Scott’s Pizza Tours[/caption]
After what some might call a post-apocalyptic week, Scott’s Pizza Tours might just be the documentary to remind you that you can have fun again. The documentary follows the life of Scott Wiener, pizza enthusiast and New York’s slice-spirit guide, letting you in on the secrets of New York’s unparalleled pies. We interviewed director Ryan Jones to tell us more about the film and why this is the doc you’ll be craving. Scott’s Pizza Tours makes its world premiere at 2016 DOC NYC.
This isn’t what one might call a tradition subject for a documentary, when did you first become aware of Scott Wiener and what was your motivation to choose him as your subject?
I had known Scott for a few years through my wife, but I hadn’t had the chance to go on his pizza tour. I knew the depth of his knowledge, and his personality, so I had mentioned to my co-director, Shawn Willis, the idea of doing a doc about Scott, but it was kind of on the back-burner. Then I went on a tour and I was blown away. I called Shawn from the tour and said, “We need to do this movie immediately.” He is a true showman on the tour, and I knew that would translate on-screen. Plus, he’s talking about the most popular food in the world! We felt that it was a great combination of food doc and personal profile of this quirky pizza lover who has taken his passion and turned it into a successful business.
What do you hope the audience takes away from seeing Scott’s Pizza Tours?
We hope that the audience comes away with a better idea of the history and science of this food that everyone loves so much, but more importantly, we hope that Scott’s story inspires people to see what can be created from their own passions.
In a brief summary, can you tell our readers why they should see this documentary?
This is a movie about pizza, and Scott Weiner, a really lovely human being, who wants to tell you all about it. There are no skeletons in the closet, no dark secret life; it’s just a funny, uplifting story, and it’s the perfect escape from the post-election depression we’re all feeling.
That is an excellent sales point! So what’s next for you and the doc?
We’ve just re-cut the movie into a short, so we’re re-submitting to some other festivals that passed on the movie before. Next, we’re hoping to do a documentary about the rise and fall of Gawker.
Can you give tips to any prospective Documentary filmmakers?
The great thing about making a documentary is that you don’t have to have all the best gear, a huge production team, or a bunch of industry connections. All you need is a good story well told. Production quality can be forgiven, and the film will find its way to the public, so long as you tell an engaging story. So my advice is to just go for it. Don’t wait for the stars to align; just start shooting by any means necessary.
Did you run into any roadblocks trying to get Scott’s Pizza Tours made?
Our only roadblock was trying to hold a camera with one hand and eat a slice of pizza with the other.
Documentary
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Director Ryan Jones Talks Aboout SCOTT’S PIZZA TOURS, a Documentary You’ll Want To Devour
[caption id="attachment_18236" align="aligncenter" width="1000"] Scott’s Pizza Tours[/caption]
After what some might call a post-apocalyptic week, Scott’s Pizza Tours might just be the documentary to remind you that you can have fun again. The documentary follows the life of Scott Wiener, pizza enthusiast and New York’s slice-spirit guide, letting you in on the secrets of New York’s unparalleled pies. We interviewed director Ryan Jones to tell us more about the film and why this is the doc you’ll be craving. Scott’s Pizza Tours makes its world premiere at 2016 DOC NYC.
This isn’t what one might call a tradition subject for a documentary, when did you first become aware of Scott Wiener and what was your motivation to choose him as your subject?
I had known Scott for a few years through my wife, but I hadn’t had the chance to go on his pizza tour. I knew the depth of his knowledge, and his personality, so I had mentioned to my co-director, Shawn Willis, the idea of doing a doc about Scott, but it was kind of on the back-burner. Then I went on a tour and I was blown away. I called Shawn from the tour and said, “We need to do this movie immediately.” He is a true showman on the tour, and I knew that would translate on-screen. Plus, he’s talking about the most popular food in the world! We felt that it was a great combination of food doc and personal profile of this quirky pizza lover who has taken his passion and turned it into a successful business.
What do you hope the audience takes away from seeing Scott’s Pizza Tours?
