Acclaimed writer John Logan will adapt Pulitzer Prize-winning author Cormac McCarthy’s “Blood Meridian” novel into a feature film for director John Hillcoat.
Hillcoat is also producing along with Keith Redmon for New Regency. Cormac McCarthy’s son, John Francis McCarthy, will serve as executive producer, while Cormac, who died in June 2023, will receive a posthumous executive producer credit.
“It’s incredibly exciting to have John Logan on board,” John Francis said. “Very reassuring in the seemingly long list of good news concerning what was originally such an intimidating undertaking.”
The project was originally set up with director James Franco and star Russell Crowe in 2016, but fell apart over rights to the book.
Based on historical conflicts along the Texas-Mexico border in the 1850s, “Blood Meridian” follows the journey of the Kid, a fourteen-year-old from Tennessee, as he navigates the brutal and harrowing landscape of this new era.
Logan, a three-time Oscar nominee,...
Hillcoat is also producing along with Keith Redmon for New Regency. Cormac McCarthy’s son, John Francis McCarthy, will serve as executive producer, while Cormac, who died in June 2023, will receive a posthumous executive producer credit.
“It’s incredibly exciting to have John Logan on board,” John Francis said. “Very reassuring in the seemingly long list of good news concerning what was originally such an intimidating undertaking.”
The project was originally set up with director James Franco and star Russell Crowe in 2016, but fell apart over rights to the book.
Based on historical conflicts along the Texas-Mexico border in the 1850s, “Blood Meridian” follows the journey of the Kid, a fourteen-year-old from Tennessee, as he navigates the brutal and harrowing landscape of this new era.
Logan, a three-time Oscar nominee,...
- 4/24/2024
- by Katcy Stephan
- Variety Film + TV
Oscar-nominated screenwriter John Logan has come aboard New Regency’s adaptation of the Cormac McCarthy novel Blood Meridian.
Logan, whose credits include Skyfall, The Aviator, Gladiator, and the upcoming Michael Jackson biopic, joins previously announced director John Hillcoat on the project.
Hillcoat will produce alongside Keith Redmon for New Regency. McCarthy’s son John Francis McCarthy will serve as executive producer, and Cormac McCarthy will receive a posthumous executive producer credit.
Blood Meridian is based on historical conflicts along the Texas-Mexico border in the 1850s and follows the journey of the Kid, a 14-year-old from Tennessee, as he navigates the...
Logan, whose credits include Skyfall, The Aviator, Gladiator, and the upcoming Michael Jackson biopic, joins previously announced director John Hillcoat on the project.
Hillcoat will produce alongside Keith Redmon for New Regency. McCarthy’s son John Francis McCarthy will serve as executive producer, and Cormac McCarthy will receive a posthumous executive producer credit.
Blood Meridian is based on historical conflicts along the Texas-Mexico border in the 1850s and follows the journey of the Kid, a 14-year-old from Tennessee, as he navigates the...
- 4/24/2024
- ScreenDaily
Cormac McCarthy’s “Blood Meridian” has been one of the trickiest classic novels to adapt for the screen, but it now has a three-time Oscar nominee who may finally crack it.
John Logan, the writer of “Gladiator,” “The Aviator,” “Sweeney Todd,” “Skyfall,” and the upcoming Michael Jackson biopic “Michael,” has been tapped to adapt “Blood Meridian” into a feature film.
Last year, New Regency announced it was developing a feature film based on the 1985 Western novel, and the studio attached John Hillcoat — who previously directed McCarthy’s “The Road” — to direct the film. Hillcoat is also directing and producing “Blood Meridian” alongside Keith Redmon for New Regency.
Cormac McCarthy is getting a posthumous executive producer credit on the film, and his son John Francis McCarthy is also serving as an EP.
“Blood Meridian” is based on historical conflicts along the Texas-Mexico border in the 1850s. The story follows the journey of The Kid,...
John Logan, the writer of “Gladiator,” “The Aviator,” “Sweeney Todd,” “Skyfall,” and the upcoming Michael Jackson biopic “Michael,” has been tapped to adapt “Blood Meridian” into a feature film.
Last year, New Regency announced it was developing a feature film based on the 1985 Western novel, and the studio attached John Hillcoat — who previously directed McCarthy’s “The Road” — to direct the film. Hillcoat is also directing and producing “Blood Meridian” alongside Keith Redmon for New Regency.
Cormac McCarthy is getting a posthumous executive producer credit on the film, and his son John Francis McCarthy is also serving as an EP.
“Blood Meridian” is based on historical conflicts along the Texas-Mexico border in the 1850s. The story follows the journey of The Kid,...
- 4/24/2024
- by Brian Welk
- Indiewire
Three time Oscar-nominated scribe John Logan is adapting National Book Award-winning author Cormac McCarthy’s novel Blood Meridian or The Evening Redness in the West for the big screen for New Regency.
John Hillcoat, who previously adapted McCarthy’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel The Road, will direct and produce along with Keith Redmon for New Regency.
The sprawling novel is widely considered one of the greatest works of American literature. Published in 1985, Blood Meridian or The Evening Redness in the West is an epic tale of the violence and depravity that attended America’s westward expansion which brilliantly subverts the conventions of the Western novel and the mythology of the Wild West. Based on historical events that took place on the Texas-Mexico border in the 1850s, it traces the fortunes of a 14-year-old Tennesseean who stumbles into a nightmarish world where Indians are being murdered and the market for their scalps is thriving.
John Hillcoat, who previously adapted McCarthy’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel The Road, will direct and produce along with Keith Redmon for New Regency.
The sprawling novel is widely considered one of the greatest works of American literature. Published in 1985, Blood Meridian or The Evening Redness in the West is an epic tale of the violence and depravity that attended America’s westward expansion which brilliantly subverts the conventions of the Western novel and the mythology of the Wild West. Based on historical events that took place on the Texas-Mexico border in the 1850s, it traces the fortunes of a 14-year-old Tennesseean who stumbles into a nightmarish world where Indians are being murdered and the market for their scalps is thriving.
- 4/24/2024
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
"I want to go and follow the music, but you never know what you're going to find along the way." Another new official trailer has debuted for the documentary film titled In Restless Dreams: The Music of Paul Simon, the latest from Alex Gibney following his docs on The Forever Prisoner, and Boris Becker. This first premiered at the 2023 Toronto & London Film Festivals last fall, and is already streaming on MGM+ in the US (though we missed this when it first dropped). The film follows Paul Simon inside the studio making his new album Seven Psalms while looking back on his six-decade career with countless musical peaks from Sounds of Silence to Graceland. Gibney's In Restless Dreams is supposedly the definitive musical biography of Paul Simon, one of the greatest songwriters (and performers as well) in the history of rock 'n roll. It's yet another one of these music docs...
- 4/19/2024
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
New Regency has expanded its executive team with the addition of Nirokhi Raychaudhuri as senior vice president of film.
In her new role, Raychaudhuri will contribute to the development of the company’s film slate, which already boasts “The Bikeriders,” starring Austin Butler, Jodie Comer and Tom Hardy with Focus Features; Steve McQueen’s “Blitz” starring Saoirse Ronan with Apple TV+; and, under its Double Agent label, Alex Gibney’s untitled Elon Musk documentary with HBO.
She will report directly to Natalie Lehmann, New Regency’s president of motion pictures and television.
“Nirokhi’s addition to New Regency is another step forward in the development of our leadership team and the growth of our feature film department,” said New Regency chairman and CEO Yariv Milchan and Lehmann in a joint statement announcing Raychaudhuri’s hiring. “She brings an impressive ability to identify top stories and talent, resulting in films that...
In her new role, Raychaudhuri will contribute to the development of the company’s film slate, which already boasts “The Bikeriders,” starring Austin Butler, Jodie Comer and Tom Hardy with Focus Features; Steve McQueen’s “Blitz” starring Saoirse Ronan with Apple TV+; and, under its Double Agent label, Alex Gibney’s untitled Elon Musk documentary with HBO.
She will report directly to Natalie Lehmann, New Regency’s president of motion pictures and television.
