In a sudden announcement, Sundance Institute said on Friday that CEO Joana Vicente is stepping down after two and a half years and Amanda Kelso is returning as acting CEO.
Kelso, who is a trustee of the Institute, previously served as acting CEO, co-chair of the technology committee, a member of the finance committee, and was actively involved in the digital festival task force.
She will transition into her role in April, and Vicente will continue to serve as an advisor to her and the board through June.
“After two and half inspiring years, I have made the decision to...
Kelso, who is a trustee of the Institute, previously served as acting CEO, co-chair of the technology committee, a member of the finance committee, and was actively involved in the digital festival task force.
She will transition into her role in April, and Vicente will continue to serve as an advisor to her and the board through June.
“After two and half inspiring years, I have made the decision to...
- 3/22/2024
- ScreenDaily
In a sudden announcement, Sundance Institute said on Friday that CEO Joana Vicente is stepping down after two and a half years and Amanda Kelso is returning as acting CEO.
Kelso, who is a trustee of the Institute, previously served as acting CEO, co-chair of the technology committee, a member of the finance committee, and was actively involved in the digital festival task force.
She will transition into her role in April, and Vicente will continue to serve as an advisor to her and the board through June.
“After two and half inspiring years, I have made the decision to...
Kelso, who is a trustee of the Institute, previously served as acting CEO, co-chair of the technology committee, a member of the finance committee, and was actively involved in the digital festival task force.
She will transition into her role in April, and Vicente will continue to serve as an advisor to her and the board through June.
“After two and half inspiring years, I have made the decision to...
- 3/22/2024
- ScreenDaily
US filmmaker Alex Gibney says Musk, his documentary about businessman and investor Elon Musk, is “likely to be seen next year”.
The film is in production through Gibney’s Jigsaw Productions, with Closer Media, AC Independent and Double Agent. Gibney told Screen he “keeps reaching out” to the tech billionaire to be involved in the film, but without success so far.
“It’s likely to be seen next year; I’m working on it now,” said Gibney, speaking to Screen at Cph:dox in Copenhagen where he gave a talk on Tuesday, March 19. “We keep reaching out [to Musk], but I haven’t...
The film is in production through Gibney’s Jigsaw Productions, with Closer Media, AC Independent and Double Agent. Gibney told Screen he “keeps reaching out” to the tech billionaire to be involved in the film, but without success so far.
“It’s likely to be seen next year; I’m working on it now,” said Gibney, speaking to Screen at Cph:dox in Copenhagen where he gave a talk on Tuesday, March 19. “We keep reaching out [to Musk], but I haven’t...
- 3/21/2024
- ScreenDaily
US filmmaker Alex Gibney says Musk, his documentary about businessman and investor Elon Musk, is “likely to be seen next year”.
The film is currently in production through Gibney’s Jigsaw Productions, with Closer Media, AC Independent and Double Agent. Gibney told Screen he “keeps reaching out” to the tech billionaire to be involved in the film, but without success so far.
“It’s likely to be seen next year; I’m working on it now,” said Gibney, speaking to Screen at Cph:dox in Copenhagen where he gave a talk on Tuesday, March 19. “We keep reaching out [to Musk], but I haven...
The film is currently in production through Gibney’s Jigsaw Productions, with Closer Media, AC Independent and Double Agent. Gibney told Screen he “keeps reaching out” to the tech billionaire to be involved in the film, but without success so far.
“It’s likely to be seen next year; I’m working on it now,” said Gibney, speaking to Screen at Cph:dox in Copenhagen where he gave a talk on Tuesday, March 19. “We keep reaching out [to Musk], but I haven...
- 3/21/2024
- ScreenDaily
In a keynote conversation Tuesday at Copenhagen’s leading international documentary festival Cph:dox, Academy Award winning filmmaker and producer Alex Gibney talked honestly about the winding road of making it in the documentary world, the creative process, and the lessons of life, partly learned from singer-songwriter Paul Simon.
The inspirational talk at the baroque Kunsthal Charlottenborg exhibition space, with moderator Thom Powers, Toronto Film Festival programmer, was a prelude to the festival’s screening of Gibney’s two-part doc “In Restless Dreams: The Music of Paul Simon,” which debuted on MGM+ March 17.
“What I learned from Paul was that when he wrote ‘The Sound of Silence,’ he sat alone and words came to him; creativity started to flow, and just like Bob Dylan with ‘Mr. Tambourine Man,’ [the song] suddenly fit and he felt like a conduit.”
Gibney said letting free associations take over, having an unguarded curiosity and generosity were some...
The inspirational talk at the baroque Kunsthal Charlottenborg exhibition space, with moderator Thom Powers, Toronto Film Festival programmer, was a prelude to the festival’s screening of Gibney’s two-part doc “In Restless Dreams: The Music of Paul Simon,” which debuted on MGM+ March 17.
“What I learned from Paul was that when he wrote ‘The Sound of Silence,’ he sat alone and words came to him; creativity started to flow, and just like Bob Dylan with ‘Mr. Tambourine Man,’ [the song] suddenly fit and he felt like a conduit.”
Gibney said letting free associations take over, having an unguarded curiosity and generosity were some...
- 3/20/2024
- by Annika Pham
- Variety Film + TV
Filmmaker Raoul Peck’s next documentary will delve into the 2021 assassination of Haitian president Jovenel Moise. The film, tentatively titled “The Hands That Held the Knives,” has been in production for over two years.
The documentary will be a thriller “in the tradition of Graham Greene or John Le Carré,” according to a press release. It will offer access to people involved in the murder of Moise, who was shot inside his home in July 2021. It will also feature secret footage from Haiti’s prisons and an encounter with a fugitive who witnessed the killing.
“The Hands That Held the Knives” will attempt to unpack Haiti’s politics, its relationship with the United States, as well as corrupt business empires and criminal organizations that deal drugs and contraband throughout the Caribbean. Per the official announcement, “the film will take us right up to the present moment, as ruthless gangs backed...
The documentary will be a thriller “in the tradition of Graham Greene or John Le Carré,” according to a press release. It will offer access to people involved in the murder of Moise, who was shot inside his home in July 2021. It will also feature secret footage from Haiti’s prisons and an encounter with a fugitive who witnessed the killing.
“The Hands That Held the Knives” will attempt to unpack Haiti’s politics, its relationship with the United States, as well as corrupt business empires and criminal organizations that deal drugs and contraband throughout the Caribbean. Per the official announcement, “the film will take us right up to the present moment, as ruthless gangs backed...
- 3/18/2024
- by Rebecca Rubin
- Variety Film + TV
What’s new on Amazon’s Prime Video in February 2024?
In light of Valentine’s Day, Prime Video nailed it. This February, the platform is bringing a variety of new shows and movies for you and yours. There is something for everyone — from the latest releases to classic romantic comedies to thrillers and more.
Rom-com “Upgraded,” starring Camila Mendes and Archie Renaux, hits the streamer on Friday, while a series adaptation of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s steamy spy thriller “Mr. & Mrs. Smith” is already taking the world by storm since its Feb. 2 debut with stars Donald Glover and Maya Erskine.
The platform will also debut 2015’s “Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation” with Tom Cruise and Rebecca Ferguson, last year’s animated “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem” and the well-liked 2014 indie “St.Vincent” with Bill Murray, Melissa McCarthy, Naomi Watts and Chris O’Dowd.
And don’t forget about...
In light of Valentine’s Day, Prime Video nailed it. This February, the platform is bringing a variety of new shows and movies for you and yours. There is something for everyone — from the latest releases to classic romantic comedies to thrillers and more.
Rom-com “Upgraded,” starring Camila Mendes and Archie Renaux, hits the streamer on Friday, while a series adaptation of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s steamy spy thriller “Mr. & Mrs. Smith” is already taking the world by storm since its Feb. 2 debut with stars Donald Glover and Maya Erskine.
