Bradford Thomason and Brett Whitcomb’s feature documentary “Butterfly in the Sky,” about the beloved 1980’s PBS children’s series “Reading Rainbow” will be released in select AMC theaters and digitally through Fifth Season.
The film, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2023, takes audiences behind the scenes of the children’s series and tells the story of the show’s creators, who believed the small screen could inspire a love of reading. The docu also spotlights the show’s host LeVar Burton and gives an inside look at the challenges he and the show’s creators faced in cultivating a love of reading through television.
The doc, produced by Xtr, will have a limited theatrical release beginning on March 17 in select AMC theaters followed by a full run in New York and additional cities. The film’s digital and international rights have been acquired by Fifth Season. The...
The film, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2023, takes audiences behind the scenes of the children’s series and tells the story of the show’s creators, who believed the small screen could inspire a love of reading. The docu also spotlights the show’s host LeVar Burton and gives an inside look at the challenges he and the show’s creators faced in cultivating a love of reading through television.
The doc, produced by Xtr, will have a limited theatrical release beginning on March 17 in select AMC theaters followed by a full run in New York and additional cities. The film’s digital and international rights have been acquired by Fifth Season. The...
- 2/28/2024
- by Addie Morfoot
- Variety Film + TV
Justin Chon — the actor and filmmaker behind films Blue Bayou and Gook — and Scooter Braun’s Sb Projects are developing a feature about the life and career of e-commerce giant and Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh.
Chon and Sb Projects have optioned the upcoming biography Wonder Boy: Tony Hsieh, Zappos and the Myth of Happiness in Silicon Valley (out via Henry Holt & Company on April 25) by The Wall Street Journal‘s Angel Au-Yeung and Forbes Magazine’s David Jeans.
Hsieh revolutionized e-commerce with Zappos, the online shoe retailer that offered customers free shipping and returns and put an extreme emphasis on customer service, a then-rare approach to online shopping. Internally, Zappos’ corporate culture was unique even among tech companies, and in 2013, Hsieh made headlines when he announced that the company would eliminate all titles.
The adaptation, according to the project’s description, will follow the life of Hsieh “an American...
Chon and Sb Projects have optioned the upcoming biography Wonder Boy: Tony Hsieh, Zappos and the Myth of Happiness in Silicon Valley (out via Henry Holt & Company on April 25) by The Wall Street Journal‘s Angel Au-Yeung and Forbes Magazine’s David Jeans.
Hsieh revolutionized e-commerce with Zappos, the online shoe retailer that offered customers free shipping and returns and put an extreme emphasis on customer service, a then-rare approach to online shopping. Internally, Zappos’ corporate culture was unique even among tech companies, and in 2013, Hsieh made headlines when he announced that the company would eliminate all titles.
The adaptation, according to the project’s description, will follow the life of Hsieh “an American...
- 4/18/2023
- by Mia Galuppo
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
New York-based film and TV studio and streaming network FilmRise has acquired North American distribution rights to true-crime documentary feature film “The Thief Collector.”
Directed by Emmy winner Allison Otto (“The Love Bugs”), the film follows one of the most audacious and puzzling art thefts of a generation. In 1985, Willem de Kooning’s seminal work, “Woman-Ochre,” was sliced from its frame and stolen off the walls of the University of Arizona Museum of Art, disappearing into the desert. Over 30 years later, in a remote town in New Mexico, the $160 million dollar painting was rediscovered in the unlikeliest of places – the home of an eccentric married couple, both schoolteachers, with a keen eye for great works but a very unconventional method of collecting them. The film features Glenn Howerton co-creator, director, writer and star of “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.”
“The Thief Collector” had its world premiere at the 2022 SXSW Film...
Directed by Emmy winner Allison Otto (“The Love Bugs”), the film follows one of the most audacious and puzzling art thefts of a generation. In 1985, Willem de Kooning’s seminal work, “Woman-Ochre,” was sliced from its frame and stolen off the walls of the University of Arizona Museum of Art, disappearing into the desert. Over 30 years later, in a remote town in New Mexico, the $160 million dollar painting was rediscovered in the unlikeliest of places – the home of an eccentric married couple, both schoolteachers, with a keen eye for great works but a very unconventional method of collecting them. The film features Glenn Howerton co-creator, director, writer and star of “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.”