“Nirokhi’s addition to New Regency is another step forward in the development of our leadership team and the growth of our feature film department,” said New Regency chairman and CEO Yariv Milchan and Lehmann in a joint statement announcing Raychaudhuri’s hiring. “She brings an impressive ability to identify top stories and talent, resulting in films that...
- 4/11/2024
- by Angelique Jackson
- Variety Film + TV
New Regency is adding to its executive ranks with another former Netflix executive.
The company has hired Nirokhi Raychaudhuri as SVP of Feature Film. Reporting to Natalie Lehmann, President of Motion Pictures and Television, Raychaudhuri joins her former Netflix colleague Laura Delahaye, who joined the company earlier this year as Head of Domestic Television.
New Regency’s film slate includes The Bikeriders starring Austin Butler, Jodie Comer, and Tom Hardy with Focus Features, Steve McQueen’s Apple TV+ movie Blitz with Saoirse Ronan and Alex Gibney’s forthcoming Elon Musk documentary for HBO.
The company is also behind films such as Bohemian Rhapsody, The Revenant, 12 Years a Slave and Heat.
Raychaudhuri spent nearly four years at Netflix, serving as Senior Manager for the Original Independent Film group. She worked on features including Luckiest Girl Alive with Mila Kunis, Look Both Ways from Wanuri Kahiu, See You Yesterday, and Kissing Booth 2 & 3.
The company has hired Nirokhi Raychaudhuri as SVP of Feature Film. Reporting to Natalie Lehmann, President of Motion Pictures and Television, Raychaudhuri joins her former Netflix colleague Laura Delahaye, who joined the company earlier this year as Head of Domestic Television.
New Regency’s film slate includes The Bikeriders starring Austin Butler, Jodie Comer, and Tom Hardy with Focus Features, Steve McQueen’s Apple TV+ movie Blitz with Saoirse Ronan and Alex Gibney’s forthcoming Elon Musk documentary for HBO.
The company is also behind films such as Bohemian Rhapsody, The Revenant, 12 Years a Slave and Heat.
Raychaudhuri spent nearly four years at Netflix, serving as Senior Manager for the Original Independent Film group. She worked on features including Luckiest Girl Alive with Mila Kunis, Look Both Ways from Wanuri Kahiu, See You Yesterday, and Kissing Booth 2 & 3.
- 4/11/2024
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Produced in collaboration with Documentary Campus, this year’s five-day Cph:conference featured a wide-ranging series of panels and conversations, diving in to everything from indigenous narratives to climate storytelling to the mind of Alex Gibney. Especially notable were the four mornings, Film:makers in Dialogue, all moderated by Wendy Mitchell (festival producer of Sundance London as well as a journalist for Screen International). In these sessions audiences were invited to listen in as the directors behind two films chose clips from each other’s work to engage with. One such pairing in particular proved both inspired and inspiring. Brett Story (The Hottest August, The […]
The post On Power and Solidarity : Brett Story and Yance Ford at Cph:dox 2024 first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.
The post On Power and Solidarity : Brett Story and Yance Ford at Cph:dox 2024 first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.
- 4/8/2024
- by Lauren Wissot
- Filmmaker Magazine-Director Interviews
Produced in collaboration with Documentary Campus, this year’s five-day Cph:conference featured a wide-ranging series of panels and conversations, diving in to everything from indigenous narratives to climate storytelling to the mind of Alex Gibney. Especially notable were the four mornings, Film:makers in Dialogue, all moderated by Wendy Mitchell (festival producer of Sundance London as well as a journalist for Screen International). In these sessions audiences were invited to listen in as the directors behind two films chose clips from each other’s work to engage with. One such pairing in particular proved both inspired and inspiring. Brett Story (The Hottest August, The […]
The post On Power and Solidarity : Brett Story and Yance Ford at Cph:dox 2024 first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.
The post On Power and Solidarity : Brett Story and Yance Ford at Cph:dox 2024 first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.
- 4/8/2024
- by Lauren Wissot
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
A 17-title buying spree from Scandinavian and Baltic distributor NonStop Entertainment includes deals for Mati Diop’s Berlinale Golden Bear winner Dahomey, and Aaron Schimberg’s Sundance title A Different Man.
Diop’s documentary Dahomey tells the story of 26 royal treasures from the Kingdom of Dahomey (located within present-day Benin in Africa) that were returned to Benin after being held in a French museum. Films du Losange handles sales.
Sold by A24, Schimberg’s A Different Man stars Sebastian Stan, Renate Reinsve and Adam Pearson in the story of a man with neurofibromatosis, who undergoes surgery for a new start...
Diop’s documentary Dahomey tells the story of 26 royal treasures from the Kingdom of Dahomey (located within present-day Benin in Africa) that were returned to Benin after being held in a French museum. Films du Losange handles sales.
Sold by A24, Schimberg’s A Different Man stars Sebastian Stan, Renate Reinsve and Adam Pearson in the story of a man with neurofibromatosis, who undergoes surgery for a new start...
- 3/28/2024
- ScreenDaily
The Writers Guild of America West announced on Tuesday that American Fiction writer-director Cord Jefferson has been named recipient of the 2024 Paul Selvin Award for the Amazon MGM Studios film, for which he won the Oscar for best adapted screenplay earlier this month.
Additionally, American Fiction — based on the novel Erasure by Percival Everett — is nominated for the WGA Award for best adapted screenplay.
The comedy, which stars Oscar nominee Jeffrey Wright as a frustrated novelist who writes a satirical book under a pen name that exposes the publishing industry’s limited view of Black life, has garnered numerous awards in addition to the Oscar, including the People’s Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival, a BAFTA award for best adapted screenplay and Film Independent Spirit Awards for best actor (Wright) and adapted screenplay. The film was also named as one of the year’s best by the...
Additionally, American Fiction — based on the novel Erasure by Percival Everett — is nominated for the WGA Award for best adapted screenplay.
The comedy, which stars Oscar nominee Jeffrey Wright as a frustrated novelist who writes a satirical book under a pen name that exposes the publishing industry’s limited view of Black life, has garnered numerous awards in addition to the Oscar, including the People’s Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival, a BAFTA award for best adapted screenplay and Film Independent Spirit Awards for best actor (Wright) and adapted screenplay. The film was also named as one of the year’s best by the...
- 3/26/2024
- by Tyler Coates
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Alessandra Celesia’s The Flats scooped the main Dox:Award prize at Cph:Dox in Copenhagen this evening.
The film depicts a run-down Belfast housing estate, where echoes of conflict in Northern Ireland still haunt the lives of the residents.
Scroll down for the full list of winners
The Flats is a co-production between France’s Films de Force Majeure, the UK’s Dumbworld Productions, Ireland’s Planet Korda Pictures and Belgium’s Thank You & Good Night Productions.
The Cph:dox jury praised it for “not only creative and conceptual daring, but a filmmaker with the humility to realise when the story outgrows its framework,...
The film depicts a run-down Belfast housing estate, where echoes of conflict in Northern Ireland still haunt the lives of the residents.
Scroll down for the full list of winners
The Flats is a co-production between France’s Films de Force Majeure, the UK’s Dumbworld Productions, Ireland’s Planet Korda Pictures and Belgium’s Thank You & Good Night Productions.
The Cph:dox jury praised it for “not only creative and conceptual daring, but a filmmaker with the humility to realise when the story outgrows its framework,...
- 3/22/2024
- ScreenDaily
In a sudden announcement, Sundance Institute said on Friday that CEO Joana Vicente is stepping down after two and a half years and Amanda Kelso is returning as acting CEO.
Kelso, who is a trustee of the Institute, previously served as acting CEO, co-chair of the technology committee, a member of the finance committee, and was actively involved in the digital festival task force.
She will transition into her role in April, and Vicente will continue to serve as an advisor to her and the board through June.
“After two and half inspiring years, I have made the decision to...
Kelso, who is a trustee of the Institute, previously served as acting CEO, co-chair of the technology committee, a member of the finance committee, and was actively involved in the digital festival task force.
She will transition into her role in April, and Vicente will continue to serve as an advisor to her and the board through June.
“After two and half inspiring years, I have made the decision to...
