Many documentary filmmakers want their work on the big screen and not small. So, what gives? Why isn’t that happening?
One could argue that we haven’t seen a doc boom in cinemas since 2018 which served up such breakouts as Won’t You Be My Neighbor ($22.8M), Three Identical Strangers ($12.3M) and Rbg ($14M). The pandemic is partially to blame as audiences have savored non-fiction stories on streaming, i.e. the Netflix series, Tiger King.
“It’s not that it doesn’t work theatrically,” explained Lionsgate EVP Acquisitions and Co-Productions, Charlotte Koh who was part of the SXSW session “How to Tell True Stories: Narrative vs. Documentary”.
“It’s becoming more competitive to get people’s attention because there is so much documentary product out there that can be watched through streamers and other ways,” Koh added.
Also on the panel moderated by Variety documentary journalist Addie Morfoot were Bryn Mooser,...
One could argue that we haven’t seen a doc boom in cinemas since 2018 which served up such breakouts as Won’t You Be My Neighbor ($22.8M), Three Identical Strangers ($12.3M) and Rbg ($14M). The pandemic is partially to blame as audiences have savored non-fiction stories on streaming, i.e. the Netflix series, Tiger King.
“It’s not that it doesn’t work theatrically,” explained Lionsgate EVP Acquisitions and Co-Productions, Charlotte Koh who was part of the SXSW session “How to Tell True Stories: Narrative vs. Documentary”.
“It’s becoming more competitive to get people’s attention because there is so much documentary product out there that can be watched through streamers and other ways,” Koh added.
Also on the panel moderated by Variety documentary journalist Addie Morfoot were Bryn Mooser,...
- 3/9/2024
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Longtime “Daily Show” correspondent Roy Wood Jr. spoke about the future of late-night TV at Variety and Rolling Stone’s Truth Seekers Summit, presented by Showtime, saying he believes studios don’t realize that the more they look to downsize shows, the more likely they will face stiff competition from TikTok creators and other social media stars who can retain the rights to their content.
“I think the cheaper that they choose to make the product, the more accessible and affordable you make it for outside competitors to come in,” Wood Jr. said, when answering a question about if he was interested in hosting the Comedy Central talker following the exit of Trevor Noah, or any late-night show, in general.
“That’s the thing that I don’t think the entertainment studios understand is, if you want to get rid of an audience if you want to make the show a little smaller,...
“I think the cheaper that they choose to make the product, the more accessible and affordable you make it for outside competitors to come in,” Wood Jr. said, when answering a question about if he was interested in hosting the Comedy Central talker following the exit of Trevor Noah, or any late-night show, in general.
“That’s the thing that I don’t think the entertainment studios understand is, if you want to get rid of an audience if you want to make the show a little smaller,...
- 8/3/2023
- by Jennifer Maas
- Variety Film + TV
Variety and Rolling Stone announced today the final lineup for their Truth Seekers Summit, presented by Showtime Documentary Films, on August 25 in New York.
The summit coincides with the Truth Seekers journal, a collaboration between Variety and Rolling Stone. The special issue features a deep dive from Variety’s Addie Morfoot into the heated debate in the nonfiction community on the question of who — and who shouldn’t — have the right to tell the stories that involve historically marginalized communities. The story also delves into the rise of celebrity-financed biographical...
The summit coincides with the Truth Seekers journal, a collaboration between Variety and Rolling Stone. The special issue features a deep dive from Variety’s Addie Morfoot into the heated debate in the nonfiction community on the question of who — and who shouldn’t — have the right to tell the stories that involve historically marginalized communities. The story also delves into the rise of celebrity-financed biographical...
- 8/23/2022
- by Rolling Stone
- Rollingstone.com
Industry leaders and cultural innovators came together at the inaugural Truth Seekers Summit, a festival highlighting the work of documentary filmmakers, journalists, and activists from around the world.
The celebration — presented in partnership with Showtime — featured panels, keynotes, and Q&a’s with filmmakers like Errol Morris and Stanley Nelson, as well as discussions between leading documentarians and journalists about everything from the perception of truth in media to why injecting your own voice into documentary filmmaking is so vital.
