Editors note: Filmmaker and producer Davis Guggenheim directed 2006’s An Inconvenient Truth featuring Al Gore. The film won the Oscar and helped put Jeff Skoll’s social-impact-driven production company then known as Participant Media on the map, and also sounded an alarm about climate change that has become more pronounced since the film was released. In addition to documentaries, Participant was also responsible for Oscar Best Picture winners Spotlight and Green Book, and Steven Soderbergh’s Contagion, another timely topic. Guggenheim is a co-founder of Concordia Studio and most recently directed and produced Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie, which won four Emmys including for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special. He is the only person to direct and produce three distinct films ranking in the top 100 highest-grossing documentaries of all time. Here he penned a guest column for Deadline after learning Participant was shuttering.
- 4/23/2024
- by Davis Guggenheim
- Deadline Film + TV
After 20 years, Participant is shutting down.
Founder Jeff Skoll announced the news in a note to staff Tuesday, writing, “after much reflection, I have made the very difficult decision to wind down company operations.” During its run, the company was behind best picture winners Green Book and Moonlight, and docs such as An Inconvenient Truth and Rbg.
EBay co-founder Skoll founded the company in 2004 with a dual mission of making money and inspiring social change through entertainment (the company later moved into television and other ventures). It has helped produce and finance a slew of high-profile awards contenders. Its films won 21 Oscars and its series won 18 Emmys. It earned more than $3.3 billion at the box office. Veteran studio executive David Linde has been running Participant since 2016; previous execs involved in Participant include Ricky Strauss.
It was heavily involved in the nonfiction space, with its shuttering sure to send ripples through that community.
Founder Jeff Skoll announced the news in a note to staff Tuesday, writing, “after much reflection, I have made the very difficult decision to wind down company operations.” During its run, the company was behind best picture winners Green Book and Moonlight, and docs such as An Inconvenient Truth and Rbg.
EBay co-founder Skoll founded the company in 2004 with a dual mission of making money and inspiring social change through entertainment (the company later moved into television and other ventures). It has helped produce and finance a slew of high-profile awards contenders. Its films won 21 Oscars and its series won 18 Emmys. It earned more than $3.3 billion at the box office. Veteran studio executive David Linde has been running Participant since 2016; previous execs involved in Participant include Ricky Strauss.
It was heavily involved in the nonfiction space, with its shuttering sure to send ripples through that community.
- 4/16/2024
- by Aaron Couch
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Participant, the media company behind films like “Spotlight,” “Green Book,” “Roma,” and many more, is shutting its doors after 20 years in operation.
Jeff Skoll, who founded the company in 2004, informed the staff in a memo (obtained by IndieWire) that Participant would “wind down company operations.”
Nearly all of Participant’s roughly 100 staffers are being let go with no new content or production in the works. Only Participant’s library of 135 films remaining.
“I founded Participant with the mission of creating world-class content that inspires positive social change, prioritizing impact alongside commercial sustainability,” Skoll wrote. “Since then, the entertainment industry has seen revolutionary changes in how content is created, distributed and consumed.”
Participant’s 135 titles, half of them documentaries and also including five series, have earned $3.3 billion at the global box office. Participant has produced two Best Picture winners and earned 21 Oscars total from 86 nominations, as well as 18 Emmys on 62 nominations.
Jeff Skoll, who founded the company in 2004, informed the staff in a memo (obtained by IndieWire) that Participant would “wind down company operations.”
Nearly all of Participant’s roughly 100 staffers are being let go with no new content or production in the works. Only Participant’s library of 135 films remaining.
“I founded Participant with the mission of creating world-class content that inspires positive social change, prioritizing impact alongside commercial sustainability,” Skoll wrote. “Since then, the entertainment industry has seen revolutionary changes in how content is created, distributed and consumed.”
Participant’s 135 titles, half of them documentaries and also including five series, have earned $3.3 billion at the global box office. Participant has produced two Best Picture winners and earned 21 Oscars total from 86 nominations, as well as 18 Emmys on 62 nominations.
- 4/16/2024
- by Brian Welk
- Indiewire
Financier and producer Participant is shuttering after 20 years. Founder Jeff Skoll alerted staff at 10:30Am, Deadline has confirmed.
The production’s m.o. was to bring content to the world that was socially conscious, read their Oscar Best Picture winners Spotlight and Universal’s Green Book, as well as DreamWorks’ Oscar winner Lincoln. All in Participant counts 135 films, five series, 21 Oscars including two Best Pictures, four Best Documentaries and two Best International Features, 18 Primetime Emmys and north of $3.3 billion in global box office.
Skoll told staffers, as you can read below, that it was a “very difficult decision” and stems from it being “the right time for me to evaluate my next chapter and approach to tackling the pressing issues of our time.” He also mentioned that he hasn’t been involved in the day-to-day management of the studio.
Skoll is a Canadian engineer, billionaire who was the first president of eBay.
The production’s m.o. was to bring content to the world that was socially conscious, read their Oscar Best Picture winners Spotlight and Universal’s Green Book, as well as DreamWorks’ Oscar winner Lincoln. All in Participant counts 135 films, five series, 21 Oscars including two Best Pictures, four Best Documentaries and two Best International Features, 18 Primetime Emmys and north of $3.3 billion in global box office.
Skoll told staffers, as you can read below, that it was a “very difficult decision” and stems from it being “the right time for me to evaluate my next chapter and approach to tackling the pressing issues of our time.” He also mentioned that he hasn’t been involved in the day-to-day management of the studio.
Skoll is a Canadian engineer, billionaire who was the first president of eBay.
- 4/16/2024
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie tells the story of Fox’s career and battle with Parkinson’s disease. Director Davis Guggenheim directed the film and interviewed Fox. Though Guggenheim had final cut, he was worried Fox would ask him to remove some archival material that didn’t reflect well on him.
“It was after Back to the Future opened, after Teen Wolf opened,” Guggenheim said at Deadline’s Contenders Film: Documentary. “So he had the top two films in the country which was unheard of, and was returning to Family Ties, the number one comedy. There’s this footage of him shot behind the scenes. He’s being kind of a jerk.”
Fortunately, to Guggenheim’s surprise, Fox was all for it.
“His first question was, ‘That scene where I’m an a**hole, where did you find that? It’s fantastic,’” Guggenheim remembered. “I suspected if I had...
“It was after Back to the Future opened, after Teen Wolf opened,” Guggenheim said at Deadline’s Contenders Film: Documentary. “So he had the top two films in the country which was unheard of, and was returning to Family Ties, the number one comedy. There’s this footage of him shot behind the scenes. He’s being kind of a jerk.”
Fortunately, to Guggenheim’s surprise, Fox was all for it.
“His first question was, ‘That scene where I’m an a**hole, where did you find that? It’s fantastic,’” Guggenheim remembered. “I suspected if I had...
- 12/10/2023
- by Fred Topel
- Deadline Film + TV
Documentaries have the remarkable ability to open our eyes to the world’s realities, challenge our preconceived notions, and transform our perspectives. In an age where information inundates our lives from various sources, these cinematic works offer a unique and intimate platform to engage with issues that matter.
Related: 7 Best Mind-Expanding Documentaries
Over the years, certain documentaries have left an indelible mark, altering the course of public perception and, in some cases, even driving real-world change. This article delves into ten must-watch documentaries that have wielded the power of truth to reshape the way we view the world around us.
“Blackfish” (2013)
A Deep Dive into Captive Marine Life
This documentary hit me like a tidal wave. “Blackfish” pulled back the curtain on how marine animals are treated in captivity, specifically focusing on orcas at SeaWorld. It’s not all fun and games; the film peeled away the glossy exterior to...
Related: 7 Best Mind-Expanding Documentaries
Over the years, certain documentaries have left an indelible mark, altering the course of public perception and, in some cases, even driving real-world change. This article delves into ten must-watch documentaries that have wielded the power of truth to reshape the way we view the world around us.
“Blackfish” (2013)
A Deep Dive into Captive Marine Life
This documentary hit me like a tidal wave. “Blackfish” pulled back the curtain on how marine animals are treated in captivity, specifically focusing on orcas at SeaWorld. It’s not all fun and games; the film peeled away the glossy exterior to...
