Having just taken the Audience Award at Laliff, Justice for My Sister was so compelling that I had to take action and so I interviewed the filmmaker Kimberly Bautista....
Kimberly Bautista's debut feature length documentary film, Justice for my Sister, received funding from the Hispanic Scholarship Fund, Latino Public Broadcasting, the U.S. Embassy in Guatemala, and the Dutch Embassy in Guatemala. Justice for my Sister's educational distribution is with New Day Films, and FilmOption International Inc represents its international sales. It has screened in over 150 communities in Guatemala with the help of the Guatemalan Justice for my Sister advocacy team. Kimberly launched a text message-based service in Guatemala to supplement the film and to connect audiences to resources, references, and counseling after community screenings. Her new media and outreach campaign received first prize in the Cuban Hat Transmedia Pitch at Sunny Side of the Doc in La Rochelle, France in June 2012. The film has won several accolades, including the HBO-nalip 2012 Documentary Filmmaker Award, the Camera Justitia Jury Prize at the 2013 Movies that Matter Festival in Holland, and the Ojo Latinoamericano Jury Prize at the 2013 International Human Rights Film Festival in Sucre, Bolivia. Most recently, it won the Prize for Best Documentary at the Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival.
In June 2013, Kimberly spoke at the United Nations Office at Geneva, Switzerland on a panel about Violence Against Women & Girls in Latin America & the Caribbean, where she presented Justice for my Sister and the film's campaign. Kimberly is the recipient of the inaugural 2013 Young Alumni Achievement Award from her alma mater Pitzer College for Commitment to Promoting International Domestic Violence Prevention through the Use of Media. She received the prestigious 2012 Alumna of the Year Cornelian Award from Mayfield Senior School for exemplifying the school's motto, "Actions Not Words." She was the finalist for the 2013 Estela "Rising Star" Award for Documentary from Nalip for her work with Justice for my Sister.
In 2006, Kimberly founded and directed the Intercultural Web Exchange, a video pen-pal web program between young women in Quito, Ecuador and young Chicana women in Pomona, California. The project lasted for over three years and culminated in a college prep opportunity for the participants. In 2008, Kimberly filmed testimonies of Guatemalans who witnessed human rights violations; these videos were to be used as evidence of genocide to the Inter-American Court of Human Rights with prosecutors from Cal Berkeley and the Myrna Mack Foundation. She has since worked as a freelance field producer both in Latin America and California for clients in the non- profit sector (Hebrew Immigrant Aide Society, The Un Refugee Agency) and the corporate sector (Herbalife). She has also worked on films such as Patricia Cardoso's Lies in Plain Sight and Morgan Spurlock's Comic-Con Episode IV: A Fan's Hope, and television programs on Latv and The Learning Channel. She wrote and directed two public service announcements that aired on Univision to encourage Latinos in the Los Angeles area to pursue a higher education.
Kimberly holds a Master's in Social Documentation from University of California, Santa Cruz for film production. In Spring 2013, she worked as a lecturer at California State University Monterey Bay in the Visual and Public Art Department. She acted as a jury member for the Connect the Docs transmedia pitch competition at the 2013 Hot Docs Conference & Forum in Toronto, Canada. She spoke on two panels--about investigative journalism & advocacy film, and women and girls in public media--at the International PUblic Television Screening Conference (Input) in El Salvador this May 2013.
Campaign
"We have established a campaign in Guatemala where we train young people in violence prevention, and they in turn facilitate workshops on healthy relationships with diverse audiences, from the National Civil Police, to indigenous communities, among others. We also have a service called texting peace, where our film advocates connects audiences to services and references via text messaging. We want to bring this documentary and campaign to all of Latin America. Our allies in the Dutch Embassy in Costa Rica have submitted our proposal to the Central American Integration System (Sica)."
Screenings
• Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival (Laliff), Best Documentary
• Festival Internacional de Cine de los Derechos Humanos de Sucre, Bolivia, "Pukañawi 2013/Ojo Latinoamericano” Jury Prize, July 2013
• Un Human Rights Council Session 23 Panel “Violence Against Women & Girls in Latin America & The Caribbean,” Switzerland, June 2013
• International Public Television Conference (InPuT), El Salvador, May 2013
• Cine Las Americas Festival, Austin Texas, April 2013
• Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival, April 2013
• University of San Francisco Human Rights Film Festival, April 2013
• Movies That Matter Festival, Holland, “Camera Justitia” Jury Prize, March 2013
• Puerto Rico International Film Festival Vieques Island, December 2012
• Women Make Waves Film Festival, Taiwan October 2012
• San Francisco International Latino Film Festival, September 2012
• Fine cut premiered at Palacio Nacional (National Palace),Guatemala, Nov 2011 • 150 community screenings and workshops in Guatemala
• 20 university screenings (including USC, University of Wisconsin, Madison, University of Minnesota, Duluth, and Cal State Monterrey Bay)
Awards
• Estela Award Finalist, National Association of Latino Independent Producers, 2013
• Inaugural Young Alumni Achievement Award for Commitment to Promoting International Domestic Violence Prevention Through Use of Media, Pitzer College, 2013
• Winner of the 2012 HBO/Nalip Documentary Filmmaker Award
• 2012 Cornelian Award “Alumna of the Year” from Mayfield Senior School
• First Place Winner, Cuban Hat Transmedia Pitch, Sunny Side of the Doc, France, 2012
• Speaker at Firelight Media’s Creating Social Impact through Story in a Transmedia World Seminar, May 2012
• One-Year Latino Artist Mentorship, Nalip, 2010-11
• Princess Grace Award, Documentary Honorarium, 2008
• Hispanic Scholarship Fund, McNamara Creative Arts Grant, 2008
Audience Engagement Campaign (Select List of Events)
• 30 facilitators (replicators of campaign) trained in violence prevention and public speaking in Guatemala
• 150 community screenings and violence prevention workshops in Guatemala
• 17 screenings and workshops with police, prosecutors, and judges in Guatemala (funded by Movies That Matter Foundation and consultation by Un Women)
• Text-message campaign in Guatemala to provide references, advice, and advocacy to audiences (launched in collaboration with Freedom Connect)
• Panel discussion co-hosted by Lapd and Central American Consulates in Los Angeles, with service providers tabling event
• Take Back the Night Event in Boyle Heights
• Mujeres Al Frente leadership workshop series with promotoras (community health promoters) from our partners at East La Women's Center
International Conferences
• First Place Winner, Cuban Hat Transmedia Pitch, Sunny Side of the Doc, France, 2012
• Latin Side of the Doc, Mexico City, November 2012
• Rio Content Market, February 2013
• MipDoc, April 2013
• Hot Docs Canadian Forum, April 2013
• International Public Television Conference (InPuT), El Salvador, May 2013...
Kimberly Bautista's debut feature length documentary film, Justice for my Sister, received funding from the Hispanic Scholarship Fund, Latino Public Broadcasting, the U.S. Embassy in Guatemala, and the Dutch Embassy in Guatemala. Justice for my Sister's educational distribution is with New Day Films, and FilmOption International Inc represents its international sales. It has screened in over 150 communities in Guatemala with the help of the Guatemalan Justice for my Sister advocacy team. Kimberly launched a text message-based service in Guatemala to supplement the film and to connect audiences to resources, references, and counseling after community screenings. Her new media and outreach campaign received first prize in the Cuban Hat Transmedia Pitch at Sunny Side of the Doc in La Rochelle, France in June 2012. The film has won several accolades, including the HBO-nalip 2012 Documentary Filmmaker Award, the Camera Justitia Jury Prize at the 2013 Movies that Matter Festival in Holland, and the Ojo Latinoamericano Jury Prize at the 2013 International Human Rights Film Festival in Sucre, Bolivia. Most recently, it won the Prize for Best Documentary at the Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival.