As the presenting sponsor of the Truth Seekers Summit, Showtime...
The celebration — presented in partnership with Showtime — featured panels, keynotes, and Q&a’s with filmmakers like Errol Morris and Stanley Nelson, as well as discussions between leading documentarians and journalists about everything from the perception of truth in media to why injecting your own voice into documentary filmmaking is so vital.
As the presenting sponsor of the Truth Seekers Summit, Showtime...
- 8/27/2021
- by Ted Brown
- Rollingstone.com
The inaugural Truth Seekers Summit brought together some of the brightest minds in filmmaking, music, and current events to speak on topics ranging from the impact of misinformation in media to the evolving language of documentary filmmaking. Co-hosted by Rolling Stone and Variety in partnership with Showtime, the summit featured panels, Q&a’s, and keynote discussions from marquee names in the world of documentary filmmaking. Check out 10 of the most thought-provoking moments from this week’s event.
Errol Morris on Breaking Rules
The dean of American documentary filmmaking Errol...
Errol Morris on Breaking Rules
The dean of American documentary filmmaking Errol...
- 8/27/2021
- by Ted Brown
- Rollingstone.com
In the 1980s, it took Stanley Nelson seven years to make “Two Dollars and a Dream: The Story of Madame C.J. Walker,” his first documentary film. It took him another seven years to make his second feature doc: “The Black Press: Soldiers Without Swords.”
Once he had two films under his belt, Nelson, now 66, was on his way to becoming one of the foremost and most prolific documentary filmmakers to chronicle the Black experience in America. Nelson’s notable recent films include “Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool,” “Tulsa Burning: The 1921 Race Massacre,” The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution” and the upcoming “Attica.”
As he forged his path, Nelson realized the desperate need for training, mentorship and other programs to open doors for filmmakers of color to allow them to have meaningful careers in media. At a time when Nelson’s Firelight Films is busier than ever with movies and docu series productions,...
Once he had two films under his belt, Nelson, now 66, was on his way to becoming one of the foremost and most prolific documentary filmmakers to chronicle the Black experience in America. Nelson’s notable recent films include “Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool,” “Tulsa Burning: The 1921 Race Massacre,” The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution” and the upcoming “Attica.”
As he forged his path, Nelson realized the desperate need for training, mentorship and other programs to open doors for filmmakers of color to allow them to have meaningful careers in media. At a time when Nelson’s Firelight Films is busier than ever with movies and docu series productions,...
- 8/26/2021
- by Cynthia Littleton
- Variety Film + TV
Variety is expanding its coverage of the booming documentary sector with the launch today of a dedicated Docs vertical on Variety‘s online and mobile platforms.
The new section, sponsored by Showtime Documentary Films, highlights news and trends in documentary content, as well as reviews of new and vintage docus, filmmaker interviews, trailers, other video content and viewing recommendations by genre. It also features an extensive listing of film and TV documentary premiere dates.
The inaugural lineup includes a lengthy Q&a with Richard Ray Perez, the newly appointed executive director of the International Documentary Assn.
“Variety is making a huge push into the art and business of documentary filmmaking,” said Claudia Eller, Variety’s Editor-in-Chief. “There’s been an explosion of compelling content across the media landscape — both in the form of feature docs and docu-series — which our new vertical is devoted to celebrating.”
The launch of the Docs...
The new section, sponsored by Showtime Documentary Films, highlights news and trends in documentary content, as well as reviews of new and vintage docus, filmmaker interviews, trailers, other video content and viewing recommendations by genre. It also features an extensive listing of film and TV documentary premiere dates.
The inaugural lineup includes a lengthy Q&a with Richard Ray Perez, the newly appointed executive director of the International Documentary Assn.
“Variety is making a huge push into the art and business of documentary filmmaking,” said Claudia Eller, Variety’s Editor-in-Chief. “There’s been an explosion of compelling content across the media landscape — both in the form of feature docs and docu-series — which our new vertical is devoted to celebrating.”
The launch of the Docs...
