Exclusive: Actress Cara Santana (Daughter of the Bride) will make her directorial debut with The Shuffle, a documentary on the corruption of the addiction treatment industry, which she’s producing alongside Andrew Renzi’s North of Now.
Developed over the last two years, The Shuffle follows what she says is a $43B-a-year con that’s proliferated in the U.S. through the brokering and trafficking of vulnerable people in recovery by profiting off of their insurance. The film is said to go to the heart of why America has the largest drug epidemic in the Western world — the profit is in the treatment, not the cure.
“Sober for 20 years, I started noticing the disturbing trend of patient brokering in the rehabilitation industry which was ripe for insurance fraud, but what I uncovered was a massive $43B a year con,” Santana told Deadline. “After developing the story for over 2 years, I...
Developed over the last two years, The Shuffle follows what she says is a $43B-a-year con that’s proliferated in the U.S. through the brokering and trafficking of vulnerable people in recovery by profiting off of their insurance. The film is said to go to the heart of why America has the largest drug epidemic in the Western world — the profit is in the treatment, not the cure.
“Sober for 20 years, I started noticing the disturbing trend of patient brokering in the rehabilitation industry which was ripe for insurance fraud, but what I uncovered was a massive $43B a year con,” Santana told Deadline. “After developing the story for over 2 years, I...
- 5/20/2024
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
A notorious and nightmarish “haunted house” in Tennessee has caught the attention of the state’s attorney general after being featured in a Hulu documentary.
Monster Inside: America’s Most Extreme Haunted House centers on McKamey Manor, a torture “tour” about 70 miles outside of Nashville. It merges “documentary storytelling with the visual and cinematic language of a horror film” and follows three participants to “explore why people make themselves vulnerable to harm,” according to Hulu’s synopsis. The film, which hit the streamer on Oct. 12, was in Hulu’s newly-launched Top 15 each day for the first week following its release.
It’s also caught the attention of state’s attorney general — which is something director Andrew Renzi tells THR he didn’t see coming. “It definitely came as a shock that there was actually law enforcement taking notice,” Renzi says, adding that he knows people who felt “victimized” by the...
Monster Inside: America’s Most Extreme Haunted House centers on McKamey Manor, a torture “tour” about 70 miles outside of Nashville. It merges “documentary storytelling with the visual and cinematic language of a horror film” and follows three participants to “explore why people make themselves vulnerable to harm,” according to Hulu’s synopsis. The film, which hit the streamer on Oct. 12, was in Hulu’s newly-launched Top 15 each day for the first week following its release.
It’s also caught the attention of state’s attorney general — which is something director Andrew Renzi tells THR he didn’t see coming. “It definitely came as a shock that there was actually law enforcement taking notice,” Renzi says, adding that he knows people who felt “victimized” by the...
- 11/3/2023
- by Ashley Cullins
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Tennessee’s Attorney General has shared, ahem, grave concerns about a haunted attraction that was the subject of the recent Hulu documentary Monster Inside: America’s Most Extreme Haunted House.
In a Halloween post on X, the Ag’s office revealed that it has sent a letter to Russ McKamey’s McKamey Manor in Summertown, Tn to look into the “business practices in operating its ‘extreme haunted attraction.’ This office continues to prioritize the safety and wellbeing of all Tennesseans.”
The office also sent a letter to McKamey, obtained by The Tennessean, that says the tour does not offer visitors a way out, and that they don’t have access to the lengthy waiver which warns of multiple risks. The letter includes this quote from McKamey in the doc: “we’re known for no quitting and no safe wording.”
The attraction’s website claims the experience involves “intense audio, lighting, extreme low visibility,...
In a Halloween post on X, the Ag’s office revealed that it has sent a letter to Russ McKamey’s McKamey Manor in Summertown, Tn to look into the “business practices in operating its ‘extreme haunted attraction.’ This office continues to prioritize the safety and wellbeing of all Tennesseans.”
The office also sent a letter to McKamey, obtained by The Tennessean, that says the tour does not offer visitors a way out, and that they don’t have access to the lengthy waiver which warns of multiple risks. The letter includes this quote from McKamey in the doc: “we’re known for no quitting and no safe wording.”
The attraction’s website claims the experience involves “intense audio, lighting, extreme low visibility,...
- 11/3/2023
- by Lynette Rice
- Deadline Film + TV
The Hulu series The 1619 Project and the Showtime feature Nothing Lasts Forever scored a leading three nominations apiece today as the Cinema Eye Honors announced its first round of contenders for the prestigious documentary-focused awards.
The 1619 Project, based on Nikole Hannah-Jones’s Pulitzer Prize-winning examination of slavery in North America and its impact up until the present day, earned nominations for Best Anthology Series, broadcast editing and broadcast cinematography. Oprah Winfrey, Oscar winner Roger Ross Williams and Hannah-Jones are among the producers of the six-part series.
‘Nothing Lasts Forever’
Nothing Lasts Forever, director Jason Kohn’s glittering examination of the world of diamonds – the real kind and the emergence of undetectable “synthetic” diamonds – earned nominations for Best Broadcast Film, broadcast editing and broadcast cinematography. Scroll for the full list of nominations announced today.
Other films and series that scored multiple nominations include Hulu’s Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields...
The 1619 Project, based on Nikole Hannah-Jones’s Pulitzer Prize-winning examination of slavery in North America and its impact up until the present day, earned nominations for Best Anthology Series, broadcast editing and broadcast cinematography. Oprah Winfrey, Oscar winner Roger Ross Williams and Hannah-Jones are among the producers of the six-part series.
‘Nothing Lasts Forever’
Nothing Lasts Forever, director Jason Kohn’s glittering examination of the world of diamonds – the real kind and the emergence of undetectable “synthetic” diamonds – earned nominations for Best Broadcast Film, broadcast editing and broadcast cinematography. Scroll for the full list of nominations announced today.
Other films and series that scored multiple nominations include Hulu’s Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields...
- 10/19/2023
- by Matthew Carey
- Deadline Film + TV
Hulu’s “The 1619 Project” and Showtime’s “Nothing Lasts Forever” lead all broadcast documentaries in nominations for the 17th annual Cinema Eye Honors, which were announced on Thursday during the Cinema Eye Fall Lunch at Redbird in downtown Los Angeles.
Each of the programs received three nominations in the five broadcast categories, with “The 1619 Project” nominated in the Anthology Series, cinematography and editing categories and “Nothing Lasts Forever” singled out in Broadcast film, cinematography and editing categories.
Other programs with multiple nominations include the broadcast movie “Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields,” the nonfiction series “Dear Mama” and “Paul T. Goldman” and the anthology series “Edge of the Unknown With Jimmy Chin” and “Our Planet II.”
Hulu led all networks and platforms with eight nominations, followed by Netflix with five and Showtime with four.
Cinema Eye Honors, a New York-based organization devoted to honoring all facets of nonfiction filmmaking, also...
Each of the programs received three nominations in the five broadcast categories, with “The 1619 Project” nominated in the Anthology Series, cinematography and editing categories and “Nothing Lasts Forever” singled out in Broadcast film, cinematography and editing categories.
Other programs with multiple nominations include the broadcast movie “Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields,” the nonfiction series “Dear Mama” and “Paul T. Goldman” and the anthology series “Edge of the Unknown With Jimmy Chin” and “Our Planet II.”
Hulu led all networks and platforms with eight nominations, followed by Netflix with five and Showtime with four.
Cinema Eye Honors, a New York-based organization devoted to honoring all facets of nonfiction filmmaking, also...
- 10/19/2023
- by Steve Pond
- The Wrap
"What would it be like to be trapped in a real-life horror movie?" Hulu has unveiled an official trailer for a creepy new horror documentary called Monster Inside, from doc filmmaker Andrew Renzi. The full title is actually Monster Inside: America's Most Extreme Haunted House, which also says what it's about. "This Halloween, take a deep dive into one of America’s most extreme destinations of horror." Another Huluween offering for 2023 to enjoy. The film introduces the world to Russ McKamey, the Navy Veteran turned master of horror, who lures horror enthusiasts into his web. They find themselves pulled into the no-holds-barred world of McKamey Manor (official website), a scary thrill that doesn’t end until he says so. "Merging documentary storytelling with the visual and cinematic language of a horror film, Monster Inside follows three participants as they dive deep into Russ's world and then find the will to fight back.
- 10/2/2023
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
It’s the most spookiest time of the year, and you’ll find a smorgasbord of creepy content on the Hulu streaming service in October! Not only has the streamer secured recent theatrical releases like Cobweb and Slotherhouse for you, but Huluween is here again to make sure things go bump in the night.
Huluween highlights this year include the first season of Living for the Dead, which comes from the creators of Netflix’s popular Queer Eye. Join five queer ghost hunters – Alex Le May, Juju Bae, Ken Boggle, Logan Taylor and Roz Hernandez – as they travel to a range of the world’s most haunted locations in an attempt to help the living by healing the dead.
Hulu will also premiere Monster Inside: America’s Most Extreme Haunted House from director Andrew Renzi. The new documentary follows the story of “Navy Veteran turned master of horror” Russ McKamey. His home,...
Huluween highlights this year include the first season of Living for the Dead, which comes from the creators of Netflix’s popular Queer Eye. Join five queer ghost hunters – Alex Le May, Juju Bae, Ken Boggle, Logan Taylor and Roz Hernandez – as they travel to a range of the world’s most haunted locations in an attempt to help the living by healing the dead.
Hulu will also premiere Monster Inside: America’s Most Extreme Haunted House from director Andrew Renzi. The new documentary follows the story of “Navy Veteran turned master of horror” Russ McKamey. His home,...
- 10/1/2023
- by Kirsten Howard
- Den of Geek
Brothers Chapman and Maclain Way, the sons of screenwriter Rick Way, grandsons of actor Bing Russell, and nephews to Kurt Russell (that one you know), have some obvious Hollywood pedigree. They also have a Primetime Emmy for 2018’s “Wild Wild Country” and Sundance status for 2014’s “The Battered Bastards of Baseball,” both of which were distributed by Netflix.
With the Tuesday return of their best-in-genre sports-documentary series “Untold,” the guys also have a legitimate claim for Top Netflix brothers. Sorry, Duffers; and Joe and Anthony Russo, you had better make something really good out of that “Gray Man” universe.
“Untold: Volume 3” debuts with a doc about the rise of yet another pair of bothers, Jake Paul and Logan Paul. “The Problem Child,” directed by Andrew Renzi is Jake’s (pictured above) story. And though Chapman, 36, and Maclain, 32, didn’t direct any of this season’s four “Untold” installments, their style...
