There are people who live their lives in service to others, and then there’s Jeffrey Drew.
For decades the Los Angeles-based casting director lived with HIV, managing the disease—like countless other people—with expensive but effective antiretroviral medications. When the opportunity came about in 2019 to participate in a clinical trial of a potential HIV cure, Drew had every reason to say no: He was doing fine on his meds, and the experimental treatment could destroy his health. Despite the risks, he said yes.
“The treatment was so uncertain and new,” Drew tells Deadline. “I was certainly getting very ill for about a month. I thought, ‘My god, what did I do?’”
Drew’s decision to take part in the trial and its impact on him is explored in the short documentary Right to Try, directed by Zeberiah Newman. The film, which is contending for Oscar consideration, debuted on...
For decades the Los Angeles-based casting director lived with HIV, managing the disease—like countless other people—with expensive but effective antiretroviral medications. When the opportunity came about in 2019 to participate in a clinical trial of a potential HIV cure, Drew had every reason to say no: He was doing fine on his meds, and the experimental treatment could destroy his health. Despite the risks, he said yes.
“The treatment was so uncertain and new,” Drew tells Deadline. “I was certainly getting very ill for about a month. I thought, ‘My god, what did I do?’”
Drew’s decision to take part in the trial and its impact on him is explored in the short documentary Right to Try, directed by Zeberiah Newman. The film, which is contending for Oscar consideration, debuted on...
- 12/7/2021
- by Matthew Carey
- Deadline Film + TV
Welcome to this week’s “Just for Variety.”
Talk about a warm welcome. Brian d’Arcy James tells me that Steven Spielberg surprised him during his first day of shooting on the much-buzzed-about “West Side Story” remake. “Steven Spielberg has this fantastic tradition of stopping after the first shot that you’re in, and basically announcing and applauding anybody who has entered into the making of the movie,” says James, who plays Sgt. Krupke. “The first scene that I was in, I was way in the back — I might as well have been wallpaper. He says, ‘Ladies and gentlemen, Brian d’Arcy James is in the movie!’ And then he went on and did that for everyone else too.”
It didn’t take long after Spielberg announced he was remaking the classic that some wondered why he would tinker with such a beloved film. James defends the decision, pointing to the...
Talk about a warm welcome. Brian d’Arcy James tells me that Steven Spielberg surprised him during his first day of shooting on the much-buzzed-about “West Side Story” remake. “Steven Spielberg has this fantastic tradition of stopping after the first shot that you’re in, and basically announcing and applauding anybody who has entered into the making of the movie,” says James, who plays Sgt. Krupke. “The first scene that I was in, I was way in the back — I might as well have been wallpaper. He says, ‘Ladies and gentlemen, Brian d’Arcy James is in the movie!’ And then he went on and did that for everyone else too.”
It didn’t take long after Spielberg announced he was remaking the classic that some wondered why he would tinker with such a beloved film. James defends the decision, pointing to the...
- 12/2/2021
- by Marc Malkin
- Variety Film + TV
Peacock has acquired “Right to Try,” the Octavia Spencer-produced documentary short about trying to find a cure for HIV.
Directed by “The Late Late Show With James Corden” producer Zeberiah Newman, the film tells the story of veteran casting director Jeffrey Drew’s participation in an experimental treatment trial to cure him of his HIV. Variety was the first to report about the doc in June shortly after CAA’s Travis Tammero came on board to shop it around.
Peacock will premiere “Right to Try” tomorrow, Dec. 1, on World AIDS Day.
“We are thrilled our film ‘Right to Try’ will be seen on Peacock. Though Jeffrey Drew’s heroic journey is singular, his story is universal,” Spencer said in a statement. “This is an important film and with Peacock we have a wonderful partner to bring it to our audience.”
The producing team also includes Brian Clisham and Stephanie Kluft...
Directed by “The Late Late Show With James Corden” producer Zeberiah Newman, the film tells the story of veteran casting director Jeffrey Drew’s participation in an experimental treatment trial to cure him of his HIV. Variety was the first to report about the doc in June shortly after CAA’s Travis Tammero came on board to shop it around.
Peacock will premiere “Right to Try” tomorrow, Dec. 1, on World AIDS Day.
“We are thrilled our film ‘Right to Try’ will be seen on Peacock. Though Jeffrey Drew’s heroic journey is singular, his story is universal,” Spencer said in a statement. “This is an important film and with Peacock we have a wonderful partner to bring it to our audience.”