- 3/22/2024
- ScreenDaily
In a sudden announcement, Sundance Institute said on Friday that CEO Joana Vicente is stepping down after two and a half years and Amanda Kelso is returning as acting CEO.
Kelso, who is a trustee of the Institute, previously served as acting CEO, co-chair of the technology committee, a member of the finance committee, and was actively involved in the digital festival task force.
She will transition into her role in April, and Vicente will continue to serve as an advisor to her and the board through June.
“After two and half inspiring years, I have made the decision to...
Kelso, who is a trustee of the Institute, previously served as acting CEO, co-chair of the technology committee, a member of the finance committee, and was actively involved in the digital festival task force.
She will transition into her role in April, and Vicente will continue to serve as an advisor to her and the board through June.
“After two and half inspiring years, I have made the decision to...
- 3/22/2024
- ScreenDaily
US filmmaker Alex Gibney says Musk, his documentary about businessman and investor Elon Musk, is “likely to be seen next year”.
The film is in production through Gibney’s Jigsaw Productions, with Closer Media, AC Independent and Double Agent. Gibney told Screen he “keeps reaching out” to the tech billionaire to be involved in the film, but without success so far.
“It’s likely to be seen next year; I’m working on it now,” said Gibney, speaking to Screen at Cph:dox in Copenhagen where he gave a talk on Tuesday, March 19. “We keep reaching out [to Musk], but I haven’t...
The film is in production through Gibney’s Jigsaw Productions, with Closer Media, AC Independent and Double Agent. Gibney told Screen he “keeps reaching out” to the tech billionaire to be involved in the film, but without success so far.
“It’s likely to be seen next year; I’m working on it now,” said Gibney, speaking to Screen at Cph:dox in Copenhagen where he gave a talk on Tuesday, March 19. “We keep reaching out [to Musk], but I haven’t...
- 3/21/2024
- ScreenDaily
US filmmaker Alex Gibney says Musk, his documentary about businessman and investor Elon Musk, is “likely to be seen next year”.
The film is currently in production through Gibney’s Jigsaw Productions, with Closer Media, AC Independent and Double Agent. Gibney told Screen he “keeps reaching out” to the tech billionaire to be involved in the film, but without success so far.
“It’s likely to be seen next year; I’m working on it now,” said Gibney, speaking to Screen at Cph:dox in Copenhagen where he gave a talk on Tuesday, March 19. “We keep reaching out [to Musk], but I haven...
The film is currently in production through Gibney’s Jigsaw Productions, with Closer Media, AC Independent and Double Agent. Gibney told Screen he “keeps reaching out” to the tech billionaire to be involved in the film, but without success so far.
“It’s likely to be seen next year; I’m working on it now,” said Gibney, speaking to Screen at Cph:dox in Copenhagen where he gave a talk on Tuesday, March 19. “We keep reaching out [to Musk], but I haven...
- 3/21/2024
- ScreenDaily
Paul Simon appeared on The Late Show to promote a new documentary about himself, In Restless Dreams. Although Simon was not the official musical guest for the episode, he took the opportunity to perform album cut “Your Forgiveness” on acoustic guitar for the audience.
Simon showcased the introspective song, which comes off his most recent album, Seven Psalms, seated on the guest sofa on the late-night show, with only a microphone and guitar as accompaniment.
Simon also sat down with host Stephen Colbert for a lengthy, wide-ranging interview, including a discussion about In Restless Dreams,...
Simon showcased the introspective song, which comes off his most recent album, Seven Psalms, seated on the guest sofa on the late-night show, with only a microphone and guitar as accompaniment.
Simon also sat down with host Stephen Colbert for a lengthy, wide-ranging interview, including a discussion about In Restless Dreams,...
- 3/21/2024
- by Emily Zemler
- Rollingstone.com
In a keynote conversation Tuesday at Copenhagen’s leading international documentary festival Cph:dox, Academy Award winning filmmaker and producer Alex Gibney talked honestly about the winding road of making it in the documentary world, the creative process, and the lessons of life, partly learned from singer-songwriter Paul Simon.
The inspirational talk at the baroque Kunsthal Charlottenborg exhibition space, with moderator Thom Powers, Toronto Film Festival programmer, was a prelude to the festival’s screening of Gibney’s two-part doc “In Restless Dreams: The Music of Paul Simon,” which debuted on MGM+ March 17.
“What I learned from Paul was that when he wrote ‘The Sound of Silence,’ he sat alone and words came to him; creativity started to flow, and just like Bob Dylan with ‘Mr. Tambourine Man,’ [the song] suddenly fit and he felt like a conduit.”
Gibney said letting free associations take over, having an unguarded curiosity and generosity were some...
The inspirational talk at the baroque Kunsthal Charlottenborg exhibition space, with moderator Thom Powers, Toronto Film Festival programmer, was a prelude to the festival’s screening of Gibney’s two-part doc “In Restless Dreams: The Music of Paul Simon,” which debuted on MGM+ March 17.
“What I learned from Paul was that when he wrote ‘The Sound of Silence,’ he sat alone and words came to him; creativity started to flow, and just like Bob Dylan with ‘Mr. Tambourine Man,’ [the song] suddenly fit and he felt like a conduit.”
Gibney said letting free associations take over, having an unguarded curiosity and generosity were some...
- 3/20/2024
- by Annika Pham
- Variety Film + TV
In January 2019, Paul Simon awoke from a dream. Some voice in his head had informed him, deep within his Rem cycle, that he was going to work on a project called “Seven Psalms.” The singer-songwriter behind “The Sound of Silence,” “A Bridge Over Troubled Waters,” “Love Me Like a Rock,” and several dozen other songs that have likely been part of the soundtrack of your life, willingly or unwillingly, had effectively been retired for several years. Music-wise, he had nothing on deck except for this lovely little riff he’d...
- 3/18/2024
- by David Fear
- Rollingstone.com
Filmmaker Raoul Peck’s next documentary will delve into the 2021 assassination of Haitian president Jovenel Moise. The film, tentatively titled “The Hands That Held the Knives,” has been in production for over two years.
The documentary will be a thriller “in the tradition of Graham Greene or John Le Carré,” according to a press release. It will offer access to people involved in the murder of Moise, who was shot inside his home in July 2021. It will also feature secret footage from Haiti’s prisons and an encounter with a fugitive who witnessed the killing.
“The Hands That Held the Knives” will attempt to unpack Haiti’s politics, its relationship with the United States, as well as corrupt business empires and criminal organizations that deal drugs and contraband throughout the Caribbean. Per the official announcement, “the film will take us right up to the present moment, as ruthless gangs backed...
The documentary will be a thriller “in the tradition of Graham Greene or John Le Carré,” according to a press release. It will offer access to people involved in the murder of Moise, who was shot inside his home in July 2021. It will also feature secret footage from Haiti’s prisons and an encounter with a fugitive who witnessed the killing.
“The Hands That Held the Knives” will attempt to unpack Haiti’s politics, its relationship with the United States, as well as corrupt business empires and criminal organizations that deal drugs and contraband throughout the Caribbean. Per the official announcement, “the film will take us right up to the present moment, as ruthless gangs backed...
- 3/18/2024
- by Rebecca Rubin
- Variety Film + TV
Director Raoul Peck, who helmed the 2016 documentary “I Am Not Your Negro,” has announced his new documentary project. “The Hands That Held the Knives” will detail the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse in 2021.
The documentary, which took over two years to make, is said to be in the same vein as the works of Graham Greene and John Le Carré. Peck was given access to the people involved in Moïse’s killing, and even secretly filmed in Haiti’s prison system. The documentary will lay out Haitian politics, its relationship to the U.S. and the corruption and criminality the country deals with, including drugs and weapons trafficking.
“I am eager to tell my country’s real story beyond the usual exotic clichés and preposterous clickbait,” Peck said in a prepared statement. “I want to reveal for once, without holding back, the core stories and real reasons for Haiti’s tragic situation.
The documentary, which took over two years to make, is said to be in the same vein as the works of Graham Greene and John Le Carré. Peck was given access to the people involved in Moïse’s killing, and even secretly filmed in Haiti’s prison system. The documentary will lay out Haitian politics, its relationship to the U.S. and the corruption and criminality the country deals with, including drugs and weapons trafficking.