In June 2013, Kimberly spoke at the United Nations Office at Geneva, Switzerland on a panel about Violence Against Women & Girls in Latin America & the Caribbean, where she presented Justice for my Sister and the film's campaign. Kimberly is the recipient of the inaugural 2013 Young Alumni Achievement Award from her alma mater Pitzer College for Commitment to Promoting International Domestic Violence Prevention through the Use of Media. She received the prestigious 2012 Alumna of the Year Cornelian Award from Mayfield Senior School for exemplifying the school's motto, "Actions Not Words." She was the finalist for the 2013 Estela "Rising Star" Award for Documentary from Nalip for her work with Justice for my Sister.
In 2006, Kimberly founded and directed the Intercultural Web Exchange, a video pen-pal web program between young women in Quito, Ecuador and young Chicana women in Pomona, California. The project lasted for over three years and culminated in a college prep opportunity for the participants. In 2008, Kimberly filmed testimonies of Guatemalans who witnessed human rights violations; these videos were to be used as evidence of genocide to the Inter-American Court of Human Rights with prosecutors from Cal Berkeley and the Myrna Mack Foundation. She has since worked as a freelance field producer both in Latin America and California for clients in the non- profit sector (Hebrew Immigrant Aide Society, The Un Refugee Agency) and the corporate sector (Herbalife). She has also worked on films such as Patricia Cardoso's Lies in Plain Sight and Morgan Spurlock's Comic-Con Episode IV: A Fan's Hope, and television programs on Latv and The Learning Channel. She wrote and directed two public service announcements that aired on Univision to encourage Latinos in the Los Angeles area to pursue a higher education.
Kimberly holds a Master's in Social Documentation from University of California, Santa Cruz for film production. In Spring 2013, she worked as a lecturer at California State University Monterey Bay in the Visual and Public Art Department. She acted as a jury member for the Connect the Docs transmedia pitch competition at the 2013 Hot Docs Conference & Forum in Toronto, Canada. She spoke on two panels--about investigative journalism & advocacy film, and women and girls in public media--at the International PUblic Television Screening Conference (Input) in El Salvador this May 2013.
Campaign
"We have established a campaign in Guatemala where we train young people in violence prevention, and they in turn facilitate workshops on healthy relationships with diverse audiences, from the National Civil Police, to indigenous communities, among others. We also have a service called texting peace, where our film advocates connects audiences to services and references via text messaging. We want to bring this documentary and campaign to all of Latin America. Our allies in the Dutch Embassy in Costa Rica have submitted our proposal to the Central American Integration System (Sica)."
Screenings
• Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival (Laliff), Best Documentary
• Festival Internacional de Cine de los Derechos Humanos de Sucre, Bolivia, "Pukañawi 2013/Ojo Latinoamericano” Jury Prize, July 2013
• Un Human Rights Council Session 23 Panel “Violence Against Women & Girls in Latin America & The Caribbean,” Switzerland, June 2013
• International Public Television Conference (InPuT), El Salvador, May 2013
• Cine Las Americas Festival, Austin Texas, April 2013
• Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival, April 2013
• University of San Francisco Human Rights Film Festival, April 2013
• Movies That Matter Festival, Holland, “Camera Justitia” Jury Prize, March 2013
• Puerto Rico International Film Festival Vieques Island, December 2012
• Women Make Waves Film Festival, Taiwan October 2012
• San Francisco International Latino Film Festival, September 2012
• Fine cut premiered at Palacio Nacional (National Palace),Guatemala, Nov 2011 • 150 community screenings and workshops in Guatemala
• 20 university screenings (including USC, University of Wisconsin, Madison, University of Minnesota, Duluth, and Cal State Monterrey Bay)
Awards
• Estela Award Finalist, National Association of Latino Independent Producers, 2013
• Inaugural Young Alumni Achievement Award for Commitment to Promoting International Domestic Violence Prevention Through Use of Media, Pitzer College, 2013
• Winner of the 2012 HBO/Nalip Documentary Filmmaker Award
• 2012 Cornelian Award “Alumna of the Year” from Mayfield Senior School
• First Place Winner, Cuban Hat Transmedia Pitch, Sunny Side of the Doc, France, 2012
• Speaker at Firelight Media’s Creating Social Impact through Story in a Transmedia World Seminar, May 2012
• One-Year Latino Artist Mentorship, Nalip, 2010-11
• Princess Grace Award, Documentary Honorarium, 2008
• Hispanic Scholarship Fund, McNamara Creative Arts Grant, 2008
Audience Engagement Campaign (Select List of Events)
• 30 facilitators (replicators of campaign) trained in violence prevention and public speaking in Guatemala
• 150 community screenings and violence prevention workshops in Guatemala
• 17 screenings and workshops with police, prosecutors, and judges in Guatemala (funded by Movies That Matter Foundation and consultation by Un Women)
• Text-message campaign in Guatemala to provide references, advice, and advocacy to audiences (launched in collaboration with Freedom Connect)
• Panel discussion co-hosted by Lapd and Central American Consulates in Los Angeles, with service providers tabling event
• Take Back the Night Event in Boyle Heights
• Mujeres Al Frente leadership workshop series with promotoras (community health promoters) from our partners at East La Women's Center
International Conferences
• First Place Winner, Cuban Hat Transmedia Pitch, Sunny Side of the Doc, France, 2012
• Latin Side of the Doc, Mexico City, November 2012
• Rio Content Market, February 2013
• MipDoc, April 2013
• Hot Docs Canadian Forum, April 2013
• International Public Television Conference (InPuT), El Salvador, May 2013...
- 11/20/2013
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
If you needed any further evidence that Morgan Spurlock has slid from somebody who perhaps had an interesting viewpoint on modern contemporary life to a man who is churning out doc shlock, here it is: he'll be directing the One Direction 3D concert movie. That's right, the latest boy-band sensation is following in the footsteps of Justin Bieber and Katy Perry and getting their own movie that will make its way to bargain bins and pop culture irrelevancy soon enough. For Spurlock it's another project in a string of lightweight movies that has seen him turn his ever winking camera to Star Wars nerds ("Comic-Con Episode IV: A Fan's Hope"), male grooming ("Mansome"), himself/advertising ("The Greatest Movie Ever Sold") and hell, he even made the hunt for Osama Bin Laden seem pretty trivial with "Where In The World Is Osama Bin Laden." This will be your standard (carefully vetted) "behind-the-scenes" plus.
- 11/14/2012
- by Kevin Jagernauth
- The Playlist
The concert movie trend has been a little hit or miss in recent years, with some scoring huge-- Justin Bieber's Never Say Never-- and others, like Katy Perry's Part of Me, failing to make much of an impact. But it's still a pretty good strategy to team up with a pop sensation and release a movie about them, and Sony Pictures will be next to get in on the game, planning a new concert documentary about British boy band phenoms One Direction. And in a movie you almost definitely didn't see coming, they've chosen an Oscar nominated documentarian to make it. Morgan Spurlock, who rose to fame with Super Size Me and has since made The Greatest Movie Ever Sold and Comic-Con Episode IV: A Fan's Hope, will direct the One Direction movie, which is already set for an August 30, 2013 release. Simon Cowell, who is credited with "discovering...
- 11/13/2012
- cinemablend.com
The insanely prolific Morgan Spurlock has already had two documentaries in theaters this year -- "Comic-Con Episode IV: A Fan's Hope" and "Mansome" -- while producing and hosting a second season of his Hulu show "A Day in the Life" as well as his Yahoo web series "Failure Club." And now the filmmaker and on-air personality is headed to cable news, where he'll be hosting a producing a new original series called "Inside Man." Read More: 'Mansome' Director Morgan Spurlock Talks VOD Vs Theatrical and Why Christopher J. Christie Needs to Lose Some Weight This new show is, like the announced Anthony Bourdain-hosted foot and travel-centric series it will air alongside on weekends, part of CNN's attempt to diversify its programming and address its low ratings. Both new series are being produced by outside companies, in the case of "Inside Man" through Spurlock's Warrior...