The producing team also includes Brian Clisham and Stephanie Kluft...
- 11/30/2021
- by Marc Malkin
- Variety Film + TV
Right To Try, a documentary short chronicling HIV survivor and activist Jeffrey Drew’s pursuit to find a cure for the disease, is headed to Peacock.
The NBCU streamer has acquired the rights to the film, which is produced by Octavia Spencer and directed by The Late Late Show With James Corden producer Zeberiah Newman.
It will launch on the service on December 1.
The short reveals Drew’s experience participating in an experiment that could lead to an historic medical breakthrough for the millions of people living with HIV around the world.
Brian Clisham, Stephanie Kluft of Orit Entertainment and Andrew Carlberg produce alongside the Ma star. CAA Media Finance brokered the deal with Peacock.
“We are thrilled our film Right to Try will be seen on Peacock. Though Jeffrey Drew’s heroic journey is singular, his story is universal. This is an important film and with Peacock we have...
The NBCU streamer has acquired the rights to the film, which is produced by Octavia Spencer and directed by The Late Late Show With James Corden producer Zeberiah Newman.
It will launch on the service on December 1.
The short reveals Drew’s experience participating in an experiment that could lead to an historic medical breakthrough for the millions of people living with HIV around the world.
Brian Clisham, Stephanie Kluft of Orit Entertainment and Andrew Carlberg produce alongside the Ma star. CAA Media Finance brokered the deal with Peacock.
“We are thrilled our film Right to Try will be seen on Peacock. Though Jeffrey Drew’s heroic journey is singular, his story is universal. This is an important film and with Peacock we have...
- 11/30/2021
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Outfest announced the winners of its 2021 edition, including Vivian Kleiman’s “No Straight Lines: The Rise of Queer Comics” for documentary feature and Brielle Brilliant’s “Firstness” for U.S. narrative feature.
The Los Angeles LGBTQ film festival also honored Pooya Mohseni with the grand jury prize for best performance in a U.S. narrative feature for her performance in “See You Then,” while Wes Hurley won best screenplay for “Potato Dreams of America,” a non-traditional portrayal of a gay immigrant’s transition to America and his relationship with his mother.
Park Kun-young was awarded best international narrative feature for “A Distant Place,” and Ümit Ünal won best international screenplay for “Love, Spells, And All That.” “Sweetheart” actor Nell Barlow took home the award for best performance in an international narrative feature “for her ability to emote even under a pair of sunglasses and a bucket hat.”
Xavier Seron won...
The Los Angeles LGBTQ film festival also honored Pooya Mohseni with the grand jury prize for best performance in a U.S. narrative feature for her performance in “See You Then,” while Wes Hurley won best screenplay for “Potato Dreams of America,” a non-traditional portrayal of a gay immigrant’s transition to America and his relationship with his mother.
Park Kun-young was awarded best international narrative feature for “A Distant Place,” and Ümit Ünal won best international screenplay for “Love, Spells, And All That.” “Sweetheart” actor Nell Barlow took home the award for best performance in an international narrative feature “for her ability to emote even under a pair of sunglasses and a bucket hat.”
Xavier Seron won...
- 8/24/2021
- by Ethan Shanfeld
- Variety Film + TV
Elliot Page says films like “But I’m a Cheerleader” offered relief from some of his struggles as a young LGBTQ+ person.
“I for one know that without the various representation that I was able to stumble upon as a kid and a teenager — there was very little — I just don’t know if I would have made it,” he said while receiving Outfest’s Achievement Award on Sunday at the film festival’s closing night gala in Los Angeles. “I don’t know if I would have made it through the moments of isolation and loneliness and shame and self-hatred that was so extreme and powerful and all-encompassing that you could hardly see out of it.
“And then, you know, at 15, when you are flipping through the channels and you stumble on ‘But I’m a Cheerleader’ and the dialogue in that film, and scenes in that film just transform your life,...
“I for one know that without the various representation that I was able to stumble upon as a kid and a teenager — there was very little — I just don’t know if I would have made it,” he said while receiving Outfest’s Achievement Award on Sunday at the film festival’s closing night gala in Los Angeles. “I don’t know if I would have made it through the moments of isolation and loneliness and shame and self-hatred that was so extreme and powerful and all-encompassing that you could hardly see out of it.
“And then, you know, at 15, when you are flipping through the channels and you stumble on ‘But I’m a Cheerleader’ and the dialogue in that film, and scenes in that film just transform your life,...
