Exclusive: The Christmas tree trade in New York City is big business. Every holiday season, hundreds of thousands of trees are sold on the sidewalks of New York, and competition is fierce.
This is the foundation for a new feature documentary from Call Me Miss Cleo director Celia Aniskovich.
Aniskovich is directing and producing The Merchants of Joy (w/t), which comes from Boat Rocker, the company behind War Game, which just premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and Hulu’s Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields, Aniskovich’s company Dial Tone Films and Epic Magazine.
The doc will follow five families, who are equal parts street corner capitalists and Christmas die-hards, as they source, bargain, and hustle to sell as many trees as they can in the city that never sleeps.
It started as an article in Epic magazine, which was published in December 2022.
Todd Lubin and Jack Turner will executive...
This is the foundation for a new feature documentary from Call Me Miss Cleo director Celia Aniskovich.
Aniskovich is directing and producing The Merchants of Joy (w/t), which comes from Boat Rocker, the company behind War Game, which just premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and Hulu’s Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields, Aniskovich’s company Dial Tone Films and Epic Magazine.
The doc will follow five families, who are equal parts street corner capitalists and Christmas die-hards, as they source, bargain, and hustle to sell as many trees as they can in the city that never sleeps.
It started as an article in Epic magazine, which was published in December 2022.
Todd Lubin and Jack Turner will executive...
- 2/12/2024
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Raekwon of the Grammy-nominated hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan is set to executive produce a new documentary short spotlighting the life of disco superstar Richie Weeks.
“Taking Back the Groove” will showcase the trials, tribulations and success stories of Week’s life. Per the doc’s official logline, “like many Black artists throughout American recording history, his talent was strip-mined to enrich white-owned record labels. Weeks and his manager Jerome Derradji narrate the story of how they clawed back the rights to Weeks’ music and the ongoing fight to restore his legacy and share his music.”
“Growing up in NY, I was around some of the best disco music – I loved it. It inspired me. Richie, and many artists like him, helped influence the culture,” said Raekwon. “What happened to Richie is an example of something that happens all of the time in the music industry. I’m really glad I...
“Taking Back the Groove” will showcase the trials, tribulations and success stories of Week’s life. Per the doc’s official logline, “like many Black artists throughout American recording history, his talent was strip-mined to enrich white-owned record labels. Weeks and his manager Jerome Derradji narrate the story of how they clawed back the rights to Weeks’ music and the ongoing fight to restore his legacy and share his music.”
“Growing up in NY, I was around some of the best disco music – I loved it. It inspired me. Richie, and many artists like him, helped influence the culture,” said Raekwon. “What happened to Richie is an example of something that happens all of the time in the music industry. I’m really glad I...
- 6/28/2023
- by Jazz Tangcay, Charna Flam, McKinley Franklin and Sophia Scorziello
- Variety Film + TV
"Call Me Miss Cleo" is a new documentary feature chronicling the rise, fall and reinvention of 1990's 'infomercial' TV psychic 'Miss Cleo', directed by Celia Aniskovich and Jennifer Brea, with comment from actresses Raven-Symoné and Debra Wilson, now streaming on HBO Max:
"...'Miss Cleo' aka Youree Dell Harris, made a name for herself back in the 1990's for her larger-than-life persona while working for the 'Psychic Readers Network', a popular phone hotline.
"'Call Me Miss Cleo' takes a close look at the story behind the iconic infomercials and unravels the investigations that ensued..."
Click the images to enlarge...
"...'Miss Cleo' aka Youree Dell Harris, made a name for herself back in the 1990's for her larger-than-life persona while working for the 'Psychic Readers Network', a popular phone hotline.
"'Call Me Miss Cleo' takes a close look at the story behind the iconic infomercials and unravels the investigations that ensued..."
Click the images to enlarge...
- 12/25/2022
- by Unknown
- SneakPeek
On December 15, HBO Max released “‘Call Me Miss Cleo,” an eye-opening documentary chronicling the rise, fall, and reinvention of revered and reviled ’90s TV psychic Miss Cleo. Featuring interviews with celebrities and those closest to the self-proclaimed voodoo priestess, the film explores the many layers behind a complicated and charismatic figure.