We hope that the audience comes away with a better idea of the history and science of this food that everyone loves so much, but more importantly, we hope that Scott’s story inspires people to see what can be created from their own passions.
In a brief summary, can you tell our readers why they should see this documentary?
This is a movie about pizza, and Scott Weiner, a really lovely human being, who wants to tell you all about it. There are no skeletons in the closet, no dark secret life; it’s just a funny, uplifting story, and it’s the perfect escape from the post-election depression we’re all feeling.
That is an excellent sales point! So what’s next for you and the doc?
We’ve just re-cut the movie into a short, so we’re re-submitting to some other festivals that passed on the movie before. Next, we’re hoping to do a documentary about the rise and fall of Gawker.
Can you give tips to any prospective Documentary filmmakers?
The great thing about making a documentary is that you don’t have to have all the best gear, a huge production team, or a bunch of industry connections. All you need is a good story well told. Production quality can be forgiven, and the film will find its way to the public, so long as you tell an engaging story. So my advice is to just go for it. Don’t wait for the stars to align; just start shooting by any means necessary.
Did you run into any roadblocks trying to get Scott’s Pizza Tours made?
Our only roadblock was trying to hold a camera with one hand and eat a slice of pizza with the other.
Scott’s Pizza Tours makes its world premiere on Friday, November 11 at 5:30pm at IFC Center and screens again on November 14th at 12:45. You can get more information and buy tickets here.
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EXCLUSIVE: Spotlighting THE LURE With Exclusive Clip and Interview with Tomas Leach
[caption id="attachment_18212" align="aligncenter" width="691"]
The Lure[/caption]
Though stories of treasure hunts are often reserved for the fiction genre, director Tomas Leach is captivating audiences by documenting the hunt for eccentric millionaire Forrest Fenn’s buried treasure in The Lure. Fenn was an art dealer who in 2010 decided to bury his fortune in the Rocky Mountains, leaving only a cryptic poem as a treasure map. The Lure follows dedicated treasure seekers on their expedition to find the fortune as well as documenting the history of the hunt and interviewing Forrest himself about his motivations and the effects the hunt has had on his life. In addition to the sense of adventure so rarely found in real life, the doc’s scenery throughout the tranquil and transcendent Rocky’s make the audience feel that the true reward can be found in your surroundings. The Lure will be making it’s world premiere at DOC NYC. VIMOOZ was fortunate enough to get an exclusive first clip as well as interview Tomas Leach himself.
When did you first become aware of Forrest Fenn and the treasure hunt?
I read a small article about Forrest and his treasure and it sparked something inside me that got me excited to find out more. There’s something mysterious and magical about a hidden treasure that sets the mind racing.
Once I started to research more and spent time with the searchers, I realized the story had a depth and cinematic beauty to it that I really wanted to make a film about.
[caption id="attachment_18216" align="aligncenter" width="1000"]
Tomas Leach Shooting THE LURE[/caption]
Now that you’ve done the documentary. Do you know where the treasure is?
As soon as I flew out there, I knew that even starting to think of where the treasure is would lead to me lost in the Rockies, with a massive beard and a gleam in my eye.
How long did it take to shoot and what was the hardest part about making it?
We made several trips to film over 2 years and then took another year to edit and finish the film. Every film has challenges and this was no different. From a practical viewpoint, the Rockies are vast and untamed. And in terms of the story, I wanted to weave together multiple narratives and make it a richer film than just a wacky treasure chase.
Can you tell our readers why they should see The Lure and what you want the audience to take away from the film?
I think the film taps into something universal and magical about people searching. Whether it’s for gold, happiness, great stories or whatever it may be, we are all on the search for something to make us feel more complete. The Lure is an entertaining and I hope touching tale about that and more, all set in a visually powerful and mysterious part of the world.
The feeling of magic definitely looms throughout the film! Can you give tips to any prospective Documentary film makers? What did you learn while making In No Great Hurry?
