"It's beautiful and inspiring." Oscilloscope Labs has revealed an official trailer for a documentary film titled Flipside, which first premiered last year at the 2023 Toronto Film Festival. It's the latest creation from doc filmmaker Chris Wilcha, who worked for "This American Life" and also made a few docs, including Knock Knock It's Tig Notaro in 2015 and his breakout The Target Shoots First. Flipside is his comical attempt to save a New Jersey record store and confront a mid-life crisis. TIFF adds: "In the process of looking back, he gets inspired to revisit the half-finished documentaries that exist only on his hard drives. He pulls up old interviews that no one has seen with creative people who faced their own crossroads, including radio host Ira Glass, writer Starlee Kine, jazz photographer Herman Leonard, and television writer David Milch. The passage of time brings a deeper poignancy to their testimonies... His quest may be personal,...
- 4/18/2024
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Premiering at TIFF last fall, Flipside follows filmmaker Chris Wilcha as he reflects on his past and what it means to live a life of creativity. Picked up by Oscilloscope Laboratories for a North American release, featuring Judd Apatow on board as executive producer, the first trailer has now landed ahead of a May 31 debut.
Here’s the synopsis: “When filmmaker Chris Wilcha revisits the record store he worked in as a teenager in New Jersey, he finds the once-thriving bastion of music and weirdness from his youth slowly falling apart and out of touch with the times. Flipside documents his tragicomic attempt to revive the store while revisiting the abandoned documentary projects that have marked his career. In the process, he captures “The American Life” icon Ira Glass in the midst of a creative rebirth, discovers the origin story of David Bowie’s ode to a local New Jersey cable television hero,...
Here’s the synopsis: “When filmmaker Chris Wilcha revisits the record store he worked in as a teenager in New Jersey, he finds the once-thriving bastion of music and weirdness from his youth slowly falling apart and out of touch with the times. Flipside documents his tragicomic attempt to revive the store while revisiting the abandoned documentary projects that have marked his career. In the process, he captures “The American Life” icon Ira Glass in the midst of a creative rebirth, discovers the origin story of David Bowie’s ode to a local New Jersey cable television hero,...
- 4/18/2024
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
Documentarian Chris Wilcha is stepping back through time for his latest feature “Flipside.”
Wilcha revisits his own shelved past projects including capturing “This American Life” icon Ira Glass in the midst of a creative rebirth, an origin story of David Bowie’s ode to a local New Jersey cable television hero, and an unlikely connection between jazz photographer Herman Leonard and TV writer David Milch.
The film is the product of Wilcha returning to the record store where he worked as a teenager in New Jersey and realizing that the staple of his youth is now out of touch with the times. Per the official synopsis, “Flipside” documents Wilcha’s “tragicomic attempt to revive the store while revisiting other documentary projects he has abandoned over the years. This disparate collection of stories coheres into something strange and expansive — a moving meditation on music, work, and the sacrifices and satisfaction of...
Wilcha revisits his own shelved past projects including capturing “This American Life” icon Ira Glass in the midst of a creative rebirth, an origin story of David Bowie’s ode to a local New Jersey cable television hero, and an unlikely connection between jazz photographer Herman Leonard and TV writer David Milch.
The film is the product of Wilcha returning to the record store where he worked as a teenager in New Jersey and realizing that the staple of his youth is now out of touch with the times. Per the official synopsis, “Flipside” documents Wilcha’s “tragicomic attempt to revive the store while revisiting other documentary projects he has abandoned over the years. This disparate collection of stories coheres into something strange and expansive — a moving meditation on music, work, and the sacrifices and satisfaction of...
- 4/18/2024
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
In a 1996 episode of "This American Life," host Ira Glass was introduced to the vast, near-incomprehensible world of "Dark Shadows" for the first time. "Dark Shadows," for those who don't know, is a Gothic, vampire-forward soap opera that ran on ABC from 1966 to 1971, lasting six seasons and, no lie, 1,225 episodes. Because it was a daily program, the showrunners had to work at a breakneck pace, often committing grievous technical errors along the way. Those errors, however, were the central appeal for the world's many "Dark Shadows" fans. Glass likened it to tuning into car races just to see crashes. There is verisimilitude to such a concentration of human error.
Then, Glass is told by a "Dark Shadows" fan, that words like "groovy" began working their way into the show's dialogue sometime in the 1969 season. "Dark Shadows" is deeply beloved, partly for its complex, vampiric storylines, but just as much for its cheap camp.
Then, Glass is told by a "Dark Shadows" fan, that words like "groovy" began working their way into the show's dialogue sometime in the 1969 season. "Dark Shadows" is deeply beloved, partly for its complex, vampiric storylines, but just as much for its cheap camp.
- 3/25/2024
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
The Chattanooga Film Festival returns for its eleventh year, unleashing another summer camp for cinephiles from June 21-28, 2024. While the fest already teased exciting events for their 2024 event, the first wave of feature programming promises even more genre fun.
From the press release: “In filmmaker Michael Turney’s RetroTech Romance Video Vision, a woman unlocks a dark dimension through an old Vcr, combining romance, horror, and analog technology in unique and spellbinding ways.
“Video Vision in both vibes and execution perfectly embodies the genre-blending spirit of the Chattanooga Film Festival and serves as its opening night film selection for the year. Because of the festival’s ongoing commitment to accessibility for its 2024 edition, the Cff team endeavored to find filmmakers and partners who understand the importance of this issue, and audience members will have the option of tuning into this world premiere on-site and virtually (US residents only). This theme...
From the press release: “In filmmaker Michael Turney’s RetroTech Romance Video Vision, a woman unlocks a dark dimension through an old Vcr, combining romance, horror, and analog technology in unique and spellbinding ways.
“Video Vision in both vibes and execution perfectly embodies the genre-blending spirit of the Chattanooga Film Festival and serves as its opening night film selection for the year. Because of the festival’s ongoing commitment to accessibility for its 2024 edition, the Cff team endeavored to find filmmakers and partners who understand the importance of this issue, and audience members will have the option of tuning into this world premiere on-site and virtually (US residents only). This theme...
- 3/18/2024
- by Meagan Navarro
- bloody-disgusting.com
Exclusive: Oscilloscope Laboratories has taken North America on Flipside, a new documentary from filmmaker Chris Wilcha, which world premiered at last year’s Toronto Film Festival. Exec produced by Judd Apatow, the film is slated for release in theaters this year.
Flipside sees Wilcha revisit the New Jersey record store he worked at as a teenager, finding the once-thriving bastion of music and weirdness slowly falling apart and out of touch with the times. The film chronicles his tragicomic attempt to revive the store while revisiting other documentary projects he has abandoned over the years. In the process, Wilcha captures This American Life icon Ira Glass in the midst of a creative rebirth, discovers the origin story of David Bowie’s ode to a local New Jersey cable television hero, and uncovers the unlikely connection between jazz photographer Herman Leonard and TV writer David Milch. This disparate collection of stories...
Flipside sees Wilcha revisit the New Jersey record store he worked at as a teenager, finding the once-thriving bastion of music and weirdness slowly falling apart and out of touch with the times. The film chronicles his tragicomic attempt to revive the store while revisiting other documentary projects he has abandoned over the years. In the process, Wilcha captures This American Life icon Ira Glass in the midst of a creative rebirth, discovers the origin story of David Bowie’s ode to a local New Jersey cable television hero, and uncovers the unlikely connection between jazz photographer Herman Leonard and TV writer David Milch. This disparate collection of stories...
- 1/16/2024
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
A still from ‘The Greatest Night in Pop’ by Bao Nguyen, an official selection of the Episodic Program at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. (Courtesy of Sundance Institute)
The 2024 Sundance Film Festival has added The Greatest Night in Pop, a documentary that explores the creation of the collaborative “We Are the World” song and video, to its lineup.
“We’re thrilled to be adding to our program a special screening of The Greatest Night in Pop, taking us behind the scenes of how ‘We Are the World’ came together, followed by a conversation with Lionel Richie, filmmaker Bao Nguyen, and producer Julia Nottingham,” stated Kim Yutani, Sundance Film Festival Director of Programming. “Our robust film lineup will be rounded out by a wide range of conversations touching upon themes in the programming and featuring some of today’s most inspiring creators and leaders.”
The festival also announced the 2024 Beyond Film schedule,...
The 2024 Sundance Film Festival has added The Greatest Night in Pop, a documentary that explores the creation of the collaborative “We Are the World” song and video, to its lineup.