With the Tuesday return of their best-in-genre sports-documentary series “Untold,” the guys also have a legitimate claim for Top Netflix brothers. Sorry, Duffers; and Joe and Anthony Russo, you had better make something really good out of that “Gray Man” universe.
“Untold: Volume 3” debuts with a doc about the rise of yet another pair of bothers, Jake Paul and Logan Paul. “The Problem Child,” directed by Andrew Renzi is Jake’s (pictured above) story. And though Chapman, 36, and Maclain, 32, didn’t direct any of this season’s four “Untold” installments, their style...
- 8/1/2023
- by Tony Maglio
- Indiewire
‘Untold: Jake Paul, The Problem Child’ Review/Recap: A Needless Documentary On A Man-Child Celebrity
Netflix is currently filled with various sports documentaries after the success of The Last Dance and Drive to Survive. There is no dearth of passionate stories about athletes who are relentless in their pursuit of glory, and for whom their sport is their only high. Their successes and failures are to be noted because they help millions of viewers understand the hardships each one must go through to reach where they are.
Jumping on the bandwagon is YouTuber turned boxer Jake Paul, who received a lot of flak not just as a social media star but as a boxer who got into the ring out of his love for the game. The Untold documentary begins with the media branding him as ‘the problem child’ because his antics as a YouTube sensation led to a lot of difficulties for him and his family. His family included his brother and best friend,...
Jumping on the bandwagon is YouTuber turned boxer Jake Paul, who received a lot of flak not just as a social media star but as a boxer who got into the ring out of his love for the game. The Untold documentary begins with the media branding him as ‘the problem child’ because his antics as a YouTube sensation led to a lot of difficulties for him and his family. His family included his brother and best friend,...
- 8/1/2023
- by Smriti Kannan
- Film Fugitives
Untold: Jake Paul the Problem Child is a 2023 American documentary film about Jake Paul, an American YouTuber, internet personality, actor, and professional boxer. The film was directed by Andrew Renzi.
Jake Paul, the most hated YouTuber turned boxer, formerly a gardener, then a seashell collector. . a social media star and one of the most insulted individuals on the planet. What is the secret to his success?
This media phenomenon provides an inside look into the life of a controversial superstar.
Jake Paul has skillfully capitalized on his “bad boy” image and his talent for being outspoken to the extreme: over 20 million followers attest to this.
Now, taking advantage of this goldmine, Netflix has produced a documentary that will undoubtedly increase his number of followers and elevate his level of popularity.
Behind all of this lies a not-so-subtle question: how far are people willing to go to become famous? This question underlies the media phenomenon that,...
Jake Paul, the most hated YouTuber turned boxer, formerly a gardener, then a seashell collector. . a social media star and one of the most insulted individuals on the planet. What is the secret to his success?
This media phenomenon provides an inside look into the life of a controversial superstar.
Jake Paul has skillfully capitalized on his “bad boy” image and his talent for being outspoken to the extreme: over 20 million followers attest to this.
Now, taking advantage of this goldmine, Netflix has produced a documentary that will undoubtedly increase his number of followers and elevate his level of popularity.
Behind all of this lies a not-so-subtle question: how far are people willing to go to become famous? This question underlies the media phenomenon that,...
- 8/1/2023
- by TV Shows Martin Cid Magazine
- Martin Cid - TV
Netflix’s sports documentary series, “Untold”, is back with a third season, with “Vol. 3” kicking off with a look at one of the most controversial figures in the world of professional boxing, Jake Paul.
“Untold: Jake Paul the Problem Child” explores Paul’s journey from scandal-plagued YouTube sensation to the boxing ring, where he’s demonstrated surprising skill against some top-rated fighters.
Read More: Jake Paul Takes Swipe At ‘Edited’ Clip Of Him Whiffing During Batting Practice At Miami Marlins Game
“At 26, is Jake Paul the boxing world’s new saviour or a ‘delusional’ promoter who packs more punch in his marketing skills than in his right hand? It depends on whom you ask in ‘Untold: Jake Paul the Problem Child’, an unflinching deep dive into how a wide-eyed kid from Ohio morphed from Internet sensation to most polarizing man in sports,” notes the documentary’s synopsis. “For every high-profile...
“Untold: Jake Paul the Problem Child” explores Paul’s journey from scandal-plagued YouTube sensation to the boxing ring, where he’s demonstrated surprising skill against some top-rated fighters.
Read More: Jake Paul Takes Swipe At ‘Edited’ Clip Of Him Whiffing During Batting Practice At Miami Marlins Game
“At 26, is Jake Paul the boxing world’s new saviour or a ‘delusional’ promoter who packs more punch in his marketing skills than in his right hand? It depends on whom you ask in ‘Untold: Jake Paul the Problem Child’, an unflinching deep dive into how a wide-eyed kid from Ohio morphed from Internet sensation to most polarizing man in sports,” notes the documentary’s synopsis. “For every high-profile...
- 7/29/2023
- by Brent Furdyk
- ET Canada
Exclusive: Andrew Renzi, director of Netflix docuseries Pepsi, Where’s My Jet?, is reuniting with Boardwalk Pictures.
Renzi and his North of Now production company have signed a multi-year overall deal with the company, which is behind series such as Chef’s Table, Cheer and Welcome to Wrexham and worked with Renzi on the Netflix series that told the story of two mountaineers who took on Pepsi in the ‘90s in a David and Goliath advertising battle.
It is Boardwalk’s latest overall deal, having recently struck an overall pact with with W. Kamau Bell’s recently launched Wkb Productions. It comes after Deadline revealed that Boardwalk has sold a minority interest to investment firm Shamrock Capital.
Renzi will work with Boardwalk to create non-fiction films and TV shows. It is a further expansion of Boardwalk Studios, which is led by Jordan Wynn, and is also behind premium docs such as Val.
Renzi and his North of Now production company have signed a multi-year overall deal with the company, which is behind series such as Chef’s Table, Cheer and Welcome to Wrexham and worked with Renzi on the Netflix series that told the story of two mountaineers who took on Pepsi in the ‘90s in a David and Goliath advertising battle.
It is Boardwalk’s latest overall deal, having recently struck an overall pact with with W. Kamau Bell’s recently launched Wkb Productions. It comes after Deadline revealed that Boardwalk has sold a minority interest to investment firm Shamrock Capital.
Renzi will work with Boardwalk to create non-fiction films and TV shows. It is a further expansion of Boardwalk Studios, which is led by Jordan Wynn, and is also behind premium docs such as Val.
- 6/21/2023
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Jake Paul in Netflix’s ‘Untold volume 3’
Netflix’s four-part documentary series Untold Volume 3 delves into the short-lived career of Johnny Football and also explores the rise of the Florida Gators under Coach Urban Meyer. Controversial YouTuber Jake Paul opens up about his life in an episode of Volume 3, and the Balco Laboratories steroid scandal is examined in-depth.
The docuseries, which has already been renewed for Volume 4, drops a new episode weekly beginning on August 1, 2023.
Volume 3‘s directors include Andrew Renzi, Ryan Duffy, Bryan Storkel, and Katharine English. The documentary series was developed by executive producers Chapman Way and Maclain Way, with Ben Silverman, Howard T. Owens, Isabel San Vargas, Ryan Duffy, Doug Banker, Mike Seander, Louise Norman, and Tom Sheahan also executive producing.
Untold: Jake Paul the Problem Child
Premieres August 1, 2023
Directed by Andrew Renzi
At 26, is Jake Paul the boxing world’s new savior or a “delusional” promoter...
Netflix’s four-part documentary series Untold Volume 3 delves into the short-lived career of Johnny Football and also explores the rise of the Florida Gators under Coach Urban Meyer. Controversial YouTuber Jake Paul opens up about his life in an episode of Volume 3, and the Balco Laboratories steroid scandal is examined in-depth.
The docuseries, which has already been renewed for Volume 4, drops a new episode weekly beginning on August 1, 2023.
Volume 3‘s directors include Andrew Renzi, Ryan Duffy, Bryan Storkel, and Katharine English. The documentary series was developed by executive producers Chapman Way and Maclain Way, with Ben Silverman, Howard T. Owens, Isabel San Vargas, Ryan Duffy, Doug Banker, Mike Seander, Louise Norman, and Tom Sheahan also executive producing.
Untold: Jake Paul the Problem Child
Premieres August 1, 2023
Directed by Andrew Renzi
At 26, is Jake Paul the boxing world’s new savior or a “delusional” promoter...
- 6/15/2023
- by Rebecca Murray
- Showbiz Junkies
Film Independent announced the TV nominations for the 2023 Film Independent Spirit Awards on Tuesday morning, with four shows in particular leading the pack. ABC’s beloved comedy “Abbott Elementary,” FX’s critical darling “The Bear,” the HBO Max limited series “Station Eleven” and the acclaimed Apple TV+ drama “Severance” scored the most nominations of any show with three each.
The Apple TV+ series “Pachinko” won the Best Ensemble award.
New this year, as with the film nominees, is a switch to gender neutral acting awards with the Best Actor and Best Actress categories replaced by a 10-nominee Best Lead Performance in a New Scripted Series award. In addition to this change, a Best Supporting Performance in a New Scripted Series award has been added to honor performances outside of the leading roles.
The 38th Film Independent Spirit Awards will be held on March 4, 2023, in Santa Monica. Check out the film nominees here.
The Apple TV+ series “Pachinko” won the Best Ensemble award.
New this year, as with the film nominees, is a switch to gender neutral acting awards with the Best Actor and Best Actress categories replaced by a 10-nominee Best Lead Performance in a New Scripted Series award. In addition to this change, a Best Supporting Performance in a New Scripted Series award has been added to honor performances outside of the leading roles.
The 38th Film Independent Spirit Awards will be held on March 4, 2023, in Santa Monica. Check out the film nominees here.
- 12/13/2022
- by Adam Chitwood
- The Wrap
The Film Independent Spirit Awards are unveiling their 2023 nominees for television Tuesday morning. The reveal marks a previously announced expansion of the TV categories, as well as a move to gender-neutral acting races this year in both television and film, the latter of which were revealed last month during the Spirits’ film nominations.
The organization has combined both actor and actress in TV’s Best Lead Performance in a New Scripted Series, and in the new category of Best Supporting Performance in a New Scripted Series.