The most important thing for me is always to fall completely into the story. Don’t make something you don’t want to live and breathe for years. Get people around you that you trust and get feedback even on the early idea. And don’t forget that film is a visual medium. If you can’t communicate through images, it’s failing.
What’s next step for both you and the doc?
I have a few feature doc ideas that I developing at the moment, but I’ve also written a narrative feature that I’d like to make next year. As for The Lure, I’m excited to get it in front of audiences at the world premiere this weekend and stay tuned for next steps!
The Lure will World Premiere at DOC NYC on Sunday, November 13, 2016, at 7:45 PM at Cinepolis Chelsea and screens again on Tuesday November 15, 2016, 3:00 PM at the IFC Center. Click here for tickets and additional information!
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Political Documentaries For The Undecided Voter
The election is upon us, and with two front- running candidates – Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump – who have often been described as the two most unlikeable presidential candidates in over 30 years, it’s understandable that this election has majority of voters unsure or uneasy about who they plan to vote for.
Before you make a decision of monumental proportions, knowing just who you’re voting for is imperative and may help steady your lever-pulling arm to know that you’re making the right decision for yourself and America. Here are some free and informative documentaries on the pros and cons of both the Democratic and Republican nominees.
Make America Hate Again.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rGxqP0X4Qc
Draws irrefutable comparisons of Trump to Hitler and KKK leader David Duke, diagnoses trump with the classic symptoms of narcissism and the effects it can have putting a narcissist in a position of power. The doc also shows the violence of Trump supporters.
Clinton Cash
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LYRUOd_QoM
Discusses in depth the financial suspicions Clinton has. While the doc is clearly condemning Clintons past actions, it is more factual than mudslinging. The tone of this documentary is more informative than damning to Clinton’s campaign and is probably a good watch even for those committed to voting Clinton.
What Hilary Clinton Really Represents
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PV_PLCC6jeI
Unlike Clinton Cash, the tone of this doc is strongly biased against Clinton from the get-go, starting with host Abby Martin’s voice that’s dripping with distain as well as all the subjects being interviewed. Yet it is still interesting to see the arguments they make, particularly how most of the people endorsing Hilary are working for the clinton campaign.
Fire Breather
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3B4lgV1IxQ
A slightly more agressive tone against Trump than the other documentaries, yet still remains professional. This doc goes over the long history of Trump rather than focusing solely on the campaign. Informational, and fact checking timeline of Trump as well as well known and credible sources like Tom Brokow.
How Powerful is Trump
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8B284suwIo
A well rounded biography documentary that focuses evenly on Trump’s life before the campaign, his success as a business man, as well and his rise to be the Republican candidate and how he gained so much popularity with his supporters. The doc is almost purely factual with the slightest lean to the left.
CNN The Essential Hilary Clinton
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qEVy3QlQHE
Out of all the documentaries this is the strongest biographically informing the viewer on Hilary’s childhood, motivation for becoming a lawyer, long political career as well as her strength during her husbands scandalous presidency. The documentary interviews Clinton herself as well as Chelsea Clinton, and does a good job in attempting to improve her like ability and relatability.
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Five Documentaries You Might Want to See This Weekend
[caption id="attachment_17784" align="aligncenter" width="1000"]
Oasis: Supersonic[/caption]
Halloween might not be your thing. That’s cool. Razor-laden apples. Knife-wielding clowns. Butterfingers. There’s a lot to be scared of out there, and if Hostage to the Devil doesn’t sound like your idea of a good time, here are five new documentaries that might offer some respite from the spookiest week of the year.
1. Oasis: Supersonic
If you could find it in your heart to forgive Oasis for birthing a generation of cheesy white dudes who play “Wonderwall” on their acoustic guitar at every party, this documentary – comprised of previously unreleased archival footage and interviews with the Gallagher Bros themselves – might end up being pretty enjoyable. Two decades later, Oasis represents an idea of what the music industry was at the peak of their fame. Even if you can’t stand their music (I can’t claim to be one of those people as I’m listening to “Champagne Supernova” while writing this list), there’s something to be said for how quickly Oasis was on course to define a generation, and this film aims to understand the cultural landscape that allowed such a rapid ascent to superstardom.