“We’re thrilled to be adding to our program a special screening of The Greatest Night in Pop, taking us behind the scenes of how ‘We Are the World’ came together, followed by a conversation with Lionel Richie, filmmaker Bao Nguyen, and producer Julia Nottingham,” stated Kim Yutani, Sundance Film Festival Director of Programming. “Our robust film lineup will be rounded out by a wide range of conversations touching upon themes in the programming and featuring some of today’s most inspiring creators and leaders.”
The festival also announced the 2024 Beyond Film schedule,...
- 1/5/2024
- by Rebecca Murray
- Showbiz Junkies
The 2024 Sundance Film Festival has unveiled its Beyond Film programming, including discussions with leading auteurs and rising stars.
A trio of annual series — Power of Story, Cinema Café presented by Audible, and The Big Conversation — have shared their respective filmmaker lineups, with the festival also launching special 40th anniversary celebration events and a New Frontier conversation about artificial intelligence in film. The 2024 Sundance Film Festival runs January 18 to 28, with the talks taking place January 19 to 26. Select Beyond Film offerings available beginning January 25 on the digital platform.
The Beyond Film speakers series includes discussions with Steven Soderbergh, Jesse Eisenberg, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Sue Bird, Lucy Lawless, Nzingha Stewart, and Debra Granik, who also serves on the festival jury. For the 40th edition of the festival, alums like Richard Linklater, Dawn Porter, Miguel Arteta, and Christine Vachon will participate in “Power of Story: Four Decades of Taking Chances,” a talk about the importance of independent filmmaking.
A trio of annual series — Power of Story, Cinema Café presented by Audible, and The Big Conversation — have shared their respective filmmaker lineups, with the festival also launching special 40th anniversary celebration events and a New Frontier conversation about artificial intelligence in film. The 2024 Sundance Film Festival runs January 18 to 28, with the talks taking place January 19 to 26. Select Beyond Film offerings available beginning January 25 on the digital platform.
The Beyond Film speakers series includes discussions with Steven Soderbergh, Jesse Eisenberg, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Sue Bird, Lucy Lawless, Nzingha Stewart, and Debra Granik, who also serves on the festival jury. For the 40th edition of the festival, alums like Richard Linklater, Dawn Porter, Miguel Arteta, and Christine Vachon will participate in “Power of Story: Four Decades of Taking Chances,” a talk about the importance of independent filmmaking.
- 1/5/2024
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
Jacqueline Novak’s comedy special “Jacqueline Novak: Get On Your Knees” will premiere on Netflix Jan. 23, 2024. The project is directed by Natasha Lyonne (“Poker Face”), who also serves as an executive producer.
Filmed at The Town Hall Theater in New York City, the special features the final performance of Novak’s touring stand-up show “Get On Your Knees,” which premiered in 2019 and sold out multiple times. This 90-minute “concert film-meets-comedy special” revolves around the blowjob and is described as “both raunchy and poignant, an unexpectedly philosophical, coming-of-age tale of triumph that pushes the boundaries of stand-up,” according to the press release.
“Never in my lifetime could I imagine seeing such a hilarious, rigorous, and gut tingling semiotic deconstruction of the phallus in the theatre,” praised “Emily in Paris” actor Jeremy O. Harris of “Get On Your Knees.” “This felt as if Andrea Dworkin and Spaulding Gray had a child they...
Filmed at The Town Hall Theater in New York City, the special features the final performance of Novak’s touring stand-up show “Get On Your Knees,” which premiered in 2019 and sold out multiple times. This 90-minute “concert film-meets-comedy special” revolves around the blowjob and is described as “both raunchy and poignant, an unexpectedly philosophical, coming-of-age tale of triumph that pushes the boundaries of stand-up,” according to the press release.
“Never in my lifetime could I imagine seeing such a hilarious, rigorous, and gut tingling semiotic deconstruction of the phallus in the theatre,” praised “Emily in Paris” actor Jeremy O. Harris of “Get On Your Knees.” “This felt as if Andrea Dworkin and Spaulding Gray had a child they...
- 12/7/2023
- by Valerie Wu
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: FX is developing a half-hour comedy series based on the 2021 This American Life segment “I Was a Teenage Smuggler.” The series will be penned by Joanna Calo, Carlos López Estrada and the story’s reporter Kevin Sieff. They will serve also executive produce alongside Ira Glass and Alissa Shipp of This American Life.
FX had no comment.
The series will follow a group of Mexican teens who thanks to a loophole in U.S. immigration law that prevents anyone under 18 from being prosecuted, are enlisted by cartels to smuggle migrants across the border. The teens soon find themselves making unfathomable amounts of money and living the lives of their dreams but with an ever-ticking clock until they are legally considered adults.
Estrada is also attached to direct the pilot and produces via his Antigravity Academy banner.
Calo is the co-showrunner, executive producer, writer and director of FX’s The Bear,...
FX had no comment.
The series will follow a group of Mexican teens who thanks to a loophole in U.S. immigration law that prevents anyone under 18 from being prosecuted, are enlisted by cartels to smuggle migrants across the border. The teens soon find themselves making unfathomable amounts of money and living the lives of their dreams but with an ever-ticking clock until they are legally considered adults.
Estrada is also attached to direct the pilot and produces via his Antigravity Academy banner.
Calo is the co-showrunner, executive producer, writer and director of FX’s The Bear,...
- 10/25/2023
- by Justin Kroll
- Deadline Film + TV
It’s easy to measure your life in accomplishments, to look at the accumulation of honors and accolades, of personal and professional victories, and to say, “This accumulation represents empirical success.”
It’s harder to measure your life not necessarily in failures but in potentials left unfulfilled, in half-completed tasks or the stashed items left unused, and to say, “Despite or perhaps even because of this, there is still success.”
Chris Wilcha’s new documentary, Flipside, takes on the second challenge to deliver an autobiographical portrait of how a life seemingly of disappointments and failures can be a life well lived. Glimpse Flipside in the wrong moment or from the wrong angle and it can feel a little solipsistic, albeit in a way that will be relatable to many viewers. But taken in totality and with some reflection, it’s a borderline-profound and philosophical expression of satisfaction with everything that is unfinished in life.
It’s harder to measure your life not necessarily in failures but in potentials left unfulfilled, in half-completed tasks or the stashed items left unused, and to say, “Despite or perhaps even because of this, there is still success.”
Chris Wilcha’s new documentary, Flipside, takes on the second challenge to deliver an autobiographical portrait of how a life seemingly of disappointments and failures can be a life well lived. Glimpse Flipside in the wrong moment or from the wrong angle and it can feel a little solipsistic, albeit in a way that will be relatable to many viewers. But taken in totality and with some reflection, it’s a borderline-profound and philosophical expression of satisfaction with everything that is unfinished in life.
- 9/12/2023
- by Daniel Fienberg
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
There is no surprise twist in Chris Wilcha’s Flipside, a documentary making its world premiere at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival. This is not a true-crime doc or a story of unearthed family secrets. (Although there is lots of ephemera excavated after years of quasi-hoarding.) Instead of a twist, though, there is an audience awakening, one that takes a rather standard there-are-places-i-remember doc into surprisingly resonant territory. Ultimately, Flipside is a moving, funny, inventive film that may cause viewers to follow Wilcha’s lead and ask tough questions about their own lives. That is no small feat for a documentarian.
Of course, Wilcha is no novice. His first success, 1999’s The Target Shoots First, brought him rave reviews and modest fame. Wilcha shot it while working at Columbia House Records––yes, the “8 CDs for a penny” mail-order service many remember with great fondness. In Flipside, Wilcha shows the viewer his early-20s self,...
Of course, Wilcha is no novice. His first success, 1999’s The Target Shoots First, brought him rave reviews and modest fame. Wilcha shot it while working at Columbia House Records––yes, the “8 CDs for a penny” mail-order service many remember with great fondness. In Flipside, Wilcha shows the viewer his early-20s self,...
- 9/10/2023
- by Christopher Schobert
- The Film Stage
Philip Glass has compiled 20 of his original etudes in an upcoming book that’s set to arrive October 31st. Written for solo piano, Philip Glass Piano Etudes presents this music in a deluxe boxed set.
The whopping nine-pound clothbound box includes the printed sheet music — titled The Complete Folios 1-20 — as well as Studies in Time: Essays on the Music of Philip Glass, a collection of original essays by Martin Scorsese, Alice Waters, Laurie Anderson, Ira Glass, Ari Shapiro, Pico Iyer, and many more, putting Glass’ impact into perspective.
Glass began composing these etudes in the early 1990s as a method to, in his own words, “address the deficiencies in my own playing.” The twentieth etude was completed in 2012, and they’ve since become a go-to source for both beginner and experienced pianists.