The platform will also debut 2015’s “Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation” with Tom Cruise and Rebecca Ferguson, last year’s animated “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem” and the well-liked 2014 indie “St.Vincent” with Bill Murray, Melissa McCarthy, Naomi Watts and Chris O’Dowd.
And don’t forget about...
- 2/5/2024
- by Francie Ebert
- The Wrap
Oscar nominee Steve James (Hoop Dreams) has been set to direct Mind vs. Machine, a new docuseries on the lightning rod topic of artificial intelligence from Oscar winner Alex Gibney’s Jigsaw Productions, Closer Media, Anonymous Content, and Emmy-winning producers Alyssa Fedele & Zachary Fink of Collective Hunch.
Gibney comes to the project after working with Closer Media and Anonymous Content on the forthcoming documentary Musk, to be distributed by HBO/Universal. Within the last year, his Jigsaw has also teamed with the companies on the MGM+ acquired documentary In Restless Dreams: The Music of Paul Simon and the Raoul Peck-helmed Orwell on 1984 author George Orwell, to be distributed by Neon.
As artificial intelligence bursts onto the world stage – and into our lives – it may seem like a radical new life form has suddenly been created. But as Mind vs. Machine illustrates,...
Gibney comes to the project after working with Closer Media and Anonymous Content on the forthcoming documentary Musk, to be distributed by HBO/Universal. Within the last year, his Jigsaw has also teamed with the companies on the MGM+ acquired documentary In Restless Dreams: The Music of Paul Simon and the Raoul Peck-helmed Orwell on 1984 author George Orwell, to be distributed by Neon.
As artificial intelligence bursts onto the world stage – and into our lives – it may seem like a radical new life form has suddenly been created. But as Mind vs. Machine illustrates,...
- 2/1/2024
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Prime Video’s big February drop is Mr. & Mrs. Smith! No, not the 2005 Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie action movie, but a new TV series kinda based on it starring Donald Glover and Maya Erskine. The set up for the show version? Glover and Erskine are two strangers who both get jobs at a shady spy agency and are asked to get married so that they can pretend to be a couple undercover, but things get more complicated when they start falling in love for real. Uh oh!
If you’re in the mood for a movie or two this month, you can also check out the Prime debuts of Strays, Bottoms, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem. In the meantime, here’s everything coming to Amazon Prime Video and Freevee this month. Amazon Originals are accompanied by an asterisk!
New on Amazon Prime Video – February 2024
February 1
12 Angry Men...
If you’re in the mood for a movie or two this month, you can also check out the Prime debuts of Strays, Bottoms, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem. In the meantime, here’s everything coming to Amazon Prime Video and Freevee this month. Amazon Originals are accompanied by an asterisk!
New on Amazon Prime Video – February 2024
February 1
12 Angry Men...
- 2/1/2024
- by Kirsten Howard
- Den of Geek
Love is in the air this February at Prime Video! From the long-awaited espionage comedy series “Mr. & Mrs. Smith” to Jennifer Lopez’s new album companion film “This Is Me…Now: A Love Story,” the streamer is days away from adding dozens of classic and fresh titles to its seemingly endless catalog, including the premieres of many more Amazon Originals like “The Second Best Hospital in The Galaxy,” “Five Blind Dates,” and “The Silent Service.”
Check out The Streamable’s top picks for February on Prime Video, and find out everything coming to the platform this coming month!
30-Day Free Trial $8.99+ / month amazon.com What are the 5 Best Shows and Movies Coming to Prime Video in February 2024? “Mr. & Mrs. Smith” | Friday, Feb. 2
Donald Glover and Maya Erskine star in the long-awaited spy comedy series about two lonely strangers who land a job working for a mysterious spy agency...
Check out The Streamable’s top picks for February on Prime Video, and find out everything coming to the platform this coming month!
30-Day Free Trial $8.99+ / month amazon.com What are the 5 Best Shows and Movies Coming to Prime Video in February 2024? “Mr. & Mrs. Smith” | Friday, Feb. 2
Donald Glover and Maya Erskine star in the long-awaited spy comedy series about two lonely strangers who land a job working for a mysterious spy agency...
- 1/30/2024
- by Ashley Steves
- The Streamable
Universal Pictures Content Group has acquired international rights to Elon Musk documentary “Musk,” directed by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Alex Gibney.
It was announced during Cannes earlier this year that HBO Documentary Films had come on board to join the production and will release the film in North America.
Gibney directed “The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley,” the Oscar-nominated “Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room” and Oscar winner “Taxi to the Dark Side.”
Helen Parker, exec VP, Universal Pictures Content Group, said: “We instantly wanted to attach to this feature as we are big fans of Alex’s previous work and feel confident that he will deliver an insightful portrayal of one of the centuries most provocative characters.”
The film is produced by Jigsaw Productions and jointly financed and produced by Closer Media, Anonymous Content via their recently launched sales and finance division AC Independent, and Double Agent.
It was announced during Cannes earlier this year that HBO Documentary Films had come on board to join the production and will release the film in North America.
Gibney directed “The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley,” the Oscar-nominated “Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room” and Oscar winner “Taxi to the Dark Side.”
Helen Parker, exec VP, Universal Pictures Content Group, said: “We instantly wanted to attach to this feature as we are big fans of Alex’s previous work and feel confident that he will deliver an insightful portrayal of one of the centuries most provocative characters.”
The film is produced by Jigsaw Productions and jointly financed and produced by Closer Media, Anonymous Content via their recently launched sales and finance division AC Independent, and Double Agent.
- 10/2/2023
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Universal Pictures Content Group has acquired international rights to Alex Gibney’s latest documentary Musk, about the lightning-rod entrepreneur and businessman.
Negotiations first began in Cannes with Black Bear International and the multimillion-dollar pact is among the biggest ever for a documentary out of the Cannes Market.
In another lucrative presale we revealed in the spring, HBO Documentary Films pre-bought North American streaming and TV rights to the project. A domestic theatrical release remains in play.
Taxi to the Dark Side Oscar winner and Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room nominee Gibney has been working on the project for months. It recently was described by the producers as “a definitive and unvarnished examination” of the provocative X (formerly Twitter) owner.
Tesla and SpaceX CEO Musk recently reassumed his position as the world’s richest man with a net worth in the range of $187B, but the mercurial tech...
Negotiations first began in Cannes with Black Bear International and the multimillion-dollar pact is among the biggest ever for a documentary out of the Cannes Market.
In another lucrative presale we revealed in the spring, HBO Documentary Films pre-bought North American streaming and TV rights to the project. A domestic theatrical release remains in play.
Taxi to the Dark Side Oscar winner and Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room nominee Gibney has been working on the project for months. It recently was described by the producers as “a definitive and unvarnished examination” of the provocative X (formerly Twitter) owner.
Tesla and SpaceX CEO Musk recently reassumed his position as the world’s richest man with a net worth in the range of $187B, but the mercurial tech...
- 10/2/2023
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
In his latest documentary “In Restless Dreams: The Music of Paul Simon,” Alex Gibney explores the singer-songwriter’s six-decade career. The Oscar winning director also captures Simon creating his latest album, “Seven Psalms,” which he made while losing hearing in his left ear. Although Gibney is mostly recognized for his rigorously researched investigative exposes, he is also skilled in creating portraits of cultural icons like Simon. In the 209-minute docu Gibney relies on Simon as well as signifigant figures in his life including wife Edie Brickell, Lorne Michaels and Art Garfunkel, who can be heard via archival footage, to tell his story.
In 2019 Gibney premiered his Mikhail Khodorkovsky documentary “Citizen K” at TIFF. “In Restless Dreams” will debut at TIFF on Sept. 10. Gibney is seeking distribution for the film.
Did you have final cut on this docu?
Yes. That was the arrangement we made going into it. I felt good about that.
