Mavis Staples will celebrate her birthday a few months early with the star-studded Mavis Staples 85th: All Star Birthday Concert. The event, scheduled for April 18 at Los Angeles’ YouTube Theater, will feature a headlining performance from the gospel and soul singer herself, with additional appearances from Chris Stapleton, Grace Potter, Black Pumas, Hozier, Norah Jones, and more. (Staples turns 85 on July 10.)
“At the end of last year, I was talking about retiring,” Staples shared in a statement. “But after sitting with it for a while, I stopped myself and thought,...
“At the end of last year, I was talking about retiring,” Staples shared in a statement. “But after sitting with it for a while, I stopped myself and thought,...
- 2/12/2024
- by Larisha Paul
- Rollingstone.com
Willie Nelson & Family, a documentary series about the country music icon from filmmakers Thom Zimny and Oren Moverman, is set to bow on Paramount+ on Dec. 21.
The career retrospective is creatively driven by directors Zimny and Moverman, both recent Emmy winners — Zimny for directing the variety special Springsteen on Broadway and Moverman for the TV movie Bad Education, starring Hugh Jackman.
Paramount+ acquired the documentary series, which recalls Nelson’s life and long career as an iconic country music singer-songwriter, after its world premiere at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival. Nelson participated in the production and allowed Zimny — a frequent Bruce Springsteen collaborator — and Moverman access to his archives.
The four-parter is executive produced by Yellowstone co-creator Taylor Sheridan and is a production of MTV Entertainment Studios, in association with 101 Studios, Blackbird Presents Films and Sight Unseen. “Willie’s music formed the soundtrack of my youth. His songwriting helped shape me as a storyteller…...
The career retrospective is creatively driven by directors Zimny and Moverman, both recent Emmy winners — Zimny for directing the variety special Springsteen on Broadway and Moverman for the TV movie Bad Education, starring Hugh Jackman.
Paramount+ acquired the documentary series, which recalls Nelson’s life and long career as an iconic country music singer-songwriter, after its world premiere at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival. Nelson participated in the production and allowed Zimny — a frequent Bruce Springsteen collaborator — and Moverman access to his archives.
The four-parter is executive produced by Yellowstone co-creator Taylor Sheridan and is a production of MTV Entertainment Studios, in association with 101 Studios, Blackbird Presents Films and Sight Unseen. “Willie’s music formed the soundtrack of my youth. His songwriting helped shape me as a storyteller…...
- 12/14/2023
- by Etan Vlessing
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
You only turn 90 once, and Willie Nelson is making the most of his milestone. Following his two-day birthday concert event earlier this year, the outlaw country legend is bringing it to the screen with Long Story Short: Willie Nelson 90, a concert film hitting theaters on June 11th.
Long Story Short will compile highlights recorded live between April 29th and 30th at the famed Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles. The show featured a star-studded lineup of musical guests including Keith Richards, Neil Young, Stephen Stills, Dave Matthews, George Strait, Emmylou Harris, Chris Stapleton, Rosanne Cash, Sheryl Crow, Snoop Dogg, and many, many more. Chelsea Handler, Ethan Hawke, Helen Mirren, Jennifer Garner, Owen Wilson, and Woody Harrelson also took the stage for special tributes and presentations.
“Demand to attend this historic concert event was unprecedented,” said Nelson’s manager Mark Rothbaum and Blackbird Presents CEO Keith Wortman in a statement. “Willie wanted...
Long Story Short will compile highlights recorded live between April 29th and 30th at the famed Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles. The show featured a star-studded lineup of musical guests including Keith Richards, Neil Young, Stephen Stills, Dave Matthews, George Strait, Emmylou Harris, Chris Stapleton, Rosanne Cash, Sheryl Crow, Snoop Dogg, and many, many more. Chelsea Handler, Ethan Hawke, Helen Mirren, Jennifer Garner, Owen Wilson, and Woody Harrelson also took the stage for special tributes and presentations.
“Demand to attend this historic concert event was unprecedented,” said Nelson’s manager Mark Rothbaum and Blackbird Presents CEO Keith Wortman in a statement. “Willie wanted...