Pre-orders for the beautifully-designed set are ongoing, and you can see photos of it below.
See where...
The whopping nine-pound clothbound box includes the printed sheet music — titled The Complete Folios 1-20 — as well as Studies in Time: Essays on the Music of Philip Glass, a collection of original essays by Martin Scorsese, Alice Waters, Laurie Anderson, Ira Glass, Ari Shapiro, Pico Iyer, and many more, putting Glass’ impact into perspective.
Glass began composing these etudes in the early 1990s as a method to, in his own words, “address the deficiencies in my own playing.” The twentieth etude was completed in 2012, and they’ve since become a go-to source for both beginner and experienced pianists.
Pre-orders for the beautifully-designed set are ongoing, and you can see photos of it below.
See where...
- 8/24/2023
- by Abby Jones
- Consequence - Music
Rub a little Vaseline on your teeth, fire up a hot latte, do a few mouth stretches and whisper, “It’s showtime!” That’s how the most powerful people in the podcasting business — a mix of hosts, executives and reps featured on THR‘s annual power list — ready themselves before recording their widely-heard shows. As part of this year’s survey, the group, which also includes Call Her Daddy‘s Alex Cooper, Bill Simmons, Ben Shapiro and My Favorite Murder co-hosts Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark, reveals its dream guests and guilty pleasure listens as well.
My pre-recording podcasting routine entails…
Bill Simmons, The Bill Simmons Podcast Big bottle of water, put my phone on silent, remind myself not to say anything dumb.
Karen Kilgariff, My Favorite Murder I feed the dogs, gather up all of my beverages (usually 4, 1 hot and 3 colds), rub some Vaseline on my teeth and as I log onto Zoom,...
My pre-recording podcasting routine entails…
Bill Simmons, The Bill Simmons Podcast Big bottle of water, put my phone on silent, remind myself not to say anything dumb.
Karen Kilgariff, My Favorite Murder I feed the dogs, gather up all of my beverages (usually 4, 1 hot and 3 colds), rub some Vaseline on my teeth and as I log onto Zoom,...
- 8/21/2023
- by Lacey Rose
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
This year, non-fiction titles will be front and center at the Toronto International Film Festival, as many writers and actors will not be on hand due to the ongoing WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes.
Opening night at the 2023 festival brings a documentary world premiere, Rachel Ramsay and James Erskine’s “Copa 71” (seller: Dogwoof), about an historic international women’s soccer tournament lost to sports history. The filmmakers bring us back to the record-setting crowds assembled in Mexico City in 1971. U.S. soccer star Alice Morgan and athletes Venus and Serena Williams are among the film’s executive producers.
That’s the sort of unexpected story that veteran TIFF documentary programmer Thom Powers sought for this year’s documentary program of 22 titles from 12 countries. While it’s always painful to whittle down the selection from 800 feature submissions (the post-pandemic production boom continues), Powers looked at giving a boost to sales titles...
Opening night at the 2023 festival brings a documentary world premiere, Rachel Ramsay and James Erskine’s “Copa 71” (seller: Dogwoof), about an historic international women’s soccer tournament lost to sports history. The filmmakers bring us back to the record-setting crowds assembled in Mexico City in 1971. U.S. soccer star Alice Morgan and athletes Venus and Serena Williams are among the film’s executive producers.
That’s the sort of unexpected story that veteran TIFF documentary programmer Thom Powers sought for this year’s documentary program of 22 titles from 12 countries. While it’s always painful to whittle down the selection from 800 feature submissions (the post-pandemic production boom continues), Powers looked at giving a boost to sales titles...
- 7/26/2023
- by Anne Thompson
- Indiewire
Barack Obama on Thursday expressed his support for the Writers Guild of America as their strike nears its second month. At the start of a LinkedIn livestream event promoting his new Netflix docuseries “Working: What We Do All Day,” the former president spoke of the importance of writers in the entertainment industry.
“I know there are many studios and streamers who feel a little bit embattled and there’s been a little bit too much of a glut of product and they’re looking at their bottom line and their experiencing shareholder pressure, etc, but the fact is, is that they wouldn’t be around if it weren’t for writers creating the stories that matter,” Obama said to host Ira Glass.
“My hope is that as somebody who’s really supportive of the Writer’s Guild and as someone who just believes in storytelling and the craft of it,...
“I know there are many studios and streamers who feel a little bit embattled and there’s been a little bit too much of a glut of product and they’re looking at their bottom line and their experiencing shareholder pressure, etc, but the fact is, is that they wouldn’t be around if it weren’t for writers creating the stories that matter,” Obama said to host Ira Glass.
“My hope is that as somebody who’s really supportive of the Writer’s Guild and as someone who just believes in storytelling and the craft of it,...
- 5/26/2023
- by Mason Bissada
- The Wrap
Former President Barack Obama showed his support for the Writers Guild of America (WGA) during a livestream event on Thursday to promote his new Netflix docuseries, Working: What We Do All Day.
During the live-streamed interview with Ira Glass on LinkedIn, Obama opened with prepared remarks on his support for the Writers Guild of America (WGA), whose members have been on strike for the past four weeks.
“I know there are many studios and streamers who feel a little bit embattled and there’s been a little bit too much...
During the live-streamed interview with Ira Glass on LinkedIn, Obama opened with prepared remarks on his support for the Writers Guild of America (WGA), whose members have been on strike for the past four weeks.
“I know there are many studios and streamers who feel a little bit embattled and there’s been a little bit too much...
- 5/26/2023
- by Charisma Madarang
- Rollingstone.com
The Writers Guild of America is getting even more Oval Office support.
First it was Joe Biden, and now Barack Obama has offered backing to striking scribes — again
Expanding on comments he made online back on May 17 when his Working: What We Do All Day docuseries on Netflix, the 44th Potus started off a livestream sit-down with Ira Glass by reading a prepared statement on the WGA Strike that started on May 2.
Credit: Netflix
In that thoughtful manner that exemplified his two-terms in the White House, President Obama today said:
Part of what this show Working is about is how certain things are constant about the work experience. People trying to find work that’s satisfying, people trying to pay the bills.
Unfortunately, one of the things that’s also been constant is the struggle for people to make sure their employers are treating them fairly and they’re getting...
First it was Joe Biden, and now Barack Obama has offered backing to striking scribes — again
Expanding on comments he made online back on May 17 when his Working: What We Do All Day docuseries on Netflix, the 44th Potus started off a livestream sit-down with Ira Glass by reading a prepared statement on the WGA Strike that started on May 2.
Credit: Netflix
In that thoughtful manner that exemplified his two-terms in the White House, President Obama today said:
Part of what this show Working is about is how certain things are constant about the work experience. People trying to find work that’s satisfying, people trying to pay the bills.
Unfortunately, one of the things that’s also been constant is the struggle for people to make sure their employers are treating them fairly and they’re getting...
- 5/25/2023
- by Dominic Patten
- Deadline Film + TV
Barack Obama: Studios “Wouldn’t Be Around If It Weren’t for Writers,” Says He’s “Hopeful” About Deal
Former President Barack Obama said he was “hopeful” that writers would get “a fair share of the fruits of their labor” as a result of the ongoing writers strike.
During a live-streamed interview with Ira Glass in Washington, D.C., to promote his Netflix docuseries, Working, Obama opened up the conversation by sharing his support for the writers on strike.
“I know there are many studios and streamers who feel a little bit embattled and there’s been a little bit too much of a glut of product and they’re looking at their bottom line and their experiencing shareholder pressure,” Obama said, “but the fact is, is that they wouldn’t be around if it weren’t for writers creating the stories that matter. My hope is that as somebody who’s really supportive of the Writers Guild and as someone who just believes in storytelling and the craft of it,...
During a live-streamed interview with Ira Glass in Washington, D.C., to promote his Netflix docuseries, Working, Obama opened up the conversation by sharing his support for the writers on strike.
“I know there are many studios and streamers who feel a little bit embattled and there’s been a little bit too much of a glut of product and they’re looking at their bottom line and their experiencing shareholder pressure,” Obama said, “but the fact is, is that they wouldn’t be around if it weren’t for writers creating the stories that matter. My hope is that as somebody who’s really supportive of the Writers Guild and as someone who just believes in storytelling and the craft of it,...
- 5/25/2023
- by J. Clara Chan
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Former President Barack Obama opened Netflix’s livestream event for his new docuseries, “Working: What We Do All Day,” on Thursday with a more aggressive statement of support for the Writers Guild of America (WGA) than what he initially said in solidarity with the ongoing writers strike.