“I am eager to tell my country’s real story beyond the usual exotic clichés and preposterous clickbait,” Peck said in a prepared statement. “I want to reveal for once, without holding back, the core stories and real reasons for Haiti’s tragic situation.
- 3/18/2024
- by Kristen Lopez
- The Wrap
Raoul Peck is in production on his latest documentary The Hands That Held The Knives which explores the 2021 assassination of Haitian president Jovenel Moise.
Haitian-born Peck is producing through his Velvet Films alongside Jigsaw Productions, with Imagine Documentaries, Anonymous Content, and Double Agent, who are also financing the project.
Editing is underway and shooting continues in Haiti, the US, Canada, France, and North Africa.
More than two years in the making, the documentary thriller is described as being in the vein of Graham Greene or John Le Carré and explores the politics of Haiti and its relationship with the United...
Haitian-born Peck is producing through his Velvet Films alongside Jigsaw Productions, with Imagine Documentaries, Anonymous Content, and Double Agent, who are also financing the project.
Editing is underway and shooting continues in Haiti, the US, Canada, France, and North Africa.
More than two years in the making, the documentary thriller is described as being in the vein of Graham Greene or John Le Carré and explores the politics of Haiti and its relationship with the United...
- 3/18/2024
- ScreenDaily
Raoul Peck, the filmmaker behind Academy Award-nominated documentary I Am Not Your Negro, is in production on his next feature doc — an investigation into the 2021 assassination of Haitian president Jovenel Moise, tentatively titled, The Hands That Held the Knives.
Over two years in the making, with unprecedented access to many of those involved, and including secret filming in Haiti’s prisons and an unexpected encounter with a fugitive who was an eyewitness to the murder, Peck’s film taking him back to his home country will be a documentary thriller, in the tradition of Graham Greene or John Le Carré.
His investigation takes him deep into the politics of Haiti, its relationship with the United States, and the corrupt business empires and criminal organizations — dealing drugs and contraband throughout the Caribbean, using weapons trafficked from the U.S. — which have now rendered the country a hellscape for its citizens. The...
Over two years in the making, with unprecedented access to many of those involved, and including secret filming in Haiti’s prisons and an unexpected encounter with a fugitive who was an eyewitness to the murder, Peck’s film taking him back to his home country will be a documentary thriller, in the tradition of Graham Greene or John Le Carré.
His investigation takes him deep into the politics of Haiti, its relationship with the United States, and the corrupt business empires and criminal organizations — dealing drugs and contraband throughout the Caribbean, using weapons trafficked from the U.S. — which have now rendered the country a hellscape for its citizens. The...
- 3/18/2024
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
One of the greatest entertainers of the 20th century, Frank Sinatra is not only considered one of the greatest actors to ever grace the silver screen but also an icon in the music industry. The actor-singer has numerous accolades under his name, including eleven Grammys. Among many of his works, Sinatra would also go on to record covers of Elvis Presley’s hit Love Me Tender, along with Paul Simon’s Mrs. Robinson.
Frank Sinatra in Suddenly (1954)
And Simon was not too pleased with the Guys and Dolls star’s cover of his song. The singer opened up about his initial reaction to Sinatra’s cover and how Warner Bros. got embroiled in the matter in a recent interview.
Paul Simon Expressed Discontent With Frank Sinatra Covering His Song
A year after the 82-year-old singer released the hit single Mrs. Robinson, Frank Sinatra released his cover of the song with some changes to the lyrics.
Frank Sinatra in Suddenly (1954)
And Simon was not too pleased with the Guys and Dolls star’s cover of his song. The singer opened up about his initial reaction to Sinatra’s cover and how Warner Bros. got embroiled in the matter in a recent interview.
Paul Simon Expressed Discontent With Frank Sinatra Covering His Song
A year after the 82-year-old singer released the hit single Mrs. Robinson, Frank Sinatra released his cover of the song with some changes to the lyrics.
- 3/16/2024
- by Laxmi Rajput
- FandomWire
For documentary filmmaker Alex Gibney, what made “In Restless Dreams: The Music of Paul Simon” different from other music docs he has helmed was “being up close and personal for that creative process. I’m a nut for those movies where you see how baseballs are made, how tennis balls are made. This was like how rock and roll is made with Paul Simon. It’s like, wow.” Gibney and Simon discussed the MGM+ documentary series with moderator Stephen Colbert after its New York City premiere at the DGA Theater on March 13.
“In Restless Dreams” tells the story of Paul Simon’s life and career while also documenting the creation of the singer-songwriter’s latest album, “Seven Psalms,” in the midst of sudden hearing loss in one ear. “That’s come back to enough of a degree that I am comfortable singing and playing guitar and playing a few other instruments,...
“In Restless Dreams” tells the story of Paul Simon’s life and career while also documenting the creation of the singer-songwriter’s latest album, “Seven Psalms,” in the midst of sudden hearing loss in one ear. “That’s come back to enough of a degree that I am comfortable singing and playing guitar and playing a few other instruments,...
- 3/15/2024
- by Daniel Montgomery
- Gold Derby
Paul Simon stopped by The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on Thursday (March 14th), where he gave a rare performance and sat down for an extended interview. Watch a clip of Simon playing “Your Forgiveness” from his latest album, Seven Psalms, below.
Even after retiring from touring in 2018 and losing almost all of his hearing in one ear, Simon is still an enthralling performer. Seated on Colbert’s guest couch, his acoustic guitar-picking and stirring vocal delivery remain equally impressive.
During Simon’s 30-minute sitdown with Colbert, the artist spoke about being drawn to rock and roll during his childhood, described his writing process for “Darling Lorraine,” and shared the inspiration behind Seven Psalms. Watch it below.
Simon’s appearance comes ahead of the premiere of the new documentary by Alex Gibney, In Restless Dreams: The Music of Paul Simon, which arrives on MGM+ on March 17th and March 24th at 9:00 p.
Even after retiring from touring in 2018 and losing almost all of his hearing in one ear, Simon is still an enthralling performer. Seated on Colbert’s guest couch, his acoustic guitar-picking and stirring vocal delivery remain equally impressive.
During Simon’s 30-minute sitdown with Colbert, the artist spoke about being drawn to rock and roll during his childhood, described his writing process for “Darling Lorraine,” and shared the inspiration behind Seven Psalms. Watch it below.
Simon’s appearance comes ahead of the premiere of the new documentary by Alex Gibney, In Restless Dreams: The Music of Paul Simon, which arrives on MGM+ on March 17th and March 24th at 9:00 p.
- 3/15/2024
- by Jo Vito and Eddie Fu
- Consequence - Music
Nearly 60 years after the release of “The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin’ Groovy),” Paul Simon still cringes at the song.
The 1966 Simon & Garfunkel classic features “a line that I hate,” the singer-songwriter told Stephen Colbert on Wednesday at the DGA New York Theater. “As it’s coming up, I’m thinking, ‘Here it comes, here it comes’ – ‘Life, I love you.’ Ugh! ‘All is groovy.’ Oh!” Simon recalled with evident disdain having to “sing it with Artie all the time because it was a hit. In my own shows, I don’t do it unless I make a mistake and I do it to punish myself.”
The crowd erupted with laughter at the singer-songwriter’s recollection and many others he delivered after a screening of the first part of Alex Gibney’s In Restless Dreams, a two-part documentary debuting Sunday on MGM+. Gibney was also onstage to discuss the project,...
The 1966 Simon & Garfunkel classic features “a line that I hate,” the singer-songwriter told Stephen Colbert on Wednesday at the DGA New York Theater. “As it’s coming up, I’m thinking, ‘Here it comes, here it comes’ – ‘Life, I love you.’ Ugh! ‘All is groovy.’ Oh!” Simon recalled with evident disdain having to “sing it with Artie all the time because it was a hit. In my own shows, I don’t do it unless I make a mistake and I do it to punish myself.”
The crowd erupted with laughter at the singer-songwriter’s recollection and many others he delivered after a screening of the first part of Alex Gibney’s In Restless Dreams, a two-part documentary debuting Sunday on MGM+. Gibney was also onstage to discuss the project,...