- 10/25/2023
- by Pia Vermaak
- buddytv.com
This story about “Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie” first appeared in the Race Begins issue of TheWrap’s Emmy magazine.
Davis Guggenheim, the Oscar-winning director of “An Inconvenient Truth” and “Waiting for Superman,” has made an intimate chronicle of Michael J. Fox’s meteoric rise to TV and film stardom in the 1980s, followed by his shocking diagnosis with Parkinson’s disease. In keeping with Fox’s usual approach, “Still” is light instead of ponderous, even as it delves into the inexorable progression of a disease about which Fox’s doctor told him, “You lose this one.”
How did you get involved with this movie?
It was during Covid. I was in a rut, I hadn’t had a movie that excited me in a while. And I read this interview with Michael in the New York Times. Of course he was funny, but his storytelling was so strong that I said,...
Davis Guggenheim, the Oscar-winning director of “An Inconvenient Truth” and “Waiting for Superman,” has made an intimate chronicle of Michael J. Fox’s meteoric rise to TV and film stardom in the 1980s, followed by his shocking diagnosis with Parkinson’s disease. In keeping with Fox’s usual approach, “Still” is light instead of ponderous, even as it delves into the inexorable progression of a disease about which Fox’s doctor told him, “You lose this one.”
How did you get involved with this movie?
It was during Covid. I was in a rut, I hadn’t had a movie that excited me in a while. And I read this interview with Michael in the New York Times. Of course he was funny, but his storytelling was so strong that I said,...
- 6/1/2023
- by Steve Pond
- The Wrap
Plot: An in-depth look at Michael J. Fox’s career and how, many years after his diagnosis with Parkinson’s, he manages the worsening symptoms of the disease.
Review: For those of us who came up in the eighties, Michael J. Fox was right up there with Tom Cruise in that he was the movie star many of us looked up to as the cool older brother we always wanted. Nowadays, people may not realize just how big he was, with him starring in not only the biggest show on TV (Family Ties) but also headlining a slew of movies that were box office juggernauts. Sure, people know that Back to the Future was a phenomenon, but Teen Wolf also made a boatload of cash, and The Secret of My Success was one of the highest-grossing comedies of the eighties. At the time, there was no bigger star.
Of course,...
Review: For those of us who came up in the eighties, Michael J. Fox was right up there with Tom Cruise in that he was the movie star many of us looked up to as the cool older brother we always wanted. Nowadays, people may not realize just how big he was, with him starring in not only the biggest show on TV (Family Ties) but also headlining a slew of movies that were box office juggernauts. Sure, people know that Back to the Future was a phenomenon, but Teen Wolf also made a boatload of cash, and The Secret of My Success was one of the highest-grossing comedies of the eighties. At the time, there was no bigger star.
Of course,...
- 5/12/2023
- by Chris Bumbray
- JoBlo.com
Arnold Schwarzenegger has been a significant cultural force in Hollywood for more than 40 years, taking time out to launch a political career and generally conquer the world during that time. After becoming arguably the greatest bodybuilder to ever do it, Arnie parlayed his bodybuilding fame into Hollywood stardom, becoming one of the biggest action stars in the industry. Not bad for a guy who started out driving tanks in the Austrian army.
Now, Netflix will tell the man's incredible life story in a three-part documentary series that promises to chart Schwarzenegger's journey "from rural Austria to the highest echelons of the American dream."
The streamer has released a trailer for "Arnold," which is set to debut next month and promises to unveil previously unseen footage of the Austrian Oak, alongside candid interviews with Schwarzenegger and various friends. Interestingly, the trailer also seems to reveal that Netflix has shot a bunch...
Now, Netflix will tell the man's incredible life story in a three-part documentary series that promises to chart Schwarzenegger's journey "from rural Austria to the highest echelons of the American dream."
The streamer has released a trailer for "Arnold," which is set to debut next month and promises to unveil previously unseen footage of the Austrian Oak, alongside candid interviews with Schwarzenegger and various friends. Interestingly, the trailer also seems to reveal that Netflix has shot a bunch...
- 5/10/2023
- by Joe Roberts
- Slash Film
In the 1980s there was no actor hotter than Michael J. Fox. Now, Apple Original Films takes audiences behind the curtain of Fox’s life in their new documentary “Still.” The trailer dropped today and shows an emotionally resonant, intense look at Fox’s life and career, as well as his public and private battle with Parkinson’s disease.
As Apple’s official synopsis lays out, “Still … incorporates documentary, archival and scripted elements, recounts Fox’s extraordinary story in his own words — the improbable tale of an undersized kid from a Canadian army base who rose to the heights of stardom in 1980s Hollywood. The account of Fox’s public life, full of nostalgic thrills and cinematic gloss, unspools alongside his never-before-seen private journey, including the years that followed his diagnosis, at twenty-nine, with Parkinson’s disease. Intimate and honest, and produced with unprecedented access to Fox and his family,...
As Apple’s official synopsis lays out, “Still … incorporates documentary, archival and scripted elements, recounts Fox’s extraordinary story in his own words — the improbable tale of an undersized kid from a Canadian army base who rose to the heights of stardom in 1980s Hollywood. The account of Fox’s public life, full of nostalgic thrills and cinematic gloss, unspools alongside his never-before-seen private journey, including the years that followed his diagnosis, at twenty-nine, with Parkinson’s disease. Intimate and honest, and produced with unprecedented access to Fox and his family,...
- 4/6/2023
- by Kristen Lopez
- The Wrap
Michael J. Fox, the Hollywood star who became a powerful advocate for medical research, will be the subject of a new documentary from Oscar-winning filmmaker Davis Guggenheim. Apple Original Films has nabbed the rights to the movie, which is currently in production in New York, Los Angeles and Vancouver.
The film, which is still untitled, will chart Fox’s extraordinary career, documenting his rise to the pinnacle of the movie and television business thanks to roles in “Family Ties” and “Back to the Future.” It will also look at Fox’s struggles with celebrity once he climbed those heights, as well as his diagnosis, at 29, with Parkinson’s disease and the impact that had on his personal and professional life. Apple says the film will incorporate documentary, archival and scripted elements, and is being produced with unprecedented access to Fox and his family.
“With a mix of adventure and romance,...
The film, which is still untitled, will chart Fox’s extraordinary career, documenting his rise to the pinnacle of the movie and television business thanks to roles in “Family Ties” and “Back to the Future.” It will also look at Fox’s struggles with celebrity once he climbed those heights, as well as his diagnosis, at 29, with Parkinson’s disease and the impact that had on his personal and professional life. Apple says the film will incorporate documentary, archival and scripted elements, and is being produced with unprecedented access to Fox and his family.
“With a mix of adventure and romance,...
- 4/27/2022
- by Brent Lang
- Variety Film + TV
“We all wanted to do an anthropological dig into the time,” declares Lesley Chilcott about the Epix documentary series “Helter Skelter: An American Myth.” The series is an in-depth examination of Charles Manson and his followers culminating in the brutal murders of several people — including the actress Sharon Tate — in 1969. Chilcott, producer of acclaimed documentaries such as “Waiting for Superman” and the Oscar-winning “An Inconvenient Truth,” acts as director of the six-episode series and is one of the show’s executive producers. In our exclusive video interview (watch above) Chilcott explains why it was important to avoid what she calls “the tabloid-esque coverage” of the Manson family.
Chilcott says that she took on the project in part because she never understood the public’s fascination with Manson, who died in 2017 while serving a life sentence. The director now says that it is the nature of the crimes that explains Manson...
Chilcott says that she took on the project in part because she never understood the public’s fascination with Manson, who died in 2017 while serving a life sentence. The director now says that it is the nature of the crimes that explains Manson...