Related Story Spirit Award Noms 2023: ‘Everything Everywhere All At Once’ Leads & Will Vie For Best Picture With ‘Bones And All’, ‘Our Father, The Devil’, ‘Tár’ & ‘Women Talking’ Related Story Spirit Awards Set 2023 Date, Go Gender-Neutral And Increase Budget Cap Related Story Film Independent Spirit Awards: 'The Lost Daughter' Takes Home Best Feature As Netflix Reigns With Six Wins
Billions star Asia Kate Dillon...
The organization has combined both actor and actress in TV’s Best Lead Performance in a New Scripted Series, and in the new category of Best Supporting Performance in a New Scripted Series.
Related Story Spirit Award Noms 2023: ‘Everything Everywhere All At Once’ Leads & Will Vie For Best Picture With ‘Bones And All’, ‘Our Father, The Devil’, ‘Tár’ & ‘Women Talking’ Related Story Spirit Awards Set 2023 Date, Go Gender-Neutral And Increase Budget Cap Related Story Film Independent Spirit Awards: 'The Lost Daughter' Takes Home Best Feature As Netflix Reigns With Six Wins
Billions star Asia Kate Dillon...
- 12/13/2022
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
Click here to read the full article.
Film Independent has revealed the TV nominees for the 2023 Spirit Awards.
Abbott Elementary, The Bear, Severance and Station Eleven landed three nominations each, the most of any series.
Notable nominees include Emmy winners Quinta Brunson and Sheryl Lee Ralph of Abbott Elementary, who earned Emmys in September for best writing for a comedy series and supporting actress, respectively, for the ABC sitcom. Emmy nominee Janelle James was also honored with a supporting performance nomination. Other nominees from September’s Emmys include Yellowjackets‘ Melanie Lynskey, Station Eleven‘s Himesh Patel and Severance‘s Adam Scott.
While Till star Danielle Deadwyler was not recognized in the film categories for her acclaimed performance in the United Artists drama, she did earn a supporting performance nod for her role in Station Eleven.
While lead actor Jeremy Allen White was not nominated for his performance on The Bear,...
Film Independent has revealed the TV nominees for the 2023 Spirit Awards.
Abbott Elementary, The Bear, Severance and Station Eleven landed three nominations each, the most of any series.
Notable nominees include Emmy winners Quinta Brunson and Sheryl Lee Ralph of Abbott Elementary, who earned Emmys in September for best writing for a comedy series and supporting actress, respectively, for the ABC sitcom. Emmy nominee Janelle James was also honored with a supporting performance nomination. Other nominees from September’s Emmys include Yellowjackets‘ Melanie Lynskey, Station Eleven‘s Himesh Patel and Severance‘s Adam Scott.
While Till star Danielle Deadwyler was not recognized in the film categories for her acclaimed performance in the United Artists drama, she did earn a supporting performance nod for her role in Station Eleven.
While lead actor Jeremy Allen White was not nominated for his performance on The Bear,...
- 12/13/2022
- by Hilary Lewis and Tyler Coates
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Pepsi, Where’s My Jet? is a documentary miniseries directed by Andrew Renzi.
In four episodes we are told the incredible story of a young man, and his friend and business partner, who developed a business plan to win a Harrier fighter jet for 7 million Pepsi points.
Premise
Pepsi ran a marketing campaign in the mid 90’s, offering Pepsi paraphernalia in exchange for Pepsi points. In one of the ads, it showed a young lad get out of a fighter jet, below was written “Harrier Fighter Pepsi 7,000,000 points”, without fine print, no disclaimers, just that phrase – hence, an offer. The ad did not go ignored by a 20-year-old, John Leonard, who took them up on the “offer”. Now, Pepsi was in a bind.
Series Review Pepsi Where is My Jet?
A truly amusing doc series, with colorful characters and a good story to tell. It is a lively number, as the characters themselves.
In four episodes we are told the incredible story of a young man, and his friend and business partner, who developed a business plan to win a Harrier fighter jet for 7 million Pepsi points.
Premise
Pepsi ran a marketing campaign in the mid 90’s, offering Pepsi paraphernalia in exchange for Pepsi points. In one of the ads, it showed a young lad get out of a fighter jet, below was written “Harrier Fighter Pepsi 7,000,000 points”, without fine print, no disclaimers, just that phrase – hence, an offer. The ad did not go ignored by a 20-year-old, John Leonard, who took them up on the “offer”. Now, Pepsi was in a bind.
Series Review Pepsi Where is My Jet?
A truly amusing doc series, with colorful characters and a good story to tell. It is a lively number, as the characters themselves.
- 11/17/2022
- by Elisabeth Plank
- Martin Cid - TV
The new four-part docuseries "Pepsi, Where’s My Jet?", directed by Andrew Renzi, covers the story of Pepsi’s ambitions to overtake the Coca- Cola brand, a multimillion-dollar fighter jet and a teenage boy who decided to take on one of the largest corporations in America, streaming November 17, 2022 on Netflix:
"...the story began in 1996 with the release of an unprecedented marketing campaign in which consumers could exchange labels ripped from purchased Pepsi products for 'Pepsi Stuff', including sunglasses, leather jackets...
"...and a real fighter jet, that for 7 million Pepsi points — the equivalent of 700,000 — you could win a 23 million 'Harrier Jump Jet'..."
Click the images to enlarge...
"...the story began in 1996 with the release of an unprecedented marketing campaign in which consumers could exchange labels ripped from purchased Pepsi products for 'Pepsi Stuff', including sunglasses, leather jackets...
"...and a real fighter jet, that for 7 million Pepsi points — the equivalent of 700,000 — you could win a 23 million 'Harrier Jump Jet'..."
Click the images to enlarge...
- 10/25/2022
- by Unknown
- SneakPeek
Did Pepsi actually launch an ad campaign in which they seemed to promise a Harrier jet to anyone who collected enough Pepsi Points? Strange as it sounds, they did. The Netflix documentary series Pepsi, Where’s My Jet? follows the case of John Leonard, the man who attempted to get Pepsi to give him a jet and ultimately sued the corporation when they refused to come through.
Netflix just dropped the trailer for the docuseries and announced the four-part series will premiere on November 17, 2022. The streaming service also released the following description of Pepsi, Where’s My Jet?:
“The year was 1996, and the cola wars were raging. Despite Pepsi’s celeb-soaked advertisements, Coke still held the bigger market share, so the second-place brand decided to roll out their biggest campaign ever: Called ‘Pepsi Stuff,’ it featured a soon-to-be infamous commercial implying that if you just bought enough of their products,...
Netflix just dropped the trailer for the docuseries and announced the four-part series will premiere on November 17, 2022. The streaming service also released the following description of Pepsi, Where’s My Jet?:
“The year was 1996, and the cola wars were raging. Despite Pepsi’s celeb-soaked advertisements, Coke still held the bigger market share, so the second-place brand decided to roll out their biggest campaign ever: Called ‘Pepsi Stuff,’ it featured a soon-to-be infamous commercial implying that if you just bought enough of their products,...
- 10/24/2022
- by Rebecca Murray
- Showbiz Junkies
Because no media story of the ’90s is complete without a streaming documentary about it, a docuseries examining a court case over an infamous Pepsi commercial is heading to Netflix. Four-part docuseries “Pepsi, Where’s My Jet?” will touch down onto the streamer November 17.
The series, which cheekily takes its name from stoner comedy “Dude, Where’s My Car?,” revolves around John Leonard, a college student who, in 1996, went on an ambitious quest to obtain 7 million “Pepsi Points,” a loyalty program that offered merchandise for customers who bought enough Pepsi cans. In a commercial for the program, Pepsi advertised that 7 million points (equivalent to about 4.3 million in Pepsi cases) could be redeemed for an Av-8 Harrier II jet.
The Coke competitor made it even easier via some fine print in the catalog that allowed one to buy Pepsi Points for just 10 cents apiece. In this case, 15 legitimate Pepsi Points plus a...
The series, which cheekily takes its name from stoner comedy “Dude, Where’s My Car?,” revolves around John Leonard, a college student who, in 1996, went on an ambitious quest to obtain 7 million “Pepsi Points,” a loyalty program that offered merchandise for customers who bought enough Pepsi cans. In a commercial for the program, Pepsi advertised that 7 million points (equivalent to about 4.3 million in Pepsi cases) could be redeemed for an Av-8 Harrier II jet.
The Coke competitor made it even easier via some fine print in the catalog that allowed one to buy Pepsi Points for just 10 cents apiece. In this case, 15 legitimate Pepsi Points plus a...
- 10/24/2022
- by Wilson Chapman
- Indiewire
Click here to read the full article.
Multiple Emmy contenders this season are focused on the downfall of or investigations into large corporations and institutions: Hulu’s The Curse of Von Dutch: A Brand to Die For, Netflix’s White Hot: The Rise & Fall of Abercrombie & Fitch, Netflix’s Downfall: The Case Against Boeing and Amazon Prime Video’s LuLaRich.
Here’s what The Hollywood Reporter’s critics had to say about each.
The Curse of Von Dutch: A Brand to Die For (Hulu)
Hulu’s The Curse of Von Dutch: A Brand to Die For is a docuseries about a once-inescapable fad, a show that feels bound by two ubiquitous trends of the moment: 2000s nostalgia and true crime. But it fails to divine what should be the big takeaway of any look back at a what-were-we-thinking craze — that just because something is popular doesn’t mean it’s a good look.
Multiple Emmy contenders this season are focused on the downfall of or investigations into large corporations and institutions: Hulu’s The Curse of Von Dutch: A Brand to Die For, Netflix’s White Hot: The Rise & Fall of Abercrombie & Fitch, Netflix’s Downfall: The Case Against Boeing and Amazon Prime Video’s LuLaRich.
Here’s what The Hollywood Reporter’s critics had to say about each.
The Curse of Von Dutch: A Brand to Die For (Hulu)
Hulu’s The Curse of Von Dutch: A Brand to Die For is a docuseries about a once-inescapable fad, a show that feels bound by two ubiquitous trends of the moment: 2000s nostalgia and true crime. But it fails to divine what should be the big takeaway of any look back at a what-were-we-thinking craze — that just because something is popular doesn’t mean it’s a good look.
- 6/23/2022
- by Beatrice Verhoeven
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Mexico’s most bankable stars, Gael García Bernal and Diego Luna, have teamed up with L.A. and Miami-based Exile Content to produce Travis Gutiérrez Senger’s documentary on the groundbreaking art group, “Asco: Without Permission.”