- 3/14/2024
- by Dade Hayes
- Deadline Film + TV
Say this for Mitch Lowe, the former CEO of MoviePass: He may have helped destroy a briefly beloved brand and he may be awaiting trial on fraud charges stemming from that destruction, but he sat down for interviews for Muta’Ali’s upcoming HBO documentary MoviePass, MovieCrash and he gives what might be my favorite quote illustrating the true nature of capitalism.
Discussing the wave of out-of-control spending and public exuberance that preceded MoviePass’ fall — MoviePass-branded helicopters were landing at Coachella and Dennis Rodman was being trotted out in red hats while the offices were running out of supplies and seven customer service reps were handling countless complaints — Lowe says, without any evident self-awareness: “I sensed a resentment by the MoviePass employees. Each individual has their various roles and not all roles get to party.”
“Not all roles get to party.”
Man, that’s good.
As for MoviePass, MovieCrash?...
Discussing the wave of out-of-control spending and public exuberance that preceded MoviePass’ fall — MoviePass-branded helicopters were landing at Coachella and Dennis Rodman was being trotted out in red hats while the offices were running out of supplies and seven customer service reps were handling countless complaints — Lowe says, without any evident self-awareness: “I sensed a resentment by the MoviePass employees. Each individual has their various roles and not all roles get to party.”
“Not all roles get to party.”
Man, that’s good.
As for MoviePass, MovieCrash?...
- 3/10/2024
- by Daniel Fienberg
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
He’s one of the world’s best selling music artists, a two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, and a sixteen-time Grammy winner.
Paul Simon will add a new honor to that list when he joins a select group of luminaries who’ve received the solo guest treatment on CBS’ The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.
Simon is set to both sit down with Colbert for an interview and perform when he visits the show next Thursday, March 14.
Other music headliners who’ve served as solo guests with Colbert in the past include Bono, Paul McCartney, Lady Gaga (twice), and Bruce Springsteen (twice).
Simon himself has appeared on Colbert four times before, but never as a solo guest. His last visit was in 2019.
The 82 year-old singer/songwriter retired from touring in 2015, but continues to record new music and recently allowed Oscar-winning documentary director Alex Gibney to film the making of his latest album,...
Paul Simon will add a new honor to that list when he joins a select group of luminaries who’ve received the solo guest treatment on CBS’ The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.
Simon is set to both sit down with Colbert for an interview and perform when he visits the show next Thursday, March 14.
Other music headliners who’ve served as solo guests with Colbert in the past include Bono, Paul McCartney, Lady Gaga (twice), and Bruce Springsteen (twice).
Simon himself has appeared on Colbert four times before, but never as a solo guest. His last visit was in 2019.
The 82 year-old singer/songwriter retired from touring in 2015, but continues to record new music and recently allowed Oscar-winning documentary director Alex Gibney to film the making of his latest album,...
- 3/8/2024
- by Jed Rosenzweig
- LateNighter
A two-part Paul Simon documentary directed by Oscar winner Alex Gibney has been acquired by MGM+ and will premiere on the cable network next month. In anticipation, the first trailer has been revealed and is streaming below.
In Restless Dreams: The Music of Paul Simon is described in a press release as “the definitive musical biography” of the folk singer, and details an immersive journey into the life and work of “one of the greatest songwriters (and performers) in the history of rock ‘n’ roll.” It’s set to premiere on MGM+ on March 17th and March 24th at 9:00 p.m. Et/Pt.
The docuseries captures Simon at work on his latest musical project, Seven Psalms, as well as never-before-seen footage of his career, from Simon & Garfunkel to Bridge Over Troubled Water and Graceland. It also features exclusive interviews with friends and collaborators, including jazz heavyweight Wynton Marsalis, SNL’s Lorne Michaels,...
In Restless Dreams: The Music of Paul Simon is described in a press release as “the definitive musical biography” of the folk singer, and details an immersive journey into the life and work of “one of the greatest songwriters (and performers) in the history of rock ‘n’ roll.” It’s set to premiere on MGM+ on March 17th and March 24th at 9:00 p.m. Et/Pt.
The docuseries captures Simon at work on his latest musical project, Seven Psalms, as well as never-before-seen footage of his career, from Simon & Garfunkel to Bridge Over Troubled Water and Graceland. It also features exclusive interviews with friends and collaborators, including jazz heavyweight Wynton Marsalis, SNL’s Lorne Michaels,...
- 2/28/2024
- by Kayla Higgins
- Consequence - Music
Paul Simon discusses his songwriting and legacy in the trailer for In Restless Dreams: The Music of Paul Simon, available exclusively at Rolling Stone.
“People used to say, ‘Oh, you have your finger on the pulse,'” the 82-year-old musician says in the clip. “No, I don’t have my finger on the pulse. I just have my finger out there …and the pulse is running under it.”
The trailer shows Simon throughout his nearly seven-decade career, from his early songwriting days under his pseudonym Jerry Landis to his masterpiece...
“People used to say, ‘Oh, you have your finger on the pulse,'” the 82-year-old musician says in the clip. “No, I don’t have my finger on the pulse. I just have my finger out there …and the pulse is running under it.”
The trailer shows Simon throughout his nearly seven-decade career, from his early songwriting days under his pseudonym Jerry Landis to his masterpiece...
- 2/28/2024
- by Angie Martoccio
- Rollingstone.com
Cph:dox, one Europe’s leading documentary film festivals, has announced its full program, which includes no fewer than 84 world premieres out of more than 200 films being screened in the Danish capital and nationwide from March 13 through March 24.
This 21st edition, which aims to make documentary film accessible not only to a select industry few but to the public at large, will take off with a new nationwide approach, with mini festivals running simultaneously in nearly half of Denmark’s municipalities. In addition, alongside the six main awards, a new Audience Award is being revived by popular request, which comes with a €5,000 prize.
Running alongside the festival’s overarching theme of “Body Politics,” which explores questions about the body and our understanding of it, organizers have announced the other main theme of this edition: “Conflicted.”
Born from the war in Gaza, which has hit the headlines again since Oct. 7 last year,...
This 21st edition, which aims to make documentary film accessible not only to a select industry few but to the public at large, will take off with a new nationwide approach, with mini festivals running simultaneously in nearly half of Denmark’s municipalities. In addition, alongside the six main awards, a new Audience Award is being revived by popular request, which comes with a €5,000 prize.
Running alongside the festival’s overarching theme of “Body Politics,” which explores questions about the body and our understanding of it, organizers have announced the other main theme of this edition: “Conflicted.”
Born from the war in Gaza, which has hit the headlines again since Oct. 7 last year,...
- 2/21/2024
- by Lise Pedersen
- Variety Film + TV
Together Films has snapped up key deals for Naqqash Khalid’s In Camera, including for its home territory.
Conic will release the film in the UK and Ireland in cinemas this summer; while further distribution has been secured for Spain (FilmIn) and Scandinavia (Non-Stop Entertainment).
Together is conducting further sales in Berlin this week.
A debut from UK filmmaker Khalid, In Camera launched at Karlovy Vary in July, going on to play London and Thessaloniki.
It follows a young actor in a cycle of nightmarish auditions, who takes it upon himself to find a new role. The film unites six...
Conic will release the film in the UK and Ireland in cinemas this summer; while further distribution has been secured for Spain (FilmIn) and Scandinavia (Non-Stop Entertainment).
Together is conducting further sales in Berlin this week.
A debut from UK filmmaker Khalid, In Camera launched at Karlovy Vary in July, going on to play London and Thessaloniki.
It follows a young actor in a cycle of nightmarish auditions, who takes it upon himself to find a new role. The film unites six...
- 2/16/2024
- ScreenDaily
TrustNordisk has signed key deals on Frederik Louis Hviid’s upcoming action feature The Quiet Ones.
The film has sold to the US (Magnolia Pictures), Germany (Plaion) and South Korea (PoongKyong Sori).
Inspired by true events, Hviid’s film is set after the 2008 financial crisis, and follows a group of Danish and European men planning to commit the largest robbery ever on Danish soil.