In 2019 Gibney premiered his Mikhail Khodorkovsky documentary “Citizen K” at TIFF. “In Restless Dreams” will debut at TIFF on Sept. 10. Gibney is seeking distribution for the film.
Did you have final cut on this docu?
Yes. That was the arrangement we made going into it. I felt good about that.
- 9/9/2023
- by Addie Morfoot
- Variety Film + TV
Following a three year shoot, award-winning documentary filmmaker Alex Gibney has just completed production on In Restless Dreams: The Music Of Paul Simon, the documentary about Paul Simon’s legendary Grammy Award-winning career. The film also follows Simon’s journey creating his new album Seven Psalms, which poses questions about faith and mortality, during the pandemic and while dealing with his hearing loss. The film is expected to be part of the fall film festival circuit.
In the film, Gibney and Simon journey through a dreamlike world of storytelling, an absorbing portrait of an artist, that transcends both time and space moving freely between present and past, showcasing both his music making in the here-and-now and a unique peek into his career, from Tom & Jerry to Simon & Garfunkel to the triumphs of Graceland and Rhythm of the Saints. Rarely seen or heard footage of Paul on his own in England...
In the film, Gibney and Simon journey through a dreamlike world of storytelling, an absorbing portrait of an artist, that transcends both time and space moving freely between present and past, showcasing both his music making in the here-and-now and a unique peek into his career, from Tom & Jerry to Simon & Garfunkel to the triumphs of Graceland and Rhythm of the Saints. Rarely seen or heard footage of Paul on his own in England...
- 7/11/2023
- by Justin Kroll
- Deadline Film + TV
Altitude, UTA Independent Film Group, AC Independent jointly represent global rights.
Alex Gibney has completed the three-year production of In Restless Dreams: The Music Of Paul Simon, a documentary about the career of singer-songwriter Paul Simon for Jigsaw Productions, Closer Media and Anonymous Content.
The film is expected to land a world premiere slot on the fall festival circuit and charts Simon’s career from the days of Simon & Garfunkel to the solo triumphs of Graceland and Rhythm Of The Saints.
It also follows Simon while he recorded his latest album ‘Seven Psalms’, wrestling with issues of faith and mortality...
Alex Gibney has completed the three-year production of In Restless Dreams: The Music Of Paul Simon, a documentary about the career of singer-songwriter Paul Simon for Jigsaw Productions, Closer Media and Anonymous Content.
The film is expected to land a world premiere slot on the fall festival circuit and charts Simon’s career from the days of Simon & Garfunkel to the solo triumphs of Graceland and Rhythm Of The Saints.
It also follows Simon while he recorded his latest album ‘Seven Psalms’, wrestling with issues of faith and mortality...
- 7/11/2023
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: HBO Documentary Films has pre-bought North American streaming and TV rights to Musk, Alex Gibney’s upcoming documentary about lightning rod entrepreneur and businessman Elon Musk.
Black Bear has boarded international sales rights on the eve of the Cannes market and will be shopping the high-end doc to overseas buyers.
Taxi To The Dark Side and Enron: The Smartest Guys In The Room director Gibney has been working on the project for months. It was recently described by the producers as “a definitive and unvarnished examination” of the provocative Twitter owner.
The deal with HBO was negotiated with UTA’s Independent Film Group, AC Independent, and Double Agent. The door is seemingly ajar for a North American theatrical deal.
Tesla, Twitter and SpaceX CEO Musk recently reassumed his position as the world’s richest man with a net worth in the range of $187Bn, but the mercurial tech titan...
Black Bear has boarded international sales rights on the eve of the Cannes market and will be shopping the high-end doc to overseas buyers.
Taxi To The Dark Side and Enron: The Smartest Guys In The Room director Gibney has been working on the project for months. It was recently described by the producers as “a definitive and unvarnished examination” of the provocative Twitter owner.
The deal with HBO was negotiated with UTA’s Independent Film Group, AC Independent, and Double Agent. The door is seemingly ajar for a North American theatrical deal.
Tesla, Twitter and SpaceX CEO Musk recently reassumed his position as the world’s richest man with a net worth in the range of $187Bn, but the mercurial tech titan...
- 5/11/2023
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Alex Gibney, perhaps the world’s most prolific documentary filmmaker at the moment, has an obsession with power — and hubris. He’s taken on everyone from corrupt corporate execs (Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room) and the Church of Scientology (Going Clear) to Theranos grifter Elizabeth Holmes (The Inventor) and the Trump administration (Totally Under Control).
The 69-year-old Oscar winner’s latest is Boom! Boom! The World vs. Boris Becker, a two-part docuseries on Apple TV+ that chronicles the rise and fall of German tennis great Boris Becker, who...
The 69-year-old Oscar winner’s latest is Boom! Boom! The World vs. Boris Becker, a two-part docuseries on Apple TV+ that chronicles the rise and fall of German tennis great Boris Becker, who...
- 4/12/2023
- by Marlow Stern
- Rollingstone.com
Alex Gibney, the Oscar-winning filmmaker behind Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief, announced on Monday that he has been working on a documentary about Elon Musk, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The project is already months into production, according to the report, and is described as a “definitive and unvarnished examination of multi-billionaire tech entrepreneur and CEO of Tesla, SpaceX and Twitter.”
“I have been working on this film, off and on, for some time and am hugely excited about it,” said Gibney, per THR. “I am delighted...
The project is already months into production, according to the report, and is described as a “definitive and unvarnished examination of multi-billionaire tech entrepreneur and CEO of Tesla, SpaceX and Twitter.”
“I have been working on this film, off and on, for some time and am hugely excited about it,” said Gibney, per THR. “I am delighted...
- 3/6/2023
- by Charisma Madarang
- Rollingstone.com
The Oscar-winning film-maker has announced he is months into making Musk, which will examine the controversial entrepreneur
Oscar-winning film-maker Alex Gibney has announced that he is in the process of making a documentary about Elon Musk.
The documentarian behind films such as Taxi to the Dark Side and Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room is months into the making of Musk, “a definitive and unvarnished examination” of the provocative tech entrepreneur.
Oscar-winning film-maker Alex Gibney has announced that he is in the process of making a documentary about Elon Musk.
The documentarian behind films such as Taxi to the Dark Side and Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room is months into the making of Musk, “a definitive and unvarnished examination” of the provocative tech entrepreneur.
- 3/6/2023
- by Benjamin Lee
- The Guardian - Film News
Alex Gibney, the Emmy- and Academy Award-nominated documentary filmmaker behind “Taxi to the Dark Side,” “Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room” and “The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley,” will next set his sights on Elon Musk with “Musk,” described in the official announcement as “a definitive and unvarnished examination of multi-billionaire tech entrepreneur Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, SpaceX and Twitter.”
“I have been working on this film, off and on, for some time and am hugely excited about it,” said Gibney in an official statement. “I am delighted by this extraordinary group who are working with me. Onward!”
Musk’s life is certainly colorful enough for a documentary (or maybe a limited series) and his most recent stint as the perpetually embattled CEO of Twitter is the latest chapter in a rich tapestry at once visionary and bumbling.
Also Read:
2023 Movie Release Dates: A Schedule of...
“I have been working on this film, off and on, for some time and am hugely excited about it,” said Gibney in an official statement. “I am delighted by this extraordinary group who are working with me. Onward!”
Musk’s life is certainly colorful enough for a documentary (or maybe a limited series) and his most recent stint as the perpetually embattled CEO of Twitter is the latest chapter in a rich tapestry at once visionary and bumbling.
Also Read:
2023 Movie Release Dates: A Schedule of...
- 3/6/2023
- by Drew Taylor
- The Wrap
Elon Musk will be the center of a new documentary from the unflinching Alex Gibney, the Oscar-winning director of “Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief.”