- 5/16/2023
- by Abby Jones
- Consequence - Film News
You only turn 90 once, and Willie Nelson is making the most of his milestone. Following his two-day birthday concert event earlier this year, the outlaw country legend is bringing it to the screen with Long Story Short: Willie Nelson 90, a concert film hitting theaters on June 11th.
Long Story Short will compile highlights recorded live between April 29th and 30th at the famed Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles. The show featured a star-studded lineup of musical guests including Keith Richards, Neil Young, Stephen Stills, Dave Matthews, George Strait, Emmylou Harris, Chris Stapleton, Rosanne Cash, Sheryl Crow, Snoop Dogg, and many, many more. Chelsea Handler, Ethan Hawke, Helen Mirren, Jennifer Garner, Owen Wilson, and Woody Harrelson also took the stage for special tributes and presentations.
“Demand to attend this historic concert event was unprecedented,” said Nelson’s manager Mark Rothbaum and Blackbird Presents CEO Keith Wortman in a statement. “Willie wanted...
Long Story Short will compile highlights recorded live between April 29th and 30th at the famed Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles. The show featured a star-studded lineup of musical guests including Keith Richards, Neil Young, Stephen Stills, Dave Matthews, George Strait, Emmylou Harris, Chris Stapleton, Rosanne Cash, Sheryl Crow, Snoop Dogg, and many, many more. Chelsea Handler, Ethan Hawke, Helen Mirren, Jennifer Garner, Owen Wilson, and Woody Harrelson also took the stage for special tributes and presentations.
“Demand to attend this historic concert event was unprecedented,” said Nelson’s manager Mark Rothbaum and Blackbird Presents CEO Keith Wortman in a statement. “Willie wanted...
- 5/16/2023
- by Abby Jones
- Consequence - Music
For nearly a decade now, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival’s final weekend has gone out with some highly curated shows at the city’s Saenger Theatre. There was the tribute to the Neville Brothers in 2015, a salute to The Band and their “Last Waltz” concert in 2016 and 2021, and Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats joining the revered Preservation Hall Jazz Band in 2019. This year, as weekend number two gets underway, it’s the Avett Brothers who will anchor “Second Weekend at the Saenger” with a pair of shows on Friday and Saturday.
- 5/5/2023
- by Joseph Hudak
- Rollingstone.com
Willie Nelson in a scene from ‘Willie Nelson and Family’ (Photo Courtesy of Sundance Institute)
The 2023 Sundance Film Festival’s lineup will include 64 Short Films and four Indie Episodic projects. More than 10,000 short film submissions were received, and the 64 selected represent work from 23 countries. 519 Indie Episodic submissions were submitted and the four selected represent five countries.
The 2023 Festival will take place in person from January 19–29. Select films will be available online beginning January 24th.
“Short films and episodic projects are an integral aspect of the overall mission of the Sundance Institute — to empower artists who are taking risks, bringing new perspectives to the forefront, and creating work that entertains and provokes conversation,” stated Kim Yutani, Sundance Film Festival Director of Programming. “These platforms provide artists with the ability to expand beyond the boundaries of traditional cinema, while also motivating a unique creativity through an ever expanding format.”
Indie Episodic
Chanshi...
The 2023 Sundance Film Festival’s lineup will include 64 Short Films and four Indie Episodic projects. More than 10,000 short film submissions were received, and the 64 selected represent work from 23 countries. 519 Indie Episodic submissions were submitted and the four selected represent five countries.
The 2023 Festival will take place in person from January 19–29. Select films will be available online beginning January 24th.
“Short films and episodic projects are an integral aspect of the overall mission of the Sundance Institute — to empower artists who are taking risks, bringing new perspectives to the forefront, and creating work that entertains and provokes conversation,” stated Kim Yutani, Sundance Film Festival Director of Programming. “These platforms provide artists with the ability to expand beyond the boundaries of traditional cinema, while also motivating a unique creativity through an ever expanding format.”
Indie Episodic
Chanshi...
- 12/13/2022
- by Rebecca Murray
- Showbiz Junkies
Sundance revealed the lineup for its Shorts and Indie Episodic programs today, featuring new work from filmmakers like Paul Feig and Ken Marino, “Roma” star Yalitza Aparicio Martinez, and Henry Winkler.
