A documentary about the late music star Olivia Newton-John, who died in August 2022, is in development.
The feature-length doc will explore Newton-John’s life and work as an iconic entertainer, best-selling music artist, animal rights and environmental activist and health, wellness and plant medicine advocate.
R.J. Cutler’s production hub This Machine Filmworks has taken the onus of developing the project, reports Variety. This Machine has secured full authorised access to Newton-John’s music and personal archives.
In 1978, Newton-John co-starred with John Travolta in ‘Grease’, which catapulted her into super-stardom. During her career, she garnered four Grammy Awards, an Emmy Award and numerous other trophies. Her other feature film credits include ‘Funny Things Happen Down Under’, ‘Toomorrow’, ‘Xanadu’, ‘Two of A Kind’, ‘It’s My Party, Sordid Lives’, ‘Score: A Hockey Musical’, and ‘A Few Best Men’.
According to Variety, Cutler, along with This Machine’s Elise Pearlstein and Trevor Smith,...
The feature-length doc will explore Newton-John’s life and work as an iconic entertainer, best-selling music artist, animal rights and environmental activist and health, wellness and plant medicine advocate.
R.J. Cutler’s production hub This Machine Filmworks has taken the onus of developing the project, reports Variety. This Machine has secured full authorised access to Newton-John’s music and personal archives.
In 1978, Newton-John co-starred with John Travolta in ‘Grease’, which catapulted her into super-stardom. During her career, she garnered four Grammy Awards, an Emmy Award and numerous other trophies. Her other feature film credits include ‘Funny Things Happen Down Under’, ‘Toomorrow’, ‘Xanadu’, ‘Two of A Kind’, ‘It’s My Party, Sordid Lives’, ‘Score: A Hockey Musical’, and ‘A Few Best Men’.
According to Variety, Cutler, along with This Machine’s Elise Pearlstein and Trevor Smith,...
- 12/13/2022
- by Glamsham Bureau
- GlamSham
R.J. Cutler’s production hub This Machine is developing another documentary about a music star — in this case, the late Olivia Newton-John, who died in August 2022.
The feature-length doc will explore Newton-John’s life and work as an iconic entertainer, best-selling music artist, animal rights and environmental activist and health, wellness and plant medicine advocate. This Machine has secured full authorized access to Newton-John’s music and personal archives.
In 1978, Newton-John co-starred with John Travolta in “Grease,” which catapulted her into super-stardom. During her career, she garnered four Grammy Awards, an Emmy Award and numerous other trophies. Her other feature film credits include “Funny Things Happen Down Under,” “Toomorrow,” “Xanadu,” “Two of A Kind,” “It’s My Party, Sordid Lives,” “Score: A Hockey Musical,” and “A Few Best Men.”
Cutler, along with This Machine’s Elise Pearlstein and Trevor Smith, will produce the untitled docu, while John Easterling, Larry Mestel,...
The feature-length doc will explore Newton-John’s life and work as an iconic entertainer, best-selling music artist, animal rights and environmental activist and health, wellness and plant medicine advocate. This Machine has secured full authorized access to Newton-John’s music and personal archives.
In 1978, Newton-John co-starred with John Travolta in “Grease,” which catapulted her into super-stardom. During her career, she garnered four Grammy Awards, an Emmy Award and numerous other trophies. Her other feature film credits include “Funny Things Happen Down Under,” “Toomorrow,” “Xanadu,” “Two of A Kind,” “It’s My Party, Sordid Lives,” “Score: A Hockey Musical,” and “A Few Best Men.”
Cutler, along with This Machine’s Elise Pearlstein and Trevor Smith, will produce the untitled docu, while John Easterling, Larry Mestel,...
- 12/12/2022
- by Addie Morfoot
- Variety Film + TV
The second trailer for the upcoming Whitney Houston biopic, "I Wanna Dance With Somebody," dropped today, and we've already got goosebumps. Directed by the brilliant Kasi Lemmons, this celebration of one of the greatest vocalists to ever walk the earth is the latest biopic from the producers who created the Academy Award-winning film about Freddie Mercury, "Bohemian Rhapsody." Whitney Houston's life has been at the center of public speculation for decades, and her untimely death only exacerbated tabloid obsessions. Fortunately, based on everything we know about "I Wanna Dance With Somebody," Lemmons' film starring Naomi Ackie is an empathetic look at the woman remembered as "The Voice."
