill to swallow. When you know you’re right but things aren’t going your way, it feels like you only have two choices: stay upset or change your mind. But for many, changing your mind feels like admitting defeat. Why is that? Why do we see changing our minds as a weakness? This struggle is hard enough in our daily lives, but it gets even trickier when it comes to big issues like the war in Iraq or the Israel-Palestine conflict. Maybe if we started seeing the value in changing our minds, we could make some real progress. Let’s explore how being more open to changing our minds could lead to better solutions and a more understanding world.

CHARLIE KAUFMAN TAKES AIM AT HOLLYWOOD EXECUTIVES
Screenwriter Charlie Kaufman (Being John Malkovich, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind) celebrated his fellow screenwriters while criticizing Hollywood’s executives during his acceptance speech at the Writer’s Guild Awards. Kaufman received the top honorary film prize. Kaufman: “We are trained to believe that what we do is secondary to what they do. Our work is to reflect the world, say what is true in the face of so much lying. The rest is window dressing at best.”