Unfortunately, Oasis: Supersonic will only be featured in theaters for one night on October 26th, but a VOD release is sure to follow pretty soon after.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wZJqUrJyDs
2. Gimme Danger
And while the millennials go see Oasis: Supersonic, their parents can go see Gimme Danger, the second of the weekend’s two music documentaries. Directed by Jim Jarmusch, this ode to The Stooges and its endlessly fascinating frontman, Iggy Pop, is clearly a labor of love from its director, who featured “Down on the Street” in his 2003 film Coffee and Cigarettes.
Gimme Danger opens in New York on October 28th and expands nationwide on November 4th.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fgiW_S2Hgk
3. Before the Flood
In addition to being one of the most successful and handsome actors in the history of mankind, Leonardo DiCaprio is also an environmentalist – as if he couldn’t get any dreamier! Featuring conversations with Barack Obama, Elon Musk, and Pope Francis, DiCaprio’s quest for environmental awareness culminates in a speech to the UN. It’s kind of like The Revenant with less knife-fighting.
Before the Flood opened in theaters on October 21st and will have an October 30th, worldwide premiere on National Geographic.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UGsRcxaSAI
4. By Sidney Lumet
Some people argue that a director’s last handful of films is often his or her worst. The evidence in favor of that theory is actually pretty damning. We’ve all borne witness to Woody Allen’s heartbreaking decline in recent years. John Cassavetes’ last, Big Trouble, was also his worst. The list goes on and on. However, looking back at the films of Sidney Lumet – which include 12 Angry Men, Serpico, Network, Dog Day Afternoon, and Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead – what you have is a director who let himself change with the world around him, try new things, succeed, fail, and then try again. Even his lesser work (read: much of the late 80s through the 90s) is constructed with the care of someone who really loves what he does. By Sidney Lumet, a never-before-seen 2008 interview, in which the director takes viewers through his expansive career of over 50 years, hits theaters for the first time this week.
By Sidney Lumet hits theaters on October 28th.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GnS1NrKRri8
5. Finding Babel
In 1940, a Russian-Ukrainian writer named Isaac Babel was executed. 75 years later, his grandson set out to learn more about grandpa Babel’s life, the world he lived in, and the circumstances that led to his execution. Featuring Liev Schreiber as the voice of Isaac Babel – as well as animated sequences set to stories of the writer’s life – Finding Babel aims to resurrect one of the great Russian novelists of the 20th century, whose life and legacy were cut short by a totalitarian government that did what it could to silence its people, its artists, and its creators.
Finding Babel hits NY/LA theaters on October 28th.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9VQ-UZi-lU
Honorable Mentions:
- Portrait of a Garden: In a historical vegetable garden on a Dutch estate, the 85 year-old pruning master and the gardener tend to the espaliers. As they prune, the men chat about food, the weather, the world and they share their knowledge of horticulture. Fifteen years they have spent working on the pear arbour. Will it finally close over this year? (Source)
- A Billion Lives: A true story of the vaping revolution and tragic corruption leading to a billion deaths around the world. (Source) [side note: this looks incredibly stupid and I can’t wait to watch it.]
- You’ve Been Trumped, Too: A timely film exploring the confrontation between a feisty 92-year-old Scottish widow and her family and a billionaire trying to become the most powerful man in the world. (Source)
- An Eye for an Eye: A true story of hate, revenge, understanding, remorse and redemption as lived by Mark Stroman on the Texas Death Row. (Source)
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Watch TRAILER for Basketball Doc MANCHILD: THE SCHEA COTTON STORY
[caption id="attachment_14133" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]
Manchild: The Schea Cotton Story[/caption]
Check out the trailer for the documentary film Manchild: The Schea Cotton Story, about a Los Angeles basketball legend by the name of Schea Cotton, described as “the Lebron before Lebron”.
