The MoviePass moment was an extraordinary one. Between 2017 and 2018, the company offered a service that granted subscribers admission to one theatrical movie per day for $9.95 per month. At the time, it felt too good to be true, because the business model seemed like it made no sense. And it didn’t – the service flamed out in spectacular fashion by 2019 after burning through hundreds of millions of dollars.
The story of MoviePass’ dramatic rise and fall is the subject of “MoviePass, MovieCrash,” a new documentary that premieres on HBO and Max on May 29.
HBO released a trailer for the documentary today, which promises a “Fyre Fraud”-style look at what went wrong. It’s a story of hubris, excess, and betrayal, and as a moviegoer, it will make you nostalgic for a moment in the relatively recent past that feels so long gone but was so fun while it was happening.
The story of MoviePass’ dramatic rise and fall is the subject of “MoviePass, MovieCrash,” a new documentary that premieres on HBO and Max on May 29.
HBO released a trailer for the documentary today, which promises a “Fyre Fraud”-style look at what went wrong. It’s a story of hubris, excess, and betrayal, and as a moviegoer, it will make you nostalgic for a moment in the relatively recent past that feels so long gone but was so fun while it was happening.
- 5/16/2024
- by Liam Mathews
- Gold Derby
In “Hollywood Con Queen,” director Chris Smith chronicles one of Hollywood’s most audacious scams that involved an impostor who posed as top entertainment studio executives to swindle aspiring artists. Based on the original reporting of entertainment journalist Scott Johnson, and his book, “Hollywood Con Queen: The Hunt for an Evil Genius,” the three-part Apple TV+ docuseries features first-hand accounts and insights from Johnson, private investigator Nicole Kotsianas, the alleged con artist, Hargobind Tahilramani, and his victims.
In 2018, it was revealed that an imposter was posing as a variety of well-known female Hollywood executives and their assistants in a bid to lure victims out to Indonesia with the promise of work. Tahilramani became something of a media sensation when it emerged he had been impersonating women such as former Sony chief Amy Pascal, Marvel Studios executive VP Victoria Alonso and Lucasfilm’s Kathleen Kennedy, and NBCUniversal Studio Group chair and...
In 2018, it was revealed that an imposter was posing as a variety of well-known female Hollywood executives and their assistants in a bid to lure victims out to Indonesia with the promise of work. Tahilramani became something of a media sensation when it emerged he had been impersonating women such as former Sony chief Amy Pascal, Marvel Studios executive VP Victoria Alonso and Lucasfilm’s Kathleen Kennedy, and NBCUniversal Studio Group chair and...
- 5/8/2024
- by Addie Morfoot
- Variety Film + TV
An Emmy Award-winning filmmaker, an investigative journalist, and a private investigator walk into a secret Hollywood scam and find a story stranger than any movie plot. Chris Smith, Scott Johnson, and Nicole Kotsianas dive deep on one of Tinsel Town’s biggest scams: the long-evasive “Con Queen,” who lured entertainment gig workers on alleged international assignments and instead sent them on “perverse psychological game(s) spanning the globe.” “Hollywood Con Queen,” an original three-part docuseries from Apple TV+, will premiere on Wednesday, May 8. You can watch Hollywood Con Queen with a 7-Day Free Trial of Apple TV+.
How to Watch ‘Hollywood Con Queen’ Premiere When: Wednesday, May 8, 2024 Where: Apple TV+ Stream: Watch with a 7-Day Free Trial of Apple TV+. 7-Day Free Trial$9.99+ / month apple.com About ‘Hollywood Con Queen’ Premiere
The latest from Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Chris Smith and Library Films and based on the original reporting of investigative...
How to Watch ‘Hollywood Con Queen’ Premiere When: Wednesday, May 8, 2024 Where: Apple TV+ Stream: Watch with a 7-Day Free Trial of Apple TV+. 7-Day Free Trial$9.99+ / month apple.com About ‘Hollywood Con Queen’ Premiere
The latest from Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Chris Smith and Library Films and based on the original reporting of investigative...
- 5/8/2024
- by Ashley Steves
- The Streamable
Exclusive: Vice Media Group has announced a new creative structure for its global production business now dubbed Vice Studios Group, which will oversee five premium production entities: Pulse Films, UnTypical, Vice Studios LatAm, Vice Studios Canada and a news documentary unit. Vice Studios Group will be led by the newly elevated Jamie Hall in London and Danny Gabai in Los Angeles as Co-Presidents.
The new content-studio, which has a distribution catalogue of more than 1,000 hours, will work with global streamers, linear broadcasters and brands around the world to develop, finance and produce multi-genre, cutting edge content. It currently has more than 20 productions filming or in edit across the group, including scripted, non-fiction, news and music documentaries. Additionally, Gabai said that the group has “started production on a comedic but character-driven documentary about the 1994 World Cup with Jamie Crawford (Trainwreck: Woodstock ’99) attached to direct – one of the multiple projects we’re doing with Jamie.
The new content-studio, which has a distribution catalogue of more than 1,000 hours, will work with global streamers, linear broadcasters and brands around the world to develop, finance and produce multi-genre, cutting edge content. It currently has more than 20 productions filming or in edit across the group, including scripted, non-fiction, news and music documentaries. Additionally, Gabai said that the group has “started production on a comedic but character-driven documentary about the 1994 World Cup with Jamie Crawford (Trainwreck: Woodstock ’99) attached to direct – one of the multiple projects we’re doing with Jamie.
- 4/29/2024
- by Diana Lodderhose
- Deadline Film + TV
Apple has unveiled the trailer for the explosive documentary series ‘Hollywood Con Queen,’ which explores the shocking story behind one of Hollywood’s biggest scams.
A mysterious figure dubbed the ‘Con Queen’ impersonates the industry’s most powerful women, luring unsuspecting victims to Indonesia with the promise of a life-changing career opportunity. The ‘Con Queen’s marks exhaust their personal finances in pursuit of a big break, while being exploited in a perverse psychological game spanning the globe. The scam eventually draws the attention of veteran investigative journalist Scott Johnson of The Hollywood Reporter, and dedicated private investigator Nicole Kotsianas, who set out to find the truth, only to discover a story more strange than they could have imagined.
The docu-series hails from Emmy-winner Chris Smith and Library Films, the team behind the pop-culture phenomenon ‘Tiger King,’ the acclaimed surfing docuseries ‘100 Foot Wave,’ ‘Fyre,’ ‘Bad Vegan,’ ‘Operation Varsity Blues’ and more.
A mysterious figure dubbed the ‘Con Queen’ impersonates the industry’s most powerful women, luring unsuspecting victims to Indonesia with the promise of a life-changing career opportunity. The ‘Con Queen’s marks exhaust their personal finances in pursuit of a big break, while being exploited in a perverse psychological game spanning the globe. The scam eventually draws the attention of veteran investigative journalist Scott Johnson of The Hollywood Reporter, and dedicated private investigator Nicole Kotsianas, who set out to find the truth, only to discover a story more strange than they could have imagined.
The docu-series hails from Emmy-winner Chris Smith and Library Films, the team behind the pop-culture phenomenon ‘Tiger King,’ the acclaimed surfing docuseries ‘100 Foot Wave,’ ‘Fyre,’ ‘Bad Vegan,’ ‘Operation Varsity Blues’ and more.
- 4/29/2024
- by Zehra Phelan
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
They don’t call the scammer who fooled hundreds of entertainment gig workers out of their money, time, and dreams the “Hollywood Con Queen” for nothing. Filmmaker Chris Smith’s three-part docuseries starts streaming May 8 on Apple TV+ and aims to flesh out the staggering impact of an anonymous fraudster who preyed on hundreds of industry hopefuls from across the globe.
The criminal mastermind — whose identity you can Google but is the linchpin dramatic question in the forthcoming true crime project — posed as various major players from across development. Pretending to be everyone from Amy Pascal to Deborah Snyder to Kathleen Kennedy, the mysterious female voice dangled the promise of life-changing career opportunities in Southeast Asia before exploiting the unlucky creatives who actually tried to take them.
Based on the original reporting of “The Hollywood Reporter” journalist Scott Johnson and his book for Harper Collins (“Hollywood Con Queen: The Hunt...
The criminal mastermind — whose identity you can Google but is the linchpin dramatic question in the forthcoming true crime project — posed as various major players from across development. Pretending to be everyone from Amy Pascal to Deborah Snyder to Kathleen Kennedy, the mysterious female voice dangled the promise of life-changing career opportunities in Southeast Asia before exploiting the unlucky creatives who actually tried to take them.