- 5/11/2021
- by Tony Ruiz
- Gold Derby
This Thursday, we'll talk with director Davis Guggenheim about his documentary "Teach," which premiered last September on Pivot, a network launched in August 2013 targeting millennial viewers. Join us for our live chat on June 12, at 3:30pm Pt/6:30pm Et on Gold Derby's home page. -Break- Follow Gold Derby on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, iTunes and YouTube Guggenheim is probably best known for directing the 2006 documentary "An Inconvenient Truth," in which former vice president Al Gore brought attention to the climate change crisis. A rare crossover box office success for a documentary, it won Guggenheim an Oscar for Best Documentary Feature. With "Teach," Guggenheim continues to bring attention to the American education system; he previously directed two other films on the subject: "The First Year" (2001) and "Waiting for 'Superman'" (2010). Narrated ...
- 6/11/2014
- Gold Derby
This Thursday, we'll talk with director Davis Guggenheim about his documentary "Teach," which premiered last September on Pivot, a network launched in August 2013 targeting millennial viewers. Join us for our live chat on June 12, at 3:30pm Pt/6:30pm Et on Gold Derby's home page. -Break- Follow Gold Derby on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, iTunes and YouTube Guggenheim is probably best known for directing the 2006 documentary "An Inconvenient Truth," in which former vice president Al Gore brought attention to the climate change crisis. A rare crossover box office success for a documentary, it won Guggenheim an Oscar for Best Documentary Feature. With "Teach," Guggenheim continues to bring attention to the American education system; he previously directed two other films on the subject: "The First Year" (2001) and "Waiting for 'Superman'" (2010). Narrated ...
- 6/11/2014
- Gold Derby
Photo credit: Matthew Williams for Donda
John Legend, nine-time Grammy® Award-winning singer-songwriter, will take the stage on Oscar Sunday, March 2, at the Academy’s official post-Oscars celebration, the Governors Ball.
“John Legend is one of the industry’s most innovative and talented artists,” said Jeffrey Kurland, Costume Design Branch governor and chair of the Governors Ball. “We’re thrilled he will be joining us to celebrate this year’s achievements in film, and for what promises to be a most memorable evening.”
Legend’s critically acclaimed 2004 debut album, “Get Lifted,” garnered eight Grammy nominations and earned him a win for best R&B album. That year he also won best new artist of the year and best male R&B vocal performance for the hit single “Ordinary People.” His fourth solo album, “Love in the Future,” is nominated for best R&B album at the upcoming Grammy Awards.
Legend’s...
John Legend, nine-time Grammy® Award-winning singer-songwriter, will take the stage on Oscar Sunday, March 2, at the Academy’s official post-Oscars celebration, the Governors Ball.
“John Legend is one of the industry’s most innovative and talented artists,” said Jeffrey Kurland, Costume Design Branch governor and chair of the Governors Ball. “We’re thrilled he will be joining us to celebrate this year’s achievements in film, and for what promises to be a most memorable evening.”
Legend’s critically acclaimed 2004 debut album, “Get Lifted,” garnered eight Grammy nominations and earned him a win for best R&B album. That year he also won best new artist of the year and best male R&B vocal performance for the hit single “Ordinary People.” His fourth solo album, “Love in the Future,” is nominated for best R&B album at the upcoming Grammy Awards.
Legend’s...
- 1/7/2014
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
First off — Happy New Year! The 42nd Annual Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve 2014 with Ryan Seacrest on ABC features an extensive run of celebrity performances and interviews leading up to the famous Times Square ball drop midnight in New York. It also features the longest title of any ongoing annual television special.
Here’s a rundown of all the awkward moments and performances that you may have missed during your Nye festivities:
8:00-10:00 p.m. Et: I foolishly miss Icona Pop and Blondie’s performance during New Year’s Rockin’ Eve Presents The 30 Greatest Women...
Here’s a rundown of all the awkward moments and performances that you may have missed during your Nye festivities:
8:00-10:00 p.m. Et: I foolishly miss Icona Pop and Blondie’s performance during New Year’s Rockin’ Eve Presents The 30 Greatest Women...
- 1/1/2014
- by Maricela Gonzalez
- EW.com - PopWatch
It was just an ordinary day by the Culver City Farmer’s Market in Southern California. That was until John Legend showed up for a surprise performance for fans as the first artist in the new concert web series Playing it Forward.
Launched by Crackle, the multi-platinum entertainment network behind Jerry Seinfeld’s Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee among other ventures, Playing it Forward will feature surprise street performance of some of the biggest’s names in music across the country, all benefiting music education and charities of the artists’ choice with a $100,000 donation from Crackle. Playing it Forward is...
Launched by Crackle, the multi-platinum entertainment network behind Jerry Seinfeld’s Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee among other ventures, Playing it Forward will feature surprise street performance of some of the biggest’s names in music across the country, all benefiting music education and charities of the artists’ choice with a $100,000 donation from Crackle. Playing it Forward is...
- 11/27/2013
- by Jake Perlman
- EW.com - PopWatch
The Producers Guild of America has a pretty good track record presaging the Best Picture winner at the Oscars. Since it began handiing out prizes in 1989, It first feted 16 of the 23 Oscar champs, including the last six in a row. But how does it do when it comes to forecasting which Documentary Feature will win the Academy Award? Since the PGA began giving out this award in 2007, it has honored three of the six films that went on to win the Oscar while two of its champs were snubbed by the academy and one contended there but was defeated. 2007: "Sicko" (lost Oscar to "Taxi to the Dark Side") 2008: "Man on Wire" 2009: "The Cove" 2010: "Waiting for 'Superman'" (not nominated at Oscars) 2011: "Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of a Tribe Called Quest" (not nominated at Oscars) 2012: "Searching for Sugar Man" And just how many of the PG.
- 11/27/2013
- Gold Derby
It's hard not to get choked up while watching the incredible answer about Pacifism 16-year-old Malala Yousafzai gave to Jon Stewart last night on the Daily Show. Stewart himself seems to be struggling for words, but ultimately comes up with a witty follow-up: "Would your father mind if I adopted you?" Watch below. Yousafzai, a Pakistani advocate for women's and children's educational rights, survived a brutal Taliban assassination attempt last year. After being shot in the head and neck when Taliban gunmen opened fire on her school bus, Yousafzai made a miraculous recovery in Birmingham, England, and bravely continues to campaign for access to safe education for Pakistani children. She is now poised to become the youngest Nobel Peace Prize laureate ever, with that announcement coming on Friday (October 11). Meanwhile, filmmaker Davis Guggenheim ("Waiting for Superman") got underway on a documentary this past summer on Yousafzai's trip to the Un General Assembly for her.
- 10/10/2013
- by Beth Hanna
- Thompson on Hollywood
The actions of teachers unions - whether protecting bad teachers, protesting against politicians (or marching for them), and promoting education "reforms" that often seem more about social issues than the three Rs -- often capture the interest of the media, overshadowing the day-to-day work of teachers trying to do the best job they can.
In 2010, filmmaker Davis Guggenheim directed and co-wrote "Waiting for Superman," a documentary that took a frank look at the failures of the American educational system as it showed parents trying to get their children in charter schools.
Much of the media attention for the film focused on a segment that showed how teachers unions fiercely protect political alliances and policies and teachers' job security, often at the expense of needed financial overhauls.
In a two-hour special called "Teach," airing Friday, Sept. 6, on CBS, Guggenheim puts the focus back on exceptional teachers, following four public-school instructors through the 2012-2013 school year.
In 2010, filmmaker Davis Guggenheim directed and co-wrote "Waiting for Superman," a documentary that took a frank look at the failures of the American educational system as it showed parents trying to get their children in charter schools.
Much of the media attention for the film focused on a segment that showed how teachers unions fiercely protect political alliances and policies and teachers' job security, often at the expense of needed financial overhauls.
In a two-hour special called "Teach," airing Friday, Sept. 6, on CBS, Guggenheim puts the focus back on exceptional teachers, following four public-school instructors through the 2012-2013 school year.
- 9/6/2013
- by editorial@zap2it.com
- Zap2It - From Inside the Box
On TV this Friday: A baddie locks on Luther in the miniseries’ finale, CBS airs Teach for America, a Bones encore brings Booth’s mom to town (again) and Real Fear 2 shares more scary stories behind big-screen hits. Here are seven programs to keep on your radar.