The documentary chronicles the Los Angeles based avant-garde art group Asco during the 1970s and ‘80s. Melding activism and art, they challenged Latinx representation in the art world, politics, and Hollywood through their provocative performance art, photography, video and muralism.
García Bernal and Luna will serve as executive producers with their production company La Corriente del Golfo producing alongside Los Angeles-based North of Now and Gutiérrez Senger’s Asa Nisi Masa Films, in association with Exile Content.
Asco is described to have “pioneered avant-garde tactics to respond to issues of racism, representation, and police brutality that were affecting the Chicano community in Los Angeles.”
“Where would we be without the pioneers that irrupt on a scene unsolicited,...
The documentary chronicles the Los Angeles based avant-garde art group Asco during the 1970s and ‘80s. Melding activism and art, they challenged Latinx representation in the art world, politics, and Hollywood through their provocative performance art, photography, video and muralism.
García Bernal and Luna will serve as executive producers with their production company La Corriente del Golfo producing alongside Los Angeles-based North of Now and Gutiérrez Senger’s Asa Nisi Masa Films, in association with Exile Content.
Asco is described to have “pioneered avant-garde tactics to respond to issues of racism, representation, and police brutality that were affecting the Chicano community in Los Angeles.”
“Where would we be without the pioneers that irrupt on a scene unsolicited,...
- 2/16/2022
- by Anna Marie de la Fuente
- Variety Film + TV
Hulu’s The Curse of Von Dutch: A Brand to Die For is a docuseries about a once-inescapable fad, a show that feels bound by two ubiquitous trends of the moment: 2000s nostalgia and true crime. But it fails to divine what should be the big takeaway of any look back at a what-were-we-thinking craze — that just because something is popular doesn’t mean it’s a good look.
Directed by Andrew Renzi, the three-episode miniseries chronicles the rise and fall of the company behind the trucker hats that seemed glued to the heads of every celebrity at the turn ...
Directed by Andrew Renzi, the three-episode miniseries chronicles the rise and fall of the company behind the trucker hats that seemed glued to the heads of every celebrity at the turn ...
- 11/17/2021
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Hulu’s The Curse of Von Dutch: A Brand to Die For is a docuseries about a once-inescapable fad, a show that feels bound by two ubiquitous trends of the moment: 2000s nostalgia and true crime. But it fails to divine what should be the big takeaway of any look back at a what-were-we-thinking craze — that just because something is popular doesn’t mean it’s a good look.
Directed by Andrew Renzi, the three-episode miniseries chronicles the rise and fall of the company behind the trucker hats that seemed glued to the heads of every celebrity at the turn ...
Directed by Andrew Renzi, the three-episode miniseries chronicles the rise and fall of the company behind the trucker hats that seemed glued to the heads of every celebrity at the turn ...
- 11/17/2021
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
Exclusive: Von Dutch, the 2000s fashion brand known for its trucker hats worn by the likes of Britney Spears, Paris Hilton and Justin Timberlake, is getting the documentary series treatment.
Hulu has ordered a three-part series based on the story of the brand from the Intellectual Property Corporation, the Industrial Media-owned producer behind YouTube’s This Is Paris.
The series chronicles the true story behind the rise and fall of the iconic 2000s fashion brand. In this character-driven saga, Venice Beach surfers, gangsters, European fashionistas and Hollywood movers and shakers all vie for control of the infamous brand — pushing it from obscurity to one of the most recognizable labels on Earth. After a decade of backstabbing, greed and bloodshed, their lives – and pop culture – will never be the same.
The brand was inspired by Kenny Howard, known as Von Dutch, an American artist and member of the Kustom Kulture movement,...
Hulu has ordered a three-part series based on the story of the brand from the Intellectual Property Corporation, the Industrial Media-owned producer behind YouTube’s This Is Paris.
The series chronicles the true story behind the rise and fall of the iconic 2000s fashion brand. In this character-driven saga, Venice Beach surfers, gangsters, European fashionistas and Hollywood movers and shakers all vie for control of the infamous brand — pushing it from obscurity to one of the most recognizable labels on Earth. After a decade of backstabbing, greed and bloodshed, their lives – and pop culture – will never be the same.
The brand was inspired by Kenny Howard, known as Von Dutch, an American artist and member of the Kustom Kulture movement,...
- 4/1/2021
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
What does it mean to be stuck behind enemy lines? For his third docu feature, Andrew Renzi adds a dose of humanity to contrasting realities of three veterans who found themselves deported from the place they call home (United States) after the completion of their tours of duty. World premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival, Ready for War is about second chances and the almost insurmountable odds of trying to make it back home — for a second time. I sat down with Andrew and the subject of his film Hector Barajas to find out how he found the subject, his approach to the the complex and under-reported nature of the film, and how a selfie with Richard Gere might have saved his and his crew’s life.…...
- 11/8/2019
- by Eric Lavallée
- IONCINEMA.com
Festival to run November 14-21; full line-up due later this month.
International feature film Oscar submissions The Traitor from Italy’s Marco Bellocchio and Antigone from Canada’s Sophie Deraspe will join Alice Winocour’s Proxima and Alex Gibney’s Citizen K at AFI Fest in the world cinema and documentary selections, announced on Tuesday (15).
World cinema entries include Academy Award submissions Corpus Christi from Poland, Sweden’s And Then We Danced, and Romania’s The Whistlers, playing alongside the Los Angeles premiere of Terrence Malik’s A Hidden Life.
Documentary entries include Alex Gibney’s Citizen K, Barbara Kopple’s Desert One,...
International feature film Oscar submissions The Traitor from Italy’s Marco Bellocchio and Antigone from Canada’s Sophie Deraspe will join Alice Winocour’s Proxima and Alex Gibney’s Citizen K at AFI Fest in the world cinema and documentary selections, announced on Tuesday (15).
World cinema entries include Academy Award submissions Corpus Christi from Poland, Sweden’s And Then We Danced, and Romania’s The Whistlers, playing alongside the Los Angeles premiere of Terrence Malik’s A Hidden Life.
Documentary entries include Alex Gibney’s Citizen K, Barbara Kopple’s Desert One,...
- 10/15/2019
- by 36¦Jeremy Kay¦54¦
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: Actor Theo James and producer Andrew D. Corkin are joining forces to produce theatrical and small-screen projects in the UK and U.S. with their new label Untapped.
“While our primary focus is genre and thriller, we are drawn to stories of conflicted humanity that force viewers to question how they would react when faced with real or existential threats,” said James. “These stories are often grounded in truth – literal or allegorical – encouraging us to confront and challenge the assumptions we make about ourselves and the world around us.”
Said Corkin: “We’re excited to solidify our partnership to tell complex, diverse stories across various mediums. Theo and I share a vision for how we want to build stories and worlds that both fit within the current marketplace and look beyond it.”
Already, James and Corkin have several film and TV projects in various stages of development, prep and post.
“While our primary focus is genre and thriller, we are drawn to stories of conflicted humanity that force viewers to question how they would react when faced with real or existential threats,” said James. “These stories are often grounded in truth – literal or allegorical – encouraging us to confront and challenge the assumptions we make about ourselves and the world around us.”
Said Corkin: “We’re excited to solidify our partnership to tell complex, diverse stories across various mediums. Theo and I share a vision for how we want to build stories and worlds that both fit within the current marketplace and look beyond it.”
Already, James and Corkin have several film and TV projects in various stages of development, prep and post.
- 8/15/2019
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
The Toronto Film Festival has revealed this year’s lineups for its documentary, Midnight Madness, Discovery and retro Cinematheque sections, adding movies from Alex Gibney, Barbara Kopple, Bryce Dallas Howard, Richard Stanley and Ali LeRoi to the 2019 fest that kicks off next month.
Tiff Docs’ 25 pics kicks off with the world premiere of Feras Fayyad’s The Cave, about an underground hospital led by a female doctor in war-torn Syria. Also in the mix is Kopple’s Desert One, chronicling a perilous mission to rescue hostages in Iran, and Gibney’s Citizen K, profiling the Russian oligarch Mikhail Khodorkovsky.
Meanwhile, the genre lineup of Midnight Madness includes Richard Stanley’s H.P. Lovecraft adaptation Color Out of Space, which stars Nicolas Cage and brings the director back to the section after 29 years, and Takashi Miike’s Japanese action-comedy First Love.
The Discovery section will open with Chiara Malta’s Simple Women,...
Tiff Docs’ 25 pics kicks off with the world premiere of Feras Fayyad’s The Cave, about an underground hospital led by a female doctor in war-torn Syria. Also in the mix is Kopple’s Desert One, chronicling a perilous mission to rescue hostages in Iran, and Gibney’s Citizen K, profiling the Russian oligarch Mikhail Khodorkovsky.
Meanwhile, the genre lineup of Midnight Madness includes Richard Stanley’s H.P. Lovecraft adaptation Color Out of Space, which stars Nicolas Cage and brings the director back to the section after 29 years, and Takashi Miike’s Japanese action-comedy First Love.
The Discovery section will open with Chiara Malta’s Simple Women,...
- 8/8/2019
- by Patrick Hipes
- Deadline Film + TV
New works from celebrated documentary filmmakers Alex Gibney, Barbara Kopple, Lauren Greenfield, Alan Berliner, Feras Fayyad, Patricio Guzman, Fisher Stevens and Mark Cousins will be showcased in the Tiff Docs section of the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival, Tiff organizers announced on Thursday.
In addition to the 25 documentaries, the festival also revealed more than 50 additional films in the Midnight Madness, Tiff Discovery and Tiff Cinematheque sections.
The documentary section will open with “The Cave” from Feras Fayyad, director of the Oscar-nominated “Last Men in Aleppo.” The film is set in an underground hospital led by a female doctor in Syria. Other former Oscar nominees and winners showing films at Tiff include Gibney with “Citizen K,” his portrait of Russian oligarch-turned-Putin-critic Mikhail Khodorkovsky; Kopple, with “Desert One,” about an Iranian hostage rescue mission; and Stevens, co-director with Malcolm Venville of “And We Go Green,” a Leonardo DiCaprio-produced film about the Formula...
In addition to the 25 documentaries, the festival also revealed more than 50 additional films in the Midnight Madness, Tiff Discovery and Tiff Cinematheque sections.