- 8/23/2012
- by Alison Willmore
- Indiewire
Documentary funnyman (and Academy Award nominee) Morgan Spurlock has had a tough run of late in theaters. Ever since his debut "Super Size Me" become a high-grossing indie phenomenon (it made North of $11 million domestically), Spurlock has seen his theatrical stock drop with each subsequent release. In 2008, his "Where In The World Is Osama Bin Laden" grossed $148,698 from 102 screens, ending up with just $384,955 in total. Last year, his much-hyped "Pom Wonderful Presents: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold" averaged $6,572 from 18 screens en route to a $638,476 gross. And this year, Spurlock released his two biggest theatrical flops to date: "Comic-Con Episode IV: A Fan's Hope" and "Mansome. The latter nose dived theatrically in May after premiering at the Tribeca Film Festival, averaging just $920 per theater (it opened in 20) in its first week of limited release. "Comic-Con" fared a bit better by averaging $2,734 when it...
- 7/31/2012
- by Nigel M Smith
- Indiewire
With Comic-Con just two days away, the imminent pandering to fans has already begun. Morgan Spurlock's documentary Comic-Con Episode IV: A Fan's Hope just hit DVD and Blu-ray this week, and now it appears that we have yet another fan-oriented documentary that will be premiering at the Con: William Shatner's Get a Life. The movie finds Shatner trying to get to the bottom of what makes Trekkers tick. But wait a minute, hasn't this subject already been explored like a billion times before? Why yes... yes it has. Watching the teaser trailer for Get a Life, it's hard to see anything new that Shatner might be able to add to the conversation. In addition to Trekkies and Trekkies 2, there is Rod Roddenbery's Trek Nation, which is also holding a special screening at Comic-Con this week. If Shatner's last documentary The Captains is any indication of what to expect,...
- 7/10/2012
- by Sean
- FilmJunk
It's pretty slim pickings this week with just one major release hitting stores: that would be the fourth installment in the American Pie series, American Reunion. The movie didn't do all that well in theatres back in April, but it does seem like something that could do well on DVD, particularly during the summer months. Another noteworthy release is Kenneth Lonergan's Margaret, a drama starring Matt Damon and Anna Paquin that was notoriously held up by legal battles over the final cut and ended up getting the shaft with a very limited theatrical release. Also out on DVD and Blu-ray this week we have Zhang Yimou's The Flowers of War starring Christian Bale, Being Flynn starring Paul Dano and Robert DeNiro, and Morgan Spurlock's geek-centric documentary Comic-Con Episode IV: A Fan's Hope (complete with collectible figures). New to Blu titles include Chariots of Fire, Senna and Outland starring Sean Connery.
- 7/10/2012
- by Sean
- FilmJunk
Versus Valerie, a 12-part original web series that will chronicle the chaotic life of YouTube sensation Sexy Nerd Girl, has been awarded financing from the Independent Production Fund.
For 18 months, the team behind Sexy Nerd Girl has crafted the online persona of the fictional character Valerie Lapomme (played by Hannah Spear).
The result has been an internet sensation whose videos have over 1.75 million views and have been nominated for Best Web Series in the 2012 Canadian Comedy Awards.
The team's efforts have focused on making interactions with the audience an important part of the story, often shaping Val's personal views, her relationships and her story as a whole.
Sexy Nerd Girl is a first person narrative, with Valerie broadcasting her story through Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, her blog and her successful vlog (video blog) on YouTube.
Valerie will now feature in a 12-part series, directed by Mike Fly and Simon Fraser, which...
For 18 months, the team behind Sexy Nerd Girl has crafted the online persona of the fictional character Valerie Lapomme (played by Hannah Spear).
The result has been an internet sensation whose videos have over 1.75 million views and have been nominated for Best Web Series in the 2012 Canadian Comedy Awards.
The team's efforts have focused on making interactions with the audience an important part of the story, often shaping Val's personal views, her relationships and her story as a whole.
Sexy Nerd Girl is a first person narrative, with Valerie broadcasting her story through Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, her blog and her successful vlog (video blog) on YouTube.
Valerie will now feature in a 12-part series, directed by Mike Fly and Simon Fraser, which...
- 7/2/2012
- by David Bentley
- The Geek Files
The countdown to the end of "The Twilight Saga" on movie screens can officially start on July 12, when the cast makes its final Comic-Con appearance in support of the movies.
Comic-Con International has released the schedule for the opening day of the 2012 convention. "Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part 2" will kick things off in Hall H, the biggest room at the San Diego Convention Center. The movie hits theaters in November.
Other Day 1 headliners include sessions for "Dexter," which will feature both new cast member Yvonne Strahovski ("Chuck") and a trailer for fellow Showtime series "Homeland"; USA's "Psych," featuring a peek at episodes from the coming season; and The CW's new series "Beauty and the Beast" with Kristin Kreuk.
Other Hall H sessions include one for Walt Disney Studios' "Frankenweenie," "Oz the Great and Powerful" and "Wreck-It Ralph" and one for "The Expendables 2" with Sylvester Stallone and Co.
Warner Bros. TV...
Comic-Con International has released the schedule for the opening day of the 2012 convention. "Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part 2" will kick things off in Hall H, the biggest room at the San Diego Convention Center. The movie hits theaters in November.
Other Day 1 headliners include sessions for "Dexter," which will feature both new cast member Yvonne Strahovski ("Chuck") and a trailer for fellow Showtime series "Homeland"; USA's "Psych," featuring a peek at episodes from the coming season; and The CW's new series "Beauty and the Beast" with Kristin Kreuk.
Other Hall H sessions include one for Walt Disney Studios' "Frankenweenie," "Oz the Great and Powerful" and "Wreck-It Ralph" and one for "The Expendables 2" with Sylvester Stallone and Co.
Warner Bros. TV...
- 6/28/2012
- by editorial@zap2it.com
- Zap2It - From Inside the Box
The schedules for the 2012 San Diego Comic-Con Preview Night and Day 1 (July 11 and July 12) are now live, and we have the horror highlights for you here (along with a few panels of general interest). As always, though, be sure to check the official Sdcc site for updates!
We also recommend downloading the Sdcc app if you have a smart phone.
Preview Night - Wednesday, July 11
6:00-9:45 Special Sneak Peek Pilot Screenings— Comic-Con and Warner Bros. Television proudly continue their annual Preview Night tradition, with exclusive world premiere screenings of the pilot episodes of five of the most highly anticipated TV series pilots of the 2012–13 television season: 666 Park Avenue, Arrow, The Following, Revolution and Cult. More info can be found here. Ballroom 20
Day 1 - Thursday, July 12
10:00-11:00 The Witty Women of Steampunk— The Victorian era was one marked by constraints on behavior, morals and bosoms. When you...
We also recommend downloading the Sdcc app if you have a smart phone.
Preview Night - Wednesday, July 11
6:00-9:45 Special Sneak Peek Pilot Screenings— Comic-Con and Warner Bros. Television proudly continue their annual Preview Night tradition, with exclusive world premiere screenings of the pilot episodes of five of the most highly anticipated TV series pilots of the 2012–13 television season: 666 Park Avenue, Arrow, The Following, Revolution and Cult. More info can be found here. Ballroom 20
Day 1 - Thursday, July 12
10:00-11:00 The Witty Women of Steampunk— The Victorian era was one marked by constraints on behavior, morals and bosoms. When you...
- 6/28/2012
- by The Woman In Black
- DreadCentral.com
Joss Whedon has been turned into an action figure. The Avengers director will be one of four collectible figurines packaged along with collector's edition DVDs of Morgan Spurlock's documentary Comic-Con Episode IV: A Fan's Hope. The other three figurines will be Spurlock himself, former Marvel head Stan Lee and Ain't It Cool News founder Harry Knowles, Entertainment Weekly reports. (more)...
