Hillman Grad, the multi-platform entertainment company founded by actor, producer and Emmy-winning writer Lena Waithe, has bolstered its executive ranks with a new round of promotions: Naomi Funabashi has been named president of film and television at Hillman Grad Productions, with Justin Riley as vice president of operations and business development; Lacy Lew Nguyen Wright is now executive director of the Hillman Grad Foundation; and Marquis Phifér is head of cultural marketing.
The executive appointments comes after Rishi Rajani, who joined the company in 2018 as president of film and television, was elevated to CEO earlier this year.
Since its inception in 2015, and under the leadership of Waithe and Rajani, Hillman Grad has grown to include six divisions and 20 employees, rising to become one of the most prominent companies in entertainment, with a focus on amplifying and celebrating the stories of diverse, historically marginalized communities and developing a new generation of underrepresented creatives.
The executive appointments comes after Rishi Rajani, who joined the company in 2018 as president of film and television, was elevated to CEO earlier this year.
Since its inception in 2015, and under the leadership of Waithe and Rajani, Hillman Grad has grown to include six divisions and 20 employees, rising to become one of the most prominent companies in entertainment, with a focus on amplifying and celebrating the stories of diverse, historically marginalized communities and developing a new generation of underrepresented creatives.
- 7/14/2022
- by Angelique Jackson
- Variety Film + TV
Waiting for Lightning
Directed by Jacob Rosenberg
Written by Bret Anthony Johnston
USA, 2012
Waiting for Lightning represents a war, a struggle of duality in documentary form. This 90-minute look at the life of skateboarder Danny Way and his insane but inspiring attempt to skateboard across and over the Great Wall of China, at its core, is unable to make these strands connect naturally. The film is well-made, certainly, and Way’s daring folly in China is fascinating. As hypnotic as it can be to watch him skate up and down a half-pipe, though, Danny Way’s story feels a bit too slight to fill out a feature-length film.
The biographical aspects of Way’s life are interspersed with the lead-up to the fateful stunt in 2005. Waiting for Lightning posits that Way, whose father died when Danny was very young, was innately equipped to pick up a skateboard and try new stunts,...
Directed by Jacob Rosenberg
Written by Bret Anthony Johnston
USA, 2012
Waiting for Lightning represents a war, a struggle of duality in documentary form. This 90-minute look at the life of skateboarder Danny Way and his insane but inspiring attempt to skateboard across and over the Great Wall of China, at its core, is unable to make these strands connect naturally. The film is well-made, certainly, and Way’s daring folly in China is fascinating. As hypnotic as it can be to watch him skate up and down a half-pipe, though, Danny Way’s story feels a bit too slight to fill out a feature-length film.
The biographical aspects of Way’s life are interspersed with the lead-up to the fateful stunt in 2005. Waiting for Lightning posits that Way, whose father died when Danny was very young, was innately equipped to pick up a skateboard and try new stunts,...
- 12/7/2012
- by Josh Spiegel
- SoundOnSight
Here’s something interesting guys! Waiting for Lightning is an upcoming movie directed by Jacob Rosenberg, which will apparently show us three things: how much abuse the body can sustain, how deep you have to dig to survive the challenges life presents, and how high and far dreams can fly.
Sounds good, right? Ok then, we’re here to share the official poster for the whole thing, so make sure you check it out!
Waiting for Lightning is the inspirational story of visionary skateboarder Danny Way. The film follows the journey of a young boy from a broken home in Vista, CA, whose passion for skateboarding would one day bring him fame and a lifetime of accomplishments.
Way’s drive has no limits as exemplified by his creation captured on screen, a ramp of prodigious and dangerous proportions, across many cultural and ideological boundaries to attempt the impossible: jump China...
Sounds good, right? Ok then, we’re here to share the official poster for the whole thing, so make sure you check it out!
Waiting for Lightning is the inspirational story of visionary skateboarder Danny Way. The film follows the journey of a young boy from a broken home in Vista, CA, whose passion for skateboarding would one day bring him fame and a lifetime of accomplishments.
Way’s drive has no limits as exemplified by his creation captured on screen, a ramp of prodigious and dangerous proportions, across many cultural and ideological boundaries to attempt the impossible: jump China...
- 10/12/2012
- by Fiona
- Filmofilia
Samuel Goldwyn Films has acquired the U.S. rights to "Waiting For Lightning," a Bandito Brothers' documentary that earned praise at the SXSW festival earlier this year, the company announced Wednesday. The film, which follows skateboarder Danny Way of Vista, California, as he determinedly journeys to jump the Great Wall of China. Goldwyn plans to release the film this fall. The Bandito Brothers production is directed by Jacob Rosenberg and written by Bret Anthony Johnston. "Bandito couldn't be more excited about working with Samuel Goldwyn Film," Rosenberg said in a statement. "Their enthusiasm and vision for...
- 6/27/2012
- by Alexander C. Kaufman
- The Wrap
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