See ‘White House Plumbers’ trailer: Woody Harrelson and Justin Theroux star in HBO Watergate series
Jennifer Brea and Celia Aniskovich co-direct the film about the controversial figure. Known for her larger-than-life persona and memorable accent, Miss Cleo, born Youree Dell Harris, garnered a nationwide cult following on the Psychic Readers Network, a popular telephone hotline that later came under fire for its alleged deceptive practices. She died of cancer at the age of 53 in 2016. Below is a roundup of some early reviews.
Nick Schager of The Daily Beast writes, “Eventually, every piece of pop culture minutia will receive an...
See ‘White House Plumbers’ trailer: Woody Harrelson and Justin Theroux star in HBO Watergate series
Jennifer Brea and Celia Aniskovich co-direct the film about the controversial figure. Known for her larger-than-life persona and memorable accent, Miss Cleo, born Youree Dell Harris, garnered a nationwide cult following on the Psychic Readers Network, a popular telephone hotline that later came under fire for its alleged deceptive practices. She died of cancer at the age of 53 in 2016. Below is a roundup of some early reviews.
Nick Schager of The Daily Beast writes, “Eventually, every piece of pop culture minutia will receive an...
- 12/20/2022
- by Vincent Mandile
- Gold Derby
An overwhelmingly vast number of psychic claims should be taken with a healthy dose of salt, and Call Me Miss Cleo aims to be sodium-free. HBO Max’s original documentary does, however, throw a little bit of corn syrup into the mix. It promises viewers an in-depth study on a complicated con game, Psychic Readers Network (Prn), a call-in service which took in billions of dollars from the desperately lonely, and pours out a VH1 Behind the Music-style tale of a fallen celebrity who couldn’t see her fate in the stars.
Call Me Miss Cleo is co-directed by Jennifer Brea and Celia Aniskovich, and they come at it with great empathy, which undercuts the accusations against the prime suspect, and makes the prosecuting investigators look like true believers. Neither is the case, but the ambiguity is only skimmed in the dark pond of corporate malfeasance and community standards. The late middle section,...
Call Me Miss Cleo is co-directed by Jennifer Brea and Celia Aniskovich, and they come at it with great empathy, which undercuts the accusations against the prime suspect, and makes the prosecuting investigators look like true believers. Neither is the case, but the ambiguity is only skimmed in the dark pond of corporate malfeasance and community standards. The late middle section,...
- 12/16/2022
- by Alec Bojalad
- Den of Geek
Hulu’s “Wu-Tang: An American Saga” will return for its third and final season with three episodes Feb. 15, the streamer announced Wednesday. New episodes will follow every Wednesday, with the finale set for on April 5.
In the final season, the group is fresh off the release of their debut album and their continued rise to fame, with each of the members beginning to go on separate journeys to figure out where they fit in the music world. RZA struggles to stay on top of things in order to fulfill the promise he made to his Wu brothers to cement their legacy.
Ashton Sanders returns as Bobby Diggs, later known as the RZA, Shameik Moore plays Raekwon, Siddiq Saunderson portrays Ghostface Killah with additional cast including Julian Elijah Martinez, Marcus Callender, Zolee Griggs, T.J. Atoms, Dave East, Johnell Young, Uyoata Udi and Damani Sease. Alex Tse, the RZA, Method Man and...
In the final season, the group is fresh off the release of their debut album and their continued rise to fame, with each of the members beginning to go on separate journeys to figure out where they fit in the music world. RZA struggles to stay on top of things in order to fulfill the promise he made to his Wu brothers to cement their legacy.
Ashton Sanders returns as Bobby Diggs, later known as the RZA, Shameik Moore plays Raekwon, Siddiq Saunderson portrays Ghostface Killah with additional cast including Julian Elijah Martinez, Marcus Callender, Zolee Griggs, T.J. Atoms, Dave East, Johnell Young, Uyoata Udi and Damani Sease. Alex Tse, the RZA, Method Man and...
- 12/15/2022
- by EJ Panaligan
- Variety Film + TV
Image Source: YouTube user HBO Max
You don't need to predict the future to know that HBO Max is releasing a documentary about the infamous television psychic Miss Cleo. The streamer announced the news on Dec. 1 by dropping the trailer for "Call Me Miss Cleo," an "eye-opening film" produced by Gunpowder & Sky that chronicles the "rise, fall, and reinvention" of the controversial and revered '90s figure.