8 pm Teach (CBS) | Two-hour special: Celebs (including Parks and Recreation‘s Rashida Jones, Two and a Half Men‘s Jon Cryer and We Are Men‘s Jerry O’Connell) honor educators in this look at America’s school system. Academy Award winner Davis Guggenheim (Waiting for Superman) directs.
8 pm Dear Dumb Diary (Hallmark...
8 pm Teach (CBS) | Two-hour special: Celebs (including Parks and Recreation‘s Rashida Jones, Two and a Half Men‘s Jon Cryer and We Are Men‘s Jerry O’Connell) honor educators in this look at America’s school system. Academy Award winner Davis Guggenheim (Waiting for Superman) directs.
8 pm Dear Dumb Diary (Hallmark...
- 9/6/2013
- by Kimberly Roots
- TVLine.com
Finding Dory will be getting a rewrite after the momentum that Gabriela Cowperthwaite’s documentary, Blackfish has been picking up. For those who don’t know, Blackfish profiles orcas and the harsh treatment they have received at places like Seaworld. The film has been rated highly by critics thus far and many people who have seen it have stated that they will not be returning to marine parks in the future. Finding Dory was set to have an ending that took place in a marine park, but Pixar is now stating they will rewrite the ending due to the documentary.
Seaworld has received harsh criticism by viewers of Blackfish recently and the company has begun an intense PR campaign, which involved a detailed critique of the movie that was sent to reviewers before they screened the film.
This is an interesting development as it shows the cultural impacts that documentaries...
Seaworld has received harsh criticism by viewers of Blackfish recently and the company has begun an intense PR campaign, which involved a detailed critique of the movie that was sent to reviewers before they screened the film.
This is an interesting development as it shows the cultural impacts that documentaries...
- 8/11/2013
- by Jared Burseth
- We Got This Covered
Just in time for back-to-school, the two-hour special Teach, which looks at the American education system through the eyes of teachers, will premiere at 8 Pm September 6 on CBS. Directed by Oscar winner Davis Guggenheim (An Inconvenient Truth), the documentary asks the question, “What does it take to be a teacher?” and traces a year inside the classrooms of a fourth-grade teacher and a high school algebra teacher in Denver, a middle school math educator in Kuna, Idaho, and an AP history teacher in Los Angeles. “We all have had a teacher who’s shaped us, inspired us, even scared us, and who we can credit with having empowered us to become who we are today,” said Jack Sussman, Evp Specials, Music and Live Events at CBS Entertainment. “This special celebrates those educators who, despite many hurdles and obstacles, aspire to bring inspiration to their students to succeed.” The special — Guggenheim...
- 8/7/2013
- by THE DEADLINE TEAM
- Deadline TV
CBS will air "Teach," a new two-hour special from "Waiting for Superman" director Davis Guggenheim, on Sept. 6, the network announced. The show, from Participant Media, follows four exceptional teachers through the 2012-13 school year and answers the question, "What does it take to be a teacher?," CBS said. The special comes at a time when 60 percent of America's teachers are expected to retire in the next decade, CBS said. It kicks off an 18-month campaign by Participant Media to encourage students and recent graduates to go into teaching. "We all have...
- 8/6/2013
- by Tim Molloy
- The Wrap
A July production start has been set for a feature-length documentary, to be directed by Davis Guggenheim ("Waiting for Superman"), on 15-year-old Pakistani student activist Malala Yousafzai, who last year survived a brutal assassination attempt by the Taliban. She was targeted for speaking out on behalf of girls' education in her community. After being shot in the head and neck when Taliban gunmen opened fire on her school bus, Yousafzai made a miraculous recovery in Birmingham, England, and bravely continues to campaign for access to safe education for Pakistani children. She was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, and was listed as one of Time Magazine's 100 Most Influential People in 2013. Next month, Yousafzai will speak in front of the Un General Assemly in the Us -- her first time in the country -- as a celebration of her 16th birthday. Guggenheim's documentary will capture the event. Count us excited for this one.
- 7/16/2013
- by Beth Hanna
- Thompson on Hollywood
Malala Yousafzai, the 15-year-old Pakistani education activist who survived an assassination attempt by the Taliban on her school bus, will be the subject of a feaure-length documentary that Davis Guggenheim ("Waiting for Superman," "An Inconvenient Truth") has signed on to direct. Walter Parkes and Laurie MaDonald are producing with Emirati film and TV production company Image Nation Abu Dhabi, which is fully financing the project. Also Read: Malala Yousafzai, Jay-z, Jennifer Lawrence, Among Time's 100 Most Influential Malala became an international symbol for education rights in the Middle East when a gunman shot her in...
- 7/16/2013
- by Josh Dickey
- The Wrap
Pakistani schoolgirl's attempted murder by the Taliban will be the subject of a film helmed by An Inconvenient Truth director Davis Guggenheim
The Oscar-winning director of Al Gore environmental documentary An Inconvenient Truth is to bring the story of teenage Pakistani women's rights activist Malala Yousafzai, who survived an attack by the Taliban, to the big screen.
Davis Guggenheim, who also directed the acclaimed documentary Waiting for Superman, about failures in the American public education system, will take charge of the cameras on the as-yet-untitled project.
Yousafzai, who gave a celebrated speech at the United Nations last week about her hopes for the future on her 16th birthday, was targeted by a gunman as she rode home on a bus after school last October. Militants hoped to silence the teenager and destroy her campaign for girls' education in the troubled Swat valley in Pakistan. But the bullet, which passed through...
The Oscar-winning director of Al Gore environmental documentary An Inconvenient Truth is to bring the story of teenage Pakistani women's rights activist Malala Yousafzai, who survived an attack by the Taliban, to the big screen.
Davis Guggenheim, who also directed the acclaimed documentary Waiting for Superman, about failures in the American public education system, will take charge of the cameras on the as-yet-untitled project.
Yousafzai, who gave a celebrated speech at the United Nations last week about her hopes for the future on her 16th birthday, was targeted by a gunman as she rode home on a bus after school last October. Militants hoped to silence the teenager and destroy her campaign for girls' education in the troubled Swat valley in Pakistan. But the bullet, which passed through...
- 7/16/2013
- by Ben Child
- The Guardian - Film News
Malala Yousafzai, the child advocate who became an international icon after she was shot by Taliban gunmen last October, will have her story told on the big screen. Davis Guggenheim is teaming with producers Walter F. Parkes and Laurie MacDonald, backed by Image Nation of Abu Dhabi, for a documentary about the 16-year-old Pakistani, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed. Guggenheim helmed critically acclaimed docs Waiting for Superman and An Inconvenient Truth, which won the 2007 Academy Award for best documentary feature. Yousafzai first came to prominence after it was discovered that she was the anonymous author of a
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- 7/15/2013
- by Rebecca Ford
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has revealed its 276-member-strong class of 2013.
The list, published by The Hollywood Reporter, includes actors, cinematographers, designers, directors, documentarians, executives, film editors, makeup artists and hairstylists, "members-at-large," musicians, producers, PR folks, short filmmakers and animators, sound technicians, visual effects artists, and writers.
Jason Bateman, Rosario Dawson, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Milla Jovovich, Lucy Liu, Jennifer Lopez, Emily Mortimer, Sandra Oh, Jason Schwartzman, and Michael Peña are among the roster of actors, while "The Heat" and "Bridesmaids" helmer Paul Feig made the directors' cut.
"We did not change our criteria at all," says Academy president Hawk Koch of this year's larger-than-usual class. "Yes, this year there is a tremendous amount of women, a tremendous amount of people of color, people from all walks of life. This year, we asked the branches to look at everybody who wasn't in the Academy but who deserved to be.
The list, published by The Hollywood Reporter, includes actors, cinematographers, designers, directors, documentarians, executives, film editors, makeup artists and hairstylists, "members-at-large," musicians, producers, PR folks, short filmmakers and animators, sound technicians, visual effects artists, and writers.
Jason Bateman, Rosario Dawson, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Milla Jovovich, Lucy Liu, Jennifer Lopez, Emily Mortimer, Sandra Oh, Jason Schwartzman, and Michael Peña are among the roster of actors, while "The Heat" and "Bridesmaids" helmer Paul Feig made the directors' cut.