- 6/12/2012
- by By Emma Dibdin
- Digital Spy
What makes a man shave his chest? Sport a hirsute, ridiculously long and absurd-looking beard? Bleach his anus, thread his eyebrows or play around with his facial hair in any number of manscaping ways? These are some of the questions posed in Morgan Spurlock's latest cheery and congenial documentary, "Mansome."
And the music in Spurlock's documentaries of late are always a dead give-away of what's in store tone-wise (in case it’s not obvious): generally a jovial, breezy and blithe ol' time for what's usually an 80-minute trifle. And "Mansome," the documentarian’s latest, is an amiable look at male grooming, and therefore as a byproduct, masculinity too (though it's not a focus), and it falls safely and neatly into a pleasant tone.
Executive-produced by "Arrested Development" buddies Jason Bateman and Will Arnett, the doc frames itself around these two friends going to a spa and comically discussing...
And the music in Spurlock's documentaries of late are always a dead give-away of what's in store tone-wise (in case it’s not obvious): generally a jovial, breezy and blithe ol' time for what's usually an 80-minute trifle. And "Mansome," the documentarian’s latest, is an amiable look at male grooming, and therefore as a byproduct, masculinity too (though it's not a focus), and it falls safely and neatly into a pleasant tone.
Executive-produced by "Arrested Development" buddies Jason Bateman and Will Arnett, the doc frames itself around these two friends going to a spa and comically discussing...
- 4/30/2012
- by The Playlist
- The Playlist
Last night on Jimmy Kimmel Live, Morgan Spurlock, director of the geeky doc, Comic-Con Episode IV: A Fan's Hope, was fittingly escorted onstage by a pair of stormtroopers — not the originals, but the "even more evil" clones. Plus: Think Like a Man's Gabrielle Union, while annoyed by her superficial Tsa My Little Pony–style pet-down, was maddened by the behind-her-back jokes while she was putting herself back together; and Big Bang Theory's Kunal Nayyar, Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23's Krysten Ritter, and Andy Richter contemplated the housewarming gift that James Van Der Beek had given Ritter: a jar of stinky, brown wolf urine for repelling the coyotes from her tiny dog. Watch our compilation to see what you missed.
- 4/20/2012
- by Caroline Shin
- Vulture
Alicia Arden attending the "Comic-Con Episode IV: A Fan's Hope" Los Angeles Premiere at the Arclight in Hollywood on April 4th 2012.Photo credit S Bukley and ImageCollect.Stan Lee and Alicia Arden attending the "Comic-Con Episode IV: A Fan's Hope" Los Angeles Premiere at the Arclight in Hollywood on April 4th 2012.Photo credit S Bukley and ImageCollect.Chris Hardback attending the "Comic-Con Episode IV: A Fan's Hope" Los Angeles Premiere at the Arclight in Hollywood on April 4th 2012.Photo credit S Bukley and ImageCollect.Joss Whedon attending the "Comic-Con Episode IV: A Fan's Hope" Los Angeles Premiere at the Arclight in Hollywood on April 4th 2012.Photo credit S Bukley and ImageCollect.Alicia Arden attending the "Comic-Con Episode IV: A Fan's Hope" Los Angeles Premiere...
- 4/12/2012
- by James Wray
- Monsters and Critics
Since making his directorial debut with Super Size Me in 2004, Morgan Spurlock has not only made a name for himself as a documentarian but also as a personality. Just about all of his films feature himself in the middle of the action, whether it.s about eating nothing but McDonalds for 30 days, searching for Osama Bin Laden, or trying to finance a film using only money for corporate sponsors. For Comic-Con Episode IV: A Fan's Hope, however, he decided to go with a different tactic. Touring the San Diego Convention Center in the film is not Spurlock himself, but rather camera crews following individuals who have a goal to accomplish at the event. But why did Spurlock decide to stay behind the scenes for his latest project? I recently had the chance to find out. Prior to the film.s release I sat down one-on-one with Morgan Spurlock to talk...
- 4/10/2012
- cinemablend.com
That would be "because of Morgan Spurlock."
Morgan Spurlock (he's the guy who made that film about eating only McDonald's for 30 days called Super Size Me) is the director and main character of the new documentary about the fandom at the San Diego Comic-Con, quite possibly the largest comic book, sci-fi, fantasy, and horror convention in the United States, which takes place every July in San Diego, California.
The film is presented by Stan Lee and Joss Whedon (meaning they are interviewed in it and are lending their seal of approval to the movie) and involves interviews with other celebs like Eli Roth, Frank Miller, Kevin Smith, Matt Groening, and Seth Rogen. Wait, Seth Rogan? Oh, and Kevin Smith. Two more reasons to not enjoy watching this. It also includes five eager nerds who are obsessed with Comic-Con and are desperately trying to attain industry jobs: Eric, an aspiring illustrator,...
Morgan Spurlock (he's the guy who made that film about eating only McDonald's for 30 days called Super Size Me) is the director and main character of the new documentary about the fandom at the San Diego Comic-Con, quite possibly the largest comic book, sci-fi, fantasy, and horror convention in the United States, which takes place every July in San Diego, California.
The film is presented by Stan Lee and Joss Whedon (meaning they are interviewed in it and are lending their seal of approval to the movie) and involves interviews with other celebs like Eli Roth, Frank Miller, Kevin Smith, Matt Groening, and Seth Rogen. Wait, Seth Rogan? Oh, and Kevin Smith. Two more reasons to not enjoy watching this. It also includes five eager nerds who are obsessed with Comic-Con and are desperately trying to attain industry jobs: Eric, an aspiring illustrator,...
- 4/7/2012
- by Superheidi
- Planet Fury
So “The Hunger Games” is still doing quite well, “Wrath of the Titans” is performing tolerably, but looking to ripple the waters this weekend is the behemoth of behemoth blockbuster movies, “Titanic (in 3D),” which (re)opened on Wednesday. It will again make James Cameron a boatload of money (Ha) so he can buy another submarine or whatever he uses his money for. Not a bad life, Cameron, not bad at all. Oh, and some other movies opened as well, in the event that you’re in the mood for something other than a large-budget epic with sick CGI. Thrillers, indie comedies, and dramedies set in Vatican City abound this week: sit back, relax, and “never let go, Jack.” (I'm so sorry for that. I just couldn’t resist.)
As summer creeps closer, so do the blockbusters, and “American Reunion,” fourth in the “American Pie” series, is here to help ring in the season.
As summer creeps closer, so do the blockbusters, and “American Reunion,” fourth in the “American Pie” series, is here to help ring in the season.
- 4/6/2012
- by Emma Bernstein
- The Playlist
Morgan Spurlock has gorged himself on fast food (Super Size Me), locked himself in jail (30 Days), and searched for terrorists (Where in the World Is Osama Bin Laden?) — but in his latest documentary, he's not only avoiding the clink, hijackers, and extra carbs, he's nowhere to be found. Comic-Con Episode IV: A Fan's Hope is not an exposé, but a love letter to and from the people who go to Comic-Con, whether it be to buy or sell a particular book, create a costume, or find their soul mate. (He trails one couple as the boyfriend struggles to pop the question in the most geek-worthy way possible.) With the help of producers Joss Whedon, Stan Lee, and Harry Knowles, Spurlock peeks into the nooks and crannies of the Con that most attendees never see, while eliciting testimonials from fans in costume as well as Kevin Smith, Guillermo del...