Sixty-four films were selected for the Shorts program from a record-high pool of 10,981 submissions. Spanning fiction, non-fiction, and animated works from artists in the U.S. and around the world, the program features both new and returning filmmakers. Aparicio Martinez will headline Mexico’s “Sweatshop Girl,” from writer-director Selma Cervantes, playing a seamstress who must hide her pregnancy to avoid getting fired. The Feig-produced “Help Me Understand” stars “The Office” actress Kate Flannery and Ken Marino among its ensemble cast. Angela Trimbur wrote and co-stars in “Mirror Girl,” while Sarafyan appears in the sci-fi short “Power Signal.”
The Indie Episodic lineup spotlights rising creators of independently produced content for episodic platforms. Four projects were chosen this year, including “Willie Nelson and Family,...
Sixty-four films were selected for the Shorts program from a record-high pool of 10,981 submissions. Spanning fiction, non-fiction, and animated works from artists in the U.S. and around the world, the program features both new and returning filmmakers. Aparicio Martinez will headline Mexico’s “Sweatshop Girl,” from writer-director Selma Cervantes, playing a seamstress who must hide her pregnancy to avoid getting fired. The Feig-produced “Help Me Understand” stars “The Office” actress Kate Flannery and Ken Marino among its ensemble cast. Angela Trimbur wrote and co-stars in “Mirror Girl,” while Sarafyan appears in the sci-fi short “Power Signal.”
The Indie Episodic lineup spotlights rising creators of independently produced content for episodic platforms. Four projects were chosen this year, including “Willie Nelson and Family,...
- 12/13/2022
- by Harper Lambert
- The Wrap
The 2023 Sundance Film Festival officially announced the Shorts and Indie Episodic programs.
Notable artists and talent in the shorts program include Paul Feig, Angela Sarafyan, Kate Flannery, Yalitza Aparicio Martinez, Angela Trimbur, Ken Marino, Bi Gan, and Shannon Plumb. Selections range from more than 23 countries, including Iran and Ukraine.
The Sundance Institute will offer in-person premieres for the Indie Episodic works, with Shorts screened in curated programs. Beginning January 24, all Indie Episodic projects and selected Shorts will also be available to stream online through the end of the festival. The 2023 festival will take place January 19 through 29, 2023, in person in Park City, Salt Lake City, and the Sundance Resort, along with a selection of films available online across the country January 24–29.
This upcoming year’s Short Film program includes work from 23 countries, and the Indie Episodic represents works from five countries. Forty-six percent of the filmmakers identify as women, and filmmakers...
Notable artists and talent in the shorts program include Paul Feig, Angela Sarafyan, Kate Flannery, Yalitza Aparicio Martinez, Angela Trimbur, Ken Marino, Bi Gan, and Shannon Plumb. Selections range from more than 23 countries, including Iran and Ukraine.
The Sundance Institute will offer in-person premieres for the Indie Episodic works, with Shorts screened in curated programs. Beginning January 24, all Indie Episodic projects and selected Shorts will also be available to stream online through the end of the festival. The 2023 festival will take place January 19 through 29, 2023, in person in Park City, Salt Lake City, and the Sundance Resort, along with a selection of films available online across the country January 24–29.
This upcoming year’s Short Film program includes work from 23 countries, and the Indie Episodic represents works from five countries. Forty-six percent of the filmmakers identify as women, and filmmakers...
- 12/13/2022
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
The life and music of Willie Nelson will be covered extensively in an upcoming docuseries. Willie Nelson and Family, produced by Blackbird Presents and Sight Unseen, is currently being filmed with the participation of the country legend and his family.
Developed by Nelson’s manager Mark Rothbaum and Blackbird Presents Founder and Chief Creative Officer Keith Wortman, Willie Nelson and Family is being directed by Thom Zimny and Oren Moverman. The series will feature the singer, his family, and friends in a variety of locales, including Austin, Maui, Nashville, Los Angeles,...
Developed by Nelson’s manager Mark Rothbaum and Blackbird Presents Founder and Chief Creative Officer Keith Wortman, Willie Nelson and Family is being directed by Thom Zimny and Oren Moverman. The series will feature the singer, his family, and friends in a variety of locales, including Austin, Maui, Nashville, Los Angeles,...