"We did not change our criteria at all," says Academy president Hawk Koch of this year's larger-than-usual class. "Yes, this year there is a tremendous amount of women, a tremendous amount of people of color, people from all walks of life. This year, we asked the branches to look at everybody who wasn't in the Academy but who deserved to be.
- 7/4/2013
- by Laura Larson
- Moviefone
About once a year a documentary comes along that gets the public's attention by highlighting a major issue in the Us and all the ways it affects them. Last year it was Alex Hirsch's Bully, in 2011 it was The Interrupters, in 2010 it was Davis Guggenheim's Waiting for 'Superman', and the list goes on. This year, there's no better contender than A Place at the Table which chronicles the struggles of trying to survive on America's food stamp program, the shortcomings of our schools' lunch programs, the detrimental effects hunger has on children's development, and the politicians whose solutions are little more than defunding one program the poor need to supplement another. Directors Kristi Jacobson and Lori Silverbush bounce us between testimonials of parents trying to make ends meet, health professionals, volunteers, hungry children, and Jeff Bridges (who's made solving child hunger his philanthropic effort of choice).
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- 7/3/2013
- by Lex Walker
- JustPressPlay.net
The Los Angeles Film Festival has announced its jurors for the 2013 fest, running June 13-23 in downtown L.A. Jury members include directors Sean Baker ("Starlet") and Clay Tweel ("The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters") and producers Harry Lennix ("Man of Steel") and Lesley Chilcott ("Waiting for Superman," "An Inconvenient Truth"). Full list below.The Narrative Competition Jury consists of Film Independent Spirit Award-winning producer Gina Kwon ("Me and You and Everyone We Know," "Chuck & Buck"), Spirit Award-nominated director Sean Baker ("Starlet," "Take Out," "Prince of Broadway") and actor-producer Harry Lennix ("Man of Steel," "Titus," the upcoming NBC series "The Blacklist").The Documentary Competition Jury is comprised of the 2010 La Film Fest Grand Jury award-winning director Clay Tweel ("Make Believe," "The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters"), award-winning producer Lesley Chilcott ("Waiting For Superman", "An Inconvenient Truth"), and New York Times ...
- 6/12/2013
- by Beth Hanna
- Thompson on Hollywood
Participant was founded in 2004 by Jeff Skoll to focus on feature films, television, publishing and digital content that inspire social change. Participant's more than 40 films include Good Night, And Good Luck, Syriana, An Inconvenient Truth, Food, Inc., Waiting For Superman, The Help, Contagion and Lincoln. Participant’s social action campaigns and digital network TakePart.com continue the conversation and connect audiences to a wealth of content and actions. Its new millennial television network Pivot, this summer in 40 million-plus homes, is TV for The New Greatest Generation.
Launching earlier this year, Participant PanAmerica is an initiative to develop and finance 10-12 films over five years for and from Latin America with Mexico’s Canana (Sin Nombre, Miss Bala), Chile’s Fabula (Young and Wild, Gloria) and Colombia’s Dynamo (Undertow, The Hidden Face). Its first film, El Ardor starring Gael García Bernal and Alice Braga to shoot in Argentina.
Participant Media is reteaming with No star Gael García Bernal for the first film under their recently-launched Participant PanAmerica initiative, the Western-inspired action adventure El Ardor. Co-starring Alice Braga (Elysium, I Am Legend), El Ardor has begun filming in Argentina under the direction of Pablo Fendrik (Blood Appears, The Mugger), who wrote the screenplay.
García Bernal portrays a mysterious man who emerges from the Argentinean rainforest to rescue the kidnapped daughter (Braga) of a poor farmer after mercenaries murder her father and take over his property.
Juan Pablo Gugliotta and Nathalia Videla Peña and García Bernal serve as the film’s producers, with Participant’s Jeff Skoll and Jonathan King, Canana’s Pablo Cruz and Telefe`s Axel Kuschevatzky as executive producers.
An Argentinean/Brazilian/French co-production being financed through Participant PanAmerica, the film’s co-producers are Magma Cine (Argentina), Bananeira Filmes (Brazil) and Manny Films (France). Magma’s Argentinian partners are Aleph Media and Telefe International. Bac Films is handling international sales outside North American and Latin American territories.
Participant CEO Jim Berk said, “After our terrific experience on No, we’re excited to be reuniting with Gael and Canana for our first Participant PanAmerica film and to be expanding our footprint into this important segment of the global marketplace.”
Jonathan King, Participant Evp of Production said, “Pablo Fendrik and his partners at Magma Cine are exactly the kinds of ambitious young filmmakers we are hoping to work with through PanAmerica. And it's always great to be in business with our friends at Canana."
Added Magma Cine Partner Juan Pablo Gugliotta, “We are truly glad to be shooting this project which represents the emergence of our main talent, Pablo Fendrik, as well as his comeback to the big screen and we are also really grateful for the support of all our associates at local, regional and international level. Magma Cine is proud to be part of the first film by Participant PanAmerica. We are absolutely positive that El Ardor will be on par with the expectations of all those who have granted us their trust.”
Pablo Cruz, Partner at Canana said, "Pablo Fendrik is perhaps one of the most interesting directors out of his generation, we met him years ago when his film El Asaltante was playing at the Critics Week in Cannes, we immediately wanted to work with him. It’s been a fantastic process and I know Gael has had the necessary time to develop with him an unforgettable character. We can't wait to see this film on the screen."
About Magma Cine
Magma Cine was set up by Juan Pablo Gugliotta, Pablo Fendrik and Nathalia Videla Peña in 2006.
Magma Cine is a production company that has produced 9 films over the past 7 years including many of the award winning films of what can be labeled as the “New Argentine Cinema,” films that, thanks to their continuing participation in the international scene, keep growing in number and garnering recognition.
Recently they’ve released Mala, Israel Adrián Caetano’s latest feature film distributed commercially in Latin America by Buena Vista-The Walt Disney Company.
It has also produced several documentary miniseries for Argentine TV and the multi-awarded horror film The Second Death, which has been showcased in the top genre film festivals in the world.
About Canana
Canana, founded in 2005 by Diego Luna, Gael Garcia Bernal, Pablo Cruz, and most recently joined by partner and CEO Julián Levin, is a pioneer of bringing Latin American talent to a global stage. Over the past 7 years, Canana has produced over twenty films including Abel, Luna's first feature length film, Sin Nombre, Miss Bala, directed by Gerardo Naranjo, and most recently, the English language film, Chavez, directed by Luna and based on the life of Mexican-American labor union organizer César E. Chávez. In 2012, Canana expanded its operations in the U.S. with Canana L.A., bridging the talent pool between Latin America and the U.S. with such projects as A Man Must Die, a political thriller produced in collaboration with Focus Features, with Naranjo set to direct. Canana’s television arm produced Soy Tu Fan, starring Ana Claudia Talancón, Niño Santo, which is production of its second season. The partners’ passion for film has also reflected through Documental Ambulante, a traveling documentary festival that has taken over 200 documentaries to communities across México, is in its 9th installment. Most recently, Canana has joined forces with Im Global to create a sales company focusing on the sales of Latin American films.
Launching earlier this year, Participant PanAmerica is an initiative to develop and finance 10-12 films over five years for and from Latin America with Mexico’s Canana (Sin Nombre, Miss Bala), Chile’s Fabula (Young and Wild, Gloria) and Colombia’s Dynamo (Undertow, The Hidden Face). Its first film, El Ardor starring Gael García Bernal and Alice Braga to shoot in Argentina.
Participant Media is reteaming with No star Gael García Bernal for the first film under their recently-launched Participant PanAmerica initiative, the Western-inspired action adventure El Ardor. Co-starring Alice Braga (Elysium, I Am Legend), El Ardor has begun filming in Argentina under the direction of Pablo Fendrik (Blood Appears, The Mugger), who wrote the screenplay.
García Bernal portrays a mysterious man who emerges from the Argentinean rainforest to rescue the kidnapped daughter (Braga) of a poor farmer after mercenaries murder her father and take over his property.