The documentary section will open with “The Cave” from Feras Fayyad, director of the Oscar-nominated “Last Men in Aleppo.” The film is set in an underground hospital led by a female doctor in Syria. Other former Oscar nominees and winners showing films at Tiff include Gibney with “Citizen K,” his portrait of Russian oligarch-turned-Putin-critic Mikhail Khodorkovsky; Kopple, with “Desert One,” about an Iranian hostage rescue mission; and Stevens, co-director with Malcolm Venville of “And We Go Green,” a Leonardo DiCaprio-produced film about the Formula...
- 8/8/2019
- by Steve Pond
- The Wrap
The Toronto International Film Festival has unveiled its documentary, discovery, and midnight programs.
The lineup of 25 nonfiction works in the documentary category cover an array of topics and subjects — ranging from immigration to corruption in politics to Truman Capote’s rarefied social circle. The announcement comes as documentaries have become one of the most reliable sources of box office revenues for indie studios. Films such as “Free Solo” and “Rbg” were among the biggest arthouse hits of 2018 and there’s a lot of interest among buyers in the films in this section. Thom Powers, Tiff Docs programmer, attributes the rising commercial prospects of these films to the ubiquity of non-fiction works on Netflix and other streaming services.
“People have developed a real appetite for documentary films similar to the way they once developed an appetite for serial television,” says Powers. “Once they started sampling, they just wanted more. With Netflix...
The lineup of 25 nonfiction works in the documentary category cover an array of topics and subjects — ranging from immigration to corruption in politics to Truman Capote’s rarefied social circle. The announcement comes as documentaries have become one of the most reliable sources of box office revenues for indie studios. Films such as “Free Solo” and “Rbg” were among the biggest arthouse hits of 2018 and there’s a lot of interest among buyers in the films in this section. Thom Powers, Tiff Docs programmer, attributes the rising commercial prospects of these films to the ubiquity of non-fiction works on Netflix and other streaming services.
“People have developed a real appetite for documentary films similar to the way they once developed an appetite for serial television,” says Powers. “Once they started sampling, they just wanted more. With Netflix...
- 8/8/2019
- by Brent Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Two of the Toronto International Film Festival’s signature programs have today unveiled their full slates, including both the genre-bending Midnight Madness program and the wide-ranging Tiff Docs section. Both slates will feature a number of highly anticipated premieres, with the lauded documentary section playing home to films like Feras Fayyad’s “The Cave” (which will open Tiff Docs), Mark Cousins’ 14-hour “Women Make Film,” Bryce Dallas Howard making her feature directorial debut with the documentary “Dads,” along with new films from Barbara Kopple, Alex Gibney, and Lauren Greenfield.
The Tiff Docs lineup includes 25 non-fiction works, including 18 world premieres with representation from 18 countries. The films cover many high-profile figures, both famous and infamous — including Truman Capote, Merce Cunningham, Ron Howard, Bikram Choudhury, Mikhail Khodorkovsky, and Imelda Marcos — and a broad range of themes, including artistic achievement, the power of journalism, immigration, global politics, and resistance against corrupt leaders.
“This year...
The Tiff Docs lineup includes 25 non-fiction works, including 18 world premieres with representation from 18 countries. The films cover many high-profile figures, both famous and infamous — including Truman Capote, Merce Cunningham, Ron Howard, Bikram Choudhury, Mikhail Khodorkovsky, and Imelda Marcos — and a broad range of themes, including artistic achievement, the power of journalism, immigration, global politics, and resistance against corrupt leaders.
“This year...
- 8/8/2019
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
Canadian zombie film Blood Quantum, Ugandan gonzo action film Crazy World bookend Midnight Madness.
Toronto International Film Festival (Tiff) brass on Thursday (8) unveiled selections in the Midnight Madness, Discovery, Tiff Docs, and Cinematheque programmes set to screen next month.
The 10-strong Midnight Madness programme includes world premieres of Rose Glass’s psychological thriller Saint Maud, Joko Anwar’s Indonesian superhero adaptation Gundala, and Richard Stanley’s H.P. Lovecraft adaptation Color Out Of Space starring Nicolas Cage. Jeff Barnaby’s previously announced zombie outbreak thriller Blood Quantum from Canada and Isaac Nabwana’s Ugandan gonzo action film Crazy World bookend the section.
Toronto International Film Festival (Tiff) brass on Thursday (8) unveiled selections in the Midnight Madness, Discovery, Tiff Docs, and Cinematheque programmes set to screen next month.
The 10-strong Midnight Madness programme includes world premieres of Rose Glass’s psychological thriller Saint Maud, Joko Anwar’s Indonesian superhero adaptation Gundala, and Richard Stanley’s H.P. Lovecraft adaptation Color Out Of Space starring Nicolas Cage. Jeff Barnaby’s previously announced zombie outbreak thriller Blood Quantum from Canada and Isaac Nabwana’s Ugandan gonzo action film Crazy World bookend the section.
- 8/8/2019
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Showtime Documentary Films has acquired the worldwide rights to “Ready For War,” a documentary feature that explores the plight of deported United States military veterans. Executive produced by rapper Drake, the film is directed by Andrew Renzi and produced by Nick Boak.
Per Showtime, the feature documentary examines the cause and effect of deporting United States military veterans, and their forced recruitment by Mexican drug cartels. This documentary follows three green card holding soldiers at various stages in this process: one in Tijuana fighting to come home to American soil and reunite with his family; another in Ice detention fighting deportation; and a third, lost in the clutches of a drug cartel in Ciudad Juarez, waging a war that was never meant to be his own.
Investigating the larger issue of deporting veterans, the documentary also features interviews with politicians, members of the military, lawyer and journalists to give insight...
Per Showtime, the feature documentary examines the cause and effect of deporting United States military veterans, and their forced recruitment by Mexican drug cartels. This documentary follows three green card holding soldiers at various stages in this process: one in Tijuana fighting to come home to American soil and reunite with his family; another in Ice detention fighting deportation; and a third, lost in the clutches of a drug cartel in Ciudad Juarez, waging a war that was never meant to be his own.
Investigating the larger issue of deporting veterans, the documentary also features interviews with politicians, members of the military, lawyer and journalists to give insight...
- 6/4/2019
- by Margeaux Sippell
- The Wrap
Exclusive: Showtime has picked up a Drake-exec produced feature documentary about U.S. military veterans and Mexican drug cartels from eOne, David Ayer’s and Chris Long’s Cedar Park.
Ready for War examines the cause and effect of deporting U.S. military veterans and their forced recruitment by Mexican drug cartels. It is produced by Cedar Park, Kerstin Emhoff and Candice Dragonas’ Prettybird and Drake and Adel Nur’s Dreamcrew. The premium cable network has acquired worldwide rights via Showtime Documentary Films.
Created by director Andrew Renzi and Nick Boak, Ready for War explores the issues of post-military service, including Ptsd, drug abuse and crime convictions for combat veterans, as well as the larger ramifications for immigrant soldiers. The series details the differences native-born U.S. and immigrant soldiers face when convicted of a crime — and the fight for the majority of immigrant soldiers who are sent to Mexico...
Ready for War examines the cause and effect of deporting U.S. military veterans and their forced recruitment by Mexican drug cartels. It is produced by Cedar Park, Kerstin Emhoff and Candice Dragonas’ Prettybird and Drake and Adel Nur’s Dreamcrew. The premium cable network has acquired worldwide rights via Showtime Documentary Films.
Created by director Andrew Renzi and Nick Boak, Ready for War explores the issues of post-military service, including Ptsd, drug abuse and crime convictions for combat veterans, as well as the larger ramifications for immigrant soldiers. The series details the differences native-born U.S. and immigrant soldiers face when convicted of a crime — and the fight for the majority of immigrant soldiers who are sent to Mexico...
- 6/4/2019
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: U.S. outfit Argent Pictures is turning its Fox Sports boxing documentary They Fight into a narrative feature film.
Andrew Renzi directed the original documentary and will write the screenplay for the new feature. Mandalay Pictures will also produce.
Produced by Argent, Renzi and Common, and based on a Washington Post article by Michael Minahan, the doc charted the road to the 2017 Junior Olympics for young teens fighting to defend titles and avenge losses – all while balancing their lives at home, at school, at work and within the community.
Like the documentary, the new movie will tell the story a group of adolescent boxers and their formerly incarcerated coach in Southeast Washington DC on the road to defend their national titles.
Hacksaw Ridge backer Argent’s Jill Ahrens, Ryan Ahrens and Ben Renzo, and Mandalay Pictures‘ Jason Michael Berman (The Birth Of A Nation) will produce the new version.
Andrew Renzi directed the original documentary and will write the screenplay for the new feature. Mandalay Pictures will also produce.
Produced by Argent, Renzi and Common, and based on a Washington Post article by Michael Minahan, the doc charted the road to the 2017 Junior Olympics for young teens fighting to defend titles and avenge losses – all while balancing their lives at home, at school, at work and within the community.
Like the documentary, the new movie will tell the story a group of adolescent boxers and their formerly incarcerated coach in Southeast Washington DC on the road to defend their national titles.
Hacksaw Ridge backer Argent’s Jill Ahrens, Ryan Ahrens and Ben Renzo, and Mandalay Pictures‘ Jason Michael Berman (The Birth Of A Nation) will produce the new version.
- 5/9/2019
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
After inverting the backwoods horror sub-genre in Tucker & Dale vs. Evil (which might be followed up with a sequel) and exploring the terrors of parenthood in Little Evil, filmmaker Eli Craig will next focus on the scary side of weddings in Argent Pictures' new horror comedy Bride and Doom:
Press Release: May 1, 2019 – Los Angeles, CA – Argent Pictures, the film production and financing outfit run by Jill Ahrens, Ryan Ahrens and Ben Renzo are partnering with Jason Michael Berman at Mandalay Pictures on an original horror comedy titled Bride And Doom and have tapped Eli Craig to direct and co-write along with Josh Parkinson.
Argent’s Jill Ahrens, Ryan Ahrens and Ben Renzo, and Mandalay’s Jason Michael Berman will produce the film. Executive Producers are Argent partners Drew Brees, Tony Parker, Michael Finley, and Derrick Brooks.
Cloverfield meets My Big Fat Greek Wedding in Bride And Doom – a...
Press Release: May 1, 2019 – Los Angeles, CA – Argent Pictures, the film production and financing outfit run by Jill Ahrens, Ryan Ahrens and Ben Renzo are partnering with Jason Michael Berman at Mandalay Pictures on an original horror comedy titled Bride And Doom and have tapped Eli Craig to direct and co-write along with Josh Parkinson.