The new trailer intercuts footage from the film against the sound of Whitney Houston belting out "I Will Always Love You," a surefire way to pull on the emotional heartstrings of anyone watching. There are shots of crowds cheering her name, Oprah Winfrey introducing her to an audience,...
The new trailer intercuts footage from the film against the sound of Whitney Houston belting out "I Will Always Love You," a surefire way to pull on the emotional heartstrings of anyone watching. There are shots of crowds cheering her name, Oprah Winfrey introducing her to an audience,...
- 11/9/2022
- by BJ Colangelo
- Slash Film
On Wednesday, Sony Pictures Entertainment officially released the second full-length trailer for the upcoming biographical musical-drama film “I Wanna Dance With Somebody,” which focuses on the life and legacy of American pop sensation, Whitney Houston.
The film is directed by “Harriet” filmmaker Kasi Lemmons, from a screenplay written by Anthony McCarten, who previously wrote the musical biopic “Bohemian Rhapsody,” centered around the rock band Queen, and the historical drama “Darkest Hour.” Both of those films won Oscars for the respective leads, Rami Malek and Gary Oldman.
You can watch the new trailer here:
Naomi Ackie leads the cast as Whitney Houston and is joined by Stanely Tucci, Nafessa Williams, Tamara Tunie, Ashton Sanders, and Clarke Peters.
McCarten, Pat Houston, Clive Davis, Larry Mestel, Denis O’Sullivan, Jeff Kalligheri, Matt Jackson, Molly Smith, Trent Luckinbill, Thad Luckinbill, Matt Solloway, and Christina Papagjika serve as producers on the project under the TriStar Pictures,...
The film is directed by “Harriet” filmmaker Kasi Lemmons, from a screenplay written by Anthony McCarten, who previously wrote the musical biopic “Bohemian Rhapsody,” centered around the rock band Queen, and the historical drama “Darkest Hour.” Both of those films won Oscars for the respective leads, Rami Malek and Gary Oldman.
You can watch the new trailer here:
Naomi Ackie leads the cast as Whitney Houston and is joined by Stanely Tucci, Nafessa Williams, Tamara Tunie, Ashton Sanders, and Clarke Peters.
McCarten, Pat Houston, Clive Davis, Larry Mestel, Denis O’Sullivan, Jeff Kalligheri, Matt Jackson, Molly Smith, Trent Luckinbill, Thad Luckinbill, Matt Solloway, and Christina Papagjika serve as producers on the project under the TriStar Pictures,...
- 11/9/2022
- by Caillou Pettis
- Gold Derby
Naomi Ackie’s greatest challenge of all? Transforming into the “Greatest Love of All” singer Whitney Houston.
BAFTA award winner Ackie stars as the late icon for musical biopic “I Wanna Dance with Somebody,” in theaters December 21. The film, written by Oscar-nominated “Bohemian Rhapsody” screenwriter Anthony McCarten and directed by Kasi Lemmons, charts Houston’s life and legacy, starting with her groundbreaking record deal with Clive Davis, played by Stanley Tucci.
“My dream: Sing what I want to sing, be who I want to be,” Ackie as Houston says in the trailer. While Houston is criticized for not being “Black enough” and her tumultuous marriage to Bobby Brown (Ashton Sanders) makes headlines, the biopic focuses on her early days as a New Jersey choir girl who became the bestselling and most awarded recording artist of all time. The “no-holds-barred portrait” gives a never-before-seen look at Houston’s “complicated and multi-faceted” career.
BAFTA award winner Ackie stars as the late icon for musical biopic “I Wanna Dance with Somebody,” in theaters December 21. The film, written by Oscar-nominated “Bohemian Rhapsody” screenwriter Anthony McCarten and directed by Kasi Lemmons, charts Houston’s life and legacy, starting with her groundbreaking record deal with Clive Davis, played by Stanley Tucci.