Based on the original reporting of “The Hollywood Reporter” journalist Scott Johnson and his book for Harper Collins (“Hollywood Con Queen: The Hunt...
- 4/25/2024
- by Alison Foreman
- Indiewire
Apple TV+ has announced its programming for the month of May, which includes the return of two comedies, the premieres of a drama and a sci-fi series, and a documentary. The service also offers feature films, as well as kids and family entertainment.
The Apple TV Plus May 2024 lineup includes Acapulco Season 3, The Big Cigar, Dark Matter, Hollywood Con Queen, and Trying Season 4.
Apple TV+ is available on the Apple TV app on over 1 billion screens, including iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Apple Vision Pro, Mac, popular smart TVs from Samsung, LG, Sony, Vizio, Tcl, and others, Roku, and Amazon Fire TV devices, Chromecast with Google TV, PlayStation and Xbox gaming consoles, and at the Apple site.
For a limited time, customers who purchase and activate a new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, or Mac can enjoy three months of Apple TV+ for free.
Apple TV Plus May 2024 Highlights
Available May 1
Acapulco...
The Apple TV Plus May 2024 lineup includes Acapulco Season 3, The Big Cigar, Dark Matter, Hollywood Con Queen, and Trying Season 4.
Apple TV+ is available on the Apple TV app on over 1 billion screens, including iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Apple Vision Pro, Mac, popular smart TVs from Samsung, LG, Sony, Vizio, Tcl, and others, Roku, and Amazon Fire TV devices, Chromecast with Google TV, PlayStation and Xbox gaming consoles, and at the Apple site.
For a limited time, customers who purchase and activate a new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, or Mac can enjoy three months of Apple TV+ for free.
Apple TV Plus May 2024 Highlights
Available May 1
Acapulco...
- 4/25/2024
- by Mirko Parlevliet
- Vital Thrills
Today, Apple TV+ announced a series order for the riveting new three-part documentary series Hollywood Con Queen from Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Chris Smith. It is set to debut globally on Apple TV+ on May 8, 2024.
Based on investigative journalist Scott Johnson’s original reporting and his book, Hollywood Con Queen: The Hunt for an Evil Genius, published by Harper Collins, the series explores the shocking story behind one of Hollywood’s biggest scams.
A mysterious figure dubbed the ‘Con Queen’ impersonates the industry’s most powerful women, luring unsuspecting victims to Indonesia with the promise of a life-changing career opportunity. The Con Queen’s marks exhaust their personal finances in pursuit of a big break while being exploited in a perverse psychological game spanning the globe.
The scam eventually drew the attention of veteran investigative journalist of The Hollywood Reporter and dedicated private investigator Nicole Kotsianas, formerly of K2 Integrity, who...
Based on investigative journalist Scott Johnson’s original reporting and his book, Hollywood Con Queen: The Hunt for an Evil Genius, published by Harper Collins, the series explores the shocking story behind one of Hollywood’s biggest scams.
A mysterious figure dubbed the ‘Con Queen’ impersonates the industry’s most powerful women, luring unsuspecting victims to Indonesia with the promise of a life-changing career opportunity. The Con Queen’s marks exhaust their personal finances in pursuit of a big break while being exploited in a perverse psychological game spanning the globe.
The scam eventually drew the attention of veteran investigative journalist of The Hollywood Reporter and dedicated private investigator Nicole Kotsianas, formerly of K2 Integrity, who...
- 4/15/2024
- by Mirko Parlevliet
- Vital Thrills
Exclusive: Sky has acquired UK rights to true-crime documentary series Inheritance: The Jersey Murders, which has been six years in the making.
The under-the-radar three-part series is set amidst the 1987 Great Storm on the island of Jersey, where Elizabeth and Nicholas Newall vanish. Suspicion falls on their sons, Roderick and Mark, when blood is found, leading to a murder investigation. Roderick evades the police but is eventually apprehended off the coast of Africa, while Mark is arrested in Europe. Legal complexities result in a secret deal: Roderick serves 12 years for double murder, while Mark serves 22 months and inherits the entire Newall fortune. More than three decades later, this three-part documentary uses 70 hours of unheard taped recordings between the brothers to reveal new insight and uncovers how Mark Newall went on to co-found a major e-commerce company.
The limited series was directed and produced by Eloise Singer at Singer Studios and...
The under-the-radar three-part series is set amidst the 1987 Great Storm on the island of Jersey, where Elizabeth and Nicholas Newall vanish. Suspicion falls on their sons, Roderick and Mark, when blood is found, leading to a murder investigation. Roderick evades the police but is eventually apprehended off the coast of Africa, while Mark is arrested in Europe. Legal complexities result in a secret deal: Roderick serves 12 years for double murder, while Mark serves 22 months and inherits the entire Newall fortune. More than three decades later, this three-part documentary uses 70 hours of unheard taped recordings between the brothers to reveal new insight and uncovers how Mark Newall went on to co-found a major e-commerce company.
The limited series was directed and produced by Eloise Singer at Singer Studios and...
- 2/29/2024
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
There has only ever been one Devo — and there will likely never be another. The new wave band best known for their 1980 megahit “Whip It” was born in Akron, Ohio, in 1973, when two sets of brothers — Mark and Bob Mothersbaugh and Gerald and Bob Casale — met at Kent State University and decided to create an art collective.
The name came from the concept of “de-evolution,” a kind of reverse Darwinism that posited, tongue in cheek, that humankind was moving backwards. But then they bore witness to the infamous Kent State Massacre on May 4, 1970, in which Ohio National Guardsmen killed four unarmed student war protesters — pushing Devo into the realm of performances and protest art. Along the way, they created surrealist art videos to accompany their music, including 1976’s short film The Truth About De-Evolution, which became an underground phenomenon, drawing the attention of David Bowie and landing them a record deal at Warner.
The name came from the concept of “de-evolution,” a kind of reverse Darwinism that posited, tongue in cheek, that humankind was moving backwards. But then they bore witness to the infamous Kent State Massacre on May 4, 1970, in which Ohio National Guardsmen killed four unarmed student war protesters — pushing Devo into the realm of performances and protest art. Along the way, they created surrealist art videos to accompany their music, including 1976’s short film The Truth About De-Evolution, which became an underground phenomenon, drawing the attention of David Bowie and landing them a record deal at Warner.
- 1/19/2024
- by Seth Abramovitch
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Sting, Incubus, Devo, and My Morning Jacket will shake the sands of Redondo Beach, California’s waterfront, this spring at the fifth installment of the BeachLife Festival. Other performers include Seal, Dirty Heads, Local Natives, Santigold, Trey Anastasio, Fleet Foxes, Zz Top, and Courtney Barnett. Tickets for the three-day fest, which kicks off May 3, are available now.
The lineup spans a variety of genres, including reggae (Steel Pulse, Pepper), punk (performances by members of the Vandals, All, 7 Seconds), and mambo (Tito Puente Jr.) Additionally, the Samples, Surfer Blood, Chevy Metal,...
The lineup spans a variety of genres, including reggae (Steel Pulse, Pepper), punk (performances by members of the Vandals, All, 7 Seconds), and mambo (Tito Puente Jr.) Additionally, the Samples, Surfer Blood, Chevy Metal,...
- 1/19/2024
- by Kory Grow
- Rollingstone.com
If you expect the Netflix docuseries “Big Vape: The Rise and Fall of Juul” to be the ultimate takedown of controversial e-cigarettes, think again.
The four-part series, directed by R.J. Cutler and based on Time reporter Jamie Ducharme’s book “Big Vape: The Incendiary Rise of Juul,” examines all the mistakes Juul executives made, including marketing the e-cigarette to millennials. The series also suggests that the product might very well be a better option than conventional cigarettes.
Stanford graduate students and Juul founders Adam Bowen and James Monsee, who did not participate in the series, were on a smoke break when they had an “a-ha” moment. Could they create a nicotine product that was less harmful than cigarettes? Bowen and Monsee wanted to “erase combustible cigarettes from the face of the earth.” The result was Juul, an electronic cigarette startup meant to save lives that came under federal scrutiny for its own health risks.
The four-part series, directed by R.J. Cutler and based on Time reporter Jamie Ducharme’s book “Big Vape: The Incendiary Rise of Juul,” examines all the mistakes Juul executives made, including marketing the e-cigarette to millennials. The series also suggests that the product might very well be a better option than conventional cigarettes.