“The Thief Collector” had its world premiere at the 2022 SXSW Film...
- 3/22/2023
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Imperative Entertainment and Vespucci are doubling down on their podcast partnership.
The two companies have signed a slate deal that includes three series – Operation Morning Light, The Paddlefish Caviar Heist and The Cost of Happiness.
It comes after they previously partnered on true-crime audio series Bonaparte, which launched last year.
Operation Morning Light tells the story of how on a January night in 1978, a white light burned through the sub-Arctic sky. Cosmos 954, a nuclear-powered Soviet espionage satellite that had malfunctioned and fallen to earth. As the satellite disintegrated, it scattered dangerously radioactive debris across the vast traditional lands of the Dene, Métis, and Inuit in the Northwest Territories of Canada. Operation Morning Light explores the disaster, its impact on the land, and the resilience of the communities in the debris field.
The series is hosted by Dëneze Nakehk’o, a Denesuline and Dehcho Dene father from Denendeh.
The Paddlefish Caviar Heist is set in Warsaw,...
The two companies have signed a slate deal that includes three series – Operation Morning Light, The Paddlefish Caviar Heist and The Cost of Happiness.
It comes after they previously partnered on true-crime audio series Bonaparte, which launched last year.
Operation Morning Light tells the story of how on a January night in 1978, a white light burned through the sub-Arctic sky. Cosmos 954, a nuclear-powered Soviet espionage satellite that had malfunctioned and fallen to earth. As the satellite disintegrated, it scattered dangerously radioactive debris across the vast traditional lands of the Dene, Métis, and Inuit in the Northwest Territories of Canada. Operation Morning Light explores the disaster, its impact on the land, and the resilience of the communities in the debris field.
The series is hosted by Dëneze Nakehk’o, a Denesuline and Dehcho Dene father from Denendeh.
The Paddlefish Caviar Heist is set in Warsaw,...
- 8/23/2022
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Click here to read the full article.
The 2022 comedy lineup for the Life is Beautiful Festival has been revealed.
Among the stars joining The Kicker comedy lineup at the three-day Las Vegas music, art, culinary and comedy festival are Hacks stars Hanna Einbinder and Megan Stalter, Fire Island star and writer Joel Kim Booster, comedy trio Butterboy with Jo Firestone, Aparna Nancherla, and Maeve Higgins.
Einbinder will be featured in a live show with the Giggly Squad podcast alongside Hannah Berner and Paige DeSorbo. Acclaimed drag queen Latrice Royale, Saturday Night Live featured player Sarah Sherman, comedians Ricky Velez, Atsuko Okatsuko, Jordan Rock and Andrew Lopez are also set to perform.
At the event, festival goers will have an opportunity to watch live episodes from the podcasts Giggly Squad; Going Deep with Chad and Jt (hosted by Chad Kroeger and Jt Parr); Celebrity Book Club with Steven & Lily (hosted by...
The 2022 comedy lineup for the Life is Beautiful Festival has been revealed.
Among the stars joining The Kicker comedy lineup at the three-day Las Vegas music, art, culinary and comedy festival are Hacks stars Hanna Einbinder and Megan Stalter, Fire Island star and writer Joel Kim Booster, comedy trio Butterboy with Jo Firestone, Aparna Nancherla, and Maeve Higgins.
Einbinder will be featured in a live show with the Giggly Squad podcast alongside Hannah Berner and Paige DeSorbo. Acclaimed drag queen Latrice Royale, Saturday Night Live featured player Sarah Sherman, comedians Ricky Velez, Atsuko Okatsuko, Jordan Rock and Andrew Lopez are also set to perform.
At the event, festival goers will have an opportunity to watch live episodes from the podcasts Giggly Squad; Going Deep with Chad and Jt (hosted by Chad Kroeger and Jt Parr); Celebrity Book Club with Steven & Lily (hosted by...