Juan Pablo Gugliotta and Nathalia Videla Peña and García Bernal serve as the film’s producers, with Participant’s Jeff Skoll and Jonathan King, Canana’s Pablo Cruz and Telefe`s Axel Kuschevatzky as executive producers.
An Argentinean/Brazilian/French co-production being financed through Participant PanAmerica, the film’s co-producers are Magma Cine (Argentina), Bananeira Filmes (Brazil) and Manny Films (France). Magma’s Argentinian partners are Aleph Media and Telefe International. Bac Films is handling international sales outside North American and Latin American territories.
Participant CEO Jim Berk said, “After our terrific experience on No, we’re excited to be reuniting with Gael and Canana for our first Participant PanAmerica film and to be expanding our footprint into this important segment of the global marketplace.”
Jonathan King, Participant Evp of Production said, “Pablo Fendrik and his partners at Magma Cine are exactly the kinds of ambitious young filmmakers we are hoping to work with through PanAmerica. And it's always great to be in business with our friends at Canana."
Added Magma Cine Partner Juan Pablo Gugliotta, “We are truly glad to be shooting this project which represents the emergence of our main talent, Pablo Fendrik, as well as his comeback to the big screen and we are also really grateful for the support of all our associates at local, regional and international level. Magma Cine is proud to be part of the first film by Participant PanAmerica. We are absolutely positive that El Ardor will be on par with the expectations of all those who have granted us their trust.”
Pablo Cruz, Partner at Canana said, "Pablo Fendrik is perhaps one of the most interesting directors out of his generation, we met him years ago when his film El Asaltante was playing at the Critics Week in Cannes, we immediately wanted to work with him. It’s been a fantastic process and I know Gael has had the necessary time to develop with him an unforgettable character. We can't wait to see this film on the screen."
About Magma Cine
Magma Cine was set up by Juan Pablo Gugliotta, Pablo Fendrik and Nathalia Videla Peña in 2006.
Magma Cine is a production company that has produced 9 films over the past 7 years including many of the award winning films of what can be labeled as the “New Argentine Cinema,” films that, thanks to their continuing participation in the international scene, keep growing in number and garnering recognition.
Recently they’ve released Mala, Israel Adrián Caetano’s latest feature film distributed commercially in Latin America by Buena Vista-The Walt Disney Company.
It has also produced several documentary miniseries for Argentine TV and the multi-awarded horror film The Second Death, which has been showcased in the top genre film festivals in the world.
About Canana
Canana, founded in 2005 by Diego Luna, Gael Garcia Bernal, Pablo Cruz, and most recently joined by partner and CEO Julián Levin, is a pioneer of bringing Latin American talent to a global stage. Over the past 7 years, Canana has produced over twenty films including Abel, Luna's first feature length film, Sin Nombre, Miss Bala, directed by Gerardo Naranjo, and most recently, the English language film, Chavez, directed by Luna and based on the life of Mexican-American labor union organizer César E. Chávez. In 2012, Canana expanded its operations in the U.S. with Canana L.A., bridging the talent pool between Latin America and the U.S. with such projects as A Man Must Die, a political thriller produced in collaboration with Focus Features, with Naranjo set to direct. Canana’s television arm produced Soy Tu Fan, starring Ana Claudia Talancón, Niño Santo, which is production of its second season. The partners’ passion for film has also reflected through Documental Ambulante, a traveling documentary festival that has taken over 200 documentaries to communities across México, is in its 9th installment. Most recently, Canana has joined forces with Im Global to create a sales company focusing on the sales of Latin American films.
- 5/22/2013
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
Fusion – the ABC News-Univision joint venture set to launch later this year – has tapped writer-producer Billy Kimball as senior vp and chief programming officer. Kimball co-wrote the 2010 documentary Waiting for Superman with Davis Guggenheim and has written and produced several installments of the annual Independent Spirit Awards. Story: ABC News, Univision Joint Venture Not Looking to Compete With CNN, MSNBC, Fox News A Harvard-educated writer and humorist (he was editor of the Harvard Lampoon), Kimball is an unorthodox choice for Fusion, the English-language news and lifestyle network aimed at acculturated second and
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- 5/9/2013
- by Marisa Guthrie
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Earth Day may have been on Monday, but this entire week schools and communities around the country have been celebrating the environment with various events and rallies. If you want to tie in your weekend entertainment with the environment, check out these three films, each of which provides an ecological message for preschoolers, kids and teens alike. After seeing these green movies, turn off the TV and computer and head outside to help the environment! Rated G Pick: "FernGully: The Last Rainforest" (1992, 76 minutes) Netflix Amazon Instant iTunes Kids Will Love: Even though the animation is a bit dated, young kids will get caught up in this fantasy adventure about a young fairy who discovers that humans are cutting down all of the trees of her magical rainforest, so she shrinks a boy and teaches him about preserving their shared land. Magic and friendship (with a dash of romance) make for an exciting (and eco-friendly) tale.
- 4/26/2013
- by Sandie Chen
- Moviefone
The drought in Texas shows no sign of letting up and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality reports that approximately 22 percent of active community water systems are on voluntary or mandatory water use restrictions as of April 17, 2013.
But the water crisis is not limited to just Texas -- it is a constant source of concern across the globe. The producers behind An Inconvenient Truth, Food Inc. and Waiting for Superman focus on the global water crisis in the 2012 documentary, Last Call at The Oasis. Written and directed by Academy Award winner Jessica Yu (Breathing Lessons: The Life and Work of Mark O'Brien), Last Call at The Oasis presents evidence about why the global water crisis will be the most critical issue of this century.
The film explores the role of water for our daily existence, as well as those communities across the world that are struggling with the lack of this essential resource.
But the water crisis is not limited to just Texas -- it is a constant source of concern across the globe. The producers behind An Inconvenient Truth, Food Inc. and Waiting for Superman focus on the global water crisis in the 2012 documentary, Last Call at The Oasis. Written and directed by Academy Award winner Jessica Yu (Breathing Lessons: The Life and Work of Mark O'Brien), Last Call at The Oasis presents evidence about why the global water crisis will be the most critical issue of this century.
The film explores the role of water for our daily existence, as well as those communities across the world that are struggling with the lack of this essential resource.
- 4/25/2013
- by Debbie Cerda
- Slackerwood
Washington -- The immigration overhaul pending before Congress is picking up more high-profile support as Apple co-founder Steve Jobs' widow, Laurene Powell Jobs, bankrolls a new documentary to promote the effort, directed by Academy Award-winner Davis Guggenheim.
Guggenheim directed Al Gore's film on global warming, "An Inconvenient Truth," and 2010's "Waiting for Superman," on the wretched state of the nation's public schools.
His new effort, "The Dream is Now," tells the stories of immigrant youths here illegally who are eager to succeed in America but can't because they lack legal status.
Jose is trained as a mechanical engineer, but working as a construction laborer because he can't get a job in his chosen profession.
Ola hopes to become a surgical oncologist, but fears deportation even as she pursues her studies.
The 30-minute film was screened at the Capitol for members of the House and Senate earlier this week and...
Guggenheim directed Al Gore's film on global warming, "An Inconvenient Truth," and 2010's "Waiting for Superman," on the wretched state of the nation's public schools.
His new effort, "The Dream is Now," tells the stories of immigrant youths here illegally who are eager to succeed in America but can't because they lack legal status.
Jose is trained as a mechanical engineer, but working as a construction laborer because he can't get a job in his chosen profession.
Ola hopes to become a surgical oncologist, but fears deportation even as she pursues her studies.
The 30-minute film was screened at the Capitol for members of the House and Senate earlier this week and...
- 4/13/2013
- by AP
- Huffington Post
Filling The Void: Jacobson and Silverbush Eye Hunger
While the United States continuously extends its charitable hands to famished communities the world over, we often turn a blind eye to those in our own communities unfortunate enough to lack the means to keep a stocked pantry with affordable, healthy foods. Collaborating for the first time, directors Kristi Jacobson and Lori Silverbush broach our little talked about hunger issue with the feeling of infomercial conviction in lieu of invasive action. Their formulaic wake up call boasts celebrities like Top Chef star Tom Colicchio and Jeff Bridges with their mutual campaigns against domestic hunger, underscoring their pleas with heart-string strumming tales of famished families tethered to a broken system in which a lack of employment and perpetual poverty are the true underlying issues. Though compositionally bland and far from impartial, A Place at the Table surely directs some much needed attention to...