Stanford graduate students and Juul founders Adam Bowen and James Monsee, who did not participate in the series, were on a smoke break when they had an “a-ha” moment. Could they create a nicotine product that was less harmful than cigarettes? Bowen and Monsee wanted to “erase combustible cigarettes from the face of the earth.” The result was Juul, an electronic cigarette startup meant to save lives that came under federal scrutiny for its own health risks.
- 10/11/2023
- by Addie Morfoot
- Variety Film + TV
Pack your water bottles, because a second Fyre Festival seems to be in the works. On Aug. 20, Billy McFarland, the organizer behind the original failed event, revealed that tickets for a second installment of the festival were on sale for $499 apiece in an Instagram video. He also said the event was scheduled for December 2024.
Just two days later, McFarland claimed that the festival had sold out entirely. However, event's website claims more tickets are "coming soon," though they'll cost between $799 and $7,999 each.
Not many details or specifics about the second Fyre Festival are available, and the website merely says that the festival will take place somewhere in "The Caribbean." Meanwhile, in 2022, the Bahamas Tourism Industry said it would "not endorse or approve any event" on the islands "associated with" McFarland, per NBC.
Speculation about a second Fyre Festival began to swirl when McFarland shared a series of cryptic tweets on April 9 teasing a follow-up.
Just two days later, McFarland claimed that the festival had sold out entirely. However, event's website claims more tickets are "coming soon," though they'll cost between $799 and $7,999 each.
Not many details or specifics about the second Fyre Festival are available, and the website merely says that the festival will take place somewhere in "The Caribbean." Meanwhile, in 2022, the Bahamas Tourism Industry said it would "not endorse or approve any event" on the islands "associated with" McFarland, per NBC.
Speculation about a second Fyre Festival began to swirl when McFarland shared a series of cryptic tweets on April 9 teasing a follow-up.
- 8/24/2023
- by Chandler Plante
- Popsugar.com
Years after the disastrous 2017 Fyre Festival, Billy McFarland has announced that Fyre Festival II is in the works.
McFarland said in a video posted on social media Sunday that after speaking with “people as far away as the Middle East and South America” to host the festival, he ultimately decided that the festival would be “coming back to the Caribbean” with a target date at the end of 2024. Specific locations, dates and festival lineup have yet to be revealed.
“This is a big day,” he added in the clip. “It has been the absolute wildest journey to get here, and it really all started during a seventh-month stint in solitary confinement. I wrote out this 50-page plan of how it would take this overall interest and demand in Fyre and how it would take my ability to bring people from around the world together to make the impossible happen.
On Tuesday morning,...
McFarland said in a video posted on social media Sunday that after speaking with “people as far away as the Middle East and South America” to host the festival, he ultimately decided that the festival would be “coming back to the Caribbean” with a target date at the end of 2024. Specific locations, dates and festival lineup have yet to be revealed.
“This is a big day,” he added in the clip. “It has been the absolute wildest journey to get here, and it really all started during a seventh-month stint in solitary confinement. I wrote out this 50-page plan of how it would take this overall interest and demand in Fyre and how it would take my ability to bring people from around the world together to make the impossible happen.
On Tuesday morning,...
- 8/23/2023
- by Carly Thomas
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The world’s most poorly planned, money-grabbing, disgusting music festival is back! No, not Woodstock ‘99, but the Fyre Festival, which is set to return next year. Just when you got the image of that cheese sandwich out of your head…
The brain cell behind the first Fyre Festival, Billy McFarland, announced the event in a YouTube video this week. “This is a big day because as of right now, Fyre Festival II tickets are officially on sale. It has been the absolute wildest journey to get here, and it really all started during a seventh-month stint in solitary confinement. I wrote out this 50-page plan of how it would take this overall interest and demand in Fyre and how it would take my ability to bring people from around the world together to make the impossible happen.”
The 2024 edition of Fyre Festival, like 2017’s event, will be held in the Caribbean,...
The brain cell behind the first Fyre Festival, Billy McFarland, announced the event in a YouTube video this week. “This is a big day because as of right now, Fyre Festival II tickets are officially on sale. It has been the absolute wildest journey to get here, and it really all started during a seventh-month stint in solitary confinement. I wrote out this 50-page plan of how it would take this overall interest and demand in Fyre and how it would take my ability to bring people from around the world together to make the impossible happen.”
The 2024 edition of Fyre Festival, like 2017’s event, will be held in the Caribbean,...
- 8/22/2023
- by Mathew Plale
- JoBlo.com
Two Friends Edm music duo Eli Sones and Matthew Halper recently revealed that Fyre Festival promoter, Billy McFarland contacted them about performing at a future Fyre Festival.
McFarland’s 2018 Fyre Festival infamously became known as the dumpster fire of music events when McFarland promised hundreds of concert-goers the luxury music festival of a lifetime – and it turned out to be a total con. McFarland ultimately pleaded guilty to defrauding investors, was fined $39 million, and served four years in prison.
Since his release, he’s promised to do Fyre Festival the right way. However, finding strong acts may be pretty tough.
Two Friends wouldn’t consider doing Fyre Festival
McFarland hinted in the press that Fyre Festival 2.0 could be in the works and Two Friends confirmed that the disgraced promoter contacted them.
“Funny enough, I would say probably not,” Sones told Showbiz Cheat Sheet about the possibility of playing Fyre. “But he actually did.
McFarland’s 2018 Fyre Festival infamously became known as the dumpster fire of music events when McFarland promised hundreds of concert-goers the luxury music festival of a lifetime – and it turned out to be a total con. McFarland ultimately pleaded guilty to defrauding investors, was fined $39 million, and served four years in prison.
Since his release, he’s promised to do Fyre Festival the right way. However, finding strong acts may be pretty tough.
Two Friends wouldn’t consider doing Fyre Festival
McFarland hinted in the press that Fyre Festival 2.0 could be in the works and Two Friends confirmed that the disgraced promoter contacted them.
“Funny enough, I would say probably not,” Sones told Showbiz Cheat Sheet about the possibility of playing Fyre. “But he actually did.
- 7/26/2023
- by Gina Ragusa
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Unabashed pop groups with fervid teenage followings tend to get trivialized, at least in the media. They’re dismissed as being slick and calculated and superficial. But there’s a story in “Wham!,” the new Netflix documentary about the quintessential pop duo of the 1980s, that testifies to what a chancy and audacious artist George Michael was even back in his teen-idol days.
The year is 1983. Michael and Andrew Ridgeley, coming off their first album, “Fantastic”, have established Wham! as an effective lightweight pop machine, with its two young stars prancing around the stage in sexy sportswear. The time has come to record “Careless Whisper,” a song they’ve had in their back pocket for several years (we hear the super-early demo version of it that they recorded in 1981 in Ridgeley’s living room on a Teac 4-track Portastudio). Michael has become enough of a powerhouse to hook up with Jerry Wexler,...
The year is 1983. Michael and Andrew Ridgeley, coming off their first album, “Fantastic”, have established Wham! as an effective lightweight pop machine, with its two young stars prancing around the stage in sexy sportswear. The time has come to record “Careless Whisper,” a song they’ve had in their back pocket for several years (we hear the super-early demo version of it that they recorded in 1981 in Ridgeley’s living room on a Teac 4-track Portastudio). Michael has become enough of a powerhouse to hook up with Jerry Wexler,...
- 7/8/2023
- by Owen Gleiberman
- Variety Film + TV
It’s Sunday afternoon, and the sun is slowly coming out on New York City’s Orchard Street. Patches of the street are covered in soapy water and last night’s party detritus — cups, cigarettes, and ripped wristbands dot the sidewalks. Dogs pull their owners down the street, last night’s revelers clutch coffees and sandwiches like lifelines, and a few marathoners head home, wrapped in foil blankets. In fact, there are people everywhere — everywhere except 7th Street Burger, that is, where inside, Billy McFarland is sweating behind a grill,...
- 4/24/2023
- by CT Jones
- Rollingstone.com
Billy McFarland has declared that Fyre Festival II, the follow-up to his fraudulent 2017 Bahamas-based event, is “finally happening,” though it’s unclear how long the controversial co-founder will leave potential concertgoers stranded without firm details.
McFarland made the announcement on Sunday evening, tweeting: “...
McFarland made the announcement on Sunday evening, tweeting: “...
- 4/18/2023
- by Bryan Kress
- Consequence - Music
Fyre Festival 2 is reportedly in the works, six years after that disastrous event.
American con artist and convicted felon, Billy McFarland — who co-founded the ill-fated festival — took to Twitter on Monday to reveal the news.