- 8/23/2021
- by Marc Malkin
- Variety Film + TV
Welcome to this week’s “Just for Variety.”
Marlon Wayans says it’s time for a sequel to “White Chicks.” In the 2004 comedy, he and his brother Shawn Wayans star as FBI agents who pretend to be the young white vapid socialites that they have been assigned to protect from a potential kidnapping. “I think ‘White Chicks 2’ is necessary,” Marlon Wayans tells me. “I think we’ve tightened up so much that we need to loosen our ties a bit and laugh a little bit.” The $37 million film grossed more than $113 million worldwide. “I don’t think Hollywood understands what a juggernaut ‘White Chicks 2’ would be,” Wayans says. The brothers have plenty of story ideas for a sequel. “And the world just keeps giving us more,” Wayans says. “‘White Chicks 2’ is writing itself.”
The actor can now be seen on the big screen playing Aretha Franklin’s (Jennifer Hudson) abusive first husband Ted White.
Marlon Wayans says it’s time for a sequel to “White Chicks.” In the 2004 comedy, he and his brother Shawn Wayans star as FBI agents who pretend to be the young white vapid socialites that they have been assigned to protect from a potential kidnapping. “I think ‘White Chicks 2’ is necessary,” Marlon Wayans tells me. “I think we’ve tightened up so much that we need to loosen our ties a bit and laugh a little bit.” The $37 million film grossed more than $113 million worldwide. “I don’t think Hollywood understands what a juggernaut ‘White Chicks 2’ would be,” Wayans says. The brothers have plenty of story ideas for a sequel. “And the world just keeps giving us more,” Wayans says. “‘White Chicks 2’ is writing itself.”
The actor can now be seen on the big screen playing Aretha Franklin’s (Jennifer Hudson) abusive first husband Ted White.
- 8/12/2021
- by Marc Malkin
- Variety Film + TV
Octavia Spencer will be honored with the James Schamus Ally Award at the 2021 Outfest LA LGBTQ Film Festival.
The award will be presented to the actress and producer at Dtla’s Orpheum Theatre on August 22, as part of the festival’s Closing Night Gala.
The Ally Award was created “to honor the efforts of an individual in bringing LGBTQ stories to the forefront.” It takes its name from Oscar-nominated producer James Schamus, who was awarded Outfest’s Achievement Award in 2014. Past honorees include James Franco, Andra Day, and Rita Moreno.
At this year’s festival, Spencer isn’t just an honoree. She also has a film making its world premiere, titled Right to Try, which she produced with Brian Clisham and Stephanie Kluft, via her Orit Entertainment banner.
The documentary short tells the story of Jeffrey Drew, who puts his life on the line to try and help find a cure for HIV.
The award will be presented to the actress and producer at Dtla’s Orpheum Theatre on August 22, as part of the festival’s Closing Night Gala.
The Ally Award was created “to honor the efforts of an individual in bringing LGBTQ stories to the forefront.” It takes its name from Oscar-nominated producer James Schamus, who was awarded Outfest’s Achievement Award in 2014. Past honorees include James Franco, Andra Day, and Rita Moreno.
At this year’s festival, Spencer isn’t just an honoree. She also has a film making its world premiere, titled Right to Try, which she produced with Brian Clisham and Stephanie Kluft, via her Orit Entertainment banner.
The documentary short tells the story of Jeffrey Drew, who puts his life on the line to try and help find a cure for HIV.
- 8/2/2021
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Octavia Spencer will receive the James Schamus Ally Award at this year’s edition of LGBTQ film festival Outfest.
The announcement comes just after the recent news, first reported by Variety, that the Oscar winner has boarded the documentary “Right to Try” as a producer. The Zeberiah Newman-directed film, which will have its world premiere at Outfest, chronicles casting director Jeffrey Drew’s participation in a treatment trial to cure him of HIV after living with the virus for more than 30 years.
“I am so honored to be recognized with the 2021 Annual James Schamus Ally Award,” Spencer said in a statement Monday morning. “I am proud to bring Lgbtqia+ stories to audiences all over the world and am thrilled that our own film, ‘Right to Try,’ will be making its premiere at this important festival. It speaks to the kind of stories I want to see on screen — celebrating...
The announcement comes just after the recent news, first reported by Variety, that the Oscar winner has boarded the documentary “Right to Try” as a producer. The Zeberiah Newman-directed film, which will have its world premiere at Outfest, chronicles casting director Jeffrey Drew’s participation in a treatment trial to cure him of HIV after living with the virus for more than 30 years.