While the United States continuously extends its charitable hands to famished communities the world over, we often turn a blind eye to those in our own communities unfortunate enough to lack the means to keep a stocked pantry with affordable, healthy foods. Collaborating for the first time, directors Kristi Jacobson and Lori Silverbush broach our little talked about hunger issue with the feeling of infomercial conviction in lieu of invasive action. Their formulaic wake up call boasts celebrities like Top Chef star Tom Colicchio and Jeff Bridges with their mutual campaigns against domestic hunger, underscoring their pleas with heart-string strumming tales of famished families tethered to a broken system in which a lack of employment and perpetual poverty are the true underlying issues. Though compositionally bland and far from impartial, A Place at the Table surely directs some much needed attention to...
- 3/4/2013
- by Jordan M. Smith
- IONCINEMA.com
Every year the Sundance Film Festival launches some of the most important indie films and documentaries into the cinematic world. Last year unveiled future Oscar nominees "Beasts of the Southern Wild," "The Sessions" and "Searching for Sugarman" among others (plus indie crowd-pleasers like "Safety Not Guaranteed" and "The Queen of Versailles").
Here are 10 highlights from Sundance 2013:
"The Spectacular Now"
What it is: A naturalistic teen drama starring the amazing Miles Teller and Shailene Woodley (who shared a special jury prize for their performances) as a high school couple coping with personal issues. Ideal for fans of TV's "Friday Night Lights," the James Ponsoldt-directed film also stars Jennifer Jason Leigh, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Bob Odenkirk, Brie Larson and Kyle Chandler (in a very anti-Coach Taylor role).
Where you can see it: Acquired by up-and-coming distributor A24, which plans a summer theatrical release.
--
"Upstream Color"
What it is: An...
Here are 10 highlights from Sundance 2013:
"The Spectacular Now"
What it is: A naturalistic teen drama starring the amazing Miles Teller and Shailene Woodley (who shared a special jury prize for their performances) as a high school couple coping with personal issues. Ideal for fans of TV's "Friday Night Lights," the James Ponsoldt-directed film also stars Jennifer Jason Leigh, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Bob Odenkirk, Brie Larson and Kyle Chandler (in a very anti-Coach Taylor role).
Where you can see it: Acquired by up-and-coming distributor A24, which plans a summer theatrical release.
--
"Upstream Color"
What it is: An...
- 1/28/2013
- by editorial@zap2it.com
- Pop2it
Chicago – If a film were meant to be judged purely on the basis of its final shot, then Daniel Barnz’s “Won’t Back Down” would be an unqualified success. The image of a little girl finally learning to pronounce the word “hope” could’ve easily been a cheesy contrivance straight out of a Feldco commercial. Even on paper, the shot sounds downright silly.
The fact that it works so well is a testament to the strength of Roman Osin’s cinematography (which visually brings the picture full circle), the tender performance by Emily Alyn Lind (of “Enter the Void” fame) and editor Kristina Boden’s impeccably timed cut to black. Indeed, the shot is a small triumph, but it is regrettably preceded by a great many other shots that don’t work at all.
Blu-ray Rating: 2.0/5.0
This picture was a critical and financial flop that likely was further damaged...
The fact that it works so well is a testament to the strength of Roman Osin’s cinematography (which visually brings the picture full circle), the tender performance by Emily Alyn Lind (of “Enter the Void” fame) and editor Kristina Boden’s impeccably timed cut to black. Indeed, the shot is a small triumph, but it is regrettably preceded by a great many other shots that don’t work at all.
Blu-ray Rating: 2.0/5.0
This picture was a critical and financial flop that likely was further damaged...
- 1/24/2013
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Title: The World According to Dick Cheney Director: R.J. Cutler and Greg Finton There are some movie titles that can serve to instantly entice some prospective viewers and to instantly turn off others. That’s definitely the case with this documentary, which explores Dick Cheney’s long career in government. Directing duo R.J. Cutler and Greg Finton have worked on noted recent documentaries such as The September Issue and Waiting for Superman, respectively, and here they tackle one man with quite a reputation, painting a balanced portrait of his influence and contributions to American society over the decades. The film’s main argument, one which proves hard to refute after hearing testimonials, is [ Read More ]
The post The World According to Dick Cheney Movie Review appeared first on Shockya.com.
The post The World According to Dick Cheney Movie Review appeared first on Shockya.com.
- 1/23/2013
- by abe
- ShockYa
Former Fox exec Tom Rothman, Funny or Die's Mike Farah, director Davis Guggenheim ("Waiting for Superman") and "Argo" cinematographer Rodrigo Prieto are among the 19 jurors announced Wednesday for the 2013 Sundance Film Festival. The annual Utah festival begins on Jan. 17 next year and runs through Jan. 27. As usual, the jury will be an eclectic mix of filmmakers, executives, critics and festival heads awarding prizes in five categories: U.S. Documentary, U.S. Dramatic, World Cinema Documentary, World Cinema Dramatic and Short Film. Jury members who will decide the Alfred P. Sloan Prize will be announced...
- 12/19/2012
- by Greg Gilman
- The Wrap
"The Waiting Room" is now on the Academy's shortlist of fifteen titles that are in the running to compete for the Best Documentary Oscar. Five films will be nominated. "The Waiting Room" is also nominated for the Indie Spirits' Best Documentary and Truer Than Fiction awards, and was nominated for a Gotham award. Check out our interview with the film's director, Peter Nicks, below. It was first published September 25, 2012. Most documentaries emerge through various known gatekeepers at major festivals. More and more these days, such a plethora of strong docs are being made by talent able to deploy inexpensive digital cameras that it's easy for new faces to get lost. "The Waiting Room" is a brilliant first feature from veteran television journalist Peter Nicks, who was unknown by many fest programmers. Hence it didn't turn up at Sundance (which favored "Escape Fire," the health-care "Waiting for Superman"), SXSW...
- 12/3/2012
- by Anne Thompson
- Thompson on Hollywood
Cyber Monday is here and Amazon.com are offering DVD and Blu-ray sales deals for this online-centric final day of the week-long discount shopping sales period. Below are the biggest bargains I've found, many of which have carried over from the Black Friday sales. This is your last chance to get this discounts though, it all goes back to normal soon.
Please note that Dark Horizons will earn a very small referral fee when readers purchase something on Amazon through one of the links below. Said fee helps contribute towards the site's running costs, so if you do grab something - thank you. In terms of personal recommendations for titles and bargains below:
Cyber Monday Blu-ray Picks:
The Criterion disc sale is continuing apace and there's a whole separate article for it right here. Joining since yesterday are titles like "Black Orpheus," "Certified Copy," "Eating Raoul," "House," "La Haine," "The Last Days of Disco,...
Please note that Dark Horizons will earn a very small referral fee when readers purchase something on Amazon through one of the links below. Said fee helps contribute towards the site's running costs, so if you do grab something - thank you. In terms of personal recommendations for titles and bargains below:
Cyber Monday Blu-ray Picks:
The Criterion disc sale is continuing apace and there's a whole separate article for it right here. Joining since yesterday are titles like "Black Orpheus," "Certified Copy," "Eating Raoul," "House," "La Haine," "The Last Days of Disco,...
- 11/26/2012
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
Breaking… Matt Damon, David O Russell and Participant Media’s Jeff Skoll will be awarded career tribute honors at the 22nd Gotham Independent Film Awards. The trio will be feted on November 26 at Cipriani Wall Street along with the usual awards that focus on the year’s indie fare.
The honorees are in the middle of films that should factor in awards season. Damon stars in the Gus Van Sant-directed Focus Features drama Promised Land (he wrote the script with co-star John Krasinski), which was produced by Skoll’s Participant Media. Russell helmed Silver Linings Playbook, the Weinstein Company drama that stars Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence and Robert De Niro, and which premiered to raves at the Toronto Film Festival.