He wrote, “ Fyre Festival II is finally happening. Tell me why you should be invited.”
Fyre Festival II is finally happening.
Tell me why you should be invited.
— Billy McFarland (@pyrtbilly) April 10, 2023
McFarland was released from prison in late March 2022 after serving over four years of a six-year sentence. He pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud in March 2018.
Read More: Fyre Festival Organizer Billy McFarland Breaks Silence From Jail: ‘What The F**k Was I Thinking?’
McFarland recently posted about owing people $26 million Usd after defrauding more than 100 investors in the disastrous 2017 festival.
I owe people $26m
Here's how I'm going to pay it back:
I spend half my time filming TV shows.
American con artist and convicted felon, Billy McFarland — who co-founded the ill-fated festival — took to Twitter on Monday to reveal the news.
He wrote, “ Fyre Festival II is finally happening. Tell me why you should be invited.”
Fyre Festival II is finally happening.
Tell me why you should be invited.
— Billy McFarland (@pyrtbilly) April 10, 2023
McFarland was released from prison in late March 2022 after serving over four years of a six-year sentence. He pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud in March 2018.
Read More: Fyre Festival Organizer Billy McFarland Breaks Silence From Jail: ‘What The F**k Was I Thinking?’
McFarland recently posted about owing people $26 million Usd after defrauding more than 100 investors in the disastrous 2017 festival.
I owe people $26m
Here's how I'm going to pay it back:
I spend half my time filming TV shows.
- 4/11/2023
- by Becca Longmire
- ET Canada
Bust out the energy domes and crack those whips: An upcoming authorized documentary will attempt to tell the story of art-rock weirdos Devo.
Titled simply Devo — a little unimaginative given the subject matter — the full-length feature will chart the Ohio band’s formation in the aftermath of the Kent State massacre and their art punk beginnings to their landmark 1978 LP Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo! and mastery of the MTV medium as unlikely “Whip It!” hitmakers.
American Movie and Fyre documentarian Chris Smith will direct the film,...
Titled simply Devo — a little unimaginative given the subject matter — the full-length feature will chart the Ohio band’s formation in the aftermath of the Kent State massacre and their art punk beginnings to their landmark 1978 LP Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo! and mastery of the MTV medium as unlikely “Whip It!” hitmakers.
American Movie and Fyre documentarian Chris Smith will direct the film,...
- 3/22/2023
- by Daniel Kreps
- Rollingstone.com
The first-ever fully authorized Devo documentary is currently in production.
Produced by Vice Studios and Library Films in association with Mutato Entertainment, Devo is directed by Chris Smith (“Sr.”, American Movie, Fyre, Tiger King, 100 Foot Wave).
BMG, Freemantle Documentaries (Mrs. Americana), and Warner Music Group are all producers on the project.
In telling Devo’s story, the film will utilize “a mixture of archival footage, interviews from other characters in their orbit, and a range of storytelling techniques.”
Recently, Devo’s Gerald Casale discussed the origins of the band’s seminal synth-rock classic, “Whip It,” in an episode of The Story Behind the Song. You can revisit the episode below.
Listen via Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | Pocket Casts | YouTube
Devo Documentary in the Works
Alex Young...
Produced by Vice Studios and Library Films in association with Mutato Entertainment, Devo is directed by Chris Smith (“Sr.”, American Movie, Fyre, Tiger King, 100 Foot Wave).
BMG, Freemantle Documentaries (Mrs. Americana), and Warner Music Group are all producers on the project.
In telling Devo’s story, the film will utilize “a mixture of archival footage, interviews from other characters in their orbit, and a range of storytelling techniques.”
Recently, Devo’s Gerald Casale discussed the origins of the band’s seminal synth-rock classic, “Whip It,” in an episode of The Story Behind the Song. You can revisit the episode below.
Listen via Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | Pocket Casts | YouTube
Devo Documentary in the Works
Alex Young...
- 3/22/2023
- by Alex Young
- Consequence - Film News
The first-ever fully authorized Devo documentary is currently in production.
Produced by Vice Studios and Library Films in association with Mutato Entertainment, Devo is directed by Chris Smith (“Sr.”, American Movie, Fyre, Tiger King, 100 Foot Wave).
BMG, Freemantle Documentaries (Mrs. Americana), and Warner Music Group are all producers on the project.
In telling Devo’s story, the film will utilize “a mixture of archival footage, interviews from other characters in their orbit, and a range of storytelling techniques.”
Recently, Devo’s Gerald Casale discussed the origins of the band’s seminal synth-rock classic, “Whip It,” in an episode of The Story Behind the Song. You can revisit the episode below.
Listen via Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | Pocket Casts | YouTube
Devo Documentary in the Works
Alex Young...
Produced by Vice Studios and Library Films in association with Mutato Entertainment, Devo is directed by Chris Smith (“Sr.”, American Movie, Fyre, Tiger King, 100 Foot Wave).
BMG, Freemantle Documentaries (Mrs. Americana), and Warner Music Group are all producers on the project.
In telling Devo’s story, the film will utilize “a mixture of archival footage, interviews from other characters in their orbit, and a range of storytelling techniques.”
Recently, Devo’s Gerald Casale discussed the origins of the band’s seminal synth-rock classic, “Whip It,” in an episode of The Story Behind the Song. You can revisit the episode below.
Listen via Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | Pocket Casts | YouTube
Devo Documentary in the Works
Alex Young...
- 3/22/2023
- by Alex Young
- Consequence - Music
Devo, the rock band best known for 1980 hit “Whip It,” is getting the documentary treatment.
The project marks the first authorized documentary about the band, which featured the classic lineup of Mark and Bob Mothersbaugh, Gerald and Bob Casales and Alan Myers.
Chris Smith, who directed Netflix’s Fyre, about the troubled Fyre Festival, and Tiger King, will helm the doc.
It comes from BMG, Fremantle Documentaries, and Warner Music Entertainment with Vice Studios and Library Films producing in association with Mutato Entertainment.
The untitled doc, which is currently in production, tells the story of the band that formed in Akron, Ohio in 1973, in the wake of the Kent State massacre.
It will feature a mix of archival footage and interviews from other characters in their orbit.
Producers include Anita Greenspan and Chris Holmes for Mutato Entertainment, exec produers are William Kennedy, Stuart Souter, and Kathy Rivkin Daum for BMG,...
The project marks the first authorized documentary about the band, which featured the classic lineup of Mark and Bob Mothersbaugh, Gerald and Bob Casales and Alan Myers.
Chris Smith, who directed Netflix’s Fyre, about the troubled Fyre Festival, and Tiger King, will helm the doc.
It comes from BMG, Fremantle Documentaries, and Warner Music Entertainment with Vice Studios and Library Films producing in association with Mutato Entertainment.
The untitled doc, which is currently in production, tells the story of the band that formed in Akron, Ohio in 1973, in the wake of the Kent State massacre.
It will feature a mix of archival footage and interviews from other characters in their orbit.
Producers include Anita Greenspan and Chris Holmes for Mutato Entertainment, exec produers are William Kennedy, Stuart Souter, and Kathy Rivkin Daum for BMG,...
- 3/22/2023
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
The goal of most journalists who work in the film/TV space, I would assume, is to approach the subject matter of something they are going to review with a certain amount of objectivity. Maybe I'm just speaking for myself, but I digress. The point is, sometimes one is confronted by something so uniquely personal that it becomes difficult to dip into the well of objective thought at all. Such was the case with the upcoming documentary "Join or Die," which I had the great pleasure of seeing at this year's SXSW in Austin, Texas. Am I going to see more entertaining movies in 2023? You bet. Am I going to see a movie that makes me more empowered to get off my ass and do something for the betterment of my country? Not a chance.
"Join or Die" is, somewhat basically, a film about why you should join a club.
"Join or Die" is, somewhat basically, a film about why you should join a club.
- 3/14/2023
- by Ryan Scott
- Slash Film
Two years ago, South Carolina lawyer Alex Murdaugh was accused of murdering his wife Maggie and son Paul. The tragedy made headlines around the country as his alleged misdeeds became public.
Now, Netflix is telling the story on Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal. From the creators of Fyre, the three-part docuseries premieres on Februay 22, 2023. Currently, Alex is standing trial for their deaths, but what about his other son? Here’s what Buster Murdaugh has been doing since his family was rocked by murder accusations as well as 100+ other charges.