- 7/12/2022
- by Lexy Perez
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Rolling Stone has acquired a majority stake in Life Is Beautiful, the annual music and arts festival staged in downtown Las Vegas.
The sale — terms of which were not disclosed — is part of larger effort at both Rolling Stone, and its parent company Penske Media Corporation, to make further inroads in the live event space. While Life Is Beautiful will continue to take place each year in Vegas, Rolling Stone plans to bring it to new territories and expand the festival’s digital footprint.
“Live events have to have the...
The sale — terms of which were not disclosed — is part of larger effort at both Rolling Stone, and its parent company Penske Media Corporation, to make further inroads in the live event space. While Life Is Beautiful will continue to take place each year in Vegas, Rolling Stone plans to bring it to new territories and expand the festival’s digital footprint.
“Live events have to have the...
- 2/5/2022
- by Rolling Stone
- Rollingstone.com
Penske Media subsidiary Rolling Stone has acquired a majority interest in Life is Beautiful, the music, arts and ideas festival held annually in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Former Zappos CEO and visionary entrepreneur Tony Hsieh founded the festival in 2013, as part of his vision to transform and revitalize the underserved Downtown Las Vegas community. In the nine years since, it has played host to 600-plus artists and more than 1 million fans, injecting upwards of $350M in economic impact and cultural capital into Downtown Las Vegas and the surrounding area. The most recent edition of the three-day festival, headlined by Billie Eilish, Green Day, and Tame Impala, was attended by an audience of more than 170,000, coming in as one of the highest-grossing events of its kind in the nation in 2021.
Rolling Stone plans to expand Life is Beautiful into new territories and broaden its digital footprint. Together, Rolling Stone and Life is...
Former Zappos CEO and visionary entrepreneur Tony Hsieh founded the festival in 2013, as part of his vision to transform and revitalize the underserved Downtown Las Vegas community. In the nine years since, it has played host to 600-plus artists and more than 1 million fans, injecting upwards of $350M in economic impact and cultural capital into Downtown Las Vegas and the surrounding area. The most recent edition of the three-day festival, headlined by Billie Eilish, Green Day, and Tame Impala, was attended by an audience of more than 170,000, coming in as one of the highest-grossing events of its kind in the nation in 2021.
Rolling Stone plans to expand Life is Beautiful into new territories and broaden its digital footprint. Together, Rolling Stone and Life is...
- 2/5/2022
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Just in time for the start of a new school year, Greenwich Entertainment has acquired North American distribution rights to Try Harder!, a documentary set within San Francisco’s most competitive public high school.
The film directed by Debbie Lum (Seeking Asian Female), follows five seniors at Lowell High “as they try to get into the elite college of their dreams,” as Lum explained in a video for the Sundance Film Festival, where Try Harder! premiered in January.
It’s tough to earn admission to Lowell—“Only the city’s best and brightest qualify to get in,” observes producer Lou Nakasako—and once inside the doors students face enormous pressure to succeed.
“Getting into college has never been harder than it is today. High school has really changed,” Lum notes. “So many students are under much more stress. We really wanted to capture the students’ story.”
The filmmakers recorded one religious high schooler,...
The film directed by Debbie Lum (Seeking Asian Female), follows five seniors at Lowell High “as they try to get into the elite college of their dreams,” as Lum explained in a video for the Sundance Film Festival, where Try Harder! premiered in January.
It’s tough to earn admission to Lowell—“Only the city’s best and brightest qualify to get in,” observes producer Lou Nakasako—and once inside the doors students face enormous pressure to succeed.
“Getting into college has never been harder than it is today. High school has really changed,” Lum notes. “So many students are under much more stress. We really wanted to capture the students’ story.”
The filmmakers recorded one religious high schooler,...
- 8/19/2021
- by Matthew Carey
- Deadline Film + TV
MTV Documentary Films has acquired worldwide rights to “Ascension (登楼叹),” Jessica Kingdon’s observational portrait of the economic growth of China, as well as the class divides that this expansion has exposed. The pact comes on the heels of the film’s wins at the 2021 Tribeca Film Festival, where “Ascension” debuted to rave reviews, and awards for both best documentary and best new documentary filmmaker.