- 4/6/2012
- by Jennifer Vineyard
- Vulture
The Hunger Games will try to make it three in a row over Easter Weekend as it goes up against American Reunion and Titanic 3D, both of which are somewhat hard to predict in terms of box office numbers. All three of the original American Pie films have been very successful but it's been about a decade since the last one, while Titanic could have a shot at being one of the more successful 3D re-releases to date if it can capitalize on '90s nostalgia. Elsewhere there are quite a few smaller releases that are also hitting VOD this weekend including The Hunter starring Willem Dafoe, the Morgan Spurlock documentary Comic-Con Episode IV: A Fan's Hope and the high concept thriller Atm. Mario Van Peebles' latest film We the Party is also out, while The Raid: Redemption is expanding to quite a few more theatres. What will you be watching this weekend?...
- 4/6/2012
- by Sean
- FilmJunk
A celebration of nerd-dom, a display of fantastical obsession, or, as filmmaker Morgan Spurlock described it, an uprising of "geeks with power," "Comic-Con Episode IV: A Fan's Hope" debuted in Hollywood Wednesday (April 4) night, complete with a brigade of "Star Wars" troopers and an even larger array of decked-out superheroes.
"Believe it or not, I'm a little bit of a geek, I have been my whole life," Spurlock explains to Zap2It on the red carpet. "I felt like there was a whole world that hadn't been explored at Comic-Con."
"I think it's been rarely seen in its normal life; it's been misrepresented. If you look at the press coverage of Comic-Con, it's like 'Oh, there's Angelina Jolie,' or 'Oh, look at all those people in weird costumes.' But when I was there, I saw something more."
In making his film, which hits theaters April 6, Spurlock -- who...
"Believe it or not, I'm a little bit of a geek, I have been my whole life," Spurlock explains to Zap2It on the red carpet. "I felt like there was a whole world that hadn't been explored at Comic-Con."
"I think it's been rarely seen in its normal life; it's been misrepresented. If you look at the press coverage of Comic-Con, it's like 'Oh, there's Angelina Jolie,' or 'Oh, look at all those people in weird costumes.' But when I was there, I saw something more."
In making his film, which hits theaters April 6, Spurlock -- who...
- 4/5/2012
- by editorial@zap2it.com
- Pop2it
If you're heading to the movie theater this weekend, don't worry, you have not slipped into an alternate universe. At first glance, it may feel like the late '90s with this week's crop of releases, but rest assured that it is in fact 2012. First up is "American Reunion," the fourth -- seventh if you count those straight-to-dvd B-flicks -- chapter in the "American Pie" franchise. (The first film was released all the way back in 1999.) Then there's the re-release of James Cameron's "Titanic 3D." (To think, it was only 15 years ago when pre-teen girls were running to the theater just to swoon and cry over poor Leo DiCaprio.) Will these two films have the strength to take out "The Hunger Games" at the box office? Let's find out in Moviefone's Weekend Movie Preview. Nationwide Releases "American Reunion" What's the story: The whole gang is back! For real this time!
- 4/5/2012
- by Alex Suskind
- Moviefone
Paladin has taken Us theatrical rights to Morgan Spurlock's new documentary "Mansome," which will take a look at the wild world of contemporary male grooming. The film, which premieres later this month at the Tribeca Film Festival, uses some of the biggest stars in comedy to explore the manscaping landscape: Paul Rudd, Zach Galifianakis, Adam Carolla, Judd Apatow, John Waters, Will Arnett and Jason Bateman all appear. The film is executive produced by DumbDumb, "Arrested Development" stars Will Arnett and Jason Bateman's production company, as well as comedy producer Ben Silverman of Electus. Paladin will release the film in major cities starting May 18. Stay tuned for more information on Indiewire's Tribeca Talks, which will include Spurlock and the film's producers! Morgan's film "Comic-Con Episode IV: A Fan's Hope," opens theatrically this week. ...
- 4/5/2012
- by Bryce J. Renninger
- Indiewire
What do Comic-Con, McDonalds, Osama bin Laden and product placement have in common? They've all been the subjects of films by Morgan Spurlock. For his latest project, "Comic-Con Episode IV: A Fan's Hope," the man behind "Super Size Me" and "Where in the World is Osama bin Laden?" set his sights on San Diego's annual orgy of pop culture geekery. Spurlock's first visit to Comic-Con was in 2009, when he was working on "The Simpsons 20th Anniversary Special: In 3-D! On Ice!" During a casual discussion with comic book icon Stan Lee, Lee suggested that Spurlock make a documentary about the...
- 4/5/2012
- by Geoff Berkshire
- Hitfix
Morgan Spurlock has gone in-depth with his documentaries exposing McDonalds, Bin Laden, product placement and now the truth behind the biggest gathering of genre fans at San Diego's Comic Con. Spurlock joined forces with Avengers director Joss Whedon, comic book legend Stan Lee for a look behind the fans who attend this ritual event in Comic-Con Episode IV: A Fan's Hope. Watch the preview.
In the preview, Kevin Smith, Seth Rogen, Eli Roth and other horror and genre icons join in the fun with commentary in Spurlock's Comic-Con Episode Four: A Fan's Hope. Does Spurlock intend to use this piece to mock the thousands of fans who attend this event? From the trailer, he seems to be respectful of the Comic Con fan base focusing on individuals whose ultimate goal is to be discovered as artists for their craft.
Comic-Con Episode Four:
Read more...
In the preview, Kevin Smith, Seth Rogen, Eli Roth and other horror and genre icons join in the fun with commentary in Spurlock's Comic-Con Episode Four: A Fan's Hope. Does Spurlock intend to use this piece to mock the thousands of fans who attend this event? From the trailer, he seems to be respectful of the Comic Con fan base focusing on individuals whose ultimate goal is to be discovered as artists for their craft.
Comic-Con Episode Four:
Read more...
- 4/4/2012
- CineMovie
Morgan Spurlock has gone in-depth with his documentaries exposing McDonalds, Bin Laden, product placement and now the truth behind the biggest gathering of genre fans at San Diego's Comic Con. Spurlock joined forces with Avengers director Joss Whedon, comic book legend Stan Lee for a look behind the fans who attend this ritual event in Comic-Con Episode IV: A Fan's Hope. Watch the preview.
In the preview, Kevin Smith, Seth Rogen, Eli Roth and other horror and genre icons join in the fun with commentary in Spurlock's Comic-Con Episode Four: A Fan's Hope. Does Spurlock intend to use this piece to mock the thousands of fans who attend this event? From the trailer, he seems to be respectful of the Comic Con fan base focusing on individuals whose ultimate goal is to be discovered as artists for their craft.
Comic-Con Episode Four:
Read more...
In the preview, Kevin Smith, Seth Rogen, Eli Roth and other horror and genre icons join in the fun with commentary in Spurlock's Comic-Con Episode Four: A Fan's Hope. Does Spurlock intend to use this piece to mock the thousands of fans who attend this event? From the trailer, he seems to be respectful of the Comic Con fan base focusing on individuals whose ultimate goal is to be discovered as artists for their craft.
Comic-Con Episode Four:
Read more...
- 4/4/2012
- CineMovie
Celebrating its 40th anniversary later this year, Comic-Con, while originally a convention for comic book and science fiction/fantasy enthusiasts, has expanded into an annual pop-culture juggernaut that, as Kevin Smith says, has gone mainstream; in his view on par with Cannes, Sundance and even the Olympics. Even your mom has heard about it.
Now a sprawling mecca-like convention for film, television, horror, animation, anime, manga, toys, collectible card games, video games, webcomics, fantasy novels and more, Comic-Con has invaded every element and facet of pop-culture for better or worse, which is where Morgan Spurlock’s “Comic-Con Episode IV: A Fan's Hope” documentary focuses its affable gaze.
Featuring testimonials by self-described geeks such as the aforementioned Kevin Smith, Joss Whedon (a producer/writer on the film), Seth Green, Harry Knowles (an executive producer on the film), Seth Rogen, Eli Roth, Stan Lee (another producer), and many more -- while clearly...