Alex Murdaugh is accused of murdering his wife and son Buster Murdaugh’s dad, Alex Murdaugh | Tracy Glantz/The State/Tribune News Service via Getty Images
In June 2021, Alex Murdaugh called 911 and said he found the bodies of his wife Maggie Murdaugh and youngest son Paul Murdaugh at the family’s hunting lodge. Maggie and Paul had been shot multiple times.
Now, Netflix is telling the story on Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal. From the creators of Fyre, the three-part docuseries premieres on Februay 22, 2023. Currently, Alex is standing trial for their deaths, but what about his other son? Here’s what Buster Murdaugh has been doing since his family was rocked by murder accusations as well as 100+ other charges.
Alex Murdaugh is accused of murdering his wife and son Buster Murdaugh’s dad, Alex Murdaugh | Tracy Glantz/The State/Tribune News Service via Getty Images
In June 2021, Alex Murdaugh called 911 and said he found the bodies of his wife Maggie Murdaugh and youngest son Paul Murdaugh at the family’s hunting lodge. Maggie and Paul had been shot multiple times.
- 2/20/2023
- by India McCarty
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
‘Sr.’ Review: Robert Downey Jr. Gets Vulnerable in This Oddball Collaboration With Cult Director Dad
Just how polished does a career-spanning documentary about the anarchic underground filmmaker behind “Greaser’s Palace” and “Putney Swope” need to be? If you’ve seen any of Robert Downey’s films, the answer is obviously: not very. You might even say, the scrappier the better. So goes the thinking behind “Sr.,” a loose seemingly seat-of-your-pants portrait of the antiestablishment director (perhaps best known for siring “Iron Man” star Robert Downey Jr.) that sneaks up on ya, emotionally speaking, seeing as how it doubles as a kind of farewell exercise between the two generations (plus grandson Exton) in the months before Downey succumbed to Parkinson’s Disease.
“Oddly, it’s sort of what your family does. You guys make art of your lives,” analyzes Junior’s therapist fairly late in the process, not long before dad’s passing. There’s no question that’s what’s really going on in an...
“Oddly, it’s sort of what your family does. You guys make art of your lives,” analyzes Junior’s therapist fairly late in the process, not long before dad’s passing. There’s no question that’s what’s really going on in an...
- 9/5/2022
- by Peter Debruge
- Variety Film + TV
Vulture Watch
ABC News brings us tales of duplicity, broken promises, and greed. Has the The Con TV show been cancelled or renewed for a third season? The television vulture is watching all the latest cancellation and renewal news, so this page is the place to track the status of The Con, season three. Bookmark it, or subscribe for the latest updates. Remember, the television vulture is watching your shows. Are you?
What's This TV Show About?
Airing on the ABC television network, The Con TV series is narrated by Whoopi Goldberg and features podcaster Laci Mosely offering her expert insights. The show explores the troubling tales of people taken in by claims and promises that proved too good to be true. It delves into a myriad of topics, from identity fraud and misleading romance to the high-profile college admission scandal and Fyre...
ABC News brings us tales of duplicity, broken promises, and greed. Has the The Con TV show been cancelled or renewed for a third season? The television vulture is watching all the latest cancellation and renewal news, so this page is the place to track the status of The Con, season three. Bookmark it, or subscribe for the latest updates. Remember, the television vulture is watching your shows. Are you?
What's This TV Show About?
Airing on the ABC television network, The Con TV series is narrated by Whoopi Goldberg and features podcaster Laci Mosely offering her expert insights. The show explores the troubling tales of people taken in by claims and promises that proved too good to be true. It delves into a myriad of topics, from identity fraud and misleading romance to the high-profile college admission scandal and Fyre...
- 7/30/2022
- by TVSeriesFinale.com
- TVSeriesFinale.com
Billy McFarland, the man behind the doomed Fyre Festival in 2017, was partially made a free man when he was released early from prison and transferred this week to a halfway house in Brooklyn, New York.
The 30-year-old still had another 14 months to serve on his six-year sentence for wire fraud after he duped investors out of 26 million over the disastrous festival that ended up serving pathetic cheese sandwiches to ticket holders while they were effectively stranded in The Bahamas.
One such investor is John Nemeth, who works as a director...
The 30-year-old still had another 14 months to serve on his six-year sentence for wire fraud after he duped investors out of 26 million over the disastrous festival that ended up serving pathetic cheese sandwiches to ticket holders while they were effectively stranded in The Bahamas.
One such investor is John Nemeth, who works as a director...
- 5/22/2022
- by Cheyenne Roundtree
- Rollingstone.com
Exclusive: Chris Smith, the four-time Emmy nominee who directed and exec produced Netflix’s true-crime docuseries Bad Vegan: Fame. Fraud. Fugitives., has signed with Cinetic Media for management, bringing his Library Films production shingle with him.
Smith’s series Bad Vegan recently registered as a #1 hit on Netflix. It tells the stranger-than-fiction story of Sarma Melngailis, a celebrated vegan restaurateur who found her life veering off the rails, after marrying a mysterious man who claimed he could make her dog immortal.
Smith is known for his ability to craft culturally relevant narratives, documentaries and series that explore the essence of human behavior, often in humorous ways. He also recently directed and produced Netflix’s Fyre: The Greatest Party that Never Happened and HBO’s 100 Foot Wave, and served as an exec producer on Netflix’s smash, Tiger King.
Smith’s first film, American Job, garnered him an Independent Spirit Award nomination,...
Smith’s series Bad Vegan recently registered as a #1 hit on Netflix. It tells the stranger-than-fiction story of Sarma Melngailis, a celebrated vegan restaurateur who found her life veering off the rails, after marrying a mysterious man who claimed he could make her dog immortal.
Smith is known for his ability to craft culturally relevant narratives, documentaries and series that explore the essence of human behavior, often in humorous ways. He also recently directed and produced Netflix’s Fyre: The Greatest Party that Never Happened and HBO’s 100 Foot Wave, and served as an exec producer on Netflix’s smash, Tiger King.
Smith’s first film, American Job, garnered him an Independent Spirit Award nomination,...
- 4/7/2022
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
If you, like me, recently finished binging Netflix’s new docuseries sensation “Bad Vegan: Fame. Fraud. Fugitives.” — with its pyramid scheme-esque layers of scams — you were perhaps left with a bad taste in your mouth.
Regardless of your interpretation of the narrative, carefully constructed by “Fyre: The Greatest Party That Never Happened” director Chris Smith, the four-part series attempts to trace a steady line through a truly bizarre sequence of events that enraptured New York circles — and beyond — several years ago.
“Bad Vegan” centers on Sarma Melngailis, once a lauded entrepreneurial chef and restaurateur on the cutting-edge future of raw vegan food at the turn of the aughts. Her buzzy establishment Pure Food & Wine, located in the Gramercy Park neighborhood of Manhattan and co-founded in 2004, quickly became a hotspot for the likes of Owen Wilson, Alec Baldwin and Bill Clinton. Melngailis’ to-go health bar offshoot, One Lucky Duck, soon followed.
Regardless of your interpretation of the narrative, carefully constructed by “Fyre: The Greatest Party That Never Happened” director Chris Smith, the four-part series attempts to trace a steady line through a truly bizarre sequence of events that enraptured New York circles — and beyond — several years ago.
“Bad Vegan” centers on Sarma Melngailis, once a lauded entrepreneurial chef and restaurateur on the cutting-edge future of raw vegan food at the turn of the aughts. Her buzzy establishment Pure Food & Wine, located in the Gramercy Park neighborhood of Manhattan and co-founded in 2004, quickly became a hotspot for the likes of Owen Wilson, Alec Baldwin and Bill Clinton. Melngailis’ to-go health bar offshoot, One Lucky Duck, soon followed.
- 3/25/2022
- by Natalie Oganesyan
- The Wrap
This article contains spoilers for Bad Vegan.
Despite usually wanting to present the objective truth, documentary filmmakers wield an enormous amount of power in shaping the perception of their chosen subjects. Documentarians are the arbiters of what footage does and does not make it into a documentary in the first place. Then, once that footage is incorporated, the filmmakers can always add subtle touches like music, subtitles, or further context to influence the audience in one way or another.
Still, even when documentarians have no preset agenda, sometimes audiences can interpret one bit of footage presented far differently than what the filmmakers intended. Such is the case with the latest buzzworthy Netflix docuseries Bad Vegan: Fame. Fraud. Fugitives. Directed by Christ Smith (who also directed Netflix’s Fyre: The Greatest Party That Never Happened) and produced by Ryann Fraser (who also produced Netflix’s Tiger King), this four-episode story chronicles...