Already months into production, Gibney announced the project on Monday saying he was “hugely excited” about tackling Musk on film. It is described as a “definitive and unvarnished examination of multi-billionaire tech entrepreneur and CEO of Tesla, SpaceX and Twitter.”
Tech mogul Musk reached peak saturation in late 2022 when he completed a $44 billion acquisition of Twitter, promising to upend the platform’s user experience as well as restore “balance” to its user body.
Jigsaw Productions is producing the film alongside Closer Media, Anonymous Content, and Double Agent, which is also financing the project. A distribution partner for the doc has not yet been named.
“Now is the moment for a rigorous portrait of Elon Musk, who is undeniably one of the most influential figures of our time.
Already months into production, Gibney announced the project on Monday saying he was “hugely excited” about tackling Musk on film. It is described as a “definitive and unvarnished examination of multi-billionaire tech entrepreneur and CEO of Tesla, SpaceX and Twitter.”
Tech mogul Musk reached peak saturation in late 2022 when he completed a $44 billion acquisition of Twitter, promising to upend the platform’s user experience as well as restore “balance” to its user body.
Jigsaw Productions is producing the film alongside Closer Media, Anonymous Content, and Double Agent, which is also financing the project. A distribution partner for the doc has not yet been named.
“Now is the moment for a rigorous portrait of Elon Musk, who is undeniably one of the most influential figures of our time.
- 3/6/2023
- by Matt Donnelly
- Variety Film + TV
Prolific documentarian Alex Gibney hates liars. He hates when companies lie (Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room); he hates when religions lie (Going Clear, Mea Maxima Culpa); he hates when authority figures lie (The Inventor, Client 9).
The Rosetta Stone for Gibney’s dogmatic resistance to mendacity is The Armstrong Lie. Gibney’s irritation arises not just from the general lies that Lance Armstrong told the world, but from the lies that Lance Armstrong told him during the making of the movie, yielding a documentary about the nature of deception and self-deception.
Gibney’s new two-part Apple TV+ docuseries Boom! Boom! The World vs. Boris Becker is a complementary text to The Armstrong Lie. It’s about a revered sports icon whose falsehoods eventually led to personal disgrace. It’s structured around two extensive interviews conducted at different points in the subject’s prevarication — once in delusion and once when facing a reckoning.
The Rosetta Stone for Gibney’s dogmatic resistance to mendacity is The Armstrong Lie. Gibney’s irritation arises not just from the general lies that Lance Armstrong told the world, but from the lies that Lance Armstrong told him during the making of the movie, yielding a documentary about the nature of deception and self-deception.
Gibney’s new two-part Apple TV+ docuseries Boom! Boom! The World vs. Boris Becker is a complementary text to The Armstrong Lie. It’s about a revered sports icon whose falsehoods eventually led to personal disgrace. It’s structured around two extensive interviews conducted at different points in the subject’s prevarication — once in delusion and once when facing a reckoning.
- 2/21/2023
- by Daniel Fienberg
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Horror delights, rom-coms and a new sci-fi series starring Christoph Waltz are just a few of the highlights arriving on Amazon Prime Video in February. This month sees the debut of the second and final season of “Carnival Row” on Feb. 17, while Feb. 24 is when “The Consultant” – a “Severance”-like thriller series starring Waltz and directed by “WandaVision’s” Matt Shakman – drops.
In terms of new original Prime Video movies, on Feb. 10 there’s “Somebody I Used to Know,” a romantic comedy starring Alison Brie who co-wrote the script with her husband Dave Franco (who serves as director).
And you’ll find last year’s buzzy horror hit “Smile” on the streaming service on Feb. 21, while “Mad Max: Fury Road” filmmaker George Miller’s “Three Thousand Years of Longing” arrives on Feb. 17.
That’s not to mention noteworthy library additions like “A.I.,” “The Talented Mr. Ripley” and “Almost Famous.
In terms of new original Prime Video movies, on Feb. 10 there’s “Somebody I Used to Know,” a romantic comedy starring Alison Brie who co-wrote the script with her husband Dave Franco (who serves as director).
And you’ll find last year’s buzzy horror hit “Smile” on the streaming service on Feb. 21, while “Mad Max: Fury Road” filmmaker George Miller’s “Three Thousand Years of Longing” arrives on Feb. 17.
That’s not to mention noteworthy library additions like “A.I.,” “The Talented Mr. Ripley” and “Almost Famous.
- 2/17/2023
- by Adam Chitwood
- The Wrap
The movie year has already unleashed a lot of memorable work, from Sundance breakouts to “M3GAN.” But things are about to get a lot more global. Even as a new Marvel movie opens in theaters worldwide, the Berlin International Film Festival begins on Wednesday to offer a whole lot more. Nestled in between Sundance and SXSW, Berlin is like a firehose of international cinema.
More than 200 films from around the world will premiere at the festival this week, many of which are potential discoveries. Berlin premieres sometimes creep into awards consider (this year’s Oscar nominee “The Quiet Girl” premiered there last year) but can also deliver major new works from rising filmmaker talent. Some of the more promising titles from this year’s lineup speak to its versatility. It’s also a valuable European launchpad for Sundance highlights: The festival’s hit “Past Lives” plays in competition.
From its...
More than 200 films from around the world will premiere at the festival this week, many of which are potential discoveries. Berlin premieres sometimes creep into awards consider (this year’s Oscar nominee “The Quiet Girl” premiered there last year) but can also deliver major new works from rising filmmaker talent. Some of the more promising titles from this year’s lineup speak to its versatility. It’s also a valuable European launchpad for Sundance highlights: The festival’s hit “Past Lives” plays in competition.
From its...
- 2/14/2023
- by Eric Kohn
- Indiewire
February is the shortest month of the year but Prime Video is paying that no mind with its jam-packed list of new releases for February 2023.
This really is an uncommonly stuffed month on the Amazon streamer and it all starts with a handful of Amazon Originals. Amazon’s original offerings kick off with the release of Dave Franco-directed romcom Somebody I Used to Know on Feb. 10. That is followed by Carnival Row season 2 – a gritty fantasy crime drama is set in a world of steampunky fairies. The show stars Orlando Bloom and Cara Delevigne and this batch of episodes will be its swan song. Meanwhile The Consultant on Feb. 24 is a dark comedy workplace thriller starring Christoph Waltz.
The biggest hits this month, however, might just be some recent cinema faves. If February is for lovers, Amazon didn’t get the memo as there are quite a few horror movies of note here.
This really is an uncommonly stuffed month on the Amazon streamer and it all starts with a handful of Amazon Originals. Amazon’s original offerings kick off with the release of Dave Franco-directed romcom Somebody I Used to Know on Feb. 10. That is followed by Carnival Row season 2 – a gritty fantasy crime drama is set in a world of steampunky fairies. The show stars Orlando Bloom and Cara Delevigne and this batch of episodes will be its swan song. Meanwhile The Consultant on Feb. 24 is a dark comedy workplace thriller starring Christoph Waltz.
The biggest hits this month, however, might just be some recent cinema faves. If February is for lovers, Amazon didn’t get the memo as there are quite a few horror movies of note here.
- 2/1/2023
- by Alec Bojalad
- Den of Geek
There are diverse streaming releases slates and then there is Hulu’s list of new releases for May 2022. There are no big franchises here, no big themes – just a whole bunch of original and library titles for everyone to enjoy.
Hulu’s major original releases in May come in the middle of the month. Candy premieres on May 9 and stars Jessica Biel as your friendly neighborhood axe murderer. If that sounds a bit outlandish, bear in mind that this limited series is based on the real life story of Candy Montgomery and her victim, the tragically named Betty Gore. On May 15, Hulu will play host to Conversations with Friends. This is the latest adaptation of the works of Sally Rooney. After the breakaway success of Normal People, Hulu is undoubtedly hoping for more lightning in a bottle.
On the movie side of things, May will welcome The Valet on May...