Before the panel, which aired on LinkedIn at 5 p.m. Et/2 p.m. Pt, got underway, moderator Ira Glass revealed Obama had prepared remarks he wanted to deliver about the WGA’s work stoppage, which is currently in its fourth week.
“Part of what this show ‘Working’ is about is how certain things are constant about the work experience. People trying to find work that’s satisfying, people trying to pay the bills,” Obama said. “Unfortunately one of the things that’s also been constant is the struggle for people to make sure their employers are treating them fairly and they’re getting...
Before the panel, which aired on LinkedIn at 5 p.m. Et/2 p.m. Pt, got underway, moderator Ira Glass revealed Obama had prepared remarks he wanted to deliver about the WGA’s work stoppage, which is currently in its fourth week.
“Part of what this show ‘Working’ is about is how certain things are constant about the work experience. People trying to find work that’s satisfying, people trying to pay the bills,” Obama said. “Unfortunately one of the things that’s also been constant is the struggle for people to make sure their employers are treating them fairly and they’re getting...
- 5/25/2023
- by Jennifer Maas
- Variety Film + TV
Former President Barack Obama will be participating in a live conversation Thursday to promote his latest documentary series, Working: What We Do All Day.
Obama will be joined by director Caroline Suh and documentary subjects Randi Williams, Luke Starcher, and Karthik Lakshmanan for a conversation moderated by Ira Glass.
The discussion will cover the inspiration behind the series, Obama’s passion for these topics, what makes a “good job” good, how everyday people are finding joy and purpose in their work, the challenges of today’s work landscape and how the future of work is ever-changing.
The conversation will stream live on LinkedIn at 2pm Pt / 5pm Et. To attend, click here.
Working: What We Do All Day launched on Netflix on May 17. Narrated by President Barack Obama, who makes appearances alongside everyday people in their homes and places of work, the series follows individuals at all levels of the...
Obama will be joined by director Caroline Suh and documentary subjects Randi Williams, Luke Starcher, and Karthik Lakshmanan for a conversation moderated by Ira Glass.
The discussion will cover the inspiration behind the series, Obama’s passion for these topics, what makes a “good job” good, how everyday people are finding joy and purpose in their work, the challenges of today’s work landscape and how the future of work is ever-changing.
The conversation will stream live on LinkedIn at 2pm Pt / 5pm Et. To attend, click here.
Working: What We Do All Day launched on Netflix on May 17. Narrated by President Barack Obama, who makes appearances alongside everyday people in their homes and places of work, the series follows individuals at all levels of the...
- 5/24/2023
- by Katie Campione
- Deadline Film + TV
Today, global IP incubator and storytelling studio Vespucci announces the launch of a new podcast commissioning fund which will produce ten original podcast series over the next two years.
Since the company was founded, Vespucci has created a slate of chart-topping, critically acclaimed podcasts and documentaries for Showtime, Audible, Spotify, Wondery, CBC, Imperative Entertainment, Blumhouse, Sony, and Podimo amongst others. Recent highlights include documentary feature 2nd Chance (Variety: “The best Errol Morris movie that Errol Morris never made”), and podcasts Operation Morning Light, The Paddlefish Caviar Heist, Bad Money (Mashable’s Best Podcasts Of 2022), The Cost Of Happiness, Bonaparte (New York Magazine: “Evocative storytelling throughout”) and Radioman starring Nikolaj Coster-Waldau.
Harnessing the company’s storytelling expertise, Vespucci’s new commissioning fund will finance a slate of original podcasts which are character-driven, cinematically rich and ripe for audio-visual adaptation. Leveraging Vespucci’s global network of journalists, these stories will be specifically...
Since the company was founded, Vespucci has created a slate of chart-topping, critically acclaimed podcasts and documentaries for Showtime, Audible, Spotify, Wondery, CBC, Imperative Entertainment, Blumhouse, Sony, and Podimo amongst others. Recent highlights include documentary feature 2nd Chance (Variety: “The best Errol Morris movie that Errol Morris never made”), and podcasts Operation Morning Light, The Paddlefish Caviar Heist, Bad Money (Mashable’s Best Podcasts Of 2022), The Cost Of Happiness, Bonaparte (New York Magazine: “Evocative storytelling throughout”) and Radioman starring Nikolaj Coster-Waldau.
Harnessing the company’s storytelling expertise, Vespucci’s new commissioning fund will finance a slate of original podcasts which are character-driven, cinematically rich and ripe for audio-visual adaptation. Leveraging Vespucci’s global network of journalists, these stories will be specifically...
- 4/26/2023
- Podnews.net
The Sundance Institute on Friday announced the lineup for the 2023 Sundance Film Festival Beyond Film conversations, all of which are open to the public.
Made up of three series called Power of Story, Cinema Café, and The Big Conversation, Beyond Film rounds out the Festival experience, providing a place for the community to engage through artist conversations, filmmaker panels, and audience discourse. Beyond Film will take place in-person from January 19–23, 2023, with the Beyond Film offerings becoming available to audiences across the country on the online Festival Platform starting January 24, 2023. The Festival also shared details about additional free conversations and events from Sundance Collab and our Festival partners available in person and online.
Beyond Film speakers will include talent from Festival films, such as Barry Jenkins, Dakota Johnson, Jonathan Majors (“Magazine Dreams”), Randall Park (“Shortcomings”), Ruth Reichl (“Food and Country”), and Adrian Tomine (“Shortcomings”), as well as compelling speakers including Dr.
Made up of three series called Power of Story, Cinema Café, and The Big Conversation, Beyond Film rounds out the Festival experience, providing a place for the community to engage through artist conversations, filmmaker panels, and audience discourse. Beyond Film will take place in-person from January 19–23, 2023, with the Beyond Film offerings becoming available to audiences across the country on the online Festival Platform starting January 24, 2023. The Festival also shared details about additional free conversations and events from Sundance Collab and our Festival partners available in person and online.
Beyond Film speakers will include talent from Festival films, such as Barry Jenkins, Dakota Johnson, Jonathan Majors (“Magazine Dreams”), Randall Park (“Shortcomings”), Ruth Reichl (“Food and Country”), and Adrian Tomine (“Shortcomings”), as well as compelling speakers including Dr.
- 1/6/2023
- by Adam Chitwood
- The Wrap
The Sundance Institute has announced the lineup for the 2023 Sundance Film Festival Beyond Film conversations, all of which are open to the public. Made up of three series called Power of Story, Cinema Café, and The Big Conversation, Beyond Film rounds out the festival experience, providing a place for the community to engage through artist conversations, filmmaker panels, and audience discourse. Beyond Film will take place in-person from January 19–23, with the Beyond Film offerings becoming available to audiences across the country on the online festival platform starting January 24.
Beyond Film speakers will include talent from festival films, such as Barry Jenkins, Dakota Johnson, Jonathan Majors (“Magazine Dreams”), Randall Park (“Shortcomings”), Ruth Reichl (“Food and Country”), and Adrian Tomine (“Shortcomings”), as well as compelling speakers including Dr. Orna Guralnik, Marlee Matlin, and Lisa Taddeo.
More details about the lineup are below, with language courtesy of the festival.
Power Of Story
Power of Story: On Intimacy
Sunday,...
Beyond Film speakers will include talent from festival films, such as Barry Jenkins, Dakota Johnson, Jonathan Majors (“Magazine Dreams”), Randall Park (“Shortcomings”), Ruth Reichl (“Food and Country”), and Adrian Tomine (“Shortcomings”), as well as compelling speakers including Dr. Orna Guralnik, Marlee Matlin, and Lisa Taddeo.
More details about the lineup are below, with language courtesy of the festival.
Power Of Story
Power of Story: On Intimacy
Sunday,...
- 1/6/2023
- by Ryan Lattanzio
- Indiewire
The Sundance Institute has unveiled its lineups of Beyond Film and Partner Programming for the hybrid 2023 Sundance Film Festival, the in-person component of which is taking place in Utah from January 19-29.
The Beyond Film program consists of chats with notable creatives across three separate series: Power of Story, Cinema Café, and The Big Conversation. Some of the artists taking part this year include Barry Jenkins, Dakota Johnson, Jonathan Majors, Randall Park, Marlee Matlin and W. Kamau Bell — most of whom have films premiering at Sundance 2023. The program will take place in-person from January 19–23, with Beyond Film offerings to become available via the online Festival Platform starting on the 24th.
Oscar-nominated filmmaker Ryan Coogler (Black Panther: Wakanda Forever) and Oscar-winning Summer of Soul helmer Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson are just a couple of the A-listers set for panels to be put on by Festival partners between the 19th and the 24th...