Despite usually wanting to present the objective truth, documentary filmmakers wield an enormous amount of power in shaping the perception of their chosen subjects. Documentarians are the arbiters of what footage does and does not make it into a documentary in the first place. Then, once that footage is incorporated, the filmmakers can always add subtle touches like music, subtitles, or further context to influence the audience in one way or another.
Still, even when documentarians have no preset agenda, sometimes audiences can interpret one bit of footage presented far differently than what the filmmakers intended. Such is the case with the latest buzzworthy Netflix docuseries Bad Vegan: Fame. Fraud. Fugitives. Directed by Christ Smith (who also directed Netflix’s Fyre: The Greatest Party That Never Happened) and produced by Ryann Fraser (who also produced Netflix’s Tiger King), this four-episode story chronicles...
- 3/25/2022
- by Alec Bojalad
- Den of Geek
Docuseries “Bad Vegan” debuted on Netflix’s Top 10 list of English-language TV series at No. 5, with 27 million hours of the show viewed in the first five days after its March 16 launch. On the film side, “The Adam Project” maintained its hold as the No. 1 movie for the second week in a row.
From Chris Smith, the executive producer of “Tiger King” and director of “Fyre: The Greatest Party That Never Happened,” “Bad Vegan: Fame. Fraud. Fugitives” is a four-part documentary series that explores how Sarma Melngailis, the celebrity restaurateur behind the glittering New York hotspot Pure Food and Wine, went from being the queen of vegan cuisine to being known as the “Vegan Fugitive.” Shortly after meeting a man named Shane Fox on Twitter in 2011, Melngailis begins draining her restaurant’s funds and funneling the money to Fox after he cons her into believing he could make her dreams — from...
From Chris Smith, the executive producer of “Tiger King” and director of “Fyre: The Greatest Party That Never Happened,” “Bad Vegan: Fame. Fraud. Fugitives” is a four-part documentary series that explores how Sarma Melngailis, the celebrity restaurateur behind the glittering New York hotspot Pure Food and Wine, went from being the queen of vegan cuisine to being known as the “Vegan Fugitive.” Shortly after meeting a man named Shane Fox on Twitter in 2011, Melngailis begins draining her restaurant’s funds and funneling the money to Fox after he cons her into believing he could make her dreams — from...
- 3/22/2022
- by Jennifer Maas
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: The Amazing Spiderman, 500 Days of Summer and Disney’s Snow White director Marc Webb has been set to direct supernatural thriller Day Drinker.
Based around the bond between an enigmatic stranger and a bartender mourning the loss of her lover, the original story is written by Zach Dean (The Tomorrow War), who will also produce alongside Lit Entertainment Group’s Adam Kolbrenner (The Tomorrow War). 30West is financing and will executive-produce.
Set in coastal France, Portugal, and Spain, plot details are largely being kept under wraps but we’re told the story spans “love, friendship, and revenge”. The project could become a hot Cannes market prospect but that hasn’t been set yet.
30West’s upcoming slate includes Killers of the Flower Moon, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro (Apple), The Contractor, starring Chris Pine, Ben Foster and Kiefer Sutherland, and Ruben Östlund’s...
Based around the bond between an enigmatic stranger and a bartender mourning the loss of her lover, the original story is written by Zach Dean (The Tomorrow War), who will also produce alongside Lit Entertainment Group’s Adam Kolbrenner (The Tomorrow War). 30West is financing and will executive-produce.
Set in coastal France, Portugal, and Spain, plot details are largely being kept under wraps but we’re told the story spans “love, friendship, and revenge”. The project could become a hot Cannes market prospect but that hasn’t been set yet.
30West’s upcoming slate includes Killers of the Flower Moon, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro (Apple), The Contractor, starring Chris Pine, Ben Foster and Kiefer Sutherland, and Ruben Östlund’s...
- 3/16/2022
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Netflix has once again found a criminal case whose oddity, extremity, and seeming delusion make for an interesting story. “Bad Vegan: Fame. Fraud. Fugitives” — the director of which, Chris Smith, executive produced “Tiger King” and helmed “Fyre: The Greatest Party That Never Happened,” both previously on the streamer — certainly has that to its credit. Sarma Melngailis, a celebrated raw-food chef with a burgeoning restaurant under her control, fell from a perch atop the New York culinary establishment after draining her restaurant’s funds to pay her husband Anthony Strangis, eventually going on the lam with him before being discovered in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, after the couple ordered — irony alert — a Domino’s pizza.
From the enigma of what motivates us to a rise-and-fall narrative to — yes — the pleasures of schadenfreude, the materials for a fascinating tale are here. And Melngailis’ journey, culminating in her arrest for fraud, certainly bears the fascination of tragedy.
From the enigma of what motivates us to a rise-and-fall narrative to — yes — the pleasures of schadenfreude, the materials for a fascinating tale are here. And Melngailis’ journey, culminating in her arrest for fraud, certainly bears the fascination of tragedy.
- 3/16/2022
- by Daniel D'Addario
- Variety Film + TV
“Bad Vegan: Fame. Fraud. Fugitives” is the latest documentary from Chris Smith, the director of “Fyre: The Greatest Party That Never Happened” and “100 Foot Wave,” and an executive producer of “Tiger King.” The four-part Netflix docuseries, which Smith executive produced and directed, explores how New York City celebrity restaurateur Sarma Melngailis went from being the queen of vegan cuisine to fugitive on the run. In 2011, Melngailis – owner of Manhattan’s Pure Food and Wine – began draining the restaurant’s funds and funneling the money to Shane Fox, a con man. Fox convinced Melngalis that he could make her pet pitbull terrier immortal if she obeyed his every request without question. After stealing nearly $2 million from the restaurant and its staff, Melngalis and Fox were found holed up in a Tennessee motel by law enforcement. Their undoing? A charge made under Fox’s real name, Anthony Strangis, for a Domino’s pizza.
- 3/15/2022
- by Addie Morfoot
- Variety Film + TV
Pick any memorable detail at random from the overview montage at the beginning of “Bad Vegan: Fame. Fraud. Fugitives.”: an immortal dog, an undercover operation, a circle of picketers. More notable than any of those individual pieces, though, is the whole itself.
Almost a tacit admission that a four-part documentary series with this title wouldn’t exist without things turning out badly, the show begins at the end, teeing up a tell-all conversation with Sarma Melngailis. In the ever-calcifying Netflix house style, there’s the former proprietor of trendy New York eatery Pure Food and Wine, looking straight into the camera and describing how on the verge of turning her restaurant into a blooming culinary empire, the arrival of one enigmatic individual helped to upend it all.
Much like the reputation of Pure Food and Wine in an enthralled subset of New York socialites, Sarma becomes the prism through...
Almost a tacit admission that a four-part documentary series with this title wouldn’t exist without things turning out badly, the show begins at the end, teeing up a tell-all conversation with Sarma Melngailis. In the ever-calcifying Netflix house style, there’s the former proprietor of trendy New York eatery Pure Food and Wine, looking straight into the camera and describing how on the verge of turning her restaurant into a blooming culinary empire, the arrival of one enigmatic individual helped to upend it all.
Much like the reputation of Pure Food and Wine in an enthralled subset of New York socialites, Sarma becomes the prism through...
- 3/14/2022
- by Steve Greene
- Indiewire
Netflix’s list of new releases for March 2022 is packed with just about everything a streaming enthusiast might need.
This month sees the usual arrival of Netflix original offerings. The big draw is undoubtedly the premiere of Bridgerton season 2 on March 25. Say what you will about the beloved period drama, but more corgis in the world is never a bad thing. Also arriving in March are He-Man and the Masters of the Universe season 2 (March 3), Big Mouth spinoff Human Resources (March 18), and Toni Collette mystery series Pieces of Her (March 9). Additionally, Netflix appears to have something big brewing with its latest buzzworthy docuseries Bad Vegan: Fame. Fraud. Fugitives. on March 16. This one comes from some of the folks behind Tiger King and Fyre: The Greatest Party That Never Happened so maybe keep an eye on it.
Read more Books From Bridgerton to Sanditon—Putting Island Queen in a Period Drama...
This month sees the usual arrival of Netflix original offerings. The big draw is undoubtedly the premiere of Bridgerton season 2 on March 25. Say what you will about the beloved period drama, but more corgis in the world is never a bad thing. Also arriving in March are He-Man and the Masters of the Universe season 2 (March 3), Big Mouth spinoff Human Resources (March 18), and Toni Collette mystery series Pieces of Her (March 9). Additionally, Netflix appears to have something big brewing with its latest buzzworthy docuseries Bad Vegan: Fame. Fraud. Fugitives. on March 16. This one comes from some of the folks behind Tiger King and Fyre: The Greatest Party That Never Happened so maybe keep an eye on it.
