Paul Coker Jr., whose character and production designs for the classic Rankin/Bass stop-motion and animated holiday specials and his many years as one of Mad magazine’s “Usual Gang Of Idiots” endeared him to generations of fans, died following a brief illness at his home in Santa Fe, New Mexico, on July 23. He was 93.
His death was confirmed to Deadline by his stepdaughter Lee Smithson Burd. “Paul was lucid and had his remarkable sense of humor until the end,” Smithson Burd said.
Hollywood & Media Deaths In 2022: Photo Gallery
Coker’s contributions to the production and character design of the Rankin/Bass specials helped create some of the most indelible holiday images of the last half-century. As either a character designer or production designer, Coker lent his talents to such Christmas and Easter specials as Cricket on the Hearth (1967), Frosty the Snowman (1969), Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town (1970), Here Comes Peter Cottontail...
His death was confirmed to Deadline by his stepdaughter Lee Smithson Burd. “Paul was lucid and had his remarkable sense of humor until the end,” Smithson Burd said.
Hollywood & Media Deaths In 2022: Photo Gallery
Coker’s contributions to the production and character design of the Rankin/Bass specials helped create some of the most indelible holiday images of the last half-century. As either a character designer or production designer, Coker lent his talents to such Christmas and Easter specials as Cricket on the Hearth (1967), Frosty the Snowman (1969), Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town (1970), Here Comes Peter Cottontail...
- 7/29/2022
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
Anthony Bourdain Documentary Directed By Morgan Neville Set From CNN Films, HBO Max & Focus Features
Oscar-winning director Morgan Neville (20 Feet from Stardom) will direct and produce a documentary about the late Anthony Bourdain for CNN Films, HBO Max and Focus Features.
Described in the announcement as a film about the “uncommon life of the late storyteller, explorer and chef,” the documentary first will be released in theaters worldwide exclusively by Focus Features, with TV premieres following on CNN and streams via HBO Max.
CNN Films and HBO Max will executive produce the film. Neville’s Tremolo Productions will produce the film.
“Anthony Bourdain did more to help us understand each other than just about anyone in the history of television,” said Neville, who also directed last year’s Mister Rogers docu Won’t You Be My Neighbor? for Focus Features. “He connected with people not in spite of his flaws but because of them. To have the opportunity to tell his story is humbling.
Described in the announcement as a film about the “uncommon life of the late storyteller, explorer and chef,” the documentary first will be released in theaters worldwide exclusively by Focus Features, with TV premieres following on CNN and streams via HBO Max.
CNN Films and HBO Max will executive produce the film. Neville’s Tremolo Productions will produce the film.
“Anthony Bourdain did more to help us understand each other than just about anyone in the history of television,” said Neville, who also directed last year’s Mister Rogers docu Won’t You Be My Neighbor? for Focus Features. “He connected with people not in spite of his flaws but because of them. To have the opportunity to tell his story is humbling.
- 10/25/2019
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
A documentary on the life and times of late celebrity chef and author Anthony Bourdain is in the works from the director of the Oscar-winning doc “20 Feet From Stardom” and “Won’t You Be My Neighbor,” Morgan Neville.
CNN Films HBO Max and Focus Features are partnering for the documentary film, which Focus Features will release in theaters before it makes its TV premiere on CNN and streams on HBO Max. CNN Films and HBO Max will executive produce the film. Neville’s Tremolo Productions will produce the film.
“Morgan is the top of the game when it comes to documentary filmmaking and we’re delighted to be working with him again on this project with our great collaborators at CNN Films and HBO Max,” Focus Features chairman Peter Kujawski said in a statement.
Also Read: Anthony Bourdain Gets 2 (More) Posthumous Emmy Nominations for 'Parts Unknown'
Bourdain, who died...
CNN Films HBO Max and Focus Features are partnering for the documentary film, which Focus Features will release in theaters before it makes its TV premiere on CNN and streams on HBO Max. CNN Films and HBO Max will executive produce the film. Neville’s Tremolo Productions will produce the film.
“Morgan is the top of the game when it comes to documentary filmmaking and we’re delighted to be working with him again on this project with our great collaborators at CNN Films and HBO Max,” Focus Features chairman Peter Kujawski said in a statement.