For those not familiar, Miss Cleo, born Youree Dell Harris, made a name for herself back in the '90s for her larger-than-life persona and thick Jamaican accent while working for the Psychic Readers Network, a popular phone hotline that later came under fire for its alleged deceptive practices. Miss Cleo garnered a nationwide cult following, and the upcoming documentary will ultimately peel back the truth behind the "ever-enigmatic woman who took TV by storm, only to abruptly disappear from public consciousness.
You don't need to predict the future to know that HBO Max is releasing a documentary about the infamous television psychic Miss Cleo. The streamer announced the news on Dec. 1 by dropping the trailer for "Call Me Miss Cleo," an "eye-opening film" produced by Gunpowder & Sky that chronicles the "rise, fall, and reinvention" of the controversial and revered '90s figure.
For those not familiar, Miss Cleo, born Youree Dell Harris, made a name for herself back in the '90s for her larger-than-life persona and thick Jamaican accent while working for the Psychic Readers Network, a popular phone hotline that later came under fire for its alleged deceptive practices. Miss Cleo garnered a nationwide cult following, and the upcoming documentary will ultimately peel back the truth behind the "ever-enigmatic woman who took TV by storm, only to abruptly disappear from public consciousness.
- 12/2/2022
- by Njera Perkins
- Popsugar.com
Every media personality from the ’90s needs a streaming documentary, and Miss Cleo has conjured up her own. The first trailer for “Call Me Miss Cleo,” an HBO Max original documentary, was released on Thursday.
Born Youree Dell Harris, Miss Cleo was the main spokesperson for Psychic Readers Network, a pay-per-call service for people seeking the advice of psychics. Through television infomercials, Harris built up a cult following from 1997 to 2003 across the United States, before the company was charged by the Federal Trade Commission with deceptive advertising, billing, and collection practices. Harris left Psychic Readers Network and continued to play the character of Cleo intermittently in advertisements for used car dealerships and French Toast Crunch cereal, before developing colorectal cancer and passing away in 2016.
The new documentary features interviews with the people closest to Harris, as well as prominent celebrities during her heyday like Raven-Symoné and Debra Wilson, exploring her shadowy and convoluted real-life story.
Born Youree Dell Harris, Miss Cleo was the main spokesperson for Psychic Readers Network, a pay-per-call service for people seeking the advice of psychics. Through television infomercials, Harris built up a cult following from 1997 to 2003 across the United States, before the company was charged by the Federal Trade Commission with deceptive advertising, billing, and collection practices. Harris left Psychic Readers Network and continued to play the character of Cleo intermittently in advertisements for used car dealerships and French Toast Crunch cereal, before developing colorectal cancer and passing away in 2016.
The new documentary features interviews with the people closest to Harris, as well as prominent celebrities during her heyday like Raven-Symoné and Debra Wilson, exploring her shadowy and convoluted real-life story.
- 12/1/2022
- by Wilson Chapman
- Indiewire
The Max Original documentary Call Me Miss Cleo, debuts Thursday, December 15 on HBO Max. This eye-opening film, produced by Gunpowder & Sky, chronicles the rise, fall, and reinvention of controversial and revered ‘90s television psychic Miss Cleo and features testimonials with those closest to her, as well as actresses Raven-Symoné and Debra Wilson.
Synopsis: Known for her larger-than-life persona and memorable accent, Miss Cleo, born Youree Dell Harris, garnered a nationwide cult following on the Psychic Readers Network, a popular telephone hotline that later came under fire for its alleged deceptive practices. Featuring interviews with celebrities and those closest to the self-proclaimed voodoo priestess, the film explores the many layers behind a complicated and charismatic figure. Revisiting an era of corded phones and 1-900-numbers, Call Me Miss Cleo ultimately reveals the truth behind the ever-enigmatic woman who took TV by storm, only to abruptly disappear from public consciousness.
Joanna Zwickel,...
Synopsis: Known for her larger-than-life persona and memorable accent, Miss Cleo, born Youree Dell Harris, garnered a nationwide cult following on the Psychic Readers Network, a popular telephone hotline that later came under fire for its alleged deceptive practices. Featuring interviews with celebrities and those closest to the self-proclaimed voodoo priestess, the film explores the many layers behind a complicated and charismatic figure. Revisiting an era of corded phones and 1-900-numbers, Call Me Miss Cleo ultimately reveals the truth behind the ever-enigmatic woman who took TV by storm, only to abruptly disappear from public consciousness.