Read more Books From Bridgerton to Sanditon—Putting Island Queen in a Period Drama...
- 3/1/2022
- by Alec Bojalad
- Den of Geek
The team behind Netflix’s Fyre Festival documentary and HBO’s Elizabeth Holmes doc have teamed up to produce a docuseries about a pair of alleged bitcoin money launderers.
Netflix has ordered a series about Ilya “Dutch” Lichtenstein and Heather Morgan, who were arrested and face charged for conspiring to launder around $3.6B worth of Bitcoin.
Morgan, a hipster rapper otherwise known as Razzlekhan and Forbes contributor, and her husband Lichtenstein were arrested earlier this week in New York after being accused of conspiring to launder nearly 120,000 Bitcoin tied to the 2016 hack of a virtual currency exchange.
The value of the stolen Bitcoin soared from $71M at the time of the hack to nearly $5B and they allegedly tried to liquidate their digital money by creating fake identities and online accounts, and buying physical gold, NFTs, and more – all while investigators raced to track the money’s movement on the blockchain.
Netflix has ordered a series about Ilya “Dutch” Lichtenstein and Heather Morgan, who were arrested and face charged for conspiring to launder around $3.6B worth of Bitcoin.
Morgan, a hipster rapper otherwise known as Razzlekhan and Forbes contributor, and her husband Lichtenstein were arrested earlier this week in New York after being accused of conspiring to launder nearly 120,000 Bitcoin tied to the 2016 hack of a virtual currency exchange.
The value of the stolen Bitcoin soared from $71M at the time of the hack to nearly $5B and they allegedly tried to liquidate their digital money by creating fake identities and online accounts, and buying physical gold, NFTs, and more – all while investigators raced to track the money’s movement on the blockchain.
- 2/11/2022
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Netflix has ordered a docuseries about the couple who were arrested earlier this week and charged with laundering $4.5 billion in stolen cryptocurrency.
The untitled docuseries has no premiere date yet.
Ilya “Dutch” Lichtenstein and Heather Morgan were arrested in their New York City apartment on Tuesday, Feb. 8, and now face charges of conspiring to launder nearly 120,000 Bitcoin tied to the 2016 hack of a virtual currency exchange. As the value of the stolen Bitcoin soared from $71 million at the time of the hack to nearly $5 billion, the couple allegedly tried to liquidate their digital money by creating fake identities and online accounts, and buying physical gold, NFTs, and more – all while investigators raced to track the money’s movement on the blockchain.
In arresting the two, the Justice Department called the scheme the biggest financial crime case in U.S. history. So far, law enforcement has seized over $3.6 billion in cryptocurrency linked to that 2016 hack.
The untitled docuseries has no premiere date yet.
Ilya “Dutch” Lichtenstein and Heather Morgan were arrested in their New York City apartment on Tuesday, Feb. 8, and now face charges of conspiring to launder nearly 120,000 Bitcoin tied to the 2016 hack of a virtual currency exchange. As the value of the stolen Bitcoin soared from $71 million at the time of the hack to nearly $5 billion, the couple allegedly tried to liquidate their digital money by creating fake identities and online accounts, and buying physical gold, NFTs, and more – all while investigators raced to track the money’s movement on the blockchain.
In arresting the two, the Justice Department called the scheme the biggest financial crime case in U.S. history. So far, law enforcement has seized over $3.6 billion in cryptocurrency linked to that 2016 hack.
- 2/11/2022
- by Tim Baysinger
- The Wrap
Exclusive: A feature documentary about an orphaned wildcat cub proved to be irresistible catnip to streamers. In a just concluded auction, Amazon Studios acquired the untitled documentary from 30West and directors Melissa Lesh & Trevor Frost. Price I’m hearing is around $20 million, a near record for a docu. The film is about a young British soldier who returns from Afghanistan suffering from depression and Ptsd. He heads to the Amazon with thoughts of ending his life. He finds a reason to live when he arrives there. The man, who’s named Harry, finds himself teaming with a woman he meets, named Samantha, to become the caregivers to an injured baby ocelot wildcat.
The docu was shopped in the form of a promo by the first time filmmakers. It was developed by 30West, which financed and was executive producer on the Netflix zeitgeist smash hit series Tiger King, as well as Fyre,...
The docu was shopped in the form of a promo by the first time filmmakers. It was developed by 30West, which financed and was executive producer on the Netflix zeitgeist smash hit series Tiger King, as well as Fyre,...
- 10/19/2021
- by Mike Fleming Jr
- Deadline Film + TV
In today’s podcast news roundup, Apple TV Plus sets a sidekick podcast for “Foundation” hosted by Jason Concepcion with David S. Goyer; Showtime preps “Dexter” podcast for special event series; Ellen Pompeo’s podcast gets a premiere date; House Beautiful sets its first-ever podcast about famous haunted homes; and more.
Dates
Apple TV Plus will premiere “Foundation: The Official Podcast,” a behind-the-scenes companion podcast to the sci-fi drama series “Foundation,” based on Isaac Asimov’s of the same name, on Friday, Sept. 24 (when the show hits the streaming service), with new episodes weekly on Apple Podcasts (via this link). Hosted by Jason Concepcion and featuring “Foundation” showrunner and executive producer David S. Goyer, each episode will bring on creative talent for a deeper exploration into the making the TV series. In the premiere episode, Concepcion and Goyer break down the first two episodes of “Foundation” — “The Emperor’s Peace...
Dates
Apple TV Plus will premiere “Foundation: The Official Podcast,” a behind-the-scenes companion podcast to the sci-fi drama series “Foundation,” based on Isaac Asimov’s of the same name, on Friday, Sept. 24 (when the show hits the streaming service), with new episodes weekly on Apple Podcasts (via this link). Hosted by Jason Concepcion and featuring “Foundation” showrunner and executive producer David S. Goyer, each episode will bring on creative talent for a deeper exploration into the making the TV series. In the premiere episode, Concepcion and Goyer break down the first two episodes of “Foundation” — “The Emperor’s Peace...
- 9/23/2021
- by Todd Spangler
- Variety Film + TV
Two decades after his breakthrough as a documentary filmmaker, Chris Smith is on a tear in the non-fiction realm, having directed “Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond,” “Fyre,” and “Operation Variety Blues: The College Admissions Scandal” in the past four years, while also serving as an executive producer of last year’s pandemic docuseries sensation “Tiger King.” His latest effort, HBO’s “100 Foot Wave,” follows surfing pioneer Garrett McNamara on his quest to conquer a mighty swell in Portugal; another project revolving around Robert Downey Jr. and his late father is in the works.
Last August, the younger Downey called Smith “arguably the greatest documentary (filmmaker) around right now” while speaking on the “Smartless” podcast, praise that especially resonated given his father’s work as documentary filmmaker.
Smith’s recent output reflects a renewed focus on documentary filmmaking after years of mostly concentrating on commercial directing to the point of burnout.
Last August, the younger Downey called Smith “arguably the greatest documentary (filmmaker) around right now” while speaking on the “Smartless” podcast, praise that especially resonated given his father’s work as documentary filmmaker.
Smith’s recent output reflects a renewed focus on documentary filmmaking after years of mostly concentrating on commercial directing to the point of burnout.
- 7/18/2021
- by Addie Morfoot
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: WWE has named sports media veteran Jamie Horowitz its EVP Development & Digital, effective immediately, overseeing much original content including scripted and unscripted programs for digital and social media.
He’ll also be responsible for WWE Studios in Los Angeles, whose projects include a docuseries with Netflix about Vince McMahon with Chris Smith (Fyre: The Greatest Party That Never Happened) directing and Bill Simmons (ESPN’s 30 For 30 docu series) exec producing.
Horowitz will be based at WWE’s Stamford, Ct headquarters with frequent travel to Los Angeles.
As it expands its leadership, the pro-wrestling powerhouse also named another Dazn exec, Matt Drew as SVP International. Samira Shah was named general counsel.
Horowitz was most recently Dazn’s EVP Global Content, overseeing original programming, social content and editorial strategy. He joined the sports streaming service in 2018. At Dazn, Horowitz partnered with Sylvester Stallone’s Balboa Productions for a series...