MTV Documentary Films will release the film on Oct. 8 and qualify it for awards consideration later this year.
“Jessica Kingdon, inspired by her Great Grandfather, Zheng Ze’s century old poem, ‘Ascension,’ finds that his prophetic vision is realized in China today,” said Sheila Nevins, executive producer of MTV Documentary Films. “Quote: ‘I ascend… to find that everywhere is already razed.’ Kingdon observes the contemporary dehumanization created by mass production in an informative and poetic film style.”
Here’s the official longline: “Mesmerizing in its...
MTV Documentary Films will release the film on Oct. 8 and qualify it for awards consideration later this year.
“Jessica Kingdon, inspired by her Great Grandfather, Zheng Ze’s century old poem, ‘Ascension,’ finds that his prophetic vision is realized in China today,” said Sheila Nevins, executive producer of MTV Documentary Films. “Quote: ‘I ascend… to find that everywhere is already razed.’ Kingdon observes the contemporary dehumanization created by mass production in an informative and poetic film style.”
Here’s the official longline: “Mesmerizing in its...
- 8/12/2021
- by Brent Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Updated with trailer: Hulu is continuing its documentary push. The streamer has landed the U.S. rights to Homeroom, a feature doc from Peter Nicks and exec produced by Ryan Coogler. Watch the first trailer above and see the key art below.
Homeroom, which was an official selection at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, is the final chapter in a trilogy of films examining the relationship between health care, criminal justice, and education in Oakland, CA over the past decade.
Nicks previously directed 2012’s The Waiting Room, set in a public hospital, and 2017’s The Force, which covers the troubled Oakland Police Department, both of which will also be streaming on Hulu.
The film follows Oakland High School’s class of 2020 as they confront an unprecedented year. Anxiety over test scores and college applications gives way to uncertainty springing from a rapidly developing pandemic. Efforts to eliminate the school...
Homeroom, which was an official selection at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, is the final chapter in a trilogy of films examining the relationship between health care, criminal justice, and education in Oakland, CA over the past decade.
Nicks previously directed 2012’s The Waiting Room, set in a public hospital, and 2017’s The Force, which covers the troubled Oakland Police Department, both of which will also be streaming on Hulu.
The film follows Oakland High School’s class of 2020 as they confront an unprecedented year. Anxiety over test scores and college applications gives way to uncertainty springing from a rapidly developing pandemic. Efforts to eliminate the school...
- 7/20/2021
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
HBO released a trailer for the upcoming two-part documentary “The Crime of the Century,” which premieres on May 10.
Written and directed by Alex Gibney, the film exposes the billions of dollars gained and thousands of lives lost due to the opioid crisis. It reveals the secrets behind Big Pharma, political operatives and government regulations that enabled over-production, reckless distribution and abuse of synthetic opiates.
Gibney served as a producer alongside Sarah Dowland and Svetlana Zill. Stacey Offman, Richard Perello, Todd Hoffman, and Aaron Fishman, senior Tina Nguyen, Nancy Abraham and Lisa Heller served as executive producers.
Also in today’s TV news roundup…
First Looks
Netflix released a trailer for “The Upshaws,” which premieres on May 12. Created by Regina Hicks and Wanda Sykes, the series follows the head of a Black working-class family in Indianapolis struggling to step up and take care of his family without a blueprint for success.
Written and directed by Alex Gibney, the film exposes the billions of dollars gained and thousands of lives lost due to the opioid crisis. It reveals the secrets behind Big Pharma, political operatives and government regulations that enabled over-production, reckless distribution and abuse of synthetic opiates.
Gibney served as a producer alongside Sarah Dowland and Svetlana Zill. Stacey Offman, Richard Perello, Todd Hoffman, and Aaron Fishman, senior Tina Nguyen, Nancy Abraham and Lisa Heller served as executive producers.
Also in today’s TV news roundup…
First Looks
Netflix released a trailer for “The Upshaws,” which premieres on May 12. Created by Regina Hicks and Wanda Sykes, the series follows the head of a Black working-class family in Indianapolis struggling to step up and take care of his family without a blueprint for success.