Argent’s Jill Ahrens, Ryan Ahrens and Ben Renzo, and Mandalay’s Jason Michael Berman will produce the film. Executive Producers are Argent partners Drew Brees, Tony Parker, Michael Finley, and Derrick Brooks.
Cloverfield meets My Big Fat Greek Wedding in Bride And Doom – a...
- 5/1/2019
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
Exclusive: A new teaser (watch it below) for A Taste of Sky, a feature documentary about an unusual food venture by Noma restauranteur Claus Meyer, is whetting appetites ahead of its U.S. premiere at this month’s Tribeca Film Festival.
The film chronicles the goings-on at Gustu, a restaurant and cooking school for the underprivileged youth of La Paz, the capital of Bolivia. Located 13,000 feet above sea level, the South American venue is set against spectacular scenery. The scene inside Gustu is a striking upstairs/downstairs blend of wealthy patrons drawn to the high-end fare turned out by the kitchen as the young staff learns the ropes and grapples with tradition.
Meyer, who has presided over four “Restaurant of the Year” wins at the world-famous Noma in Denmark, faces questions about colonialism and the nature of his intentions in Bolivia. His young charges include Maria Claudo, a native of the Andean altiplano,...
The film chronicles the goings-on at Gustu, a restaurant and cooking school for the underprivileged youth of La Paz, the capital of Bolivia. Located 13,000 feet above sea level, the South American venue is set against spectacular scenery. The scene inside Gustu is a striking upstairs/downstairs blend of wealthy patrons drawn to the high-end fare turned out by the kitchen as the young staff learns the ropes and grapples with tradition.
Meyer, who has presided over four “Restaurant of the Year” wins at the world-famous Noma in Denmark, faces questions about colonialism and the nature of his intentions in Bolivia. His young charges include Maria Claudo, a native of the Andean altiplano,...
- 4/15/2019
- by Dade Hayes
- Deadline Film + TV
You can add Common to the list of Beto O’Rourke supporters who thinks the young politician has what it takes for a possible presidential run in 2020.
“I want to look and see who’s running, but I’m glad that he potentially will be a candidate, because he seems like a good guy and great candidate,” the Oscar winner told told Variety on Wednesday at the Los Angeles premiere of “They Fight,” a film he co-produced with Freedom Road.
Common said he feels “positive about some of the progress that was made” after the midterm elections earlier this week. ”I definitely wish it more. I wish Andrew Gillum and Stacey Abrams had won, because I really felt they represent the progress of America.”
He added, “Overall, it’s beautiful to see the progress that was being made in America. The first openly gay governor [Colorado’s Jared Polis]; more women in the House.
“I want to look and see who’s running, but I’m glad that he potentially will be a candidate, because he seems like a good guy and great candidate,” the Oscar winner told told Variety on Wednesday at the Los Angeles premiere of “They Fight,” a film he co-produced with Freedom Road.
Common said he feels “positive about some of the progress that was made” after the midterm elections earlier this week. ”I definitely wish it more. I wish Andrew Gillum and Stacey Abrams had won, because I really felt they represent the progress of America.”
He added, “Overall, it’s beautiful to see the progress that was being made in America. The first openly gay governor [Colorado’s Jared Polis]; more women in the House.
- 11/8/2018
- by Mike Botticello
- Variety Film + TV
Fox has set a premiere date for They Fight, a documentary about one of the nation’s top youth boxing programs, which not only helps young athletes pursue their dreams in the ring but also steers them away from the pitfalls that led to Coach Walt Manigan’s imprisonment. Watch the first trailer above.
Produced by Common, the film is the latest in the Magnify series and will debut November 11 on Fox, following a limited theatrical bow in New York and Los Angeles two days earlier.
Directed by Andrew Renzi, the docu follows the journey of teenage boxing stars Ragahleak “Peanut” Bartee and Quincey Williams — both of whom have won multiple national titles — as they put in their work en route to the 2017 Junior Olympics, where Quincey fights to defend his title, and Peanut is out to avenge his first loss in four years.
The film also chronicles Manigan’s...
Produced by Common, the film is the latest in the Magnify series and will debut November 11 on Fox, following a limited theatrical bow in New York and Los Angeles two days earlier.
Directed by Andrew Renzi, the docu follows the journey of teenage boxing stars Ragahleak “Peanut” Bartee and Quincey Williams — both of whom have won multiple national titles — as they put in their work en route to the 2017 Junior Olympics, where Quincey fights to defend his title, and Peanut is out to avenge his first loss in four years.
The film also chronicles Manigan’s...
- 10/31/2018
- by Erik Pedersen
- Deadline Film + TV
Entertainment One is teaming with David Ayer’s and Chris Long’s Cedar Park and Prettybird on Ready for War, a four-part documentary limited series that examines the cause and effect of deporting U.S. military veterans and their forced recruitment by Mexican drug cartels.
Created by director Andrew Renzi and Nick Boak, Ready for War explores the issues of post-military service, including Ptsd, drug abuse and crime convictions for combat veterans, as well as the larger ramifications for immigrant soldiers. The series details the differences native-born U.S. and immigrant soldiers face when convicted of a crime — and the fight for the majority of immigrant soldiers who are sent to Mexico as they attempt to get back home. While some are successful, others succumb to violent threats of drug cartels.
It also investigates the larger issue of deporting veterans and features interviews with politicians, military members, lawyers and journalists...
Created by director Andrew Renzi and Nick Boak, Ready for War explores the issues of post-military service, including Ptsd, drug abuse and crime convictions for combat veterans, as well as the larger ramifications for immigrant soldiers. The series details the differences native-born U.S. and immigrant soldiers face when convicted of a crime — and the fight for the majority of immigrant soldiers who are sent to Mexico as they attempt to get back home. While some are successful, others succumb to violent threats of drug cartels.
It also investigates the larger issue of deporting veterans and features interviews with politicians, military members, lawyers and journalists...
- 9/25/2018
- by Erik Pedersen
- Deadline Film + TV
Lena Waithe seems to be doing all she can to discover and mentor diverse filmmakers.
The actress, writer and producer from such shows as Netflix’s “Master of None” and Showtime’s “The Chi” is teaming up with Fullscreen and At&T’s Hello Lab to mentor diverse aspiring filmmakers.
“The only way change can happen is by helping to create it. And that’s exactly why I’ve invested in this mentorship program,” Waithe said in a statement. “These diverse and talented filmmakers need guidance to get them where they need to be. We’re here to help them find their place in this business and tell their story.”
Also Read: Lena Waithe Is 'Tired of White Folks Telling My Stories'
Earlier this month, Waithe also joined Eva Longoria, Franklin Leonard of “The Black List” and Charles King’s production house Macro to launch an initiative to discover and advance...
The actress, writer and producer from such shows as Netflix’s “Master of None” and Showtime’s “The Chi” is teaming up with Fullscreen and At&T’s Hello Lab to mentor diverse aspiring filmmakers.
“The only way change can happen is by helping to create it. And that’s exactly why I’ve invested in this mentorship program,” Waithe said in a statement. “These diverse and talented filmmakers need guidance to get them where they need to be. We’re here to help them find their place in this business and tell their story.”
Also Read: Lena Waithe Is 'Tired of White Folks Telling My Stories'
Earlier this month, Waithe also joined Eva Longoria, Franklin Leonard of “The Black List” and Charles King’s production house Macro to launch an initiative to discover and advance...
- 6/19/2018
- by Trey Williams
- The Wrap
The list of executive producers who have worked on films in Fox Sports’ “Magnify” documentary series reads like the lineup of an all-star revival of the old MTV show “Rock N’ Jock.” EPs on previous and forthcoming installments include LeBron James, Common, Dwyane Wade, Chance the Rapper, and Kevin Durant. The newest addition to the series, director Andrew Renzi’s “They Fight,” boasts Drew Brees, Tony Parker, Derrick Brooks, and Michael Finley in exec producer roles.
Fox announced the acquisition of “They Fight” last week. The film tells the story of an after-school boxing program in Washington D.C.’s Ward 8 — one of the city’s most economically challenged areas. The movie fits the mission of the “Magnify” series — leveraging the power of star athletes and entertainers, as well as Fox’s television platforms, to push eyeballs to off-the-beaten path socially conscious sport stories.
“It’s been pretty crazy how quickly it happened,...
Fox announced the acquisition of “They Fight” last week. The film tells the story of an after-school boxing program in Washington D.C.’s Ward 8 — one of the city’s most economically challenged areas. The movie fits the mission of the “Magnify” series — leveraging the power of star athletes and entertainers, as well as Fox’s television platforms, to push eyeballs to off-the-beaten path socially conscious sport stories.
“It’s been pretty crazy how quickly it happened,...
- 6/12/2018
- by Daniel Holloway
- Variety Film + TV
Fox Sports Films has acquired the North American rights to boxing documentary They Fight.
Common and his Freedom Road Productions are behind the feature, producing alongside Argent Pictures — run by Jill Ahrens, Ryan Ahrens and Ben Renzo.
Directed by Andrew Renzi, the doc follows an after-school program in Washington, D.C.’s Ward 8 run by oach Walt Manigan’s Lyfe Style Boxing. Walt mentors young boxers, “Peanut” Bartee and Quincey Williams on the path to the 2017 Junior Olympics, while he also fights to find a permanent home for his program to help young fighters ...
Common and his Freedom Road Productions are behind the feature, producing alongside Argent Pictures — run by Jill Ahrens, Ryan Ahrens and Ben Renzo.
Directed by Andrew Renzi, the doc follows an after-school program in Washington, D.C.’s Ward 8 run by oach Walt Manigan’s Lyfe Style Boxing. Walt mentors young boxers, “Peanut” Bartee and Quincey Williams on the path to the 2017 Junior Olympics, while he also fights to find a permanent home for his program to help young fighters ...
Fox Sports Films has acquired the North American rights to boxing documentary They Fight.
Common and his Freedom Road Productions are behind the feature, producing alongside Argent Pictures — run by Jill Ahrens, Ryan Ahrens and Ben Renzo.
Directed by Andrew Renzi, the doc follows an after-school program in Washington, D.C.’s Ward 8 run by oach Walt Manigan’s Lyfe Style Boxing. Walt mentors young boxers, “Peanut” Bartee and Quincey Williams on the path to the 2017 Junior Olympics, while he also fights to find a permanent home for his program to help young fighters ...
Common and his Freedom Road Productions are behind the feature, producing alongside Argent Pictures — run by Jill Ahrens, Ryan Ahrens and Ben Renzo.