Manchild will World Premiere at the upcoming 2016 LA Film Festival.
In Manchild, directed by Eric “Ptah” Herbert, Baron Davis, Tyson Chandler, Elton Brand, Paul Pierce, Randy Moss and others share their tales about Cotton.
Schea Cotton is the subject of one of the biggest mysteries in basketball’s history. Described as “the Lebron before Lebron,” Inglewood-native Cotton dominated the likes of Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce and was one of the most highly touted high school athletes of a pre-social media era. Yet he never made it to the NBA. What happened?
NBA players, journalists, coaches and Cotton’s family recount with an almost pained nostalgia Cotton’s unmatched prowess as a player and the out-of-bounds emotions behind his story. First-time director Eric “Ptah” Herbert delivers a cautionary tale about the harsh reality of unfulfilled expectations.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S05f_MF2Dx0
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OPEN YOUR EYES Documentary to Premiere on HBO on July 18th
[caption id="attachment_14122" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]
OPEN YOUR EYES[/caption]
The documentary OPEN YOUR EYES which follows a husband and wife who are both blind in rural Nepal and the Seva Outreach Team that restores their sight will premiere on HBO on on July 18th.
Told through the intimate lens of an elderly blind couple from Nepal, the film, executive produced by Laurene Powell Jobs, brings vital attention to cataract blindness and the shockingly cheap surgery (only three U.S. dollars!) that is restoring eyesight to thousands in rural poverty stricken areas.
OPEN YOUR EYES is directed by Irene Taylor Brodsky (Beware the Slenderman, Peabody Award-winning Hear and Now) and produced by Dr. Larry Brilliant, the pioneering physician who served as the director of Google’s philanthropy division.
The film follows the extraordinary journey of Manisara and Durga, an elderly couple in a remote mountain village in Nepal. Living for decades under the Himalayan sun, their eyes have slowly turned milky white with cataracts that have left them completely blind. When a team of eye specialists combing the mountainside village presents an opportunity for a free surgery to restore their sight, the couple begins a life-changing journey down the mountain to see again.
Married for more than 50 years and living in the foothills of Nepal, they are no longer the industrious farmers they once were. Manisara peels turmeric root most days and Durga can’t navigate the warren of pathways around him nor can he feed his animals. They feel dependent on their family for even the most basic needs. There are no cars to transport them. Life has become static.
A team of Nepali eye specialists combing the mountainside find them and urge them to come to the city for a chance to see again. A surgeon has come from Kathmandu, and the surgery is free. But the taste of defeat and growing old has made Manisara skeptical. And besides, who would even carry her down the mountain?
Their youngest granddaughter plops herself in Manisara’s lap, and her grandmother starts running her hands over the little girl’s feet, her legs, her nose. Is she like me? Touching the child, Manisara connects her past to her future.
Manisara and Durga are finally convinced. They set out for the eye hospital, tripping over goats and stones as they go, towards the distant city. They are carried, guided and then driven on a bewildering odyssey to restore their sight.
They arrive at the hospital and hear scores of other patients also waiting. Everyone has come for a miracle.
Cataract blindness affects millions of people in the developing world and yet can be cured for only a few dollars per patient. The Seva Foundation, an NGO co-founded by the film’s producer Dr. Larry Brilliant, is responsible for successfully restoring sight to 4 million blind people worldwide.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxYSVvgPEJY
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South African Doc THE JOURNEYMEN is Opening Night Film of Durban Film Festival
[caption id="attachment_14112" align="aligncenter" width="1788"]
The Journeymen[/caption]
The World Premiere of the South African documentary, The Journeymen, will be the opening night film of the 37th edition of the Durban International Film Festival.
The Durban International Film Festival takes place from June16 to 26, 2016.
[caption id="attachment_14111" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]
The Journeymen[/caption]
The Journeymen, the latest installment in the Twenty Journey project, is directed by Sean Metelerkamp and produced by filmmaker Jolynn Minnaar whose film, Unearthed, was one of the big hits at DIFF 2014.