- 4/20/2021
- by Antonio Ferme
- Variety Film + TV
Dogwoof has acquired world sales rights to “Faceless,” the directorial debut of Jennifer Ngo, ahead of its world premiere at the Hot Docs film festival, Variety has learned exclusively.
“Faceless” is a behind-the-headlines story of the 2019 Hong Kong demonstrations, seen through the eyes of four young protestors seeking to protect their way of life. Directed by Ngo and produced by Lorraine Ma, it’s a Dissonant Productions film in association with Xtr and Flat-Out Films. The deal was negotiated with the filmmakers by Oli Harbottle, head of acquisitions for Dogwoof.
“I remember watching ‘Blackfish’ in 2013 as an aspiring filmmaker and making a mental note of Dogwoof,” said producer Ma. “For years they have supported filmmakers in releasing urgent stories that speak truth to power. It’s a dream come true to partner with them in bringing ‘Faceless’ to global audiences.”
“Faceless” follows a daughter who loves her police officer father...
“Faceless” is a behind-the-headlines story of the 2019 Hong Kong demonstrations, seen through the eyes of four young protestors seeking to protect their way of life. Directed by Ngo and produced by Lorraine Ma, it’s a Dissonant Productions film in association with Xtr and Flat-Out Films. The deal was negotiated with the filmmakers by Oli Harbottle, head of acquisitions for Dogwoof.
“I remember watching ‘Blackfish’ in 2013 as an aspiring filmmaker and making a mental note of Dogwoof,” said producer Ma. “For years they have supported filmmakers in releasing urgent stories that speak truth to power. It’s a dream come true to partner with them in bringing ‘Faceless’ to global audiences.”
“Faceless” follows a daughter who loves her police officer father...
- 4/19/2021
- by Christopher Vourlias
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Discovery+ continues to ramp up it documentary slate. The fast-growing streamer has acquired rights to Rebel Heart, the Pedro Kos-directed documentary that premiered at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. It will now get a theatrical release as well as a global bow on the streamer later this year.
Rebel Hearts centers on a trailblazing group of nuns in 1960s Los Angeles who stood up to the patriarchy of the Catholic Church. The sisters that ran the progressive Immaculate Heart College in L.A. fought for equality (they marched in Selma), their livelihoods and their own freedom against an all-powerful Cardinal who opposed their actions. Their acts of faith, defiance and activism turned the church upside down. The pic uses archival footage, animation and two decades of never-before-seen interviews gathered by the film’s producer Shawnee Isaac-Smith to tell the tale at the center of the film, a co-production...
Rebel Hearts centers on a trailblazing group of nuns in 1960s Los Angeles who stood up to the patriarchy of the Catholic Church. The sisters that ran the progressive Immaculate Heart College in L.A. fought for equality (they marched in Selma), their livelihoods and their own freedom against an all-powerful Cardinal who opposed their actions. Their acts of faith, defiance and activism turned the church upside down. The pic uses archival footage, animation and two decades of never-before-seen interviews gathered by the film’s producer Shawnee Isaac-Smith to tell the tale at the center of the film, a co-production...
- 3/3/2021
- by Patrick Hipes
- Deadline Film + TV
On its website, Xtr describes itself as “a premium nonfiction film and television studio serving the booming documentary film space.” The company is attached to eight feature titles at this year’s Sundance, all but one of which (Faya Dayi) credit the late Tony Hsieh’s name as an executive producer. The Zappos CEO died in November, nearly two months after investing $17.5 million in Xtr; his name unites Ailey, At the Ready, Bring Your Own Brigade, Homeroom, Try Harder!, Rebel Hearts and Natalia Almada’s Users—the last sporting an end credits dedication in Hsieh’s memory. I haven’t seen Almada’s previous work, so can’t speak to how Users’s often enjoyably giganticist […]
The post Sundance 2021 Critic’s Notebook 4 (Vadim Rizov): Users, At the Ready first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.