Joanna Zwickel,...
- 12/1/2022
- by TV Shows Martin Cid Magazine
- Martin Cid - TV
Exclusive: Dominick Montiglio, who was at the center of one of the most vicious mafia crews in history, is telling his mob story.
Montiglio is telling the story of his involvement in the notorious DeMeo Crew, part of the Gambino crime family who became some of New York’s most dangerous hitmen, in eight-part audio series Mafia Tapes from Investigation Discovery (ID).
After spending years trying to escape his birthright and returning from serving in Vietnam, Dominick Montiglio finally succumbs and joins his family’s “business”— the American Cosa Nostra. His job? Keep an eye on the DeMeo Crew. When things go south, Dominick must choose between his oath of loyalty to the Mafia and his own survival.
Mafia Tapes is hosted by Celia Aniskovich, who has worked on TV series including Netflix’s How to Fix a Drug Scandal and Fear City: New York vs the Mafia as well...
Montiglio is telling the story of his involvement in the notorious DeMeo Crew, part of the Gambino crime family who became some of New York’s most dangerous hitmen, in eight-part audio series Mafia Tapes from Investigation Discovery (ID).
After spending years trying to escape his birthright and returning from serving in Vietnam, Dominick Montiglio finally succumbs and joins his family’s “business”— the American Cosa Nostra. His job? Keep an eye on the DeMeo Crew. When things go south, Dominick must choose between his oath of loyalty to the Mafia and his own survival.
Mafia Tapes is hosted by Celia Aniskovich, who has worked on TV series including Netflix’s How to Fix a Drug Scandal and Fear City: New York vs the Mafia as well...
- 1/10/2022
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Woodstock ’99 Documentary ‘Burn It Down!’ From MRC Non-Fiction Bound for London Festival (Exclusive)
MRC Non-Fiction’s feature documentary “Burn It Down!,” which reexamines the infamous Woodstock ’99 music festival, will have its world premiere at the 65th British Film Institute (BFI) London Film Festival.
The festival took place during the last summer of the 20th century on July 23-25, 1999 and featured performances by Kid Rock, Limp Bizkit, Korn, Insane Clown Posse, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Wyclef Jean and Sheryl Crow among others. It was meant to invoke the spirit of the iconic 1969 Woodstock music festival on its 30th anniversary, but failed to do so.
“Festival organisers cobbled together a poorly conceived rehash of an iconic cultural moment. From security, to basic needs, nothing had been properly planned,” reads the film’s description in the BFI London Film Festival program. “The line-up was a cocktail of 1990s pop rock and peak nu metal angry-white-man bands, including Limp Bizkit and Korn. What began as carefree revelry...
The festival took place during the last summer of the 20th century on July 23-25, 1999 and featured performances by Kid Rock, Limp Bizkit, Korn, Insane Clown Posse, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Wyclef Jean and Sheryl Crow among others. It was meant to invoke the spirit of the iconic 1969 Woodstock music festival on its 30th anniversary, but failed to do so.
“Festival organisers cobbled together a poorly conceived rehash of an iconic cultural moment. From security, to basic needs, nothing had been properly planned,” reads the film’s description in the BFI London Film Festival program. “The line-up was a cocktail of 1990s pop rock and peak nu metal angry-white-man bands, including Limp Bizkit and Korn. What began as carefree revelry...
- 9/14/2021
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Podcast studio Wondery has released the first audio trailer for Spy Affair, a new six-part miniseries. The show, which premieres March 30th on Apple Podcasts, investigates the true story of Russian gun advocate Maria Butina, who was convicted in 2018 of conspiring to act as a foreign agent within the United States.
Amid the politically charged relationship between the U.S. and Russia, Butina sought to improve each country’s view of the other by forming powerful allegiances in both nations — or so she claims. Her actions led to her becoming entangled in an FBI investigation,...
Amid the politically charged relationship between the U.S. and Russia, Butina sought to improve each country’s view of the other by forming powerful allegiances in both nations — or so she claims. Her actions led to her becoming entangled in an FBI investigation,...
- 3/15/2021
- by Claire Shaffer
- Rollingstone.com
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