Also Read: Anthony Bourdain Gets 2 (More) Posthumous Emmy Nominations for 'Parts Unknown'
Bourdain, who died...
- 10/25/2019
- by Trey Williams and Brian Welk
- The Wrap
Focus to release exclusively in theatres worldwide before TV premiere on CNN, streaming launch on HBO Max.
CNN Films, HBO Max and Focus Features are partnering on a documentary feature about the late traveller, chef and broadcaster Anthony Bourdain, to be directed and produced by Morgan Neville.
Focus Features will release the documentary exclusively in theatres worldwide before the film premieres on television on CNN and streams via WarnerMedia stablemate HBO Max. CNN Films and HBO Max will serve as executive producers, and Neville’s Tremolo Productions will produce the film.
The Bourdain estate will provide access to family photos,...
CNN Films, HBO Max and Focus Features are partnering on a documentary feature about the late traveller, chef and broadcaster Anthony Bourdain, to be directed and produced by Morgan Neville.
Focus Features will release the documentary exclusively in theatres worldwide before the film premieres on television on CNN and streams via WarnerMedia stablemate HBO Max. CNN Films and HBO Max will serve as executive producers, and Neville’s Tremolo Productions will produce the film.
The Bourdain estate will provide access to family photos,...
- 10/25/2019
- by 36¦Jeremy Kay¦54¦
- ScreenDaily
Focus to release exclusively in theatres worldwide before TV premiere on CNN, streaming launch on HBO Max.
CNN Films, HBO Max and Focus Features are partnering on a documentary feature about the late traveller, chef and broadcaster Anthony Bourdain, to be directed and produced by Morgan Neville.
Focus Features will release the documentary exclusively in theatres worldwide before the film premieres on television on CNN and streams via WarnerMedia stablemate HBO Max. CNN Films and HBO Max will serve as executive producers, and Neville’s Tremolo Productions will produce the film.
The Bourdain estate will provide access to family photos,...
CNN Films, HBO Max and Focus Features are partnering on a documentary feature about the late traveller, chef and broadcaster Anthony Bourdain, to be directed and produced by Morgan Neville.
Focus Features will release the documentary exclusively in theatres worldwide before the film premieres on television on CNN and streams via WarnerMedia stablemate HBO Max. CNN Films and HBO Max will serve as executive producers, and Neville’s Tremolo Productions will produce the film.
The Bourdain estate will provide access to family photos,...
- 10/25/2019
- by 36¦Jeremy Kay¦54¦
- ScreenDaily
The executive has been promoted to president of worldwide business affairs and operations for Sony Pictures Entertainment Motion Picture Group.
The move brings all Sony Pictures’ deal-making responsibilities under Gumpert, who previously served in a similar capacity for Columbia Pictures and will work with motion picture group president Doug Belgrad to lead operations and strategies.
Sony Pictures Entertainment Motion Picture Group chairman Tom Rothman, to whom Gumpert will report, made the announcement on Tuesday.
The executive will also remain directly involved with the studio’s most high-level strategic planning, including overseeing with CFO Stefan Litt relationships with the studio’s outside financing partners such as Lonestar Capital and Village Roadshow.
Additionally, Gumpert will oversee business affairs and strategic operations for Columbia Live Stage, the studio’s theatrical group, which is creatively overseen by Lia Vollack.
Senior business affairs executives for each motion picture group production division will now report to Gumpert, with each division...
The move brings all Sony Pictures’ deal-making responsibilities under Gumpert, who previously served in a similar capacity for Columbia Pictures and will work with motion picture group president Doug Belgrad to lead operations and strategies.
Sony Pictures Entertainment Motion Picture Group chairman Tom Rothman, to whom Gumpert will report, made the announcement on Tuesday.
The executive will also remain directly involved with the studio’s most high-level strategic planning, including overseeing with CFO Stefan Litt relationships with the studio’s outside financing partners such as Lonestar Capital and Village Roadshow.
Additionally, Gumpert will oversee business affairs and strategic operations for Columbia Live Stage, the studio’s theatrical group, which is creatively overseen by Lia Vollack.
Senior business affairs executives for each motion picture group production division will now report to Gumpert, with each division...
- 11/10/2015
- ScreenDaily
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