The post Sundance 2021 Critic’s Notebook 4 (Vadim Rizov): Users, At the Ready first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.
- 2/2/2021
- by Vadim Rizov
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
On its website, Xtr describes itself as “a premium nonfiction film and television studio serving the booming documentary film space.” The company is attached to eight feature titles at this year’s Sundance, all but one of which (Faya Dayi) credit the late Tony Hsieh’s name as an executive producer. The Zappos CEO died in November, nearly two months after investing $17.5 million in Xtr; his name unites Ailey, At the Ready, Bring Your Own Brigade, Homeroom, Try Harder!, Rebel Hearts and Natalia Almada’s Users—the last sporting an end credits dedication in Hsieh’s memory. I haven’t seen Almada’s previous work, so can’t speak to how Users’s often enjoyably giganticist […]
The post Sundance 2021 Critic’s Notebook 4 (Vadim Rizov): Users, At the Ready first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.
The post Sundance 2021 Critic’s Notebook 4 (Vadim Rizov): Users, At the Ready first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.
- 2/2/2021
- by Vadim Rizov
- Filmmaker Magazine-Director Interviews
Neon has made its second acquisition of the Sundance Film Festival with Jamila Wignot’s Ailey, about dance legend Alvin Ailey.
The film debuted at the festival yesterday in the U.S. Documentary Competition section. The documentary explores Ailey’s life and his connection to the present dance company that bears his name with never-before-heard audio interviews recorded in the last year of his life and rare dance performances by the Ailey Company. Ailey found salvation through dance and he pioneered choreography centering on African American experiences. He endured racism and homophobia; addiction and mental illness.
Darcy Heusel, Neon’s Head of Impact and Audience Engagement, remarked “Ailey is a searing and inspirational account of a visionary artistic genius who used his gift of dance and movement to express the Black American experience. Jamila Wignot has created an indelible portrait of both the artist and his work and Neon is...
The film debuted at the festival yesterday in the U.S. Documentary Competition section. The documentary explores Ailey’s life and his connection to the present dance company that bears his name with never-before-heard audio interviews recorded in the last year of his life and rare dance performances by the Ailey Company. Ailey found salvation through dance and he pioneered choreography centering on African American experiences. He endured racism and homophobia; addiction and mental illness.
Darcy Heusel, Neon’s Head of Impact and Audience Engagement, remarked “Ailey is a searing and inspirational account of a visionary artistic genius who used his gift of dance and movement to express the Black American experience. Jamila Wignot has created an indelible portrait of both the artist and his work and Neon is...
- 2/1/2021
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Neon has acquired its second film out of the 2021 Sundance Film Festival: Jamila Wignot’s “Ailey,” about dance legend Alvin Ailey.
The film, which debuted at the festival on Saturday to critical acclaim, includes never-before-heard audio interviews recorded in the last year of his life, with rare dance performances by the Ailey Company.
Ailey was a visionary artist who founded one of the world’s most renowned dance companies — the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater — at age 27.
“Ailey is a searing and inspirational account of a visionary artistic genius who used his gift of dance and movement to express the Black American experience,” Darcy Heusel, Neon’s head of impact and audience engagement, said in a statement. “Jamila Wignot has created an indelible portrait of both the artist and his work and Neon is thrilled to be part of continuing his legacy by bringing this remarkable film to theaters across the country.
The film, which debuted at the festival on Saturday to critical acclaim, includes never-before-heard audio interviews recorded in the last year of his life, with rare dance performances by the Ailey Company.
Ailey was a visionary artist who founded one of the world’s most renowned dance companies — the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater — at age 27.
“Ailey is a searing and inspirational account of a visionary artistic genius who used his gift of dance and movement to express the Black American experience,” Darcy Heusel, Neon’s head of impact and audience engagement, said in a statement. “Jamila Wignot has created an indelible portrait of both the artist and his work and Neon is thrilled to be part of continuing his legacy by bringing this remarkable film to theaters across the country.
- 2/1/2021
- by Beatrice Verhoeven
- The Wrap
Another new streaming service has launched, this one a niche platform called Documentary+ dedicated solely to nonfiction films.