- 7/1/2021
- by Variety Staff
- Variety Film + TV
The talents on Variety’s annual Young Hollywood Impact Report have all made an impact on showbiz in the past year. They may be singers, actors or YouTube stars, but they share one thing in common: show-stopping creativity. This year’s list includes several actors nominated for Emmys, like Jharrel Jerome for Netflix’s “When They See Us;” Joey King for “The Act” on Hulu; and Sophie Turner and Maisie Williams for the final season of “Game of Thrones” on HBO. YouTubers like David Dobrik, Makenna Kelly and JoJo Siwa, each boasting millions of loyal subscribers, have made their way onto the list. Music acts like the all-female K-Pop group Blackpink, rapper Juice Wrld and singer Billie Eilish also made the list this year.
Variety also honors the adults that help them shine, be they agents or content execs. Finally, our Up Next section puts the spotlight on talent poised for a breakthrough.
Variety also honors the adults that help them shine, be they agents or content execs. Finally, our Up Next section puts the spotlight on talent poised for a breakthrough.
- 8/6/2019
- by Variety Staff
- Variety Film + TV
There’s plenty of production to go around. That was the message sent Tuesday by the film commissioners of New York City and New Jersey during a conversation held as part of the annual Crain’s Entertainment Summit.
Julie Menin, commissioner of the New York City Mayor’s office of Media and Entertainment, and Steven Gorelick, executive director New Jersey Motion Picture and Television Commission, made it clear that New York and New Jersey are not feverishly competing to lure projects to one side of the Hudson River or the other. The conversation, moderated by Addie Morfoot, a contributor to Crain’s and Variety, also touched on the booming demand for stage space and location filming sites and the need to develop diversity initiatives to bring more women and persons of color into the entertainment business.
“There’s so much business to go around,” Menin said. “Our stages are very,...
Julie Menin, commissioner of the New York City Mayor’s office of Media and Entertainment, and Steven Gorelick, executive director New Jersey Motion Picture and Television Commission, made it clear that New York and New Jersey are not feverishly competing to lure projects to one side of the Hudson River or the other. The conversation, moderated by Addie Morfoot, a contributor to Crain’s and Variety, also touched on the booming demand for stage space and location filming sites and the need to develop diversity initiatives to bring more women and persons of color into the entertainment business.
“There’s so much business to go around,” Menin said. “Our stages are very,...
- 10/9/2018
- by Cynthia Littleton
- Variety Film + TV
By Addie Morfoot
A little less than a decade ago, Amy Nauiokas decided it was time for a change. The former Barclays Stockbrokers CEO and managing director wanted to make the transition from a career in finance to a career in the entertainment industry. So she did.
In 2010 Nauiokas founded and launched Archer Gray, a production, media investment and venture capital company that develops and produces narrative films, television shows and documentaries. In 2013 she invited veteran indie producer Anne Carey to join the New York-based shingle as president of production. Together, the duo has backed George Tillman’s “The Inevitable Defeat of Mister and Pete,” Bill Condon’s “Mr. Holmes,” Michael Moore’s “Where to Invade Next” and Mike Mills’ “20th Century Women.” Archer Gray has also been involved in a handful of Broadway productions including “Seminar” and Tony-winner “Once.”
The shingle is repped at Toronto by Marielle Heller’s “Can You Ever Forgive Me?,...
A little less than a decade ago, Amy Nauiokas decided it was time for a change. The former Barclays Stockbrokers CEO and managing director wanted to make the transition from a career in finance to a career in the entertainment industry. So she did.
In 2010 Nauiokas founded and launched Archer Gray, a production, media investment and venture capital company that develops and produces narrative films, television shows and documentaries. In 2013 she invited veteran indie producer Anne Carey to join the New York-based shingle as president of production. Together, the duo has backed George Tillman’s “The Inevitable Defeat of Mister and Pete,” Bill Condon’s “Mr. Holmes,” Michael Moore’s “Where to Invade Next” and Mike Mills’ “20th Century Women.” Archer Gray has also been involved in a handful of Broadway productions including “Seminar” and Tony-winner “Once.”
The shingle is repped at Toronto by Marielle Heller’s “Can You Ever Forgive Me?,...
- 9/11/2018
- by Addie Morfoot
- Variety Film + TV
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