Directed by Andrew Renzi, the doc follows an after-school program in Washington, D.C.’s Ward 8 run by oach Walt Manigan’s Lyfe Style Boxing. Walt mentors young boxers, “Peanut” Bartee and Quincey Williams on the path to the 2017 Junior Olympics, while he also fights to find a permanent home for his program to help young fighters ...
Common is partnering with Argent Pictures, a Los Angeles-based film production and financing outfit, to produce boxing documentary They Fight.
Andrew Renzi is directing the feature, which Argent, run by Jill Ahrens, Ryan Ahrens and Ben Renzo, and Common will now help finance and produce as it begins postproduction.
Also coming on board are Common’s partners at his Freedom Road productions banner: Derek Dudley, Shelby Stone and Melisa Resch.
The documentary follows a group of adolescent boxers and their formerly incarcerated coach in southeast Washington, D.C., on the road to defend their national titles. Inspired by Michael Minahan's article in The...
Andrew Renzi is directing the feature, which Argent, run by Jill Ahrens, Ryan Ahrens and Ben Renzo, and Common will now help finance and produce as it begins postproduction.
Also coming on board are Common’s partners at his Freedom Road productions banner: Derek Dudley, Shelby Stone and Melisa Resch.
The documentary follows a group of adolescent boxers and their formerly incarcerated coach in southeast Washington, D.C., on the road to defend their national titles. Inspired by Michael Minahan's article in The...
- 1/12/2018
- by Borys Kit
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
A kidnapper gets more than he bargained for in Pet. Starring Dominic Monaghan, Ksenia Solo, and Jennette McCurdy, the psychological horror film has been acquired by Orion Pictures and Samuel Goldwyn Films, with Us theatrical, VOD, and DVD release dates slated for December.
Press Release: Los Angeles, CA (October 4, 2016) – Orion Pictures and Samuel Goldwyn Films announced today that they have acquired the psychological thriller Pet, directed by Carles Torrens and written by Jeremy Slater. The film stars Dominic Monaghan (Lost, The Lord Of The Rings Series), Ksenia Solo (Black Swan, Lost Girl), and Jennette McCurdy (iCarly, Sam & Cat). Pet had its World Premiere at the 2016 South by Southwest Film Festival in Austin. Orion Pictures and Samuel Goldwyn Films will release the film in U.S. theaters and on demand on December 2, 2016, and it will be available on DVD on December 27.
In the vein of Hard Candy and Gone Girl, Pet...
Press Release: Los Angeles, CA (October 4, 2016) – Orion Pictures and Samuel Goldwyn Films announced today that they have acquired the psychological thriller Pet, directed by Carles Torrens and written by Jeremy Slater. The film stars Dominic Monaghan (Lost, The Lord Of The Rings Series), Ksenia Solo (Black Swan, Lost Girl), and Jennette McCurdy (iCarly, Sam & Cat). Pet had its World Premiere at the 2016 South by Southwest Film Festival in Austin. Orion Pictures and Samuel Goldwyn Films will release the film in U.S. theaters and on demand on December 2, 2016, and it will be available on DVD on December 27.
In the vein of Hard Candy and Gone Girl, Pet...
- 10/4/2016
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
Industry Days 2016 includes the fifth edition of Us in Progress and the third edition of Paris Coproduction Village. Industry Days aims at becoming a reference in professional meetings for French and European producers, with a strong positioning towards the enhancement of emerging cinematography.
Paris Co-Production Village Unveils Its Project Selections
Organized by Les Arcs European Film Festival within the frame of the Champs-Elysées Film Festival Industry Days, Paris Co-production Village is a development and financing platform for feature projects selected worldwide.
For its third edition, which will take place June 8-10, 2016 in Paris, the 12 following projects have been selected:
-"Afronauts" by Frances Bodomo (2015 - short film « Afronauts » Sundance Ff, Berlinale, AFI Fest, Chicago Iff ; 2014 - short film "Boneshaker" Sundance Ff, SXSW Ff, Chicago Iff, Edinburgh Iff) produced by Nomadic Independence (USA).
-"Blood-Drenched Beard" by Aly Muritiba (2015 - "To My Beloved" San Sebastian Ff Horizontes Latinos, Official Competition Montreal World Film Festival; 2015 - "Tarantula" Venice Ff Orizonti) produced by Rt Features (Brazil).
-"The Bus to Amerika" by Derya Durmaz (2015 - short film "Mother Virgin No More" Berlinale Generations 14plus Short Film Competition) produced by Mars Production (Turkey).
-"Dark Lies the Island" by Ian Fitzgibbon (2011 - "Death of a Superhero" Toronto Iff, Jury and Audience Awards Les Arcs European Film Festival ; 2010 - "Perrier's Bountru" Toronto Iff, Seattle Iff) produced by Grand Pictures (Ireland).
-"God Exists, her Name is Petrunija" by Teona Strugar Mitevska (2012 - "The Woman Who Brushed Her Tears" Berlinale Panaroma Special; 2008 - "I am from Tito Veles" Berlinale Panorama Section, Special Jury Award Sarajevo Ff, Toronto Iff, Cannes Ff Acid selection) produced by Sisters and Brother Mitevski Production (Macedonia).
-"Golden Voices" by Evgeny Ruman (2015 - "The Man in the Wall" Rotterdam Iff, Best acting Award Odessa Iff; 2012 - "Igor & the Cranes' Journey" Toronto Iff, Special Mention Haifa Iff) produced by United Channel Movies (Israel).
-"Prince" by Sebastian Muñoz produced by Niña Niño Films (Chile) and Le Tiro Films (Argentina).
-"Remarkable Things During a Killing" by Joko Anwar (2015 - "A Copy of my Mind" Venice Iff, Toronto Iff, Busan Iff, Rotterdam Iff; 2012 - "Ritual" SXSW, Gerardmer Fantasy Ff) produced by Lo-Fi Flicks (Indonesia).
-"When the Waves are Gone" by Lav Diaz (2016 - "A Lullaby to the Sorrowful Mystery"Alfred Bauer Award Berlinale Official Competition; 2014 - "From What is Before" Golden Leopard Locarno Iff, Audience Award Sao paulo Iff) produced by Epicmedia (The Philippines).
Projets selected within the frame of the Focus Colombia :
"Almost Never Too Late" by Alfonso Acosta (2012 - "The Crack" Busan Iff, Sao Paulo Iff, Gerardmer Fantasy Ff, Neuchatel International Fantastic Ff) produced by Cabecitanegra Producciones.
-"The Stone" by Rafael Martinez Moreno (2015 - short film "Round Numbers" Zinebi Bilbao Official Selection; 2012 - short film "120 Minutes of Freedom", Bogota International Film Festival) produced by Miramar Entertainment.
-"The Tailor" by Cesar Heredia (2015 - short film "Elefante" Official Competition Cartagena Iff) produced by Corte Film, Tree House Film (Panama) and Diafragma (Colombia).
This selection aims at showing the diversity of world cinema, in terms of geography as well as a balance between newcomers and experienced directors. It includes:
- 1 American project, 1 Israeli project, 3 European projects, 2 Asian projects and 5 projects from Latin America including 3 projects part of the Colombian Focus
- 5 first feature films projects (marked with *)
Colombia is the guest country of this third edition
In partnership with Proimágenes Colombia, Paris Coproduction Village will present this year a « Colombian Focus », inviting 3 Colombian projects in development. A conference, organized with the support of the Cnc, will take place during the event and will discuss the improvement of the French-Colombian coproduction framework.
In addition, the 6 residents of Cannes Film Festival Cinéfondation will join the selection:
-"Feathers of a Father" by Omar El Zohairy (Egypt)
-"Fronteira" by Nuno Baltazar (Portugal)
-"Letters from the Land of the Tarahumara" by Federico Cecchetti (Mexico/France)
-"Tinnitus" by Gregorio Grazios (Brazil)
-"The Users" by Ivan Ikic (Serbia)
-"Disappearance" by Ali Asgari (Iran)
All these projects will benefit from one-to-one pre-scheduled meetings with producers, sales agents, distributors, from networking events, as well as seminars taught by leading film industry professionals.
Paris Coproduction Village is supported by the Cnc, Procirep and Cofiloisirs. It is organized in collaboration with our partners Cannes Cinéfondation, Ace, Cinando, Haf (Hong-Kong Asian Film Financing Forum), Variety, LatAm, Producers Network, Screen, Eave, Europa International, Cineuropa and Ecran Total.
The team behind Paris Coproduction Village is the team of Les Arcs European Film Festival, that is to say:
Pierre-Emmanuel Fleurantin, CEO
Jérémy Zelnik, Head of Industry
Alice Guilbaud, Coproduction Village Manager
Guillaume Calop, General Manager
Claire-Marine Piétriga, General Coordinator
Clémentine Larroudé, Head of Partnerships
Fabienne Silvestre-Bertoncini, Public and Institutional Relations
Us in Progress Unveils Its Project Selection
Us in Progress will take place in the scope of the 5th edition of Champs-Elysées Film Festival in Paris on June 8-10. The Program is a joint initiative between the American Film Festival in Wroclaw, the Champs-Elysées Film Festival in Paris and Black Rabbit Film in New York. It is the first and only industry event devoted to Us indies in Europe. The aim of the program is to present Us indie films in post-production to European buyers in order to foster the circulation and distribution of American indie films in Europe.
For the 5th edition of Us in Progress within the scope of the Industry Days, 4 feature-length narrative films have been selected to compete for the Us in Progress Prize :
-"California Dreams" Directed by Mike Ott / Produced by Alex Gioulakis
-"Easy Living" Directed by Adam Keleman / Produced by Laura Wagner
-"Everything Beautiful is Far Away" Directed by Pete Ohs and Andrea Sisson / Produced by Andrea Sisson and Saul Germaine
-"Otto : My Life is a Soundtrack" Directed by Margarita Jimeno / Andrew Corkin and Sol Bondy
This year, we are also introducing documentaries at the Us in Progress Paris with the selection of 2 films:
-"Academy" Directed by Brent Chesanek / Produced by Andrew Renzi and Andrew Corkin
-"Whirlybird" Directed by Matt Yoka / Produced by Steve Holmgren, Erin Lee Carr, Greg Lanesey and Matt Radecki
For two days, the project holders will present their rough cuts to 40 top European sales agents, distributors, festivals programmers and producers. On the third day, they will get advices and feedbacks from the screenings through one-to-one meetings with the buyers.