Hulu’s major original releases in May come in the middle of the month. Candy premieres on May 9 and stars Jessica Biel as your friendly neighborhood axe murderer. If that sounds a bit outlandish, bear in mind that this limited series is based on the real life story of Candy Montgomery and her victim, the tragically named Betty Gore. On May 15, Hulu will play host to Conversations with Friends. This is the latest adaptation of the works of Sally Rooney. After the breakaway success of Normal People, Hulu is undoubtedly hoping for more lightning in a bottle.
On the movie side of things, May will welcome The Valet on May...
- 5/1/2022
- by Alec Bojalad
- Den of Geek
The 2022 Brit Awards was a night filled with good music and fun moments at the O2 Arena in London, hosted by Mo Gilligan - with the help of Maya Jama - and held in front of an audience of nominees, presenters, and key workers.
It's be the second time the BRITs has taken place in real life since the pandemic, and we weren't disappointed with the great lineup of performances, including best new artist winner Little Simz, BRITs rising star Holly Humberstone, and best rock/alternative act Sam Fender - to name a few. The roster of live presenters was pretty great, too. Idris Elba, Celeste, Tom Daley, Mo Farrah, and Clara Amfo were among the many.
Keep on reading to find out all the winners at the 2022 BRITs.
Album Of The Year
Winner: Adele – 30
Dave – We're All Alone in This Together
Ed Sheeran – =
Little Simz – Sometimes I Might Be...
It's be the second time the BRITs has taken place in real life since the pandemic, and we weren't disappointed with the great lineup of performances, including best new artist winner Little Simz, BRITs rising star Holly Humberstone, and best rock/alternative act Sam Fender - to name a few. The roster of live presenters was pretty great, too. Idris Elba, Celeste, Tom Daley, Mo Farrah, and Clara Amfo were among the many.
Keep on reading to find out all the winners at the 2022 BRITs.
Album Of The Year
Winner: Adele – 30
Dave – We're All Alone in This Together
Ed Sheeran – =
Little Simz – Sometimes I Might Be...
- 2/9/2022
- by Navi Ahluwalia
- Popsugar.com
Adele led the winners at tonight’s (Feb. 8) Brit Awards 2022, taking home three awards at the prestigious ceremony. The music icon triumphed as she picked up Artist of the Year, Album of the Year for 30 and Song of the Year for “Easy On Me.”
Her victory in the first category made her the first-ever artist to pick up the award, after the show ditched trophies in gendered categories for the first time — replaced by Artist of the Year and International Artist of the Year fields.
the third win of the...
Her victory in the first category made her the first-ever artist to pick up the award, after the show ditched trophies in gendered categories for the first time — replaced by Artist of the Year and International Artist of the Year fields.
the third win of the...
- 2/8/2022
- by Nick Reilly
- Rollingstone.com
Orson Welles in fine form! This lavishly produced costume drama, beautifully cast and directed, was filmed on location in gorgeous Italian palazzos, churches and villas. Welles is cast to type as the literally mesmerizing mountebank Cagliostro, who aids Madame du Barry in a scheme to seize the throne of France. Welles almost certainly ‘helped’ the credited director; the highly theatrical goings-on look exactly like Orson’s style. Super performances from Nancy Guild, Akim Tamiroff, Valentina Cortese, Margot Grahame and Charles Goldner turn Alexandre Dumas’ tale into swashbuckling mind-control excitement; the disc tops it off with a sensationally good restoration.
Black Magic
Blu-ray
ClassicFlix
1949 / B&w / 1:37 Academy / 105 min. / Street Date January 25, 2022 / Available from ClassicFlix / 19.99
Starring: Orson Welles, Nancy Guild, Akim Tamiroff, Charles Goldner, Stephen Bekassy, Valentina Cortese, Margot Grahame, Frank Latimore, Gregory Gaye, Berry Kroeger, Robert Atkins, Raymond Burr, Harriet White Medin, Silvana Mangano, Milly Vitale.
Cinematography: Ubaldo Arata, Anchise Brizzi
Art Directors: Jean d’Eaubonne,...
Black Magic
Blu-ray
ClassicFlix
1949 / B&w / 1:37 Academy / 105 min. / Street Date January 25, 2022 / Available from ClassicFlix / 19.99
Starring: Orson Welles, Nancy Guild, Akim Tamiroff, Charles Goldner, Stephen Bekassy, Valentina Cortese, Margot Grahame, Frank Latimore, Gregory Gaye, Berry Kroeger, Robert Atkins, Raymond Burr, Harriet White Medin, Silvana Mangano, Milly Vitale.
Cinematography: Ubaldo Arata, Anchise Brizzi
Art Directors: Jean d’Eaubonne,...
- 2/1/2022
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
Sales to commence at next week’s AFM.
Viggo Mortensen and Caleb Landry Jones will star in Alex Gibney’s UK-us thriller Two Wolves, which Altitude is producing and will introduce at next week’s virtual American Film Market.
Altitude is handling international sales on the title, which is written by four-time Oscar nominee Anthony McCarten and Matt Cook. The domestic sale is being co-repped by UTA Independent Film Group and ICM.
Two Wolves is the story of helicopter pilot Hugh Thompson who turned against his fellow soldiers during the Vietnam War to halt the My Lai massacre; but was...
Viggo Mortensen and Caleb Landry Jones will star in Alex Gibney’s UK-us thriller Two Wolves, which Altitude is producing and will introduce at next week’s virtual American Film Market.
Altitude is handling international sales on the title, which is written by four-time Oscar nominee Anthony McCarten and Matt Cook. The domestic sale is being co-repped by UTA Independent Film Group and ICM.
Two Wolves is the story of helicopter pilot Hugh Thompson who turned against his fellow soldiers during the Vietnam War to halt the My Lai massacre; but was...
- 10/28/2021
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
After spending three years as Toronto International Film Festival’s executive director, Joana Vicente is leaving her post to join the Sundance Institute as its CEO.
She is succeeding long-time executive Keri Putnam, who stepped down earlier this year. In her new role, Vicente will oversee all areas of the Institute, including the annual Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah.
She will report to Sundance’s board of directors and work with key stakeholders, including artists, funders and industry donors, as well as lead a cadre of 200 year-round employees and an additional 250 seasonal staffers. Vicente begins her position in early November, working between the Institute’s Park City, Los Angeles, and New York City offices.
“This was a very comprehensive search to find the right person who would continue to move us forward with a vision that aligns with the founding values of the Institute’s founder, Robert Redford,...
She is succeeding long-time executive Keri Putnam, who stepped down earlier this year. In her new role, Vicente will oversee all areas of the Institute, including the annual Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah.
She will report to Sundance’s board of directors and work with key stakeholders, including artists, funders and industry donors, as well as lead a cadre of 200 year-round employees and an additional 250 seasonal staffers. Vicente begins her position in early November, working between the Institute’s Park City, Los Angeles, and New York City offices.
“This was a very comprehensive search to find the right person who would continue to move us forward with a vision that aligns with the founding values of the Institute’s founder, Robert Redford,...
- 9/29/2021
- by Rebecca Rubin
- Variety Film + TV
It’s the changing of the film festival guard as Toronto International Film Festival co-head and executive director Joana Vicente steps down from her TIFF role after three years to return to her roots in American independent film. She will take over as CEO of the Sundance Institute, succeeding influential CEO Keri Putnam, who exited earlier this year after 10 years. Vicente’s last day at TIFF will be October 31, and she will begin her role at the start of November, working between the Institute’s Park City, Los Angeles, and New York City offices.
The search for her replacement was led by Sundance Board of Trustees Chair Pat Mitchell and Chair-Elect Ebs Burnough. In a statement, the board said the hiring resulted from “a very comprehensive search to find the right person who would continue to move us forward with a vision that aligns with the founding values of the Institute’s founder,...