“Each has a unique voice and clearly defined vision of cinema for today’s generation, bringing perspective and relevance to the film world today,” said Joana Vicente, Executive Director of the IFP.
The honorees are in the middle of films that should factor in awards season. Damon stars in the Gus Van Sant-directed Focus Features drama Promised Land (he wrote the script with co-star John Krasinski), which was produced by Skoll’s Participant Media. Russell helmed Silver Linings Playbook, the Weinstein Company drama that stars Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence and Robert De Niro, and which premiered to raves at the Toronto Film Festival.
“Each has a unique voice and clearly defined vision of cinema for today’s generation, bringing perspective and relevance to the film world today,” said Joana Vicente, Executive Director of the IFP.
- 10/1/2012
- by Mike Fleming Jr
- Deadline Film + TV
Won’t Back Down
Directed by: Daniel Barnz
Cast: Maggie Gyllenhaal, Viola Davis, Holly Hunter, Oscar Isaac
Running Time: 2 hrs 1 min
Rating: PG
Release Date: September 28, 2012
Plot: A single mother (Gyllenhaal) teams up with a teacher (Davis) to take over their local elementary school and save it from its failing conditions.
Who’S It For? This is for parents who want sterilized entertainment about something they may or may not be experiencing in part themselves. Don’t bring kids to this movie, unless you want to spend the entirety of Won’t Back Down explaining to the young ones what “tenure” means, and why the “bad” people of this movie are “bad.”
Expectations: Any movie has the chance to be good, even if it is directed by the same guy who did Beastly … or has a cheesy poster …
Scorecard (0-10)
Actors:
Maggie Gyllenhaal as Jamie Fitzpatrick: When we first meet her character,...
Directed by: Daniel Barnz
Cast: Maggie Gyllenhaal, Viola Davis, Holly Hunter, Oscar Isaac
Running Time: 2 hrs 1 min
Rating: PG
Release Date: September 28, 2012
Plot: A single mother (Gyllenhaal) teams up with a teacher (Davis) to take over their local elementary school and save it from its failing conditions.
Who’S It For? This is for parents who want sterilized entertainment about something they may or may not be experiencing in part themselves. Don’t bring kids to this movie, unless you want to spend the entirety of Won’t Back Down explaining to the young ones what “tenure” means, and why the “bad” people of this movie are “bad.”
Expectations: Any movie has the chance to be good, even if it is directed by the same guy who did Beastly … or has a cheesy poster …
Scorecard (0-10)
Actors:
Maggie Gyllenhaal as Jamie Fitzpatrick: When we first meet her character,...
- 9/28/2012
- by Nick Allen
- The Scorecard Review
If you watched the Democratic National Convention last night, then you most likely caught this video, which proceeded President Obama's speech onstage. What you might not have been aware of at the time was that the video, which combed through Obama's achievements over the past four years, was actually directed by Davis Guggenheim, who brought us An Inconvenient Truth and Waiting for Superman, among others. And if the voice you hear narrating sounds familiar, it's because that's George Clooney. And here's Guggenheim's other Obama video, which is a longer version of the one above, released earlier this year. This one is narrated by Tom Hanks. And here's Mitt Romney's Rnc introduction video. As of this writing, we have not been able to...
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- 9/7/2012
- by Erik Davis
- Movies.com
Washington -- The most controversial thing to happen at the Democratic National Convention this week may end up being a movie screening.
On Monday afternoon, a Hollywood film called "Won't Back Down" -- which opens in theaters nationwide on Sept. 28 -- will be shown to a select crowd of convention-goers in Charlotte, N.C., just as it was one week prior at the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla.
But unlike Tampa, where the promoters had little concern about making waves with the party establishment and had no trouble when they ran the idea past the Republican National Committee, the request for a Charlotte screening went to the highest levels of the Obama administration, which passed the decision off to the Democratic National Committee, according to a source with knowledge of the chain of events. According to this source, Valerie Jarrett, Obama's close personal adviser, and David Plouffe, his top political adviser,...
On Monday afternoon, a Hollywood film called "Won't Back Down" -- which opens in theaters nationwide on Sept. 28 -- will be shown to a select crowd of convention-goers in Charlotte, N.C., just as it was one week prior at the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla.
But unlike Tampa, where the promoters had little concern about making waves with the party establishment and had no trouble when they ran the idea past the Republican National Committee, the request for a Charlotte screening went to the highest levels of the Obama administration, which passed the decision off to the Democratic National Committee, according to a source with knowledge of the chain of events. According to this source, Valerie Jarrett, Obama's close personal adviser, and David Plouffe, his top political adviser,...
- 9/3/2012
- by Jon Ward
- Huffington Post
In terms of documentary film servings in the fall (pre Idfa in November), in the hands of Thom Powers, Tiff’s former Real to Reel section now simply known as Tiff Docs is the equivalent to riding the gravy train. To be housed at the new spanking brand new Bloor Hot Docs Cinema, this year’s docu items included such names/titles as Ken Burns and what looks to be the Telluride preemed The Central Park Five, Julien Temple’s London – The Modern Babylon, Marina Zenovich’s sequel Roman Polanski: Odd Man Out, another hot topic subject for Alex Gibney with Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence in the House of God and an exec produced item from Errol Morris with Joshua Oppenheimer’s The Act of Killing side by side with with the latest from Crossing the Line helmer Daniel Gordon (9.79*) and Operation Filmmaker helmer Nina Davenport (First Comes Love). Here...
- 7/31/2012
- by Eric Lavallee
- IONCINEMA.com
Following up an already stellar initial line-up, the Toronto International Film Festival 2012 has announced additional sections including Midnight Madness, Documentaries and Vanguard. When the clock strikes 12, some titles one will be able to see include the highly anticipated Seven Psychopaths, from In Bruges director Martin McDonagh. There’s also the world premiere of the horror anthology The ABCs of Death, as well as Dredd and Eli Roth‘s Aftershock and new films from Rob Zombie and Barry Levinson.
The documentary section brings new films from Alex Gibney, Ken Burns and an interesting one titled How to Make Money Selling Drugs, featuring interviews with 50 Cent, Eminem and more. Rounding out the Vanguard section is many titles screened elsewhere, including the excellent documentary on The Shining, Room 237, as well as the next from Kill List director Ben Wheatley, Sightseers (Cannes review). We also have Luis Prieto‘s Pusher remake, and Michel Gondry...
The documentary section brings new films from Alex Gibney, Ken Burns and an interesting one titled How to Make Money Selling Drugs, featuring interviews with 50 Cent, Eminem and more. Rounding out the Vanguard section is many titles screened elsewhere, including the excellent documentary on The Shining, Room 237, as well as the next from Kill List director Ben Wheatley, Sightseers (Cannes review). We also have Luis Prieto‘s Pusher remake, and Michel Gondry...
- 7/31/2012
- by jpraup@gmail.com (thefilmstage.com)
- The Film Stage
Although we’re just in the beginning of the summer blockbuster season, the drama-filled awards season is not too far around the corner. Each year we get our strong contenders and many, many others that attempt to go for the gold. One of the films that look to fall in the latter category is Won’t Back Down, coming from Beastly director Daniel Barnz.
We’ve got our first trailer for the film today, which features Viola Davis and Maggie Gyllenhaal fighting the school system aside Oscar Isaac and Holly Hunter. All of these actors are more than talented, but it just looks like the by-the-number drama I tend to avoid. I’d actually much rather see a documentary about these events, something in the vein of the excellent Waiting For Superman. But I do hope this one overcomes some of the cliches it looks burdened by and one can...
We’ve got our first trailer for the film today, which features Viola Davis and Maggie Gyllenhaal fighting the school system aside Oscar Isaac and Holly Hunter. All of these actors are more than talented, but it just looks like the by-the-number drama I tend to avoid. I’d actually much rather see a documentary about these events, something in the vein of the excellent Waiting For Superman. But I do hope this one overcomes some of the cliches it looks burdened by and one can...
- 5/16/2012
- by jpraup@gmail.com (thefilmstage.com)
- The Film Stage
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