The awarded film will get post-production, acquisition and promotion services offered by our partners : TitraFilm, Europa Distribution, Producers Network, Ciné +, Eaux Vives Productions, Indiewire-SydneysBuzz, Centre Phi, Kickstarter and a newcomer the Studios d’Arenberg (Arenberg Creative Mine).
Us in Progress involves two yearly get-togethers and the next edition will take place in Wroclaw in October 2016 in the scope of the American Film Festival. Us in Progress Wroclaw’s submissions starts from April 6th to August 31st.
Paris Co-Production Village Unveils Its Project Selections
Organized by Les Arcs European Film Festival within the frame of the Champs-Elysées Film Festival Industry Days, Paris Co-production Village is a development and financing platform for feature projects selected worldwide.
For its third edition, which will take place June 8-10, 2016 in Paris, the 12 following projects have been selected:
-"Afronauts" by Frances Bodomo (2015 - short film « Afronauts » Sundance Ff, Berlinale, AFI Fest, Chicago Iff ; 2014 - short film "Boneshaker" Sundance Ff, SXSW Ff, Chicago Iff, Edinburgh Iff) produced by Nomadic Independence (USA).
-"Blood-Drenched Beard" by Aly Muritiba (2015 - "To My Beloved" San Sebastian Ff Horizontes Latinos, Official Competition Montreal World Film Festival; 2015 - "Tarantula" Venice Ff Orizonti) produced by Rt Features (Brazil).
-"The Bus to Amerika" by Derya Durmaz (2015 - short film "Mother Virgin No More" Berlinale Generations 14plus Short Film Competition) produced by Mars Production (Turkey).
-"Dark Lies the Island" by Ian Fitzgibbon (2011 - "Death of a Superhero" Toronto Iff, Jury and Audience Awards Les Arcs European Film Festival ; 2010 - "Perrier's Bountru" Toronto Iff, Seattle Iff) produced by Grand Pictures (Ireland).
-"God Exists, her Name is Petrunija" by Teona Strugar Mitevska (2012 - "The Woman Who Brushed Her Tears" Berlinale Panaroma Special; 2008 - "I am from Tito Veles" Berlinale Panorama Section, Special Jury Award Sarajevo Ff, Toronto Iff, Cannes Ff Acid selection) produced by Sisters and Brother Mitevski Production (Macedonia).
-"Golden Voices" by Evgeny Ruman (2015 - "The Man in the Wall" Rotterdam Iff, Best acting Award Odessa Iff; 2012 - "Igor & the Cranes' Journey" Toronto Iff, Special Mention Haifa Iff) produced by United Channel Movies (Israel).
-"Prince" by Sebastian Muñoz produced by Niña Niño Films (Chile) and Le Tiro Films (Argentina).
-"Remarkable Things During a Killing" by Joko Anwar (2015 - "A Copy of my Mind" Venice Iff, Toronto Iff, Busan Iff, Rotterdam Iff; 2012 - "Ritual" SXSW, Gerardmer Fantasy Ff) produced by Lo-Fi Flicks (Indonesia).
-"When the Waves are Gone" by Lav Diaz (2016 - "A Lullaby to the Sorrowful Mystery"Alfred Bauer Award Berlinale Official Competition; 2014 - "From What is Before" Golden Leopard Locarno Iff, Audience Award Sao paulo Iff) produced by Epicmedia (The Philippines).
Projets selected within the frame of the Focus Colombia :
"Almost Never Too Late" by Alfonso Acosta (2012 - "The Crack" Busan Iff, Sao Paulo Iff, Gerardmer Fantasy Ff, Neuchatel International Fantastic Ff) produced by Cabecitanegra Producciones.
-"The Stone" by Rafael Martinez Moreno (2015 - short film "Round Numbers" Zinebi Bilbao Official Selection; 2012 - short film "120 Minutes of Freedom", Bogota International Film Festival) produced by Miramar Entertainment.
-"The Tailor" by Cesar Heredia (2015 - short film "Elefante" Official Competition Cartagena Iff) produced by Corte Film, Tree House Film (Panama) and Diafragma (Colombia).
This selection aims at showing the diversity of world cinema, in terms of geography as well as a balance between newcomers and experienced directors. It includes:
- 1 American project, 1 Israeli project, 3 European projects, 2 Asian projects and 5 projects from Latin America including 3 projects part of the Colombian Focus
- 5 first feature films projects (marked with *)
Colombia is the guest country of this third edition
In partnership with Proimágenes Colombia, Paris Coproduction Village will present this year a « Colombian Focus », inviting 3 Colombian projects in development. A conference, organized with the support of the Cnc, will take place during the event and will discuss the improvement of the French-Colombian coproduction framework.
In addition, the 6 residents of Cannes Film Festival Cinéfondation will join the selection:
-"Feathers of a Father" by Omar El Zohairy (Egypt)
-"Fronteira" by Nuno Baltazar (Portugal)
-"Letters from the Land of the Tarahumara" by Federico Cecchetti (Mexico/France)
-"Tinnitus" by Gregorio Grazios (Brazil)
-"The Users" by Ivan Ikic (Serbia)
-"Disappearance" by Ali Asgari (Iran)
All these projects will benefit from one-to-one pre-scheduled meetings with producers, sales agents, distributors, from networking events, as well as seminars taught by leading film industry professionals.
Paris Coproduction Village is supported by the Cnc, Procirep and Cofiloisirs. It is organized in collaboration with our partners Cannes Cinéfondation, Ace, Cinando, Haf (Hong-Kong Asian Film Financing Forum), Variety, LatAm, Producers Network, Screen, Eave, Europa International, Cineuropa and Ecran Total.
The team behind Paris Coproduction Village is the team of Les Arcs European Film Festival, that is to say:
Pierre-Emmanuel Fleurantin, CEO
Jérémy Zelnik, Head of Industry
Alice Guilbaud, Coproduction Village Manager
Guillaume Calop, General Manager
Claire-Marine Piétriga, General Coordinator
Clémentine Larroudé, Head of Partnerships
Fabienne Silvestre-Bertoncini, Public and Institutional Relations
Us in Progress Unveils Its Project Selection
Us in Progress will take place in the scope of the 5th edition of Champs-Elysées Film Festival in Paris on June 8-10. The Program is a joint initiative between the American Film Festival in Wroclaw, the Champs-Elysées Film Festival in Paris and Black Rabbit Film in New York. It is the first and only industry event devoted to Us indies in Europe. The aim of the program is to present Us indie films in post-production to European buyers in order to foster the circulation and distribution of American indie films in Europe.
For the 5th edition of Us in Progress within the scope of the Industry Days, 4 feature-length narrative films have been selected to compete for the Us in Progress Prize :
-"California Dreams" Directed by Mike Ott / Produced by Alex Gioulakis
-"Easy Living" Directed by Adam Keleman / Produced by Laura Wagner
-"Everything Beautiful is Far Away" Directed by Pete Ohs and Andrea Sisson / Produced by Andrea Sisson and Saul Germaine
-"Otto : My Life is a Soundtrack" Directed by Margarita Jimeno / Andrew Corkin and Sol Bondy
This year, we are also introducing documentaries at the Us in Progress Paris with the selection of 2 films:
-"Academy" Directed by Brent Chesanek / Produced by Andrew Renzi and Andrew Corkin
-"Whirlybird" Directed by Matt Yoka / Produced by Steve Holmgren, Erin Lee Carr, Greg Lanesey and Matt Radecki
For two days, the project holders will present their rough cuts to 40 top European sales agents, distributors, festivals programmers and producers. On the third day, they will get advices and feedbacks from the screenings through one-to-one meetings with the buyers.
The awarded film will get post-production, acquisition and promotion services offered by our partners : TitraFilm, Europa Distribution, Producers Network, Ciné +, Eaux Vives Productions, Indiewire-SydneysBuzz, Centre Phi, Kickstarter and a newcomer the Studios d’Arenberg (Arenberg Creative Mine).
Us in Progress involves two yearly get-togethers and the next edition will take place in Wroclaw in October 2016 in the scope of the American Film Festival. Us in Progress Wroclaw’s submissions starts from April 6th to August 31st.
- 5/19/2016
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
Works-in-progress event devoted to Us indies to take place in Paris June 8-10.
Us directors Mike Ott and Adam Keleman will present their upcoming films at the fifth edition of Us in Progress in Paris this June.
Running June 8-10, the programme is a joint initiative between the American Film Festival in Wroclaw, the Champs-Elysées Film Festival in Paris and Black Rabbit Film in New York.
Rough cuts of a selection of Us independent features are screened with the aim of finding them sales agents, festival homes and producers.
Benjamin Dickinson’s sci-fi comedy Creative Control, which took the top prize at the event in 2014, went on to to be sold, for example, by Philippe Bober’s Paris-based Coproduction Office.
Ott will present his hybrid work California Dreams revolving around auditions in which people perform scenes from their favourite films.
The director won the Polish round of Us in Progress in 2013 for his last film Lake Los Angeles.
[link...
Us directors Mike Ott and Adam Keleman will present their upcoming films at the fifth edition of Us in Progress in Paris this June.
Running June 8-10, the programme is a joint initiative between the American Film Festival in Wroclaw, the Champs-Elysées Film Festival in Paris and Black Rabbit Film in New York.
Rough cuts of a selection of Us independent features are screened with the aim of finding them sales agents, festival homes and producers.
Benjamin Dickinson’s sci-fi comedy Creative Control, which took the top prize at the event in 2014, went on to to be sold, for example, by Philippe Bober’s Paris-based Coproduction Office.
Ott will present his hybrid work California Dreams revolving around auditions in which people perform scenes from their favourite films.
The director won the Polish round of Us in Progress in 2013 for his last film Lake Los Angeles.
[link...
- 5/15/2016
- ScreenDaily
★★☆☆☆ At the heart of Andrew Renzi's directorial debut The Benefactor is a kernel of an intriguing character study about the price of love and forgiveness and the desire to buy both. Surrounding it is a tangled mass of loose narrative threads, none of which offer any real satisfaction and most of which fall somewhere on a scale from ham-fisted to half-baked. Not even Richard Gere can salvage proceedings, chewing the scenery in an ebullient central turn that channels recent-period Pacino a lot more than it was presumably intending. In some ways, this feels like a badly written cousin to Nicholas Jarecki's under-appreciated Arbitrage, but all the more damning is Oren Moverman's Time Out of Mind, which arrives in UK cinemas imminently and acts as a painful but timely reminder of what Gere is capable of.
- 3/7/2016
- by CineVue UK
- CineVue
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