Filmed as part of the Twenty Journey project in 2014, the year in which South Africa celebrated 20 years of democracy and mourned Nelson Mandela’s death, The Journeymen chronicles the journey of three young South African photographers, Wikus de Wet, Sipho Mpongo and Sean Metelerkamp, as they travel 24 000km in a motorhome throughout South Africa, with GoPro cameras strapped to their chests, to explore the mood and feel the pulse of contemporary South Africa. From urban sprawls to dusty rural roads, the trio were driven by the question “Has Mandela’s vision of equality in a rainbow nation been achieved?”
[caption id="attachment_14113" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]
The Journeymen[/caption]
The film answers this with a kaleidoscopic set of responses that are disturbing, beautiful, thought-provoking and, more than anything, movingly surreal.
Said Acting Festival Director, Peter Machen, “It is highly appropriate that this intersectional portrait of our strange and beautiful country will screen on the fortieth anniversary of 16th June, 1976. The film is a portrait of a nation that was forever changed by the actions of the youth of Soweto, and screening it on this day will act as a tribute to the bravery of the tens of thousands of unnamed young people who helped build the road to our liberation.”
[caption id="attachment_14093" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]
The Journeymen[/caption]
Machen continued, “The film shows the underlying demons of our troubled national soul but also its deep and profound beauty. Made with technology that is widely accessible, the film is also a vibrant call to arms for new modes of filmmaking and fresh approaches to narrative. We are very happy to be screening the world premiere of The Journeymen on the opening night of the 37th Edition of DIFF.”
Director, Sean Metelerkamp said, “While we never set out to make a feature length documentary, looking back, through embracing new technology, we were able to capture our promising, contentious and confusing country as we went about exploring our respective photographic themes. We hope that this collaboration – between three guys from different cultural and racial backgrounds, united simply by a duty to set out and discover truly authentic South African stories – kickstarts conversations and interactions. As luck would have it, our film features a chance encounter with Sam Nzima, who photographed Hector Pietersen. We can’t think of a better way to honour Youth Day than to share our film with the country. “
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THE ISLAND PRESIDENT’s Mohamed Nasheed, Granted Refugee Status in Britain
Mohamed Nasheed, the former president of the Maldives, and subject of the award winning documentary The Island President has reportedly been granted refugee status in Britain.
Nasheed was in Britain on medical leave from a 13-year prison sentence on terrorism charges.
The former president, Mohamed Nasheed, the country’s first democratically elected head of state, was jailed for ordering the military to arrest a sitting senior judge, which the court said was an abduction punishable under a section of an antiterrorism law. He was found guilty of terrorism and sentenced to thirteen years in prison.
Mohamed Nasheed had earlier resigned the presidency in February 2012, after weeks of demonstrations and a mutiny by some police officers.
The Island President, directed by Jon Shenk, is the story of President Mohamed Nasheed of the Maldives, a man confronting a problem greater than any other world leader has ever faced—the literal survival of his country and everyone in it. After bringing democracy to the Maldives after thirty years of despotic rule, Nasheed is now faced with an even greater challenge: as one of the most low-lying countries in the world, a rise of three feet in sea level would submerge the 1200 islands of the Maldives enough to make them uninhabitable.
The Island President captures Nasheed’s first year of office, culminating in his trip to the Copenhagen Climate Summit in 2009, where the film provides a rare glimpse of the political horse-trading that goes on at such a top-level global assembly. Nasheed is unusually candid about revealing his strategies—leveraging the Maldives’ underdog position as a tiny country, harnessing the power of media, and overcoming deadlocks through an appeal to unity with other developing nations. When hope fades for a written accord to be signed, Nasheed makes a stirring speech which salvages an agreement. Despite the modest size of his country, Mohamed Nasheed has become one of the leading international voices for urgent action on climate change.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x10EbJymLz4
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Showtime to Produce John Belushi Documentary
Showtime will once again team up with acclaimed filmmakers R.J. Cutler and John Battsek on a feature-length documentary about the extraordinary life and times of comic legend John Belushi.