The search for her replacement was led by Sundance Board of Trustees Chair Pat Mitchell and Chair-Elect Ebs Burnough. In a statement, the board said the hiring resulted from “a very comprehensive search to find the right person who would continue to move us forward with a vision that aligns with the founding values of the Institute’s founder,...
- 9/29/2021
- by Anne Thompson
- Indiewire
It’s the changing of the film festival guard as Toronto International Film Festival co-head and executive director Joana Vicente steps down from her TIFF role after three years to return to her roots in American independent film. She will take over as CEO of the Sundance Institute, succeeding influential CEO Keri Putnam, who exited earlier this year after 10 years. Vicente’s last day at TIFF will be October 31, and she will begin her role at the start of November, working between the Institute’s Park City, Los Angeles, and New York City offices.
The search for her replacement was led by Sundance Board of Trustees Chair Pat Mitchell and Chair-Elect Ebs Burnough. In a statement, the board said the hiring resulted from “a very comprehensive search to find the right person who would continue to move us forward with a vision that aligns with the founding values of the Institute’s founder,...
The search for her replacement was led by Sundance Board of Trustees Chair Pat Mitchell and Chair-Elect Ebs Burnough. In a statement, the board said the hiring resulted from “a very comprehensive search to find the right person who would continue to move us forward with a vision that aligns with the founding values of the Institute’s founder,...
- 9/29/2021
- by Anne Thompson
- Thompson on Hollywood
Executive and producer says: ”I have always felt that Sundance was a home for me.”
In a big shake-up in the North American festival landscape Joana Vicente is stepping down as Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) executive director and co-head and is returning to the United States and the independent film world to serve as Sundance Institute CEO.
Vicente will commence her new role at the start of November working between the Institute’s Park City, Los Angeles, and New York City offices. She will work with a core staff of 200 and oversee Sundance Film Festival, the Institute’s year-round labs and programmes,...
In a big shake-up in the North American festival landscape Joana Vicente is stepping down as Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) executive director and co-head and is returning to the United States and the independent film world to serve as Sundance Institute CEO.
Vicente will commence her new role at the start of November working between the Institute’s Park City, Los Angeles, and New York City offices. She will work with a core staff of 200 and oversee Sundance Film Festival, the Institute’s year-round labs and programmes,...
- 9/29/2021
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: Amazon’s Audible has ordered a documentary podcast series about the 2008 financial crisis that is exec produced by Alex Gibney.
The Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room director Gibney and his production company Jigsaw Productions have teamed up with journalist David Sirota, who is co-producing Netflix feature Don’t Look Up, directed by Adam McKay and starring Jennifer Lawrence and Leonardo DiCaprio, on Meltdown.
The eight-part series, which launches on October 28 exclusively on the Audible service, is a deep dive into the financial crisis. It looks at how this event and the government’s botched, multibillion-dollar bailout is the skeleton key that unlocks almost every big thing that’s gone wrong in America in the 21st Century, from climate change, to the all-out assault on democracy, to the rise of white nationalism.
Meltdown explores why the financial crisis happened, how the bailout went so wrong, why politicians covered up...
The Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room director Gibney and his production company Jigsaw Productions have teamed up with journalist David Sirota, who is co-producing Netflix feature Don’t Look Up, directed by Adam McKay and starring Jennifer Lawrence and Leonardo DiCaprio, on Meltdown.
The eight-part series, which launches on October 28 exclusively on the Audible service, is a deep dive into the financial crisis. It looks at how this event and the government’s botched, multibillion-dollar bailout is the skeleton key that unlocks almost every big thing that’s gone wrong in America in the 21st Century, from climate change, to the all-out assault on democracy, to the rise of white nationalism.
Meltdown explores why the financial crisis happened, how the bailout went so wrong, why politicians covered up...
- 9/27/2021
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Fox is developing How To Be Human, a multi-camera comedy from writer Brenda Hsueh (Disjointed) and Party Over Here, the production company founded by The Lonely Island’s Andy Samberg, Akiva Schaffer and Jorma Taccone.
Written by Hsueh, How To Be Human revolves around Eve, a robot becoming sentient who breaks free from her lab so she can learn how to be human by living among them. But when she tries to convince three housemates to let her live with them, she realizes it’s not going to be so easy.
Hsueh and Yvonne Cheng executive produce via their Shoes Off Productions, along with Samberg, Schaffer, Taccone and Ali Bell for Party Over Here. Fox Entertainment is the studio.
Party Over Here produces Hulu’s praised comedy series Pen15 and also is behind the upcoming SNL offshoot series MacGruber for Peacock. The company also recently set single-camera comedy Black Magic...
Written by Hsueh, How To Be Human revolves around Eve, a robot becoming sentient who breaks free from her lab so she can learn how to be human by living among them. But when she tries to convince three housemates to let her live with them, she realizes it’s not going to be so easy.
Hsueh and Yvonne Cheng executive produce via their Shoes Off Productions, along with Samberg, Schaffer, Taccone and Ali Bell for Party Over Here. Fox Entertainment is the studio.
Party Over Here produces Hulu’s praised comedy series Pen15 and also is behind the upcoming SNL offshoot series MacGruber for Peacock. The company also recently set single-camera comedy Black Magic...
- 8/18/2021
- by Nellie Andreeva and Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Alex Gibney is to exec produce MGM and Tadmor Entertainment’s limited series about judo champions Saeid Mollaei and Sagi Muki.
It comes after Mollaei’s emotional silver medal win in the Tokyo Olympics, where the Iranian refugee thanked Israel for his win after being driven out of his home country and now representing Mongolia. Similarly, Muki helped the Israeli judo team to a bronze medal.
Gibney is best known for directing documentaries such as Taxi to the Dark Side and Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room, but has been moving into scripted television, exec producing series including Hulu’s The Looming Tower and Netflix’s Painkiller and directing an episode of Showtime’s Billions.
American-Iranian writer Cyrus Nowrasteh (The Stoning of Soraya M) will pen the script for the new limited series. Gibney and his Jigsaw Productions colleague Kevin Plunkett will exec produce alongside Nowrasteh, Emilio Schenker,...
It comes after Mollaei’s emotional silver medal win in the Tokyo Olympics, where the Iranian refugee thanked Israel for his win after being driven out of his home country and now representing Mongolia. Similarly, Muki helped the Israeli judo team to a bronze medal.
Gibney is best known for directing documentaries such as Taxi to the Dark Side and Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room, but has been moving into scripted television, exec producing series including Hulu’s The Looming Tower and Netflix’s Painkiller and directing an episode of Showtime’s Billions.
American-Iranian writer Cyrus Nowrasteh (The Stoning of Soraya M) will pen the script for the new limited series. Gibney and his Jigsaw Productions colleague Kevin Plunkett will exec produce alongside Nowrasteh, Emilio Schenker,...
- 8/2/2021
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
After the success of 1975’s “Black Magic”, Ho Meng Hua returns with a sequel “Black Magic 2” the following year. However, it has a completely new storyline although it stars virtually the same cast, who now play different characters. Moreover, Singapore is now the chosen tropical city it sets in, in place of Kuala Lumpur, but the basic plot is very much about the good versus the bad.
Dr. Shi Zhen Sheng (Lin Wei Tu) works in a hospital in which patients suffer from strange, mysterious illness like worms under their skin and puss-filled sores that won’t heal. He truly believes that they’re under some kind of black magic spells but his friends Dr. Chi Zhong Ping (Ti Lung) and Dr. Cui Ling (Tanny Tien Ni) won’t have any of that superstition because they’re more interested in scientific outcome.
Anyhow, upon reading a book...
Dr. Shi Zhen Sheng (Lin Wei Tu) works in a hospital in which patients suffer from strange, mysterious illness like worms under their skin and puss-filled sores that won’t heal. He truly believes that they’re under some kind of black magic spells but his friends Dr. Chi Zhong Ping (Ti Lung) and Dr. Cui Ling (Tanny Tien Ni) won’t have any of that superstition because they’re more interested in scientific outcome.