“My dream: Sing what I want to sing, be who I want to be,” Ackie as Houston says in the trailer. While Houston is criticized for not being “Black enough” and her tumultuous marriage to Bobby Brown (Ashton Sanders) makes headlines, the biopic focuses on her early days as a New Jersey choir girl who became the bestselling and most awarded recording artist of all time. The “no-holds-barred portrait” gives a never-before-seen look at Houston’s “complicated and multi-faceted” career.
- 9/15/2022
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
Click here to read the full article.
Naomi Ackie makes viewers want to dance with her portrayal of Whitney Houston in the trailer for the upcoming biopic I Wanna Dance With Somebody.
TriStar Pictures has dropped the first extended look at the film, set to release in theaters on Dec. 21, delivering all the vibrant energy onstage and off that Houston was known for. Directed by Kasi Lemmons and written by Oscar nominee Anthony McCarten, the biopic is being produced by music icon and executive Clive Davis.
The film serves as a “no-holds-barred” portrait of the award-winning and beloved woman and vocalist, tracing Houston’s emotional, inspiring and personal journey from the church choir to her stunning breakthrough into the music industry and her knock-out (and record-setting) performances and songs, including her memorable 1991 Super Bowl rendition of the national anthem.
In the trailer, which is soundtracked to the Houston hit of the same name,...
Naomi Ackie makes viewers want to dance with her portrayal of Whitney Houston in the trailer for the upcoming biopic I Wanna Dance With Somebody.
TriStar Pictures has dropped the first extended look at the film, set to release in theaters on Dec. 21, delivering all the vibrant energy onstage and off that Houston was known for. Directed by Kasi Lemmons and written by Oscar nominee Anthony McCarten, the biopic is being produced by music icon and executive Clive Davis.
The film serves as a “no-holds-barred” portrait of the award-winning and beloved woman and vocalist, tracing Houston’s emotional, inspiring and personal journey from the church choir to her stunning breakthrough into the music industry and her knock-out (and record-setting) performances and songs, including her memorable 1991 Super Bowl rendition of the national anthem.
In the trailer, which is soundtracked to the Houston hit of the same name,...
- 9/15/2022
- by Abbey White
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
AllBlk has greenlit the new anthology series Snap co-created by Eric Benet and Devin Hampton.
Production on the six-episode project— described as in the vein of Black Mirror and The Twilight Zone—is set to begin in mid-March with Benet portraying one of the leads. It’s slated to premiere in December.
Snap follows a perfectly imperfect god named A.O. who serves as the “moral compass” for the protagonist of each episode. When A.O. comes across a protagonist facing an unexpected scenario, he/she/they challenge(s) them to see themselves from the outside looking in…which in a “snap” will change the beliefs they’ve held onto for most of their lives.
“A truly original series that we haven’t really seen before is a perfect addition to our programming slate as we continue to expand and diversify our content offering at AllBlk,” said Brett Dismuke, General Manager of AllBlk & We tv.
Production on the six-episode project— described as in the vein of Black Mirror and The Twilight Zone—is set to begin in mid-March with Benet portraying one of the leads. It’s slated to premiere in December.
Snap follows a perfectly imperfect god named A.O. who serves as the “moral compass” for the protagonist of each episode. When A.O. comes across a protagonist facing an unexpected scenario, he/she/they challenge(s) them to see themselves from the outside looking in…which in a “snap” will change the beliefs they’ve held onto for most of their lives.
“A truly original series that we haven’t really seen before is a perfect addition to our programming slate as we continue to expand and diversify our content offering at AllBlk,” said Brett Dismuke, General Manager of AllBlk & We tv.
- 2/10/2022
- by Rosy Cordero
- Deadline Film + TV
CeeLo Green, a five-time Grammy-winning performer, TV personality, actor and original coach on NBC’s The Voice, has signed with Apa in all areas, the agency said Monday.
Green came onto the music scene as a member of the Southern hip-hop group Goodie Mob, and reunited with them for the 2013 album “Age Against the Machine.” The singer-songwriter-producer was also part of Gnarls Barkley, his soul duo with deejay-producer Danger Mouse, and scored a worldwide hit in 2006 with “Crazy.”
In 2011, he received five Grammy nominations for his global hit “Forget You” (aka “F—k You”), winning in the best urban/alternative performance category. Green released his solo album Heart Blanche in 2015.