Showtime previously collaborated with R.J. Cutler (The September Issue, The World According to Dick Cheney) and John Battsek (Searching For Sugar Man, The Tillman Story) on the successful Peabody Award-winning documentary Listen To Me Marlon.
For the first time, Belushi’s widow Judith Belushi Pisano has agreed to cooperate with the making of a film about the late comedian’s life, and provided the exclusive photo of John from her private collection. Directed by Cutler and produced by Battsek, the documentary is set to begin production in the fall, with long-time Belushi collaborator Sean Daniel serving as executive producer along with Bill Couturie. Cutler will also produce. The film will be produced in association with Sky Atlantic.
“Belushi was one of my very first heroes. At a time when film, television, and music were undergoing tectonic shifts within American culture, he was at the center of it all,” said Cutler. “At that moment, he had the number one show on television, the number one film at the box office, and the number one record on the charts. We plan to explore his unique genius and how his creative influence is still making an impact to this moment.”
“This is a film I have wanted to make for many years as John was a great hero of mine. Having Judy cooperation for the first time on a feature documentary of his life is very special and means we know we will be making a truly authentic film,” commented Battsek. “We plan to assemble a deep and three-dimensional look into the life of a man of great complexity and talent who went on to become an American comedic icon.”
“John Battsek and I have been discussing the possibility of making this film for over a decade,” added Judy Belushi. ” I’m thrilled to finally embark upon that journey together with him and director RJ Cutler. Passion Pictures is poised to make the definitive documentary on John Belushi – a man who not only had a profound effect on the comedy landscape of America, but also made an indelible mark on the social fabric of his time which continues to reverberate today.”
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The LENNY COOKE Documentary Headed to VOD on June 7th
[caption id="attachment_14042" align="aligncenter" width="1600"]
LENNY COOKE[/caption]
LENNY COOKE the documentary by the Safdie brothers, Josh and Benny, about the once promising star high school basketball player, will be released on VOD June 7th via Under the Milky Way.
In 2001, Lenny Cooke was the most hyped high school basketball player in the country, ranked above future greats LeBron James, Amar’e Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony. A decade later, Lenny has never played a minute in the NBA. In this quintessentially American documentary, filmmaking brothers Joshua and Benny Safdie take a candid look and track the unfulfilled destiny of a man for whom superstardom was only out of reach.
LENNY COOKE marks the first feature-length documentary by the Safdie brothers, who directed the Independent Spirit Award and IFP Gotham Award-nominated HEAVEN KNOWS WHAT, and received the John Cassavetes Award at Spirits for DADDY LONGLEGS.
The film was executive produced by two time NCAA champion and Chicago Bull Joakim Noah.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ne61w4R20QE
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South Korean Documentary MY LOVE, DON’T CROSS THAT RIVER Opens in June
[caption id="attachment_13866" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]
MY LOVE, DON’T CROSS THAT RIVER[/caption]
The award winning South Korean documentary film MY LOVE, DON’T CROSS THAT RIVER directed by Moyoung Jin will open in theaters in New York on Friday, June 17 and in Los Angeles on Friday, June 24 with a national release to follow.
A blockbuster in its native Korea, where it would go on to become the country’s biggest independent film of all time, MY LOVE, DON’T CROSS THAT RIVER presents an unforgettable story of true love that transcends both generations and cultures.
“100-year old Lovebirds” Byong-man Jo and Gye-yeul Kang, have been inseparable companions for the past 76 years. Living in their small home by the river, they wear traditional Korean clothes, go shopping at the local market, have picnics with neighbors, and enjoy dance parties. Every night they go to sleep holding each other’s hands. Observing this fragile couple for 15 months, director Mo-Young Jin acts as a fly-on-the-wall, capturing their twilight days with tender moments that reveal simple acts of affection – from a good-natured leaf fight to a gentle caress of the cheek.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nsf1DNxSciY