It is currently in post-production, produced by Kasper Dissing for Zentropa Entertainment, with a script by Anders Frithiof August. Reda Kateb, Gustav Giese and Amanda Collin lead the cast.
Co-producers are Lizette Jonjic and Jean-Christophe Reymond,...
The film has sold to the US (Magnolia Pictures), Germany (Plaion) and South Korea (PoongKyong Sori).
Inspired by true events, Hviid’s film is set after the 2008 financial crisis, and follows a group of Danish and European men planning to commit the largest robbery ever on Danish soil.
It is currently in post-production, produced by Kasper Dissing for Zentropa Entertainment, with a script by Anders Frithiof August. Reda Kateb, Gustav Giese and Amanda Collin lead the cast.
Co-producers are Lizette Jonjic and Jean-Christophe Reymond,...
- 2/15/2024
- ScreenDaily
Sheila Nevins has produced documentaries for most of her professional life. But at 84, she’s still notching career firsts.
Last month, Nevins added “Oscar-nominated director” to her résumé, having landed her first nod for co-directing the short “The ABCs of Book Banning” with Trish Adlesic and Nazenet Habtezghi.
Nevins’ first Oscars as a nominee take place at the same time she is wrapping up her run as the head of MTV Documentary Films. Nevins joined the company in 2019 after 38 years at HBO.
“I went there to raise the bar for the intellectual quotient of what MTV could produce in the documentary arena,” Nevins says. “I did highbrow and lowbrow at HBO, but when I got to MTV, I just did highbrow.”
On Nevins’ watch, MTV produced 40 docs and landed five Oscar nominations, including a feature doc bid this year for “The Eternal Memory.”
“Sheila Nevins is an extraordinary storyteller,...
Last month, Nevins added “Oscar-nominated director” to her résumé, having landed her first nod for co-directing the short “The ABCs of Book Banning” with Trish Adlesic and Nazenet Habtezghi.
Nevins’ first Oscars as a nominee take place at the same time she is wrapping up her run as the head of MTV Documentary Films. Nevins joined the company in 2019 after 38 years at HBO.
“I went there to raise the bar for the intellectual quotient of what MTV could produce in the documentary arena,” Nevins says. “I did highbrow and lowbrow at HBO, but when I got to MTV, I just did highbrow.”
On Nevins’ watch, MTV produced 40 docs and landed five Oscar nominations, including a feature doc bid this year for “The Eternal Memory.”
“Sheila Nevins is an extraordinary storyteller,...
- 2/14/2024
- by Addie Morfoot
- Variety Film + TV
Filmmakers Alex Gibney, Johan Grimonprez and Laura Huertas Millan, along with industry figures Jessica Harrop from Sandbox and Marie Nelson from Hot Docs will be among the speakers at Cph:conference, the discussion program at documentary festival Cph:dox.
The program, which is curated in partnership with the training initiative Documentary Campus, has the theme “rebuilding narratives.”
The conference will kick off on March 18 with a collaboration with the Disco Network – made up of Ambulante, Aflamuna, DocsMX, Doc Society, DocSP, Docubox, In-Docs and India Docs – who will present and workshop “Our Declaration of Independence.” This session, led by Jad Abi-Khalil (Aflamuna) and Beadie Finzi (Doc Society), is a result of an initiative aiming to “articulate the importance of independent documentaries to culture, society and democracy, and to advocate for the resources and platforms they deserve.”
In the mornings of March 19-21, there will be thought-provoking conversations with filmmakers featured in this year’s Cph:dox program.
The program, which is curated in partnership with the training initiative Documentary Campus, has the theme “rebuilding narratives.”
The conference will kick off on March 18 with a collaboration with the Disco Network – made up of Ambulante, Aflamuna, DocsMX, Doc Society, DocSP, Docubox, In-Docs and India Docs – who will present and workshop “Our Declaration of Independence.” This session, led by Jad Abi-Khalil (Aflamuna) and Beadie Finzi (Doc Society), is a result of an initiative aiming to “articulate the importance of independent documentaries to culture, society and democracy, and to advocate for the resources and platforms they deserve.”
In the mornings of March 19-21, there will be thought-provoking conversations with filmmakers featured in this year’s Cph:dox program.
- 2/14/2024
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
Going Clear director Alex Gibney and The Mother Of All Lies filmmaker Asmae El Moudir are among the speakers confirmed for the 2024 Cph:Conference, the industry talks programme of Cph:dox film festival in Copenhagen (March 13-24).
US director Gibney and Moroccan director El Moudir will both participate in ‘A Morning With’ sessions, alongside Belgian filmmaker Johan Grimonprez.
The ‘Morning’ sessions will be followed by ‘Film:Makers In Dialogue’ events, where filmmakers behind two festival titles will engage in discussions about their latest projects.
The Conference will begin on March 18 with ‘Our Declaration Of Independence, a new session aiming to articulate the importance of independent documentaries to culture,...
US director Gibney and Moroccan director El Moudir will both participate in ‘A Morning With’ sessions, alongside Belgian filmmaker Johan Grimonprez.
The ‘Morning’ sessions will be followed by ‘Film:Makers In Dialogue’ events, where filmmakers behind two festival titles will engage in discussions about their latest projects.
The Conference will begin on March 18 with ‘Our Declaration Of Independence, a new session aiming to articulate the importance of independent documentaries to culture,...
- 2/14/2024
- ScreenDaily
Oscar nominee Steve James (Hoop Dreams) has been set to direct Mind vs. Machine, a new docuseries on the lightning rod topic of artificial intelligence from Oscar winner Alex Gibney’s Jigsaw Productions, Closer Media, Anonymous Content, and Emmy-winning producers Alyssa Fedele & Zachary Fink of Collective Hunch.
Gibney comes to the project after working with Closer Media and Anonymous Content on the forthcoming documentary Musk, to be distributed by HBO/Universal. Within the last year, his Jigsaw has also teamed with the companies on the MGM+ acquired documentary In Restless Dreams: The Music of Paul Simon and the Raoul Peck-helmed Orwell on 1984 author George Orwell, to be distributed by Neon.
As artificial intelligence bursts onto the world stage – and into our lives – it may seem like a radical new life form has suddenly been created. But as Mind vs. Machine illustrates,...
Gibney comes to the project after working with Closer Media and Anonymous Content on the forthcoming documentary Musk, to be distributed by HBO/Universal. Within the last year, his Jigsaw has also teamed with the companies on the MGM+ acquired documentary In Restless Dreams: The Music of Paul Simon and the Raoul Peck-helmed Orwell on 1984 author George Orwell, to be distributed by Neon.
As artificial intelligence bursts onto the world stage – and into our lives – it may seem like a radical new life form has suddenly been created. But as Mind vs. Machine illustrates,...
- 2/1/2024
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Steve James, the Oscar-nominated director behind Hoop Dreams and Life Itself, will tackle AI in the docuseries Mind vs. Machine, which has Alex Gibney on board as a producer.
Closer Media and Anonymous Content, which are working with Gibney on his upcoming Elon Musk doc Musk, are financing the project and also producing alongside James and Gibney, Alyssa Fedele and Zachary Fink of Collective Hunch.
New York Times technology correspondent Cade Metz will executive produce with Closer Media’s Zhang Xin, William Horberg, and Joey Marra, and Anonymous Content’s Nick Shumaker, Jessica Grimshaw, and David Levine.
According to the announcement, the project is described as “a five-part, landmark docuseries artfully crafted from a blend of interviews, archival footage, dramatic recreations, AI visualizations, and cutting-edge special effects, is definitive in its unparalleled access to key inventors, scientists, futurists, and thinkers including Geoffrey Hinton, Yann LeCun, Ray Kurzweil, Deborah Raji, and Meghan O’Gieblyn.
Closer Media and Anonymous Content, which are working with Gibney on his upcoming Elon Musk doc Musk, are financing the project and also producing alongside James and Gibney, Alyssa Fedele and Zachary Fink of Collective Hunch.
New York Times technology correspondent Cade Metz will executive produce with Closer Media’s Zhang Xin, William Horberg, and Joey Marra, and Anonymous Content’s Nick Shumaker, Jessica Grimshaw, and David Levine.