“I am so honored to be recognized with the 2021 Annual James Schamus Ally Award,” Spencer said in a statement Monday morning. “I am proud to bring Lgbtqia+ stories to audiences all over the world and am thrilled that our own film, ‘Right to Try,’ will be making its premiere at this important festival. It speaks to the kind of stories I want to see on screen — celebrating...
- 8/2/2021
- by Marc Malkin
- Variety Film + TV
“Everybody’s Talking About Jamie” will open the 39th edition of Outfest, the Los Angeles LGBTQ film festival.
The big-screen adaptation of the West End musical of the same name will kick off the festival Aug. 13 with its first ever outdoor gala hosted by Cinespia at Hollywood Forever cemetery. Closing night on Aug. 22 will feature a screening of “Fanny: The Right to Rock,” a film about the first female rock band to release an album with a major label. The evening will include a reunion performance by Fanny.
Outfest returns to in-person screenings and events after having gone virtual in 2020 due to the pandemic. This year’s lineup includes nearly 200 films with more than 50 international entries. There will be seven world premieres Charles Busch’s “The Sixth Reel”; “Homebody”; Outfest alum Jeffrey Schwarz’s true story of Gloria Swanson’s quest to star in a Sunset Boulevard musical, “Boulevard! A Hollywood Story”; “Gemmel and Tim,...
The big-screen adaptation of the West End musical of the same name will kick off the festival Aug. 13 with its first ever outdoor gala hosted by Cinespia at Hollywood Forever cemetery. Closing night on Aug. 22 will feature a screening of “Fanny: The Right to Rock,” a film about the first female rock band to release an album with a major label. The evening will include a reunion performance by Fanny.
Outfest returns to in-person screenings and events after having gone virtual in 2020 due to the pandemic. This year’s lineup includes nearly 200 films with more than 50 international entries. There will be seven world premieres Charles Busch’s “The Sixth Reel”; “Homebody”; Outfest alum Jeffrey Schwarz’s true story of Gloria Swanson’s quest to star in a Sunset Boulevard musical, “Boulevard! A Hollywood Story”; “Gemmel and Tim,...
- 7/26/2021
- by Marc Malkin
- Variety Film + TV
Welcome to this week’s “Just for Variety.” Although the column usually includes several items about different celebs and industry insiders, this week’s Pride edition is solely about casting director Jeffrey Drew’s participation in an experimental treatment study for an HIV cure and the documentary short that chronicles his journey. It’s been 40 years since the CDC reported the first cases of what would later become known as AIDS. Here is one man’s story to help find a long overdue cure.
Jeffrey Drew was diagnosed with HIV about 34 years ago when he was just 23. Since then he’s taken various antiviral drugs that have kept him alive. “You name it and I’ve been on it,” Drew says. But in October 2019, the longtime Los Angeles-based casting director stopped taking his latest regimen — two pills daily — as part of an experimental trial for an HIV cure. Over the next several months,...
Jeffrey Drew was diagnosed with HIV about 34 years ago when he was just 23. Since then he’s taken various antiviral drugs that have kept him alive. “You name it and I’ve been on it,” Drew says. But in October 2019, the longtime Los Angeles-based casting director stopped taking his latest regimen — two pills daily — as part of an experimental trial for an HIV cure. Over the next several months,...
- 6/2/2021
- by Marc Malkin
- Variety Film + TV
Washington, Aug 20:a man, who changed his name to Beezow Doo-doo Zopittybop-bop-bop, has been arrested again and will face 5-years in prison on drug charges.
The 32-year-old, originally known as Jeffrey Drew Wilschke, was busted for drugs possession last year and his name became worldwide news when the police had to make a record of his arrest, the Daily Star reported.
Explaining the reasons to why he changed his name, Zopittybop-bop-bop went into a spiel on the infinite love in the universe and the ultimate chaos that comes with it.
He said that his name is the outcome of that struggle, which is often ironic, especially because all life ends in death. (Ani)...
The 32-year-old, originally known as Jeffrey Drew Wilschke, was busted for drugs possession last year and his name became worldwide news when the police had to make a record of his arrest, the Daily Star reported.
Explaining the reasons to why he changed his name, Zopittybop-bop-bop went into a spiel on the infinite love in the universe and the ultimate chaos that comes with it.
He said that his name is the outcome of that struggle, which is often ironic, especially because all life ends in death. (Ani)...
- 8/20/2013
- by Amith Ostwal
- RealBollywood.com
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