The Beyond Film program consists of chats with notable creatives across three separate series: Power of Story, Cinema Café, and The Big Conversation. Some of the artists taking part this year include Barry Jenkins, Dakota Johnson, Jonathan Majors, Randall Park, Marlee Matlin and W. Kamau Bell — most of whom have films premiering at Sundance 2023. The program will take place in-person from January 19–23, with Beyond Film offerings to become available via the online Festival Platform starting on the 24th.
Oscar-nominated filmmaker Ryan Coogler (Black Panther: Wakanda Forever) and Oscar-winning Summer of Soul helmer Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson are just a couple of the A-listers set for panels to be put on by Festival partners between the 19th and the 24th...
- 1/6/2023
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
After his turn as menacing Manson cultist Tex Watson in Quentin Tarantino’s “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” Austin Butler was rising fast with Hollywood casting directors. The Broadway community took note of his performance opposite Denzel Washington in the 2018 “The Iceman Cometh.”
But no one was prepared for his star power that broke out of Baz Luhrmann’s musical biopic “Elvis” (Warner Bros.). Before the movie opened last June, Luhrmann and others were nervous about the younger-audience interest in the King of Rock ‘n Roll, who died in 1977. As it turned out, young moviegoers helped boost the movie to over 286 million worldwide — thanks to Butler.
The California-born actor’s “Elvis” origin myth is well-established: the obsessive prep before Butler landed the role over Harry Styles and Miles Teller, sending a video of himself crying over the loss of his mother as he sang “Unchained Melody,” learning how to croon as Young Elvis,...
But no one was prepared for his star power that broke out of Baz Luhrmann’s musical biopic “Elvis” (Warner Bros.). Before the movie opened last June, Luhrmann and others were nervous about the younger-audience interest in the King of Rock ‘n Roll, who died in 1977. As it turned out, young moviegoers helped boost the movie to over 286 million worldwide — thanks to Butler.
The California-born actor’s “Elvis” origin myth is well-established: the obsessive prep before Butler landed the role over Harry Styles and Miles Teller, sending a video of himself crying over the loss of his mother as he sang “Unchained Melody,” learning how to croon as Young Elvis,...
- 12/13/2022
- by Anne Thompson
- Indiewire
Emily Ratajkowski is getting into the podcasting game.
On Wednesday, the model and actress announced she is launching her new show, “High Low with EmRata”, on Nov. 1, with two new episodes dropping per week, plus bonus episodes for paid subscribers.
Read More: Emily Ratajkowski Is ‘Pretty Smitten’ With Brad Pitt: ‘There Is An Attraction’ (Report)
“I grew up listening to NPR and radio because we didn’t have television… Ira Glass was my hero,” Ratajkowski told Variety. “To be able to dive into topics that I’m interested in, in this format is so exciting.”
In an interview with the trade, Ratajkowski also opened up about a variety of topics, though she sidestepped a question about rumours that she and Brad Pitt are dating.
“I have a generally complicated relationship to the internet as a celebrity,” she responded. “One of the things I write about in the last essay...
On Wednesday, the model and actress announced she is launching her new show, “High Low with EmRata”, on Nov. 1, with two new episodes dropping per week, plus bonus episodes for paid subscribers.
Read More: Emily Ratajkowski Is ‘Pretty Smitten’ With Brad Pitt: ‘There Is An Attraction’ (Report)
“I grew up listening to NPR and radio because we didn’t have television… Ira Glass was my hero,” Ratajkowski told Variety. “To be able to dive into topics that I’m interested in, in this format is so exciting.”
In an interview with the trade, Ratajkowski also opened up about a variety of topics, though she sidestepped a question about rumours that she and Brad Pitt are dating.
“I have a generally complicated relationship to the internet as a celebrity,” she responded. “One of the things I write about in the last essay...
- 10/13/2022
- by Corey Atad
- ET Canada
Big Mouth is almost back for more pubescent hijinks in the show’s upcoming sixth season on Netflix, and ahead of the October 28 premiere, the streamer has unveiled a new trailer and announced an all-star cast of guest voices. Inspired by Nick Kroll and Andrew Goldberg’s childhood, Big Mouth follows a group of friends and their hormone monsters as they navigate the ups and downs of adolescence, sexuality, and coming of age. As teased in the trailer, above, Season 6 focuses on the theme of family as the beloved characters continue their journeys. (Credit: Courtesy Of Netflix) Along the way, they’ll learn that while you can’t always pick your family, you can surround yourself with the people who love you for who you are. Among the notable Season 6 guest voices are Adam Levine, Annaleigh Ashford, Amber Ruffin, Brian Tyree Henry, Chris O’Dowd (as Human Resources‘ Flanny O’Lympic), Cole Escola,...
- 10/3/2022
- TV Insider
Mike Birbiglia: The Old Man & the Pool is heading to Broadway, the comic monologist announced today during a taping of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
The new solo show will begin a 70-performance limited engagement on Friday, Oct. 28, at the Vivian Beaumont Theater at Lincoln Center. Opening night will be Sunday, Nov. 13, and the show will run through Friday, December 30.
Written and performed by Birbiglia, the play is directed by Seth Barrish, who directed Birbiglia’s 2018 Broadway show The New One, which was lated adapted for Netflix. The Old Man & the Pool will also include contributions by story consultant Ira Glass (This American Life).
The new show is described as “a coming-of-middle-age story about when life takes a dive – into a highly-chlorinated Ymca pool.”
“In my 22 years of performing comedy, and five solo shows, The Old Man & the Pool has given me the most rewarding experience I’ve ever felt with audiences,...
The new solo show will begin a 70-performance limited engagement on Friday, Oct. 28, at the Vivian Beaumont Theater at Lincoln Center. Opening night will be Sunday, Nov. 13, and the show will run through Friday, December 30.
Written and performed by Birbiglia, the play is directed by Seth Barrish, who directed Birbiglia’s 2018 Broadway show The New One, which was lated adapted for Netflix. The Old Man & the Pool will also include contributions by story consultant Ira Glass (This American Life).
The new show is described as “a coming-of-middle-age story about when life takes a dive – into a highly-chlorinated Ymca pool.”
“In my 22 years of performing comedy, and five solo shows, The Old Man & the Pool has given me the most rewarding experience I’ve ever felt with audiences,...
- 9/21/2022
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
At the risk of damning an impressively strong debut with faint praise, B.J. Novak’s “Vengeance” is perhaps the best possible movie someone could make out of a murder-mystery that starts with John Mayer standing on the rooftop bar of a Soho House, but doesn’t end with the musician dead in a ditch somewhere.
In fact, Mayer never shows up again. He sticks around just long enough for you to assume the worst about what’s to come — oh yay, the other, other guy from “The Office” remade “Swingers” for the Tinder set, and cast someone who once referred to his dick as a white supremacist in the Vince Vaughn role — and then recedes into the background of a wickedly sharp film that satirizes our rush to judgment in a society where unprecedented chaos has forced people to rely on the stabilizing confidence of their own convictions.
Whatever you think of Novak,...
In fact, Mayer never shows up again. He sticks around just long enough for you to assume the worst about what’s to come — oh yay, the other, other guy from “The Office” remade “Swingers” for the Tinder set, and cast someone who once referred to his dick as a white supremacist in the Vince Vaughn role — and then recedes into the background of a wickedly sharp film that satirizes our rush to judgment in a society where unprecedented chaos has forced people to rely on the stabilizing confidence of their own convictions.
Whatever you think of Novak,...
- 6/14/2022
- by David Ehrlich
- Indiewire
Exclusive: A day before the 20th anniversary of the opening of the Guantanamo Bay Detention Center, Cinema Libre Studio announced the acquisition of a documentary about one of the most famous men to be held at the U.S.-operated prison.
Guantanamo Diary Revisited recounts the experience of Mohamedou Ould Slahi, a citizen of Mauritania, who was imprisoned at the Guantánamo Bay facility from 2002 to 2016, accused by American authorities of aiding al Qaeda. He was never charged with a crime. Slahi told his story in Guantanamo Diary, a memoir that was adapted into the 2021 film The Mauritanian, starring Jodie Foster, Benedict Cumberbatch and Shailene Woodley.
Cinema Libre Studio intends to release Guantanamo Diary Revisited, directed by journalist John Goetz, in North America on March 29. But on Tuesday the studio will present a virtual sneak preview of the documentary two decades to the day after the Bush administration opened the Gitmo...