Anyhow, upon reading a book...
- 6/26/2021
- by David Chew
- AsianMoviePulse
It doesn’t take much to get Alex Gibney to describe how sickening it was to view how prescription drug companies were neglecting the safety of patients to make more money with the sale of opioids. “The willful denial, in the service of profit really made me ill,” he tells us in our recent webchat about his newest documentary, “The Crime of the Century” (watch the exclusive video above). The pursuit of profit that Purdue Pharma brought to Gibney’s mind the title of one of his previous documentaries about Jack Abramoff, “Casino Jack and the United States of Money.” “I kept hearing that subtitle in the background here. That says all and then when you see the staggering amount of suffering involved and death, I mean, it really makes your head spin.”
“The Crime of the Century,” which is currently available to stream on HBO Max looks into the...
“The Crime of the Century,” which is currently available to stream on HBO Max looks into the...
- 6/11/2021
- by Charles Bright
- Gold Derby
Few movements in the genre emerge as more uniquely localized to a central country than the Hong Kong black magic scene. This started in 1975 with the aptly-named Black Magic from director Ho Meng-hua that focused on bizarre occult rituals, gross-out sequences of shock horror, and wild special effects. Despite Kuei Chih-hung reaching a zenith in the genre with the seminal The Boxer’s Omen several years later, this earlier effort is no less impressive, enjoyable and outright revolting at times.
Following the discovery of a dead body, police detective Bobby Wong (Melvin Wong) becomes intrigued by the story of chief suspect Stephen Lam Wai (Fei Ai) who claims to have been possessed at the time of the murder. Traveling to Thailand to investigate the claims, a strange series of encounters begin that draw Wong to the same conclusion, that he himself has become possessed by a madman in...
Following the discovery of a dead body, police detective Bobby Wong (Melvin Wong) becomes intrigued by the story of chief suspect Stephen Lam Wai (Fei Ai) who claims to have been possessed at the time of the murder. Traveling to Thailand to investigate the claims, a strange series of encounters begin that draw Wong to the same conclusion, that he himself has become possessed by a madman in...
- 5/29/2021
- by Don Anelli
- AsianMoviePulse
Shaw Brothers’ prolific director Ho Meng Hua was better known for his “Journey to the West” series and sword fighting adventures like “Killer Darts”, “The Lady Hermit” and the bloodthirsty “Flying Guillotines”. “Black Magic” was his first attempt at the horror genre which became popular in the early 1970s.
The countries in South East Asia are renowned for the practicing of Gong Tou or black magic; therefore it’s not a surprise that Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia was selected as the location. Anyhow, the story concerns an evil sorcerer, Shan Jian Mei (Ku Feng) who uses his craft to benefit himself and he even kills his poor victims during the process. Luckily, there’s also a good and capable wizard, Master Fu Youg (Ku Wen Chung) who’s determined to take him down and eventually it leads to a showdown on top of tall building where they fight for their lives.
The countries in South East Asia are renowned for the practicing of Gong Tou or black magic; therefore it’s not a surprise that Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia was selected as the location. Anyhow, the story concerns an evil sorcerer, Shan Jian Mei (Ku Feng) who uses his craft to benefit himself and he even kills his poor victims during the process. Luckily, there’s also a good and capable wizard, Master Fu Youg (Ku Wen Chung) who’s determined to take him down and eventually it leads to a showdown on top of tall building where they fight for their lives.
- 5/28/2021
- by David Chew
- AsianMoviePulse
What’s exciting about “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” is that the limited series format on Disney+ provided a great opportunity for director Kari Skogland to dig deeper into the Captain America mythology than the previous Marvel features. She had a vision for a gritty psychological thriller and took full advantage of the nearly six hours to explore the legacy of the shield on micro and macro levels, with Falcon Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) finally taking on the mantle as a unifying racial force.
Indeed, it’s about Sam’s crucible to become the first Black Captain America in a chaotic, post-Blip world, and teaming up with Bucky/Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan) after disastrously relinquishing the shield to John Walker (Wyatt Russell).
From a visual standpoint, the shield was the driving force for cinematographer P.J. Dillon. “Kari definitely wanted to take a slightly rougher approach than the features, and...
Indeed, it’s about Sam’s crucible to become the first Black Captain America in a chaotic, post-Blip world, and teaming up with Bucky/Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan) after disastrously relinquishing the shield to John Walker (Wyatt Russell).
From a visual standpoint, the shield was the driving force for cinematographer P.J. Dillon. “Kari definitely wanted to take a slightly rougher approach than the features, and...
- 5/6/2021
- by Bill Desowitz
- Indiewire
Exclusive: CBS is developing Black Magic, a single-camera comedy from Party Over Here, the production company founded by the Lonely Island’s Andy Samberg, Akiva Schaffer and Jorma Taccone.
The project, to be penned by rising writer Meredith Dawson, was a late buy this development season, and it will be in consideration for off-cycle/2022 pilot season.
In Black Magic, written by Dawson, the power dynamic in a family of overachievers is upended when the runt of the family discovers a new talent. The thing that will challenge them and also bring them together is her Black Girl Magic.
Dawson executive produces with Schaffer, Taccone and Ali Bell. CBS Studios is the studio.
Party Over Here produces Hulu’s praised comedy series Pen15 and also is behind the upcoming SNL offshoot series MacGruber for Peacock.
Dawson comes from the Mindy Kaling fold. She got her break as a writer on The Mindy Project...
The project, to be penned by rising writer Meredith Dawson, was a late buy this development season, and it will be in consideration for off-cycle/2022 pilot season.
In Black Magic, written by Dawson, the power dynamic in a family of overachievers is upended when the runt of the family discovers a new talent. The thing that will challenge them and also bring them together is her Black Girl Magic.
Dawson executive produces with Schaffer, Taccone and Ali Bell. CBS Studios is the studio.
Party Over Here produces Hulu’s praised comedy series Pen15 and also is behind the upcoming SNL offshoot series MacGruber for Peacock.
Dawson comes from the Mindy Kaling fold. She got her break as a writer on The Mindy Project...
- 3/23/2021
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
Image Source: JustFab
Kelly Rowland has many reasons to celebrate these days. Between giving birth to her second child with husband Tim Weatherspoon to recently ringing in her 40th birthday and dropping her K EP, I can't even begin to imagine how she found the time to design a whole footwear and apparel collection with JustFab.
Kelly is currently the global face of the brand, and the spring collection marks her first as a fashion designer. In lieu of a traditional press release, Kelly penned a letter honoring all the "amazing women" in her life, which includes Tina Lawson, or as Kelly calls her Mama T. I got the chance to chat with Kelly ahead of the collection's release, and we discussed everything from her new line to what she's been binge-watching on Netflix to the biggest lesson she learned following the trying year that was 2020. Check out our conversation ahead.
Kelly Rowland has many reasons to celebrate these days. Between giving birth to her second child with husband Tim Weatherspoon to recently ringing in her 40th birthday and dropping her K EP, I can't even begin to imagine how she found the time to design a whole footwear and apparel collection with JustFab.
Kelly is currently the global face of the brand, and the spring collection marks her first as a fashion designer. In lieu of a traditional press release, Kelly penned a letter honoring all the "amazing women" in her life, which includes Tina Lawson, or as Kelly calls her Mama T. I got the chance to chat with Kelly ahead of the collection's release, and we discussed everything from her new line to what she's been binge-watching on Netflix to the biggest lesson she learned following the trying year that was 2020. Check out our conversation ahead.
- 3/1/2021
- by Monica Sisavat
- Popsugar.com
Exclusive: Los Angeles and Oslo-based management outfit Inner Voice Artists has added three new writer-director clients to its roster, including two Student Emmy and Student Academy Award winners.