Now a sprawling mecca-like convention for film, television, horror, animation, anime, manga, toys, collectible card games, video games, webcomics, fantasy novels and more, Comic-Con has invaded every element and facet of pop-culture for better or worse, which is where Morgan Spurlock’s “Comic-Con Episode IV: A Fan's Hope” documentary focuses its affable gaze.
Featuring testimonials by self-described geeks such as the aforementioned Kevin Smith, Joss Whedon (a producer/writer on the film), Seth Green, Harry Knowles (an executive producer on the film), Seth Rogen, Eli Roth, Stan Lee (another producer), and many more -- while clearly...
- 4/3/2012
- by The Playlist
- The Playlist
Few documentary filmmakers are as recognizable as Morgan Spurlock due to his featured role in most of his previous films as well as his television show "30 Days," and he has an unmatchable style for bringing his wit to any subject whether he's taking on the health issues with fast food, trying to find a terrorist leader or exploring the world of product placement and corporate sponsorship. His new doc Comic-Con Episode IV: A Fan's Hope is a different animal from his previous movies, first of all because he doesn't appear in it, but also because it tackles a subject anyone who regularly reads ComingSoon.net or its related sites may already think they know everything about. While we've covered Comic-Con International quite extensively for many years, you've probably not...
- 4/3/2012
- Comingsoon.net
Plot: Director Morgan Spurlock takes us into the wacky world of San Diego Comic-Con, via the points of view of newbies and old pros alike, to examine the allure and spectacle of the greatest geek convention on Earth. Review: Do you know what San Diego Comic-Con is? Good, because I'm not going to summarize it for you. Neither will Morgan Spurlock in his new documentary Comic-con Episode IV: A Fan's Hope, a charming, enjoyable look at the summer event and its quirky visitors. Instead of a...
- 4/3/2012
- by Eric Walkuski
- JoBlo.com
"Comic-Con Episode IV: A Fan's Hope" is the first Morgan Spurlock movie not blatantly about Morgan Spurlock. Each of the documentarian's previous efforts, from "Super Size Me" to last year's "The Greatest Movie Ever Sold," took cues from Spurlock's wry on-camera presence. Removing himself from the picture, Spurlock reveals his documentary technique to have little distinguishable from the usual talking heads/verite approach. It's a light, amusing collage of the titular event, but his absence makes it clear that the movie could have used a biting edge. "Comic-Con" studies the annual San Diego convention without condescending to the subculture it represents. Much as an anthropological approach might offer greater insight into the intersecting behaviors and marketplace concerns driving this colossal gathering, Spurlock has crafted an inoffensive love letter sure to please the contingency it represents. However, no matter...
- 4/2/2012
- by Eric Kohn
- Indiewire
Comic-Con Episode IV: A Fan's Hope may have a complicated title, but the story at its heart is a simple: nerds are wonderful. Telling the stories of several different comic-conners - a designer, a comic book artist, a toy collector - as they go about the world's biggest nerdgasm, it's a touching exploration of what it is to be a geek.Aided by celebrity pieces to camera from the likes of Eli Roth, Seth Rogen, and (of course) Kevin Smith, it's been created with the full backing of Cc HQ, with living legends and nerd gods Stan Lee and Joss Whedon executive producing.Directing duties are Morgan Spurlock's alone, however, and knowing that fact it's pretty safe to say it'll be an enjoyable, accessible, beard-filled joy. It's what he does, after all.Still, take a look at the trailer below and judge for yourself.Comic-Con Episode Four: A Fan's Hope...
- 2/23/2012
- EmpireOnline
Austin's Harry Knowles is the creator and editor of the website Ain't It Cool News and a co-founder of Fantastic Fest. In addition, he's produced a documentary, Comic-Con Episode Four: A Fan's Hope, which was this year's Fantastic Fest closing-night selection. The movie is a look inside San Diego Comic-Con and is directed by Morgan Spurlock; the film's other producers include Joss Whedon and Stan Lee. You can read Jette's review for details.
I sat down with Knowles before the fest began to ask him a few questions about Comic-Con Episode Four.
Slackerwood: You've worked at producing other films, such as John Carter of Mars and Ghost Town. How did you get involved in this one, and why do you think this is the first one to be made after others fell through?
Harry Knowles: With John Carter, it was a situation where the studio kept changing hands. Every...
I sat down with Knowles before the fest began to ask him a few questions about Comic-Con Episode Four.
Slackerwood: You've worked at producing other films, such as John Carter of Mars and Ghost Town. How did you get involved in this one, and why do you think this is the first one to be made after others fell through?
Harry Knowles: With John Carter, it was a situation where the studio kept changing hands. Every...
- 10/10/2011
- by Mike Saulters
- Slackerwood
Documentaries aren't normally gala closing-night picks for film festivals, but you couldn't find a better movie to end Fantastic Fest this year than Comic-Con Episode Four: A Fan's Hope. The frothy, upbeat doc from filmmaker Morgan Spurlock celebrated fandom -- and not exclusively, or even primarily movie fandom -- with a focus on a variety of attendees at Comic-Con San Diego.
Wait. Stop. I know what you're thinking. You've seen Spurlock's documentaries and you're wondering how he's managed to wedge himself into this particular scenario. But I bet that for most people, if you didn't know Spurlock directed this movie, you would never guess. The Super Size Me filmmaker doesn't appear onscreen at all -- you don't even hear him in a voiceover. This time, he lets many other voices and faces, both well-known and newcomers -- tell the story.
And it's a nice story, respectful of everyone who swarms...
Wait. Stop. I know what you're thinking. You've seen Spurlock's documentaries and you're wondering how he's managed to wedge himself into this particular scenario. But I bet that for most people, if you didn't know Spurlock directed this movie, you would never guess. The Super Size Me filmmaker doesn't appear onscreen at all -- you don't even hear him in a voiceover. This time, he lets many other voices and faces, both well-known and newcomers -- tell the story.
And it's a nice story, respectful of everyone who swarms...
- 10/10/2011
- by Jette Kernion
- Slackerwood
Comic-Con Episode Four: A Fan's Hope Directed by: Morgan Spurlock Written by: Morgan Spurlock, Joss Whedon, Jeremy Chilnook Starring: Skip Harvey, Eric Henson, Chuck Rozanski, James Darling, Se Young Kang Fantastic Fest 2011 featured Morgan Spurlock’s new documentary Comic-Con Episode Four: A Fan’s Hope as one of its closing night films. It seems like a risky venture to try to chronicle an event that has swelled to over 125,000 participants in recent years, but Spurlock wisely chooses to humanize the film by following a handful of fans and participants. The result is a surprisingly touching and funny film. If you’ve grown tired of Spurlock (who seemed to be everywhere a few years ago), never fear. He does not appear in the film, so unlike Michael Moore’s films, this one is truly about the people it features, not the celebrity filmmaker. Briefly, Comic-Con Episode Four introduces us to a...
- 9/30/2011
- by Shannon
- FilmJunk
[1] Filmmaker Morgan Spurlock's already had quite a busy 2011. January saw the premiere of his product placement documentary The Greatest Movie Ever Sold [2] at Sundance; this summer brought the release of his Hulu series A Day in the Life [3]; and this month marked the debut of Comic-Con Episode Four: A Fan's Hope [4] at Tiff. In addition, he's recently signed on to direct his first non-documentary feature, which Spurlock describes as "very Erin Brockovich-ish." [5] Most people would probably consider taking the rest of the year off at this point, but the tireless Spurlock isn't most people. He's now gearing up for his next project, The Failure Club. The Yahoo! reality series will follow seven New Yorkers with big dreams and bigger worries as they attempt to get over their fear of failure and aim for their loftiest goals. And if you happen to be a NYC resident who counts "starring...