- 7/27/2021
- by Jon Freeman
- Rollingstone.com
Willie Nelson will be the subject of a new docuseries that is described as the definitive look at the country musician's life and career. The series has the blessing and participation of Nelson himself.
Oren Moverman ("The Messenger") and Thom Zimny ("Springsteen on Broadway") are co-directing the multi-part series, titled "Willie Nelson and Family." Filming is currently underway in everywhere the Nelson family calls home, including Austin, Maui, Nashville, Los Angeles and New York.
The project was developed by Nelson's longtime manager, Mark Rothbaum, and Blackbird Presents founder and chief creative officer Keith Wortman. Moverman’s Sight Unseen is also producing and serves as a financing partner. Executive producers on "Willie Nelson and Family" are Keith Wortman, Mark Rothbaum, Annie Nelson, Julia Lebedev, Eddie Vaisman and Leonid Lebedev.
“Telling Willie’s story has been a lifelong dream of ours, and we feel privileged to realize this dream with Thom, Oren,...
Oren Moverman ("The Messenger") and Thom Zimny ("Springsteen on Broadway") are co-directing the multi-part series, titled "Willie Nelson and Family." Filming is currently underway in everywhere the Nelson family calls home, including Austin, Maui, Nashville, Los Angeles and New York.
The project was developed by Nelson's longtime manager, Mark Rothbaum, and Blackbird Presents founder and chief creative officer Keith Wortman. Moverman’s Sight Unseen is also producing and serves as a financing partner. Executive producers on "Willie Nelson and Family" are Keith Wortman, Mark Rothbaum, Annie Nelson, Julia Lebedev, Eddie Vaisman and Leonid Lebedev.
“Telling Willie’s story has been a lifelong dream of ours, and we feel privileged to realize this dream with Thom, Oren,...
- 7/27/2021
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
Willie Nelson is participating in a docuseries about his life, “Willie Nelson and Family,” with production said to be already “well underway” on the project from Blackbird Presents and Sight Unseen Pictures. The co-directors of the “definitive” multi-part series are Thom Zimny, best known as Bruce Springsteen’s regular filmic collaborator, and Emmy winner and Oscar nominee Oren Moverman.
Nelson, 88, is described as an enthusiastic participant in the project, opening up exclusive access to his archives and encouraging friends and family to take part in a series that’s already been filming in Austin, Nashville, Los Angeles, New York and Maui.
The country music icon’s manager, Mark Rothbaum, developed the project in collaboration with Keith Wortman, the founder-ceo of Blackbird Presents.
The latter company specializes in films and TV shows about music legends and in recent years has produced projects for or about artists like Merle Haggard, Gregg Allman,...
Nelson, 88, is described as an enthusiastic participant in the project, opening up exclusive access to his archives and encouraging friends and family to take part in a series that’s already been filming in Austin, Nashville, Los Angeles, New York and Maui.
The country music icon’s manager, Mark Rothbaum, developed the project in collaboration with Keith Wortman, the founder-ceo of Blackbird Presents.
The latter company specializes in films and TV shows about music legends and in recent years has produced projects for or about artists like Merle Haggard, Gregg Allman,...
- 7/27/2021
- by Chris Willman
- Variety Film + TV
Emmy award and Grammy award winning filmmaker Thom Zimny and Oscar-nominated and Emmy award-winning filmmaker Oren Moverman are co-directing the Blackbird Presents and Sight Unseen Pictures docuseries Willie Nelson and Family. Production is already underway in Austin, Maui, Nashville, Los Angeles and New York.
The seven-decade career country singer and his family and friends are providing exclusive participation and access to his archives.
The multi-part docuseries was developed by longtime Nelson manager Mark Rothbaum and Blackbird Presents Founder & Chief Creative Officer Keith Wortman, who have previously teamed on several film, television, and music projects. The duo selected Zimny and Moverman as uniquely suited to direct the series, along with Moverman’s award-winning production company with Julia Lebedev and Eddie Vaisman, Sight Unseen, as a producing and financing partner. EPs are Keith Wortman, Mark Rothbaum, Annie Nelson, Julia Lebedev, Eddie Vaisman, and Leonid Lebedev.
“Telling Willie’s story has been a lifelong dream of ours,...