According to the announcement, the project is described as “a five-part, landmark docuseries artfully crafted from a blend of interviews, archival footage, dramatic recreations, AI visualizations, and cutting-edge special effects, is definitive in its unparalleled access to key inventors, scientists, futurists, and thinkers including Geoffrey Hinton, Yann LeCun, Ray Kurzweil, Deborah Raji, and Meghan O’Gieblyn.
- 2/1/2024
- by Mia Galuppo
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Just weeks ago, Sir Elton John became the 19th entertainer to win the highly desirable Egot by claiming his first ever Emmy Award. And now, which person is the most likely to be the 20th Egot later this year, in 2025 or beyond? Here is a summary of the 80 people who have the best chance right now.
The most likely duo could be composers Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (actually meaning a 20th and 21st Egot if they win). They are producers and songwriters for the third season of “Only Murders in the Building,” so they will have a couple of opportunities in September at the Emmys. They first won an Oscar, Tony, and Grammy.
For the 2024 Grammys, nobody is nominated who could become an Egot, so the next possible chance would be 2025. There are a total of 25 people who have won everything needed except a Grammy. They are actress Ellen Burstyn,...
The most likely duo could be composers Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (actually meaning a 20th and 21st Egot if they win). They are producers and songwriters for the third season of “Only Murders in the Building,” so they will have a couple of opportunities in September at the Emmys. They first won an Oscar, Tony, and Grammy.
For the 2024 Grammys, nobody is nominated who could become an Egot, so the next possible chance would be 2025. There are a total of 25 people who have won everything needed except a Grammy. They are actress Ellen Burstyn,...
- 1/29/2024
- by Chris Beachum
- Gold Derby
Anchored by Richard Linklater’s exceptional feature-length “Hometown Prison,” HBO’s God Save Texas may only be a three-part anthology docuseries, but in those three parts, it manages to be wide-ranging, timely and vitally important.
While the inspiration is Lawrence Wright’s book of the same title, and the focus is the Lone Star State, the template set by Linklater, Alex Stapleton and Iliana Sosa could be applied to personal/political hybrid storytelling delving into the fractured identities of all 50 states and the artists who call them home.
Or maybe we just need more seasons of God Save Texas — premiering at Sundance before coming to HBO on Feb. 27 and 28 — since Texas represents so much of what 21st century America is likely to look like moving forward. A red state with blue cities, in which the ideology and voting interests of each demographic are far more complicated than “Democrat” or “Republican,...
While the inspiration is Lawrence Wright’s book of the same title, and the focus is the Lone Star State, the template set by Linklater, Alex Stapleton and Iliana Sosa could be applied to personal/political hybrid storytelling delving into the fractured identities of all 50 states and the artists who call them home.
Or maybe we just need more seasons of God Save Texas — premiering at Sundance before coming to HBO on Feb. 27 and 28 — since Texas represents so much of what 21st century America is likely to look like moving forward. A red state with blue cities, in which the ideology and voting interests of each demographic are far more complicated than “Democrat” or “Republican,...
- 1/24/2024
- by Daniel Fienberg
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
On the eve of Sundance Film Festival’s kickoff, Nick Shumaker — the New York-based boss of AC Independent, the sales and finance division of Anonymous Content (“Spotlight”) — is feeling celebratory. The banner will celebrate its first birthday with five movies playing in Park City: “Kneecap” (pictured above), “Between the Temples,” “War Game,” “Union” and “Handling the Undead.”
Within a year, AC Independent has become a force in the indie film landscape, handling sales and financing for some major projects, such as Alex Gibney’s “Musk,” “In Restless Dreams: The Music of Paul Simon” as well as the U.K. rights for A24’s “Talk to Me” and the recent Golden Globe-winning animated film “The Boy and the Heron.”
Shumaker, a former agent at UTA, talked to Variety about the company’s international DNA, his hopes for the theatrical market and optimism about the resilience of independent film — as illustrated by...
Within a year, AC Independent has become a force in the indie film landscape, handling sales and financing for some major projects, such as Alex Gibney’s “Musk,” “In Restless Dreams: The Music of Paul Simon” as well as the U.K. rights for A24’s “Talk to Me” and the recent Golden Globe-winning animated film “The Boy and the Heron.”
Shumaker, a former agent at UTA, talked to Variety about the company’s international DNA, his hopes for the theatrical market and optimism about the resilience of independent film — as illustrated by...
- 1/18/2024
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Ben Fowlie, founder of the Camden International Film Festival, is departing as executive and artistic director of the Points North Institute, the nonprofit that produces the highly-respected documentary festival in coastal Maine.
Rick Rector, a board member of the Points North Institute, has been appointed Pni’s interim executive director in Fowlie’s stead. Fowlie, in addition to founding the film festival in 2005, established the Points North Institute in 2016, co-founding the nonprofit with Sean Flynn and Caroline von Kuhn.
Von Kuhn will remain as Pni board chair and Flynn will continue to lead Pni’s artist programs and fellowships and expand his role to oversee the upcoming 20th Camden International Film Festival, set for September 12-15, 2024.
Ciff executive and artistic director Ben Fowlie with ‘The Rescue’ director Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi
“After twenty incredible years building this organization from the ground up, it’s the right time for me to step down,...
Rick Rector, a board member of the Points North Institute, has been appointed Pni’s interim executive director in Fowlie’s stead. Fowlie, in addition to founding the film festival in 2005, established the Points North Institute in 2016, co-founding the nonprofit with Sean Flynn and Caroline von Kuhn.
Von Kuhn will remain as Pni board chair and Flynn will continue to lead Pni’s artist programs and fellowships and expand his role to oversee the upcoming 20th Camden International Film Festival, set for September 12-15, 2024.
Ciff executive and artistic director Ben Fowlie with ‘The Rescue’ director Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi
“After twenty incredible years building this organization from the ground up, it’s the right time for me to step down,...
- 1/16/2024
- by Matthew Carey
- Deadline Film + TV
MGM+ has announced the acquisition of the two-part docuseries “In Restless Dreams: The Music of Paul Simon, debuting on the streamer on March 17 and March 24 at 9 p.m. Edt/Pdt. It focuses on the career of musician Paul Simon.
Per the docuseries’ description, “In Restless Dreams” “juxtaposes Simon’s process of making a new album during the Covid-19 pandemic against archival material tracing Simon’s career and creative journey, including revelatory, previously unseen footage from such historic moments as the recording of ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’ and ‘Graceland,’ Simon & Garfunkel’s unforgettable reunion concert in Central Park, and, 10 years later, Simon’s solo concert there, where he performed before 750,000 people.”
Making appearances in the docuseries are “Saturday Night Live” creator and producer Lorne Michaels, Simon’s wife and singer Edie Brickwell and composer Wynton Marsalis.
Alex Gibney (“The Inventor”) directs and produces, with Jigsaw, Closer Media and Anonymous Content jointly producing.
Per the docuseries’ description, “In Restless Dreams” “juxtaposes Simon’s process of making a new album during the Covid-19 pandemic against archival material tracing Simon’s career and creative journey, including revelatory, previously unseen footage from such historic moments as the recording of ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’ and ‘Graceland,’ Simon & Garfunkel’s unforgettable reunion concert in Central Park, and, 10 years later, Simon’s solo concert there, where he performed before 750,000 people.”
Making appearances in the docuseries are “Saturday Night Live” creator and producer Lorne Michaels, Simon’s wife and singer Edie Brickwell and composer Wynton Marsalis.
Alex Gibney (“The Inventor”) directs and produces, with Jigsaw, Closer Media and Anonymous Content jointly producing.
- 12/6/2023
- by Jaden Thompson and Valerie Wu
- Variety Film + TV
Updated: Just hours after this article was first posted, MGM+ announced it had acquired Alex Gibney’s “In Restless Dreams: The Music of Paul Simon” and will air as a two-part docuseries on March 17 and March 24, 2024 at 9 p.m. Edt/Pdt.