His onscreen credits include appearances SNL, Anger Management, American Dad, and serving as a coach on the first four seasons of NBC’s music competition The Voice, which debuted in 2011. He exited in the hit singing competition in 2014; that August,...
Green came onto the music scene as a member of the Southern hip-hop group Goodie Mob, and reunited with them for the 2013 album “Age Against the Machine.” The singer-songwriter-producer was also part of Gnarls Barkley, his soul duo with deejay-producer Danger Mouse, and scored a worldwide hit in 2006 with “Crazy.”
In 2011, he received five Grammy nominations for his global hit “Forget You” (aka “F—k You”), winning in the best urban/alternative performance category. Green released his solo album Heart Blanche in 2015.
His onscreen credits include appearances SNL, Anger Management, American Dad, and serving as a coach on the first four seasons of NBC’s music competition The Voice, which debuted in 2011. He exited in the hit singing competition in 2014; that August,...
- 6/10/2019
- by Anita Bennett
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Primary Wave Entertainment has added three managers and their clients to its roster: Bryan Brucks, previously at Luber Roklin Entertainment; Isabel Frost, from 3 Arts; and Samantha Starr, who had been at Gotham Group. The moves come as co-CEOs Larry Mestel and David Guillod’s talent management and production company has been ramping up its film and TV biz, bringing in the likes of industry veterans Cathy Schulman and Jeff Gaspin to respectively oversee those…...
- 6/29/2017
- Deadline TV
Exclusive: Primary Wave Entertainment has added three managers and their clients to its roster: Bryan Brucks, previously at Luber Roklin Entertainment; Isabel Frost, from 3 Arts; and Samantha Starr, who had been at Gotham Group. The moves come as co-CEOs Larry Mestel and David Guillod’s talent management and production company has been ramping up its film and TV biz, bringing in the likes of industry veterans Cathy Schulman and Jeff Gaspin to respectively oversee those…...
- 6/29/2017
- Deadline
Jeff Gaspin, a former chairman of NBC Universal Television, has been appointed president of Primary Wave Entertainment after the company acquired Gaspin Media. Gaspin will also serve as a member of the company’s management board, David Guillod and Lawrence Mestel, founders and co-CEOs of Primary Wave, announced Friday. Gaspin’s role is effective immediately and will be based out of the Los Angeles office. Gaspin Media is a production and consulting company formed in 2012. Credits include TV series’ “To Tell the Truth” (ABC) and “First Impressions with Dana Carvey” (USA). Gaspin will continue to serve as the executive producer on those.
- 10/7/2016
- by Beatrice Verhoeven
- The Wrap
Chris Lighty, a mogul in the hip-hop world who managed the likes of 50 Cent, Diddy, Mariah Carey and Ja Rule, died on Thursday of an apparent suicide.
The New York Daily News reports that 44-year-old Lighty died Thursday morning after allegedly shooting himself in the head in his Bronx, N.Y., apartment. A gun was found next to his body.
Law enforcement officials said the hip-hop manager, who divorced his wife last year, was dealing with financial issues, according to the NY Daily News. He reportedly owed the IRS $5 million.
He first broke into the music business at Rush Artist Management, Russell Simmons' company and sister outfit to Def Jam Recordings, reported NJ.com. Lighty worked with Simmons in 1989 and left the following year to start his own company.
Lighty, raised in the Bronx, became an industry heavyweight after founding Violator Entertainment, the management firm, record label and marketing...
The New York Daily News reports that 44-year-old Lighty died Thursday morning after allegedly shooting himself in the head in his Bronx, N.Y., apartment. A gun was found next to his body.
Law enforcement officials said the hip-hop manager, who divorced his wife last year, was dealing with financial issues, according to the NY Daily News. He reportedly owed the IRS $5 million.
He first broke into the music business at Rush Artist Management, Russell Simmons' company and sister outfit to Def Jam Recordings, reported NJ.com. Lighty worked with Simmons in 1989 and left the following year to start his own company.
Lighty, raised in the Bronx, became an industry heavyweight after founding Violator Entertainment, the management firm, record label and marketing...
- 8/30/2012
- by The Huffington Post
- Huffington Post
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