The seven-decade career country singer and his family and friends are providing exclusive participation and access to his archives.
The multi-part docuseries was developed by longtime Nelson manager Mark Rothbaum and Blackbird Presents Founder & Chief Creative Officer Keith Wortman, who have previously teamed on several film, television, and music projects. The duo selected Zimny and Moverman as uniquely suited to direct the series, along with Moverman’s award-winning production company with Julia Lebedev and Eddie Vaisman, Sight Unseen, as a producing and financing partner. EPs are Keith Wortman, Mark Rothbaum, Annie Nelson, Julia Lebedev, Eddie Vaisman, and Leonid Lebedev.
“Telling Willie’s story has been a lifelong dream of ours,...
- 7/27/2021
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
This year marks five years since B.B. King’s death, but the thrill of King’s music will live on during two ambitious nights: February 16th and 17th, 2020, at the Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, New York.
The Thrill Is Gone: A Tribute to B.B. King will be an an all-star concert featuring Anthony Hamilton, Bob Margolin, Bobby Rush, Buddy Guy, David Hidalgo, Derek Trucks, Ivan Neville, Jamey Johnson, Jimmie Vaughan, John Scofield, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Little Steven, Robert Cray, Robert Randolph, Shemekia Copeland, Southside Johnny, Steve Cropper, Susan Tedeschi,...
The Thrill Is Gone: A Tribute to B.B. King will be an an all-star concert featuring Anthony Hamilton, Bob Margolin, Bobby Rush, Buddy Guy, David Hidalgo, Derek Trucks, Ivan Neville, Jamey Johnson, Jimmie Vaughan, John Scofield, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Little Steven, Robert Cray, Robert Randolph, Shemekia Copeland, Southside Johnny, Steve Cropper, Susan Tedeschi,...
- 1/15/2020
- by Patrick Doyle
- Rollingstone.com
Blackbird Presents today announced a partnership with Sony Music Latin and Jenni Rivera Enterprises to produce “Jenni Rivera 50,” an all-star television special and record release celebrating the late singer.
This one-night-only event honoring the late singer’s 50th birthday will take place in Los Angeles; no lineup or date for the special has yet been announced, although Rivera’s 50th birthday would have been this past July 2. According to the announcement, the concert event and television taping will bring together a lineup of Regional Mexican, Latin American, and contemporary pop artists to celebrate the life and music of the singer, songwriter and humanitarian who died in a plane crash in 2012. A portion of the proceeds from the special will go to the Jenni Rivera Love Foundation.
Rivera became the most prominent and influential female recording artist in Regional Mexican music, with 15 gold and platinum records and top-drawing tours. She produced...
This one-night-only event honoring the late singer’s 50th birthday will take place in Los Angeles; no lineup or date for the special has yet been announced, although Rivera’s 50th birthday would have been this past July 2. According to the announcement, the concert event and television taping will bring together a lineup of Regional Mexican, Latin American, and contemporary pop artists to celebrate the life and music of the singer, songwriter and humanitarian who died in a plane crash in 2012. A portion of the proceeds from the special will go to the Jenni Rivera Love Foundation.
Rivera became the most prominent and influential female recording artist in Regional Mexican music, with 15 gold and platinum records and top-drawing tours. She produced...
- 7/11/2019
- by Variety Staff
- Variety Film + TV
[Press Release] New York, NY (March 31, 2015) – Loud & Proud Records is proud to partner with Blackbird Presents to release the CD/DVD “Lynyrd Skynyrd - One More For The Fans!,” a celebration of the band’s incredible musical legacy. On one special night last November 12, 2014, an extraordinary collection of artists came together at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta, Ga to honor Lynyrd Skynyrd, one of the most influential bands of our time. The uniqueconcert featured performances by Lynyrd Skynyrd, along with special guests Trace Adkins, Alabama, Gregg Allman, BlackberrySmoke, Cheap Trick, Charlie Daniels, Peter Frampton, Gov’t Mule,Warren Haynes, John Hiatt, Randy Houser, Jason Isbell, Jamey Johnson, Aaron Lewis, moe., O.A.R., Robert Randolph and Donnie Van Zant. Keith Wortman, creator and...
- 3/31/2015
- by Pietro Filipponi
- The Daily BLAM!
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