Eleven Minutes: Jay McCarroll’s Raw & Revealing Fashion Documentary

Welcome to ElevenMinutes-JayMcCarroll.com — your definitive resource for the 2008 documentary Eleven Minutes.

Two years after winning the first season of Project Runway, Jay McCarroll chose the difficult path: building a real fashion collection from the ground up. Eleven Minutes documents that year with honesty, humor, and no filter.

Fast Facts

Title	Eleven Minutes
Year	2008
Runtime	103 minutes
Directors	Michael Selditch & Rob Tate
Subject	Jay McCarroll
Collection	Transport
Premiere	Philadelphia Film Festival – April 5, 2008
Rating	R (language)
IMDb Rating	6.5/10

What Is Eleven Minutes About?

Eleven Minutes follows Jay McCarroll during the most important year of his early career. After his unexpected win on Project Runway Season 1, he set out to create and present his first independent fashion collection, Transport.

The film shows the complete process: designing the collection, dealing with manufacturing challenges, preparing a runway show for New York Fashion Week at Bryant Park, and trying to sell the clothes to stores. It captures both the creative highs and the exhausting realities of turning a vision into a business.

Jay McCarroll: From Reality Winner to Working Designer

Jay McCarroll won Project Runway Season 1 in 2005. Known for his bold aesthetic and sharp wit, he quickly became a fan favorite. However, he famously declined the show’s prizes — including $100,000 and a Banana Republic mentorship — due to a contractual clause that would have given the Weinstein Company a 10% stake in his brand.

Eleven Minutes follows him at a pivotal moment: trying to prove he could succeed as a serious designer outside the reality television bubble.

The Collection “Transport” & The Runway Show

Transport was Jay’s first full collection after Project Runway. It included both men’s and women’s designs and was developed in partnership with the Humane Society.

The heart of the documentary is his debut independent runway show. After months of work, those eleven minutes on the catwalk became the emotional and professional climax of the film. The documentary shows the stress, compromises, and determination behind that final presentation.

Production & Directors

Directors Michael Selditch and Rob Tate previously made the 2006 Bravo special Project Jay. For Eleven Minutes, they took a more serious, observational approach. They shot over 250 hours of footage to create this intimate portrait of a designer navigating the real fashion industry.

Key People Featured

Jay McCarroll — Designer and central subject
Kelly Cutrone — Influential fashion publicist who often represents the commercial side and frequently clashes with Jay’s creative vision
Nancy Kane — Public relations
Daniel Alexander, Malan Breton, Rocco Leo Gaglioti — Members of Jay’s professional circle

Project Jay vs Eleven Minutes

Eleven Minutes is not the first documentary about Jay McCarroll.

Project Jay (2006) was a lighter Bravo special filmed shortly after his Project Runway win. It focused on the immediate effects of sudden fame.
Eleven Minutes (2008) is a deeper and more mature film. It drops the reality TV gloss and shows the actual work, pressure, and uncertainty of building a fashion collection.

The second film feels more honest and substantial.

What Happened to Jay McCarroll After Eleven Minutes?

After the film’s release, Jay largely stepped back from the public eye. He continued designing but avoided major media attention.

In 2010, he appeared on VH1’s Celebrity Fit Club. In 2021, he worked in the wardrobe department for the HBO miniseries Mare of Easttown. He has maintained a low profile in recent years while living in New York City. He remains active on Instagram (@jaymccarroll), though he posts infrequently.

Interesting Facts & Behind-the-Scenes Details

Directors filmed more than 250 hours of material for the final 103-minute documentary.
The collection Transport was created in collaboration with the Humane Society.
Jay refused the Project Runway prizes because of a clause giving the Weinstein Company 10% ownership of his brand (this clause was later removed from future contracts).
The film was shot in a pure observational style with minimal staging.
Kelly Cutrone’s presence highlights the ongoing conflict between artistic vision and business demands in fashion.

Reception & Legacy

Eleven Minutes premiered at the Philadelphia Film Festival on April 5, 2008, and received a wider release in February 2009. It holds a 6.5/10 rating on IMDb from dedicated viewers.

The film has been praised for its honesty and for showing the less glamorous side of the fashion industry. It remains popular among Project Runway fans who want to understand what happens after the show ends and how difficult it is to build a sustainable career in fashion.

Where to Watch Eleven Minutes in 2026

You can stream the documentary on:

Tubi — Free with commercials (recommended)
Apple TV
Amazon Prime Video
Pluto TV (availability rotates)
Plex and other free platforms

Watch the Official Trailer:
YouTube – Eleven Minutes Trailer

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Eleven Minutes worth watching?
Yes. It is one of the most honest and insightful fashion documentaries available, especially for anyone interested in what happens after reality television fame.

Is the film scripted or staged?
No. It was filmed in a pure observational documentary style.

What is the name of Jay’s collection in the film?
His debut collection is called Transport.

Does Kelly Cutrone appear frequently?
Yes. She plays a significant role and often represents the business side of fashion in contrast to Jay’s creative approach.

Where can I watch it for free?
It is currently available to stream for free with ads on Tubi.