Guantanamo Diary Revisited recounts the experience of Mohamedou Ould Slahi, a citizen of Mauritania, who was imprisoned at the Guantánamo Bay facility from 2002 to 2016, accused by American authorities of aiding al Qaeda. He was never charged with a crime. Slahi told his story in Guantanamo Diary, a memoir that was adapted into the 2021 film The Mauritanian, starring Jodie Foster, Benedict Cumberbatch and Shailene Woodley.
Cinema Libre Studio intends to release Guantanamo Diary Revisited, directed by journalist John Goetz, in North America on March 29. But on Tuesday the studio will present a virtual sneak preview of the documentary two decades to the day after the Bush administration opened the Gitmo...
- 1/10/2022
- by Matthew Carey
- Deadline Film + TV
‘C’mon C’mon’ Review: Joaquin Phoenix Goes Back to Normal in Mike Mills’ Sweet and Shaggy Mood Piece
Mike Mills makes sweet and ineffably gracious movies about how people don’t know what the future holds or how the fuck they’re supposed to get there, and “C’mon C’mon” is definitely one of them. A shaggy black-and-white mood piece about an unmarried radio journalist (Joaquin Phoenix) who unexpectedly finds himself on a cross-country assignment with his nine-year-old nephew (Woody Norman) in tow, Mills’ latest film might bop around from Los Angeles to New York and New Orleans, but it never strays far from an ethos best expressed by Greta Gerwig’s character in “20th Century Women”: “Whatever you imagine your life is going to be like, know your life is not going to be anything like that.”
The only fundamental difference here is just a matter of who’s doing the imagining. After making films about each of his late parents — “Beginners” and “20th Century Women,...
The only fundamental difference here is just a matter of who’s doing the imagining. After making films about each of his late parents — “Beginners” and “20th Century Women,...
- 9/3/2021
- by David Ehrlich
- Indiewire
Paramount Plus released a trailer for the fifth season of “The Good Fight,” which will premiere on June 24.
In the fifth season, Diane (Christine Baranski) is forced to question whether it’s appropriate for her to help run an African American law firm with Liz (Audra McDonald) after the firm loses two top lawyers. Meanwhile, Marissa (Sarah Steele) and the firm become entangled with Hal Wackner (Mandy Patinkin), a regular Chicagoan who decides to open his own courtroom in the back of a copy shop.
The cast also includes Michael Boatman, Nyambi Nyambi, Zach Grenier and Charmaine Bingwa.
Showrunners Robert and Michelle King co-created the series with Phil Alden Robinson. Ridley Scott, David W. Zucker, Brooke Kennedy, Liz Glotzer, William Finkelstein, Jonathan Tolins and Jacquelyn Reingold also serve as executive producers.
Also in today’s TV news roundup:
Dates
Apple TV Plus announced that the documentary special “Who Are You,...
In the fifth season, Diane (Christine Baranski) is forced to question whether it’s appropriate for her to help run an African American law firm with Liz (Audra McDonald) after the firm loses two top lawyers. Meanwhile, Marissa (Sarah Steele) and the firm become entangled with Hal Wackner (Mandy Patinkin), a regular Chicagoan who decides to open his own courtroom in the back of a copy shop.
The cast also includes Michael Boatman, Nyambi Nyambi, Zach Grenier and Charmaine Bingwa.
Showrunners Robert and Michelle King co-created the series with Phil Alden Robinson. Ridley Scott, David W. Zucker, Brooke Kennedy, Liz Glotzer, William Finkelstein, Jonathan Tolins and Jacquelyn Reingold also serve as executive producers.
Also in today’s TV news roundup:
Dates
Apple TV Plus announced that the documentary special “Who Are You,...
- 6/4/2021
- by Antonio Ferme
- Variety Film + TV
The team behind the widely-popular Serial podcast will take on election fraud with the limited audio series The Improvement Association.
Launching Tuesday, April 13, The Improvement Association is a five-part series that features host, reporter and This American Life producer Zoe Chace as she travels to Bladen County, North Carolina to investigate the power of election fraud allegations. In 2019, Bladen County, North Carolina, made national headlines, becoming one of the few cases in modern history where a congressional race was voided due to fraud. The results of the election were thrown out because of evidence the winner’s campaign had tampered with absentee ballots.
But according to some Bladen County locals, the authorities got it all wrong. For at least a decade, people in this rural county have been pointing the finger at Horace Munn, the leader of a powerful Black advocacy group called the Bladen County Improvement Association Pac, accusing...
Launching Tuesday, April 13, The Improvement Association is a five-part series that features host, reporter and This American Life producer Zoe Chace as she travels to Bladen County, North Carolina to investigate the power of election fraud allegations. In 2019, Bladen County, North Carolina, made national headlines, becoming one of the few cases in modern history where a congressional race was voided due to fraud. The results of the election were thrown out because of evidence the winner’s campaign had tampered with absentee ballots.
But according to some Bladen County locals, the authorities got it all wrong. For at least a decade, people in this rural county have been pointing the finger at Horace Munn, the leader of a powerful Black advocacy group called the Bladen County Improvement Association Pac, accusing...
- 3/30/2021
- by Alexandra Del Rosario
- Deadline Film + TV
It looks like "The Guy" needs a new line of work. TV Line has confirmed that there won't be a fifth season of the High Maintenance TV show, at least for now.
The comedy series stars co-creator Ben Sinclair as a nameless Brooklyn cannabis deliveryman, known only as “The Guy.” Each episode features customers of “The Guy” and viewers get a different glimpse of Big Apple living. Guest stars have included Ira Glass, Nick Kroll, Rebecca Hall, Larry Owens, and Calvin Leon Smith. Sinclair created the show with Katja Blichfeld which began as a web-series in 2012.
Read More…...
The comedy series stars co-creator Ben Sinclair as a nameless Brooklyn cannabis deliveryman, known only as “The Guy.” Each episode features customers of “The Guy” and viewers get a different glimpse of Big Apple living. Guest stars have included Ira Glass, Nick Kroll, Rebecca Hall, Larry Owens, and Calvin Leon Smith. Sinclair created the show with Katja Blichfeld which began as a web-series in 2012.
Read More…...
- 1/15/2021
- by TVSeriesFinale.com
- TVSeriesFinale.com
Issa Rae and Adam McKay are teaming up to adapt the Serial Productions podcast “Nice White Parents” into a half-hour series at HBO, Variety has learned.
The project has received a pilot commitment at the premium cabler. The show is described as a satirical look at the conflict and comedy that arise when highly resourced white parents, who claim to have the best intentions, wield their influence over generations of black and brown students within the NY public school system.
The search is currently on for a showrunner for the project. Rae and Montrel McKay will executive produce via the new production company, HooRae. Adam McKay and Todd Schulman will executive produce via Hyperobject Industries, which is currently under a first-look deal with HBO. Chana Joffe-Walt, Julie Snyder, Alissa Shipp, and Sarah Koenig of Serial Productions will also executive produce along with Dave Becky and Jonathan Berry of 3 Arts Entertainment.
The project has received a pilot commitment at the premium cabler. The show is described as a satirical look at the conflict and comedy that arise when highly resourced white parents, who claim to have the best intentions, wield their influence over generations of black and brown students within the NY public school system.
The search is currently on for a showrunner for the project. Rae and Montrel McKay will executive produce via the new production company, HooRae. Adam McKay and Todd Schulman will executive produce via Hyperobject Industries, which is currently under a first-look deal with HBO. Chana Joffe-Walt, Julie Snyder, Alissa Shipp, and Sarah Koenig of Serial Productions will also executive produce along with Dave Becky and Jonathan Berry of 3 Arts Entertainment.
- 12/4/2020
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety Film + TV
The New York Times has acquired Serial Productions, the company behind the hit podcast Serial.
As part of the deal, the media company will enter into a creative and strategic alliance with longtime radio show This American Life, which developed the original Serial pod, about the murder conviction of Adnan Syed. The first season was downloaded on average 20 million times per episode and was at the forefront of the podcast boom.
Serial Productions is led by Julie Snyder, Sarah Koenig and Neil Drumming. At its new home with the Nyt it will continue to commission and edit its own stories, which will be amplified by the paper, and the goal is to inject more resource and up the producer’s volume. The first joint production will be Nice White Parents, which will see Chana Joffe-Walt examine the role white families play in shaping public education.
This American Life will remain...
As part of the deal, the media company will enter into a creative and strategic alliance with longtime radio show This American Life, which developed the original Serial pod, about the murder conviction of Adnan Syed. The first season was downloaded on average 20 million times per episode and was at the forefront of the podcast boom.