Shayla Racquel’s credits include The Riverment, a short film about a grandmother and granddaughter’s cross-generational approaches to activism, which was acquired by Magic Johnson’s ASPiRE TV and Sean ‘P.Diddy’ Comb’s Revolt TV. She has screened her work at more than 40 film festivals and has awards include a Student Emmy. Upcoming, she is the lead director of the digital series Southern Fried Rice, and has several projects in development including the coming-of-age feature The Off Brands, and TV pilot Robyn Hood.
John Sayage’s films have won numerous awards, including a 2016 Student Academy Award and a 2017 Student Emmy for his debut It’s Just A Gun. He also won another Student Academy Award in 2018 for Esta Es Tu...
Shayla Racquel’s credits include The Riverment, a short film about a grandmother and granddaughter’s cross-generational approaches to activism, which was acquired by Magic Johnson’s ASPiRE TV and Sean ‘P.Diddy’ Comb’s Revolt TV. She has screened her work at more than 40 film festivals and has awards include a Student Emmy. Upcoming, she is the lead director of the digital series Southern Fried Rice, and has several projects in development including the coming-of-age feature The Off Brands, and TV pilot Robyn Hood.
John Sayage’s films have won numerous awards, including a 2016 Student Academy Award and a 2017 Student Emmy for his debut It’s Just A Gun. He also won another Student Academy Award in 2018 for Esta Es Tu...
- 2/19/2021
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
The Robinhood effect has now extended to the movies. Days after the Reddit-led consumer buys of struggling GameStop, AMC Theaters, and other stocks, two of the most successful recent films about Wall Street manipulation are soaring high in home rentals.
Apple TV, usually the quickest to detect trends and spot immediate response, currently has Adam McKay’s 2015 “The Big Short” at #3 and Martin Scorsese’s 2013 “The Wolf of Wall Street” at #4. That places them ahead of all but two current releases (“Tenet” and “Greenland”) as the most-ordered titles.
This rapid response parallels what happened last February when Steven Soderbergh’s 2011 “Contagion” flew high with its story that paralleled the then-emergent Covid-19 pandemic.
“The Big Short” (based on Michael Lewis’ non-fiction account of Wall Street firms reaping profits from the 2008 financial collapset) and “Wolf of Wall Street” (based on the career of broker Jordan Belford) clicked with the public a...
Apple TV, usually the quickest to detect trends and spot immediate response, currently has Adam McKay’s 2015 “The Big Short” at #3 and Martin Scorsese’s 2013 “The Wolf of Wall Street” at #4. That places them ahead of all but two current releases (“Tenet” and “Greenland”) as the most-ordered titles.
This rapid response parallels what happened last February when Steven Soderbergh’s 2011 “Contagion” flew high with its story that paralleled the then-emergent Covid-19 pandemic.
“The Big Short” (based on Michael Lewis’ non-fiction account of Wall Street firms reaping profits from the 2008 financial collapset) and “Wolf of Wall Street” (based on the career of broker Jordan Belford) clicked with the public a...
- 1/29/2021
- by Tom Brueggemann
- Indiewire
An Indonesian family’s trip to the orphanage where dad grew up turns into an unrelenting stream of nastiness as vengeful spirits emerge
Leaving their home in Jakarta, well-to-do dad Hanif (Ario Bayu), his wife Nadya (Hannah Al Rashid) and their three kids drive to the remote rural orphanage where Hanif grew up. At first, it’s all laughs and backseat bickering – until the car hits something. Having established that the collision was with a now dead deer, they drive off, only for the camera to reveal that the real victim was a child, now dead in a ditch. Up comes the title card, by which point viewers of this Indonesian horror will have some inkling that The Queen of Black Magic isn’t going to mess around.
Leaving their home in Jakarta, well-to-do dad Hanif (Ario Bayu), his wife Nadya (Hannah Al Rashid) and their three kids drive to the remote rural orphanage where Hanif grew up. At first, it’s all laughs and backseat bickering – until the car hits something. Having established that the collision was with a now dead deer, they drive off, only for the camera to reveal that the real victim was a child, now dead in a ditch. Up comes the title card, by which point viewers of this Indonesian horror will have some inkling that The Queen of Black Magic isn’t going to mess around.
- 1/27/2021
- by Leslie Felperin
- The Guardian - Film News
The season of love is coming! Shudder is looking to rekindle our love of horror this February. In place of flowers and chocolate there will be a new premiere every week: A Nightmare Wakes, After Midnight, Shook and The Dark and the Wicked. Joe Bob Briggs will return with a new Last Drive-In Valentine's special right before the day. There are also a lot of really great horror flicks coming next month. There is the original Queen of Black Magic, Nic Cage in Vampire's Kiss, Elle Callahan's very cool indie flick Head Count, Giallo flick The Strange Color of Your Body's Tears, horror comedy Basket Case, and Miike's One Missed Call. Check out the gallery below for all the films and series...
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- 1/21/2021
- Screen Anarchy
Sirens Media, the production company behind The Real Housewives of New Jersey, has tapped Lifetime’s Mioshi Hill to become President.
Hill joins the ITV America-owned company after five years as vice president of non-fiction programming at the A+E Networks cable channel.
She replaces Jessica Sebastian-Dayeh, who is leaving to pursue a new independent venture after five years with the company, and will start the role at the start of February.
She takes over the pop culture and lifestyle-focused production label, which produces the long-running Bravo series as well as Snapchat series Nikita Unfiltered and Honestly Loren as well as TBS’s social experiment Lost Resort and an upcoming comedic docuseries for Netflix.
Hill joined Lifetime in 2016 and developed shows including dating project Swipe Swap, executive produced by Sarah Jessica Parker and produced by ITV America, Little Women: LA, Finding Justice, Making a Model with Yolanda Hadid and Vivica’s Black Magic.
Hill joins the ITV America-owned company after five years as vice president of non-fiction programming at the A+E Networks cable channel.
She replaces Jessica Sebastian-Dayeh, who is leaving to pursue a new independent venture after five years with the company, and will start the role at the start of February.
She takes over the pop culture and lifestyle-focused production label, which produces the long-running Bravo series as well as Snapchat series Nikita Unfiltered and Honestly Loren as well as TBS’s social experiment Lost Resort and an upcoming comedic docuseries for Netflix.
Hill joined Lifetime in 2016 and developed shows including dating project Swipe Swap, executive produced by Sarah Jessica Parker and produced by ITV America, Little Women: LA, Finding Justice, Making a Model with Yolanda Hadid and Vivica’s Black Magic.
- 1/19/2021
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Libby Geist, one of the architects of ESPN’s growing documentary business and exec producer of The Last Dance and O.J: Made In America, is leaving the Disney-owned sports network.
Deadline understands that Geist, who is Vice President and Executive Producer, ESPN Films and Original Content, will work through to the end of 2020. It is understood that her departure is not connected to the recent layoffs introduced by the company and that she is leaving to move closer to production.
She is the latest top-level exec set to leave ESPN and comes after it emerged that content chief Connor Schell is leaving the company in the new year to set up his own production company.
Geist has been with ESPN for 12 years in a variety of roles. She has worked on more than 120 feature-length projects in various capacities and has overseen the docs department since 2016.
She has overseen development,...
Deadline understands that Geist, who is Vice President and Executive Producer, ESPN Films and Original Content, will work through to the end of 2020. It is understood that her departure is not connected to the recent layoffs introduced by the company and that she is leaving to move closer to production.
She is the latest top-level exec set to leave ESPN and comes after it emerged that content chief Connor Schell is leaving the company in the new year to set up his own production company.
Geist has been with ESPN for 12 years in a variety of roles. She has worked on more than 120 feature-length projects in various capacities and has overseen the docs department since 2016.
She has overseen development,...
- 11/16/2020
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
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