- 9/21/2011
- by Angie Han
- Slash Film
Morgan Spurlock is probably best known for his movie “Supersize Me” in which he documents himself eating McDonald’s for a full month. He’s been criticized for making himself the subject of his documentaries but, in his newest movie, “Comic-Con: Episode IV – A Fan’s Hope”(a reference to the original Star Wars movie), Spurlock doesn’t appear in the film at all.
Instead, he documents the largest comic convention in the world: The San Diego Comic Con. Fans of various ages and statures – both regular citizens and more-accomplished film geeks (like Kevin Smith, Stan Lee and Joss Wedon to name a few) alike.
The movie documents the bigger phenomenon of Comic Con, but it also focuses on a few main stories of the convention: A young man that hopes to propose to his girlfriend at the convention, a girl who designs and makes costumes for the masquerade, a...
Instead, he documents the largest comic convention in the world: The San Diego Comic Con. Fans of various ages and statures – both regular citizens and more-accomplished film geeks (like Kevin Smith, Stan Lee and Joss Wedon to name a few) alike.
The movie documents the bigger phenomenon of Comic Con, but it also focuses on a few main stories of the convention: A young man that hopes to propose to his girlfriend at the convention, a girl who designs and makes costumes for the masquerade, a...
- 9/16/2011
- Cinelinx
Morgan Spurlock has shown us the dangers of a life of fast food, hunted down terrorist threats and explored the world of product placement in his three previous feature length documentaries. In his latest, Comic-Con Episode Four: A Fan's Hope (forever forward known as Comic-Con), Spurlock turns his attention to the not-so underground subculture of geekdom - most notably the uber fans that make the yearly pilgrimage to downtown San Diego for the geek Mecca that is San Diego Comic-Con (Sdcc). In Comic-Con, Spurlock has discarded his trademark style of on camera performance, instead placing his fascinating characters front and center, allowing their compelling stories to become the focus. While there are other factors at play here, this decision goes a long way to...
- 9/11/2011
- Screen Anarchy
Shawn Ashmore, Ashley Bell, Shannyn Sossamon, Dominic Monaghan and Cory Hardrict in The Day
Photo: Content Media The 2011 Toronto International Film Festival announced 56 more movies added to its festival line-up this year with selections in the Vanguard, Midnight Madness, Documentaries, City to City and Tiff Kids programs. And to be honest, the line-up is filled with titles, most of which are absolutely new to me.
I have seen one of the films under the Vanguard banner, a selection of young and cutting edge features and I've heard of Joachim Trier's Oslo, August 31, Ben Wheatley's Kill List (watch the trailer to the right) was a hit at South by Southwest earlier this year and the documentary selections include familiar names such as Werner Herzog, Morgan Spurlock, Jonathan Demme, Alex Gibney and Wim Wenders, the latter of which is delivering a 3D documentary centered on the dance world of Pina Bausch and her company.
Photo: Content Media The 2011 Toronto International Film Festival announced 56 more movies added to its festival line-up this year with selections in the Vanguard, Midnight Madness, Documentaries, City to City and Tiff Kids programs. And to be honest, the line-up is filled with titles, most of which are absolutely new to me.
I have seen one of the films under the Vanguard banner, a selection of young and cutting edge features and I've heard of Joachim Trier's Oslo, August 31, Ben Wheatley's Kill List (watch the trailer to the right) was a hit at South by Southwest earlier this year and the documentary selections include familiar names such as Werner Herzog, Morgan Spurlock, Jonathan Demme, Alex Gibney and Wim Wenders, the latter of which is delivering a 3D documentary centered on the dance world of Pina Bausch and her company.
- 8/3/2011
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
It's a good day in the eventful life of Morgan Spurlock (Super Size Me). In July he promoed his latest book and documentary Comic-Con Episode Four: A Fan's Hope (2012), starring such fan-friendly fanaticals as Kevin Smith, Harry Knowles, Eli Roth, Seth Rogen, Stan Lee and Joss Whedon at Comic-Con's Hall H. Now he's taking the film to the Toronto Film Festival, and announces the first-ever long form original series on Hulu, A Day in the Life. Spurlock will deliver six half-hour episodes to roll out on Hulu and Hulu Plus beginning Wednesday, August 17. (The series is no relation to Ridley Scott and Kevin Macdonald's must-see YouTube doc Life in a Day.) Spurlock will spend full days in the lives of such folks as first ...
- 8/3/2011
- Thompson on Hollywood
Just last week, we finally heard some official details on a forthcoming documentary from director Morgan Spurlock and producers Joss Whedon, Stan Lee and Harry Knowles that will follow seven comic fans from around the world as they embark on their journey to the annual Comic-Con convention in San Diego this July. Comic-Con Episode Four: A Fan's Hope, as it will be titled, now has a request to the masses from Spurlock's own website looking for Comic-Con stories from fans just like you guys. So here's your big chance to get on the big screen and showcase your geeky, dorky and/or nerdy obsessions for the entire world to see. Spurlock's call to action seems much more like an open casting call, and while there's a chance this could be an opportunity to become one of the seven subjects that he and his crew will follow leading up to Comic-Con in July,...
- 5/27/2010
- by Ethan Anderton
- firstshowing.net
Morgan Spurlock is jumping back into production this June with Comic-Con Episode Four: A Fan's Hope, a doc that will follow seven Comic-Con attendees. And just how will Spurlock make sure that he captures an authentic portrait of the Comic-Con experience? By conferring with the film's trusty group of advisors, who bring a ton of street cred to the project. Joss Wheedon (The Avengers, Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog), Ain't It Cool News' Harry Knowles and comicbook god Stan Lee are all on board in as executive producers. Joining the trio ...
- 5/25/2010
- by tkrinsky
- International Documentary Association
When the official news hit that Morgan Spurlock and Joss Whedon really would be making a documentary at this year's San Diego Comic Con, we promised you'd keep you, our loyal geeky fans, up to date when the casting process began. And look at us, keeping our word! With Harry Knowles involved in the production at some level, Ain't It Cool has posted the press release announcing the casting call for Comic-Con Episode Four: A Fan's Hope. The release says basically all the things you'd expect-- we're looking for geeks, all kinds of geeks, and hopefully some chicks too-- and includes the e-mail address where you should send your pitch. Let us know in the comments if you plan to apply and keep us posted on your adventure if you get called in. Looking For People Who Love Comic-con Are you headed to the 2010 Comic-Con International in San Diego? Do...
- 5/25/2010
- cinemablend.com
Back in February, word began to spread that "Buffy The Vampire Slayer" creator Joss Whedon and Morgan Spurlock were joining forces to create a documentary about the San Diego Comic-Con International. And apparently, they won't be alone.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Whedon and Spurlock will produce "Comic-Con Episode Four: A Fan's Hope" along with legendary comic book creator Stan Lee and Ain't it Cool News founder Harry Knowles. Thomas Tull and Jeremy Chilnick are also on board as producers.
The film reportedly follows seven fans from around the world as they prepare to attend this year's Comic-Con. It is currently scheduled to begin shooting in June and will also be filmed in San Diego during the annual fest.
Spurlock is best known for his documentary "Super-Size Me" and has previously filmed a portion of "The Simpsons 20th Anniversary Special" at last year's show. According to Spurlock, his experiences at...
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Whedon and Spurlock will produce "Comic-Con Episode Four: A Fan's Hope" along with legendary comic book creator Stan Lee and Ain't it Cool News founder Harry Knowles. Thomas Tull and Jeremy Chilnick are also on board as producers.
The film reportedly follows seven fans from around the world as they prepare to attend this year's Comic-Con. It is currently scheduled to begin shooting in June and will also be filmed in San Diego during the annual fest.
Spurlock is best known for his documentary "Super-Size Me" and has previously filmed a portion of "The Simpsons 20th Anniversary Special" at last year's show. According to Spurlock, his experiences at...