Serial Productions is led by Julie Snyder, Sarah Koenig and Neil Drumming. At its new home with the Nyt it will continue to commission and edit its own stories, which will be amplified by the paper, and the goal is to inject more resource and up the producer’s volume. The first joint production will be Nice White Parents, which will see Chana Joffe-Walt examine the role white families play in shaping public education.
This American Life will remain...
- 7/23/2020
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
It’s the newly shortened handle that gets you, right? “Scooby-Dooby? Pfft. That’s a child’s name. I’d like to be taken seriously now, thank you, so I prefer ‘Scoob.’ (‘Mr. Doo’ is my father’s name.)” Does the shortened title hint at a sort of darker, revisionist redo for the Mystery Inc. bunch? Will we discover that those snacks, the one everyone’s sixth-favorite cartoon dog (seventh if we agree that Goofy hails from the genus Canis) keeps munching on, has opioid-level addictive properties? And that his...
- 5/15/2020
- by David Fear
- Rollingstone.com
For over half a century, Scooby Doo and his friends have been a staple of cartoons, as well as, for a time, in live action adventures on the big screen. Now, the talking dog and pals are back in Scoob!, which is part origin story, part adventure tale (no pun intended). How does the animated canine function in CGI? Well, pretty good, actually. This is a fun, sometimes strange, and even emotionally satisfying movie. What could have been stale and recycled never comes off as such. The film just offers up some good family friendly fun. Especially these days, and at this specific moment, what more can you ask for? The film is a new Scooby Doo adventure, while also functioning as an origin story for the Mystery Inc. group that children of all ages have adored. As a boy, Norville “Shaggy” Rogers (voice of Will Forte) is a lonely kid,...
- 5/15/2020
- by Joey Magidson
- Hollywoodnews.com
"I do think that comedy has the power to do more than just make people laugh." Gravitas has debuted an official trailer for an indie documentary titled It Started As a Joke, a look at the decade-long run of the Eugene Mirman Comedy Festival in Brooklyn, the alternative comedy scene in New York, and Eugene's personal life. This first premiered at the SXSW Film Festival last year, and is arriving on VOD in April for those curious to watch. It Started As a Joke was originally conceived as a concert film (showcasing moments from his fest) before it became something else, more of a profile of Mirman and his entire life. He was born in Moscow, Russia; then his parents moved to America when he was only four. And most tragically, his wife Katie recently passed away from cancer. The film has interviews with Michael Ian Black, Kristen Schaal, Wyatt Cenac,...
- 3/23/2020
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Exclusive: Marielle Heller and Big Beach, the respective director and producers of last year’s Mister Rogers pic A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, are reteaming for a limited series about a serial sexual harasser and his female employees.
Heller will direct Five Women, which is based on an episode of the National Public Radio show and podcast This American Life. She also serves as showrunner and executive producer through her new shingle Defiant by Nature, which is under a first-look deal with Big Beach that calls for her to develop new series and specials, some of which she will direct.
Reported and produced by Chana Joffe-Walt, Five Women follows the lives of several women who have little in common except for their boss, who sexually harasses them. Before those troubling encounters, though, how did their personal histories affect the way they dealt with his harassment? Who they were before...
Heller will direct Five Women, which is based on an episode of the National Public Radio show and podcast This American Life. She also serves as showrunner and executive producer through her new shingle Defiant by Nature, which is under a first-look deal with Big Beach that calls for her to develop new series and specials, some of which she will direct.
Reported and produced by Chana Joffe-Walt, Five Women follows the lives of several women who have little in common except for their boss, who sexually harasses them. Before those troubling encounters, though, how did their personal histories affect the way they dealt with his harassment? Who they were before...
- 2/20/2020
- by Erik Pedersen
- Deadline Film + TV
After a season in primetime on Sunday nights, HBO has returned High Maintenance to late nights on Friday nights where the ratings are likely to be lower. Should that be legal? Will High Maintenance be cancelled or renewed for season five? Stay tuned.
An HBO comedy TV series from married creators Katja Blichfeld and Ben Sinclair, High Maintenance stars Sinclair as a nameless Brooklyn cannabis deliveryman, known only as “The Guy.” Each episode features customers of “The Guy” and viewers get a different glimpse of Big Apple living. New and returning guest stars in the fourth season include Crystal Monee Hall, Heléne Yorke, Ken Leung, Julianna Luna Vasquez, Avery Monsen, Rob Morgan, Max Jenkins, Chris Roberti, Becca Blackwell, Chris McKinney, Birgit Huppuch, Ira Glass, Nick Kroll, Rebecca Hall, Larry Owens, and Calvin Leon Smith.
Read More…...
An HBO comedy TV series from married creators Katja Blichfeld and Ben Sinclair, High Maintenance stars Sinclair as a nameless Brooklyn cannabis deliveryman, known only as “The Guy.” Each episode features customers of “The Guy” and viewers get a different glimpse of Big Apple living. New and returning guest stars in the fourth season include Crystal Monee Hall, Heléne Yorke, Ken Leung, Julianna Luna Vasquez, Avery Monsen, Rob Morgan, Max Jenkins, Chris Roberti, Becca Blackwell, Chris McKinney, Birgit Huppuch, Ira Glass, Nick Kroll, Rebecca Hall, Larry Owens, and Calvin Leon Smith.
Read More…...
- 2/11/2020
- by TVSeriesFinale.com
- TVSeriesFinale.com
Back in HBO’s heyday, “Sex and the City” defined a particular highly-branded image of New York City: Cocktail bars with velvet ropes serving Cosmopolitans to sexually-liberated thirtysomething women. New York was Carrie Bradshaw’s true first love, and it was the fifth member of the gang, as much a part of the show as Mr. Big or Manolo Blahniks. While acknowledging all of its humor and heart, the world of “Sex and the City” was moneyed, white, and apolitical. More than 20 years later, HBO is airing a very different little show, one that is just as in love with the unique texture of New York City while reflecting the breadth of characters that make it so beautiful.
In its fourth season, “High Maintenance” is still riding high. While certain vignettes will always resonate more than others, early episodes of Season 4 prove that creators Ben Sinclair and Katja Blichfeld still...
In its fourth season, “High Maintenance” is still riding high. While certain vignettes will always resonate more than others, early episodes of Season 4 prove that creators Ben Sinclair and Katja Blichfeld still...
- 2/8/2020
- by Jude Dry
- Indiewire
In this IndieWire exclusive, HBO has released the Season 4 trailer for its cannabis-based comedy-drama series “High Maintenance.” As the trailer promises, “The Guy is back to keep spirits high.”
The trailer (which you can watch below) also promises that this season will get you into a particular groove, if the 1981 Dave Raynor jam “Leave Me Alone Tonight” that plays throughout as Ben Sinclair’s The Guy travels all around New York City to deliver colorful characters their weed. And he does so with a bike —having said farewell to the Rv from Season 3 — and a canine companion riding sidecar.
Also set to get you into the groove of this season is Ira Glass, who — alongside his team at NPR’s “This American Life” — guest stars as himself. In addition to Glass, this season of “High Maintenance” will see new guest stars in the form of Nick Kroll, Rebecca Hall, Larry Owens,...
The trailer (which you can watch below) also promises that this season will get you into a particular groove, if the 1981 Dave Raynor jam “Leave Me Alone Tonight” that plays throughout as Ben Sinclair’s The Guy travels all around New York City to deliver colorful characters their weed. And he does so with a bike —having said farewell to the Rv from Season 3 — and a canine companion riding sidecar.
Also set to get you into the groove of this season is Ira Glass, who — alongside his team at NPR’s “This American Life” — guest stars as himself. In addition to Glass, this season of “High Maintenance” will see new guest stars in the form of Nick Kroll, Rebecca Hall, Larry Owens,...
- 1/16/2020
- by LaToya Ferguson
- Indiewire
Humanistic, life-affirming stories don’t sound like a Hollywood business plan, but for the last 15 years it’s worked for financier Big Beach. On paper, partners Marc Turtletaub and Peter Saraf produce titles that may not seem overtly commercial — but they have a knack for finding concepts that connect with audiences.
For 2019, they backed Lulu Wang’s 2019 Mandarin-language drama “The Farewell,” which is nominated for a Best Foreign Language Film Golden Globe as well as Best Actress Musical or Comedy for frontrunner Awkwafina, as well as Marielle Heller’s “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood,” which has Tom Hanks vying for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of Fred Rogers.
“We have very specific taste,” said Turtletaub. “People want to see stories that touch their heart. That’s hard to define.”