He’ll also be responsible for WWE Studios in Los Angeles, whose projects include a docuseries with Netflix about Vince McMahon with Chris Smith (Fyre: The Greatest Party That Never Happened) directing and Bill Simmons (ESPN’s 30 For 30 docu series) exec producing.
Horowitz will be based at WWE’s Stamford, Ct headquarters with frequent travel to Los Angeles.
As it expands its leadership, the pro-wrestling powerhouse also named another Dazn exec, Matt Drew as SVP International. Samira Shah was named general counsel.
Horowitz was most recently Dazn’s EVP Global Content, overseeing original programming, social content and editorial strategy. He joined the sports streaming service in 2018. At Dazn, Horowitz partnered with Sylvester Stallone’s Balboa Productions for a series...
- 6/1/2021
- by Jill Goldsmith
- Deadline Film + TV
The US Bankruptcy Court in the Southern District of New York has approved a $2 million class-action settlement for ticket-holders to the ill-fated Fyre Festival.
The disastrous April 2017 event, which promised blissful luxury and delivered tents and cheese sandwiches, was the subject of two films and widely ridiculed. The event was co-created by promoter Billy McFarland and rapper Ja Rule. Promoted by such influencers as Kendall Jenner, Bella Hadid and Emily Ratajkowski, the festival, set on the Bahamian island of Great Exuma, failed on almost every level.
In March 2018, McFarland pled guilty to one count of wire fraud and a second count to defraud a ticket vendor. He was sentenced to six years in prison and ordered to forfeit US$26 million. He is still imprisoned.
Two documentaries detailing the monumental disaster, Fyre Fraud on Hulu and Netflix’s Fyre: The Greatest Party That Never Happened, captured the post-event outrage.
The class-action...
The disastrous April 2017 event, which promised blissful luxury and delivered tents and cheese sandwiches, was the subject of two films and widely ridiculed. The event was co-created by promoter Billy McFarland and rapper Ja Rule. Promoted by such influencers as Kendall Jenner, Bella Hadid and Emily Ratajkowski, the festival, set on the Bahamian island of Great Exuma, failed on almost every level.
In March 2018, McFarland pled guilty to one count of wire fraud and a second count to defraud a ticket vendor. He was sentenced to six years in prison and ordered to forfeit US$26 million. He is still imprisoned.
Two documentaries detailing the monumental disaster, Fyre Fraud on Hulu and Netflix’s Fyre: The Greatest Party That Never Happened, captured the post-event outrage.
The class-action...
- 4/16/2021
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: A documentary about American Gladiators, widely considered one of the first reality competition series, is set as ESPN’s latest 30 for 30.
Deadline understands that the untitled documentary, which explores the story of the show, which ran from 1989 to 1996 and was later rebooted by NBC in 2008, comes from Vice Studios and ESPN Films.
The project will feature many of the larger than life former Gladiators, as well as Johnny Ferraro, who has been referred to as ‘the Godfather of reality television.”
The show, which aired in syndication was created by Ferraro and Dan Carr, matched a cast of amateur athletes against each other as well as against the show’s gladiators.
Ben Berman, who directed The Amazing Johnathan Documentary, which followed the final tour of a dying magician and aired at Sundance in 2019, will helm the doc.
It is ESPN’s latest 30 for 30; the 2019/2020 season of the long-running sports doc...
Deadline understands that the untitled documentary, which explores the story of the show, which ran from 1989 to 1996 and was later rebooted by NBC in 2008, comes from Vice Studios and ESPN Films.
The project will feature many of the larger than life former Gladiators, as well as Johnny Ferraro, who has been referred to as ‘the Godfather of reality television.”
The show, which aired in syndication was created by Ferraro and Dan Carr, matched a cast of amateur athletes against each other as well as against the show’s gladiators.
Ben Berman, who directed The Amazing Johnathan Documentary, which followed the final tour of a dying magician and aired at Sundance in 2019, will helm the doc.
It is ESPN’s latest 30 for 30; the 2019/2020 season of the long-running sports doc...
- 4/12/2021
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
After years of talk amongst fans, Jensen Ackles will finally be (the voice of) Batman in the upcoming Batman: The Long Halloween: Part One.
“At long last, a collective dream has come true and Jensen Ackles is playing Batman. Yes, after literal years of jokes and connections to Bruce Wayne on screen and off, Ackles will voice Batman in the upcoming animated feature Batman: The Long Halloween: Part One.”
Read more at The Mary Sue.
Prince Albert Victor, grandson of Queen Victoria, was a Jack the Ripper suspect thanks to an article by one Dr. Thomas Stowell.
“In November 1970, The Criminologist published an article by Dr. Thomas Stowell, an octogenarian surgeon with some thoughts about the identity of Jack the Ripper. In his youth, Stowell was friends with Caroline Acland, the daughter of a royal family physician named Sir William Gull. According to Acland, her father had treated a young gay man with syphilis,...
“At long last, a collective dream has come true and Jensen Ackles is playing Batman. Yes, after literal years of jokes and connections to Bruce Wayne on screen and off, Ackles will voice Batman in the upcoming animated feature Batman: The Long Halloween: Part One.”
Read more at The Mary Sue.
Prince Albert Victor, grandson of Queen Victoria, was a Jack the Ripper suspect thanks to an article by one Dr. Thomas Stowell.
“In November 1970, The Criminologist published an article by Dr. Thomas Stowell, an octogenarian surgeon with some thoughts about the identity of Jack the Ripper. In his youth, Stowell was friends with Caroline Acland, the daughter of a royal family physician named Sir William Gull. According to Acland, her father had treated a young gay man with syphilis,...
- 4/1/2021
- by Ivan Huang
- Den of Geek
Helmed by the filmmakers behind Fyre, Netflix's Operation Varsity Blues takes on the notorious 2019 college-admissions bribery scandal where a handful of high-profile figures were implicated in a scheme to pay up to hundreds of thousands to place their kids into top colleges. The subject of the true-crime documentary isn't exactly a shocking reveal - it's common for well-connected students to get spots at prestigious schools. However, the fact that the bribes involved celebrities like Lori Loughlin (Aunty Becky from Full House) and her influencer daughter Olivia Jade Giannulli immediately amplified public interest in the case.
To get a full picture of everything that has happened since the scandal broke in March 2019, we've pulled together a timeline of Operation Varsity Blues, the code name that the FBI dubbed the college bribery ordeal. Take a look before the doc is released on Netflix on March 17.
To get a full picture of everything that has happened since the scandal broke in March 2019, we've pulled together a timeline of Operation Varsity Blues, the code name that the FBI dubbed the college bribery ordeal. Take a look before the doc is released on Netflix on March 17.
- 3/15/2021
- by Stacey Nguyen
- Popsugar.com
From Fyre and Tiger King to Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond (about Jim Carrey and his Andy Kaufman portrayal in Man on the Moon), director and producer Chris Smith has a knack for finding the most watchably weird projects.
Smith’s latest, Operation Varsity Blues: The College Admissions Scandal, blends narrative- and documentary-style filmmaking. Through dramatic re-creations of phone conversations caught on FBI wiretaps, the film, out March 17 on Netflix, revisits the 2019 bribery story. “It challenges the idea that we live in a meritocracy,” Smith says. “Even in education, which is something that we hold almost ...
Smith’s latest, Operation Varsity Blues: The College Admissions Scandal, blends narrative- and documentary-style filmmaking. Through dramatic re-creations of phone conversations caught on FBI wiretaps, the film, out March 17 on Netflix, revisits the 2019 bribery story. “It challenges the idea that we live in a meritocracy,” Smith says. “Even in education, which is something that we hold almost ...
- 3/12/2021
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
From Fyre and Tiger King to Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond (about Jim Carrey and his Andy Kaufman portrayal in Man on the Moon), director and producer Chris Smith has a knack for finding the most watchably weird projects.
Smith’s latest, Operation Varsity Blues: The College Admissions Scandal, blends narrative- and documentary-style filmmaking. Through dramatic re-creations of phone conversations caught on FBI wiretaps, the film, out March 17 on Netflix, revisits the 2019 bribery story. “It challenges the idea that we live in a meritocracy,” Smith says. “Even in education, which is something that we hold almost ...
Smith’s latest, Operation Varsity Blues: The College Admissions Scandal, blends narrative- and documentary-style filmmaking. Through dramatic re-creations of phone conversations caught on FBI wiretaps, the film, out March 17 on Netflix, revisits the 2019 bribery story. “It challenges the idea that we live in a meritocracy,” Smith says. “Even in education, which is something that we hold almost ...
- 3/12/2021
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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