- 5/21/2010
- by Blair Marnell
- MTV Splash Page
There are two ways to look at the San Diego Comic Convention, aka Comic-Con, the annual nerd mecca that started out as a massive fanboy swap meet and has become a central component of Hollywood’s pop culture calendar. From one perspective, it’s the story of The Geek Shall Inherit the Earth: a generation of Alan Moore obsessives who grew up to dominate film and TV. From another, more cynical perspective, it’s a vintage Dark Phoenix situation, as in, “Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely.” In this telling, what started out as an oasis for passionate megafans became a big-budget farmer’s market,...
- 5/21/2010
- by Darren Franich
- EW.com - PopWatch
Back in February, rumors swirled that Morgan Spurlock and Joss Whedon were collaborating on a ComicCon documentary. It sounded a bit reality show at the time, and neither Spurlock or Whedon would confirm their involvement. But today, their partnership is official. According to Slashfilm, Spurlock will be directing a ComicCon documentary titled (of course) Comic-Con Episode Four: A Fan's Hope. Whedon will be producing alongside Stan Lee and Harry Knowles.
A Fan's Hope will begin shooting this June, and will culminate at ComicCon 2010. The documentary will follow seven people as they make the trek from all corners of the globe to the place known as Geek Mecca. "When I was a kid, comics changed my life and my world," says Spurlock. "So when I got to San Diego, I felt like I was home. It was such an overwhelming experience for me, and I soon found out that I was not alone.
A Fan's Hope will begin shooting this June, and will culminate at ComicCon 2010. The documentary will follow seven people as they make the trek from all corners of the globe to the place known as Geek Mecca. "When I was a kid, comics changed my life and my world," says Spurlock. "So when I got to San Diego, I felt like I was home. It was such an overwhelming experience for me, and I soon found out that I was not alone.
- 5/21/2010
- by Elisabeth Rappe
- Cinematical
Joss Whedon and Morgan Spurlock’s Comic-Con documentary – Comic-Con Episode Four: A Fan’s Hope – has got itself a director… Spurlock himself! The duo, with Stan Lee and Harry Knowles, are exec producing, and will follow a selection of people in the lead up to this July’s San Diego Comic-Con. With shooting to begin next month, the documentary will trail “seven different people from across America, and around the world, as they descend upon and the veritable Mecca of fandom and experience...
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- 5/21/2010
- by Josh Winning
- TotalFilm
Here's some advice to the fanboys. Buy a hat, and hang the hell onto it for this news. A documentary is in the works involving Morgan Spurlock, Legendary Pictures chief Thomas Tull, superhero legend Stan Lee, Buffy the Vampire Slayer creator Joss Whedon (who'll direct Marvel's The Avengers pic) and the randy redhead blogger Harry Knowles. They've teamed on Comic-Con Episode Four: A Fan's Hope, a feature documentary that will follow seven people from around the world as they travel to the geek summit that is Comic-Con in San Diego. Spurlock will film the docu. He's best known for directing [...]...
- 5/21/2010
- by MIKE FLEMING
- Deadline
By Daniel Frankel
A filmmaking contingent including Morgan Spurlock, Stan Lee and Joss Whedon formally announced their new Comic-Con documentary feature.
“Comic-Con Episode Four: A Fan’s Hope” will follow seven people from disparate global parts as they prepare to attend the San Diego-based comics convention this year.
Other producers involved with the project include fanboy blogger Harry Knowles, Jeremy Chilnick and Thomas Tull.
“When I was a kid, comics changed my life and my world,” Spurlock said “So when I got to San Diego, I felt like I was home...
A filmmaking contingent including Morgan Spurlock, Stan Lee and Joss Whedon formally announced their new Comic-Con documentary feature.
“Comic-Con Episode Four: A Fan’s Hope” will follow seven people from disparate global parts as they prepare to attend the San Diego-based comics convention this year.
Other producers involved with the project include fanboy blogger Harry Knowles, Jeremy Chilnick and Thomas Tull.
“When I was a kid, comics changed my life and my world,” Spurlock said “So when I got to San Diego, I felt like I was home...
- 5/21/2010
- by Daniel Frankel
- The Wrap
Comic book superfans Joss Whedon and Morgan Spurlock are teaming up to chronicle the genre's biggest convention Comic-Con in San Diego, California.
The Buffy The Vampire Slayer creator and Super Size Me director/star are planning to capture footage of sci-fi, comic book and animation fans at this year's weekend event as part of a new documentary, which will take a look at the world of the enthusiast.
And Eonline.com reports Spurlock and Whedon is looking to 'cast' a group of superfans, who will become the stars of the project.
A source says, "They want to follow people for about three months leading up to this year's Comic-Con and then they want to film them there."...
The Buffy The Vampire Slayer creator and Super Size Me director/star are planning to capture footage of sci-fi, comic book and animation fans at this year's weekend event as part of a new documentary, which will take a look at the world of the enthusiast.
And Eonline.com reports Spurlock and Whedon is looking to 'cast' a group of superfans, who will become the stars of the project.
A source says, "They want to follow people for about three months leading up to this year's Comic-Con and then they want to film them there."...
- 2/19/2010
- WENN
When I first heard that Joss Whedon and Morgan Spurlock were piecing together a documentary on Comic-Con, or, more specifically, three super geeks who are attending Comic Con, I immediately thought of that MTV True Life episode called "I'm a Fanboy". If you're not familiar with True Life, it's actually one of MTV's better shows in that it tackles a wide array of fascinating topics by following around three (or sometimes 2) young-ish people living a particular lifestyle -- from being homeless to polyamorous to addicted to video games to being a fanboy and everything in between.
To this day their "I'm a Fanboy" episode remains one of my favorites, because it really captured those awkward teenage moments in a way that was so real it almost hurt to watch. Trapped in the middle of these moments were young kids (or fanboys) who were obsessed with and extremely passionate about (among other things) Power Rangers,...
To this day their "I'm a Fanboy" episode remains one of my favorites, because it really captured those awkward teenage moments in a way that was so real it almost hurt to watch. Trapped in the middle of these moments were young kids (or fanboys) who were obsessed with and extremely passionate about (among other things) Power Rangers,...
- 2/18/2010
- by Erik Davis
- Cinematical
"Buffy The Vampire Slayer" creator Joss Whedon and Morgan Spurlock ("Super-Size Me") are reportedly teaming up for a documentary about the hub of the geek culture: San Diego Comic-Con International.
According to EOnline.com, Whedon and Spurlock are currently searching for "a still-to-be-cast group of convention-going superfans" while they develop the project.
"They want to follow people for about three months leading up to this year's Comic-Con," claimed the site's anonymous source. "And then they want to film them there. They're looking at all types of people."
Over the years, Whedon has garnered an impressive fan following for his work on "Buffy", "Angel", "Firefly", "Doctor Horrible's Sing-Along Blog" and more recently, "Dollhouse." In a similar fashion, Spurlock is one of the most popular documentary filmmakers thanks to his well-received "Super Size Me" movie and his TV series, "30 Days."
During last year's San Diego Comic-Con, Spurlock filmed a portion of "The...
According to EOnline.com, Whedon and Spurlock are currently searching for "a still-to-be-cast group of convention-going superfans" while they develop the project.
"They want to follow people for about three months leading up to this year's Comic-Con," claimed the site's anonymous source. "And then they want to film them there. They're looking at all types of people."
Over the years, Whedon has garnered an impressive fan following for his work on "Buffy", "Angel", "Firefly", "Doctor Horrible's Sing-Along Blog" and more recently, "Dollhouse." In a similar fashion, Spurlock is one of the most popular documentary filmmakers thanks to his well-received "Super Size Me" movie and his TV series, "30 Days."
During last year's San Diego Comic-Con, Spurlock filmed a portion of "The...
- 2/18/2010
- by Blair Marnell
- MTV Splash Page
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