These have ranged from “Little Miss Sunshine” (2006) and “Safety Not Guaranteed” (2012) to “The Purists,” a 2019 play that Billy Porter directed in Boston,...
For 2019, they backed Lulu Wang’s 2019 Mandarin-language drama “The Farewell,” which is nominated for a Best Foreign Language Film Golden Globe as well as Best Actress Musical or Comedy for frontrunner Awkwafina, as well as Marielle Heller’s “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood,” which has Tom Hanks vying for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of Fred Rogers.
“We have very specific taste,” said Turtletaub. “People want to see stories that touch their heart. That’s hard to define.”
These have ranged from “Little Miss Sunshine” (2006) and “Safety Not Guaranteed” (2012) to “The Purists,” a 2019 play that Billy Porter directed in Boston,...
- 1/2/2020
- by Anne Thompson
- Thompson on Hollywood
Humanistic, life-affirming stories don’t sound like a Hollywood business plan, but for the last 15 years it’s worked for financier Big Beach. On paper, partners Marc Turtletaub and Peter Saraf produce titles that may not seem overtly commercial — but they have a knack for finding concepts that connect with audiences.
For 2019, they backed Lulu Wang’s 2019 Mandarin-language drama “The Farewell,” which is nominated for a Best Foreign Language Film Golden Globe as well as Best Actress Musical or Comedy for frontrunner Awkwafina, as well as Marielle Heller’s “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood,” which has Tom Hanks vying for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of Fred Rogers.
“We have very specific taste,” said Turtletaub. “People want to see stories that touch their heart. That’s hard to define.”
These have ranged from “Little Miss Sunshine” (2006) and “Safety Not Guaranteed” (2012) to “The Purists,” a 2019 play that Billy Porter directed in Boston,...
For 2019, they backed Lulu Wang’s 2019 Mandarin-language drama “The Farewell,” which is nominated for a Best Foreign Language Film Golden Globe as well as Best Actress Musical or Comedy for frontrunner Awkwafina, as well as Marielle Heller’s “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood,” which has Tom Hanks vying for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of Fred Rogers.
“We have very specific taste,” said Turtletaub. “People want to see stories that touch their heart. That’s hard to define.”
These have ranged from “Little Miss Sunshine” (2006) and “Safety Not Guaranteed” (2012) to “The Purists,” a 2019 play that Billy Porter directed in Boston,...
- 1/2/2020
- by Anne Thompson
- Indiewire
In today’s TV news roundup, Netflix released the launch date and teaser for “Leslie Jones: Time Machine” and HBO announced the premiere date for “The Plot Against America.”
Dates
“High Maintenance” will return to HBO for Season 4 on Feb. 7. Created by Katja Blichfeld and Ben Sinclair, the show’s fourth season follows The Guy (Sinclair) back traversing the city on his bicycle, having said goodbye to last season’s Rv. With a new friend by his side, The Guy drops in on a variety of customers whose disparate lives, jobs, identities and circumstances reveal the human connection that we all seek. Returning guest stars this season include Crystal Monee Hall, Heléne Yorke, Ken Leung, Julianna Luna Vasquez, Avery Monsen, Rob Morgan, Max Jenkins, Chris Roberti, Becca Blackwell, Chris McKinney and Birgit Huppuch. Ira Glass and his team at “This American Life” will be featured in the upcoming season as new guest stars.
Dates
“High Maintenance” will return to HBO for Season 4 on Feb. 7. Created by Katja Blichfeld and Ben Sinclair, the show’s fourth season follows The Guy (Sinclair) back traversing the city on his bicycle, having said goodbye to last season’s Rv. With a new friend by his side, The Guy drops in on a variety of customers whose disparate lives, jobs, identities and circumstances reveal the human connection that we all seek. Returning guest stars this season include Crystal Monee Hall, Heléne Yorke, Ken Leung, Julianna Luna Vasquez, Avery Monsen, Rob Morgan, Max Jenkins, Chris Roberti, Becca Blackwell, Chris McKinney and Birgit Huppuch. Ira Glass and his team at “This American Life” will be featured in the upcoming season as new guest stars.
- 12/20/2019
- by BreAnna Bell
- Variety Film + TV
“Limetown,” the podcast from creators Zack Akers and Skip Bronkie, was a runaway hit when it debuted in 2015 largely due to its use of format. Four years later, its creators are teaming up with Jessica Biel and Facebook, hoping “Limetown” can make a similar mark on screen.
Premiering at the height of the post-“Serial” true crime podcast boom, the audio version of “Limetown” borrowed the genre’s most distinctive trademarks to tell a fictional story about 300 people who disappeared from a shady Tennessee research facility without so much as a note. Framed as a radio series, the story was told through the voice of Lia Haddock, a journalist for the fictional American Public Radio whose uncle Emile Haddock was one of those who went missing.
“The best part was Jessica called me in a panic after she finished it, literally — she thought it was real,” Biel’s producing partner...
Premiering at the height of the post-“Serial” true crime podcast boom, the audio version of “Limetown” borrowed the genre’s most distinctive trademarks to tell a fictional story about 300 people who disappeared from a shady Tennessee research facility without so much as a note. Framed as a radio series, the story was told through the voice of Lia Haddock, a journalist for the fictional American Public Radio whose uncle Emile Haddock was one of those who went missing.
“The best part was Jessica called me in a panic after she finished it, literally — she thought it was real,” Biel’s producing partner...
- 10/16/2019
- by Reid Nakamura
- The Wrap
The Guild of Music Supervisors has partnered with Mondo.NYC for the second year. An incubator confab for the music and tech industries that includes a multi-venue festival showcasing emerging artists from around the world, Mondo.NYC is scheduled for Oct. 15 – 18 at the Williamsburg Hotel in Brooklyn.
The final day, Oct. 18, billed as the Second Annual NYC Guild of Music Supervisors Education Event & Film Festival, will feature panels with music supervisors Trevor Gureckis and Sue Jacobs, composer and music supervisor, respectively, of “The Goldfinch;” publishing professionals Andrea Minze, Senior Director, Music for Advertising, Umpg, and James Armstrong, VP Creative Marketing, Sony/Atv; and business development executives Jennifer Freed, CEO, Trevanna Tracks and Cestjon McFarland, general counsel/head of business affairs, SyncFloor.
Topics planned include how technology is improving the work of music supervisors; how composers and music supervisors can work better together and a case study on the campaign roll-out for Weedmaps’ Museum of Weed.
The final day, Oct. 18, billed as the Second Annual NYC Guild of Music Supervisors Education Event & Film Festival, will feature panels with music supervisors Trevor Gureckis and Sue Jacobs, composer and music supervisor, respectively, of “The Goldfinch;” publishing professionals Andrea Minze, Senior Director, Music for Advertising, Umpg, and James Armstrong, VP Creative Marketing, Sony/Atv; and business development executives Jennifer Freed, CEO, Trevanna Tracks and Cestjon McFarland, general counsel/head of business affairs, SyncFloor.
Topics planned include how technology is improving the work of music supervisors; how composers and music supervisors can work better together and a case study on the campaign roll-out for Weedmaps’ Museum of Weed.
- 10/7/2019
- by Variety Staff
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Comedian Jacqueline Novak will launch a new Off Broadway comedy at The Cherry Lane Theatre in Manhattan’s Greenwich Village this summer, and if the title and subject matter don’t get your attention, the comedy world support certainly will.
Executive produced by Mike Birbiglia and presented by Natasha Lyonne, Jacqueline Novak: Get On Your Knees debuts July 10, with an official opening set for July 22. The limited engagement runs through Aug. 18.
The official description: Get On Your Knees is the most high-brow show about blowjobs you’ll ever see. Novak spins her material on the femininity of the penis and the stoicism of the vulva into an unexpectedly philosophical show that’s part feminist outcry, part coming-of-age tale of triumph.
Ira Glass has called the show a “nearly Talmudic dissection of a subject. Really funny and just really like nothing else.” Amy Schumer says Novak’s comedy “is the...
Executive produced by Mike Birbiglia and presented by Natasha Lyonne, Jacqueline Novak: Get On Your Knees debuts July 10, with an official opening set for July 22. The limited engagement runs through Aug. 18.
The official description: Get On Your Knees is the most high-brow show about blowjobs you’ll ever see. Novak spins her material on the femininity of the penis and the stoicism of the vulva into an unexpectedly philosophical show that’s part feminist outcry, part coming-of-age tale of triumph.
Ira Glass has called the show a “nearly Talmudic dissection of a subject. Really funny and just really like nothing else.” Amy Schumer says Novak’s comedy “is the...
- 5/29/2019
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
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