It’s not too late to pick up a thoughtful gift for the people in your life, and that includes film distributors. While much of Hollywood is shutting down in advance of the holidays, plenty of cinema-loving elves are still toiling away in hopes of seeing their (very deserving) films land underneath the metaphorical tree.
And there are plenty of gifts to share, because even as the distribution landscape continues to shift and shape with startling regularity, some of the year’s most interesting and unique cinematic efforts are still looking for a home. In fact, we’ve got 18 of them wrapped and ready to go.
This holiday season,...
It’s not too late to pick up a thoughtful gift for the people in your life, and that includes film distributors. While much of Hollywood is shutting down in advance of the holidays, plenty of cinema-loving elves are still toiling away in hopes of seeing their (very deserving) films land underneath the metaphorical tree.
And there are plenty of gifts to share, because even as the distribution landscape continues to shift and shape with startling regularity, some of the year’s most interesting and unique cinematic efforts are still looking for a home. In fact, we’ve got 18 of them wrapped and ready to go.
This holiday season,...
- 12/6/2023
- by Kate Erbland and David Ehrlich
- Indiewire
Exclusive: Veteran entertainment lawyer and business strategist Jason Beekman has exited his role as VP and Head of Business & Legal Strategy at RadicalMedia to join director and former Imagine Documentaries showrunner Ryan Miller in co-founding new production company, Wise Child Studios.
Intended to marry the robust legal and business acumen of a larger studio with the distinguished creative vision and filmmaker-centric attention of a boutique shop, Wise Child will work with the industry’s best, from award winners to emerging talent, in the telling of thought-provoking and character-driven stories. The company is developing most of its projects from the ground up and will also handle post-production and sales for its titles.
Having already built a robust slate across scripted and non-fiction series, features, and podcasts, Wise Child’s projects in development include an investigative series with AMC; the feature doc Up the River about a 1972 concert at Sing Sing Prison,...
Intended to marry the robust legal and business acumen of a larger studio with the distinguished creative vision and filmmaker-centric attention of a boutique shop, Wise Child will work with the industry’s best, from award winners to emerging talent, in the telling of thought-provoking and character-driven stories. The company is developing most of its projects from the ground up and will also handle post-production and sales for its titles.
Having already built a robust slate across scripted and non-fiction series, features, and podcasts, Wise Child’s projects in development include an investigative series with AMC; the feature doc Up the River about a 1972 concert at Sing Sing Prison,...
- 11/15/2023
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Anonymous Content, Red Bull Studios and Rise Films have partnered to produce new documentary feature The Balloonists following Swiss explorer Bertrand Piccard and English balloonist Brian Jones. BAFTA and Emmy-nominated documentary filmmaker John Dower has come aboard to direct the project and Anonymous Content’s AC Independent will oversee sales.
The Balloonists follows the unlikely duo of Swiss explorer Piccard and British flying instructor Jones who, in 1999, took on the world’s leading aeronauts and ultra-rich adventurers in a race to become the first people to fly nonstop around the world in a hot air balloon. Many in the aviation community believed this to be an impossible feat, after years of failed attempts by balloonists from across the globe. More than most racing sports, ballooning is subject to the capricious whims of nature. An aeronaut must learn to accept the unexpected and respect their position in the hierarchy of the natural world,...
The Balloonists follows the unlikely duo of Swiss explorer Piccard and British flying instructor Jones who, in 1999, took on the world’s leading aeronauts and ultra-rich adventurers in a race to become the first people to fly nonstop around the world in a hot air balloon. Many in the aviation community believed this to be an impossible feat, after years of failed attempts by balloonists from across the globe. More than most racing sports, ballooning is subject to the capricious whims of nature. An aeronaut must learn to accept the unexpected and respect their position in the hierarchy of the natural world,...
- 11/1/2023
- by Diana Lodderhose
- Deadline Film + TV
David Yates’s Pain Hustlers puffs itself up as a dynamic epic about the American dream but ends up glorifying some truly grotesque characters. Wells Tower’s script pulls loosely from Evan Hughes’s book about how executives at pharmaceutical company Insys Therapeutics were convicted in 2019 of conspiring to bribe doctors to overprescribe the fentanyl spray Subsys. The story has every ingredient for gripping melodrama: greed, timeliness, money, drugs, death, betrayal, and an Icarus-like fall. Thomas Jennings’s Frontline episode “Opioids, Inc.” and the second part of Alex Gibney’s The Crime of the Century have already turned the sordid tale into powerful, infuriating nonfiction. But in the course of fictionalizing the Insys story, Yates and Tower lose sight of what made it compelling to begin with.
Though ostensibly about the 2010s’ epidemic of synthetic opioid overdoses, Pain Hustlers really hangs its story on the oh-so American grit and determination...
Though ostensibly about the 2010s’ epidemic of synthetic opioid overdoses, Pain Hustlers really hangs its story on the oh-so American grit and determination...
- 10/26/2023
- by Chris Barsanti
- Slant Magazine
Exclusive: Amidst a recent expansion into docs and scripted series, after just two years as a producer-financier of features, Closer Media has added accomplished producers Joey Marra and Nate Matteson to its leadership team. Former Jigsaw exec Marra will lead the company’s non-fiction division, with former manager Matteson set to oversee scripted television.
The hires come following Closer Media’s successful run on the fall festival circuit with titles including its first narrative feature, Ezra, The Monk and the Gun, which was snapped up for North America by Roadside Attractions after bowing out of Toronto, and the documentary In Restless Dreams: The Music of Paul Simon.
Marra will be based out of New York City, with Matteson working out of L.A.
Since joining Closer, Marra has spearheaded development of the Elon Musk documentary Musk, from Academy Award-winning filmmaker Alex Gibney, which was recently acquired by HBO. He produced...
The hires come following Closer Media’s successful run on the fall festival circuit with titles including its first narrative feature, Ezra, The Monk and the Gun, which was snapped up for North America by Roadside Attractions after bowing out of Toronto, and the documentary In Restless Dreams: The Music of Paul Simon.
Marra will be based out of New York City, with Matteson working out of L.A.
Since joining Closer, Marra has spearheaded development of the Elon Musk documentary Musk, from Academy Award-winning filmmaker Alex Gibney, which was recently acquired by HBO. He produced...
- 10/25/2023
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Oscar-nominated director Matthew Heineman and late filmmaker Nancy Buirski will be honored at the Hamptons Doc Fest in New York next month.
Heineman, whose latest film, American Symphony, premiered to acclaim at the Telluride Film Festival, will receive the prestigious Pennebaker Career Achievement Award, named for the legendary filmmaker and pioneer of “direct cinema” D.A. Pennebaker. Heineman is expected to be on hand to receive the honor, which has previously gone to Richard Leacock, Susan Lacy, Barbara Kopple, Stanley Nelson Jr., Alex Gibney, Liz Garbus, Sheila Nevins, Frederick Wiseman, Dawn Porter, Sam Pollard, and to Pennebaker and and his wife and filmmaking partner Chris Hegedus.
Jon Batiste in ‘American Symphony’
Hamptons Doc Fest will screen American Symphony, which has been acquired by the Obamas’ production company Higher Ground through the former first couple’s deal with Netflix. The documentary about Grammy-winning musician Jon Batiste and his wife, the musician Suleika Jaouad,...
Heineman, whose latest film, American Symphony, premiered to acclaim at the Telluride Film Festival, will receive the prestigious Pennebaker Career Achievement Award, named for the legendary filmmaker and pioneer of “direct cinema” D.A. Pennebaker. Heineman is expected to be on hand to receive the honor, which has previously gone to Richard Leacock, Susan Lacy, Barbara Kopple, Stanley Nelson Jr., Alex Gibney, Liz Garbus, Sheila Nevins, Frederick Wiseman, Dawn Porter, Sam Pollard, and to Pennebaker and and his wife and filmmaking partner Chris Hegedus.
Jon Batiste in ‘American Symphony’
Hamptons Doc Fest will screen American Symphony, which has been acquired by the Obamas’ production company Higher Ground through the former first couple’s deal with Netflix. The documentary about Grammy-winning musician Jon Batiste and his wife, the musician Suleika Jaouad,...
- 10/21/2023
- by Matthew Carey
- Deadline Film + TV
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.