The free, ad-supported streaming platform is available on Thursday and was launched as a joint venture between the nonfiction studio Xtr and the late former Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh.
Documentary+ currently has a library of over 200 feature-length and short documentary films, including classics, cult favorites, true crime stories, sports films and rock docs. Some of the films in the initial catalog include “The Imposter,” “Life, Animated,” “Born Into Brothels,” “Cartel Land” and more. The service also features docs by filmmakers such as Spike Jonze, Kathryn Bigelow, Terrence Malick, Brett Morgen, Roger Ross Williams, Davis Guggenheim and Werner Herzog, including his “My Best Fiend” and “Little Dieter Learns to Fly.”
Other up-and-coming filmmakers with movies on the platform include Lana Wilson, Ramona S. Diaz, Nanfu Wang, Clay Tweel, Kareem Tabsch and Laura Gabbert.
The free, ad-supported streaming platform is available on Thursday and was launched as a joint venture between the nonfiction studio Xtr and the late former Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh.
Documentary+ currently has a library of over 200 feature-length and short documentary films, including classics, cult favorites, true crime stories, sports films and rock docs. Some of the films in the initial catalog include “The Imposter,” “Life, Animated,” “Born Into Brothels,” “Cartel Land” and more. The service also features docs by filmmakers such as Spike Jonze, Kathryn Bigelow, Terrence Malick, Brett Morgen, Roger Ross Williams, Davis Guggenheim and Werner Herzog, including his “My Best Fiend” and “Little Dieter Learns to Fly.”
Other up-and-coming filmmakers with movies on the platform include Lana Wilson, Ramona S. Diaz, Nanfu Wang, Clay Tweel, Kareem Tabsch and Laura Gabbert.
- 1/28/2021
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
Documentary+, the non-fiction streamer from You Cannot Kill David Arquette studio Xtr, has unveiled its launch slate.
The service, which launches today, will include feature-length and short documentary films from the likes of Spike Jonze, Kathryn Bigelow, Terrence Malick, Brett Morgen, Andrea Nevins, Roger Ross Williams, Zana Briski, Davis Guggenheim, and Werner Herzog.
Titles include The Imposter, Life, Animated, Born into Brothels, Cartel Land, Dior and I and Being Evel. There are political films such as Cory Booker film Street Fight, Elian Gonzalez story Elian and Lee Atwater’s Boogie Man as well as music documentaries including Seattle grunge doc Hype!, Colin Hanks’ Tower Records doc All Things Must Pass and The Other F Word as well as sports doc One Man and His Shoes about Michael Jordan.
It will also feature the work of up-and-coming filmmakers from the likes of Lana Wilson (Miss Americana), Ramona S. Diaz (A Thousand Cuts...
The service, which launches today, will include feature-length and short documentary films from the likes of Spike Jonze, Kathryn Bigelow, Terrence Malick, Brett Morgen, Andrea Nevins, Roger Ross Williams, Zana Briski, Davis Guggenheim, and Werner Herzog.
Titles include The Imposter, Life, Animated, Born into Brothels, Cartel Land, Dior and I and Being Evel. There are political films such as Cory Booker film Street Fight, Elian Gonzalez story Elian and Lee Atwater’s Boogie Man as well as music documentaries including Seattle grunge doc Hype!, Colin Hanks’ Tower Records doc All Things Must Pass and The Other F Word as well as sports doc One Man and His Shoes about Michael Jordan.
It will also feature the work of up-and-coming filmmakers from the likes of Lana Wilson (Miss Americana), Ramona S. Diaz (A Thousand Cuts...
- 1/28/2021
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
The first trailer for the upcoming thriller “Crisis” has been released.
Set against the backdrop of the opioid epidemic, “Crisis” features three interwoven stories that highlight the greed, violence and tragedy of the drug war. An agent named Jake Kelly (Armie Hammer) is tracking down a drug trafficker that arranged a multi-cartel Fentanyl smuggling operation between Canada and the U.S. His mission appears to intertwine with Claire Reimann’s (Evangeline Lilly), who is an architect recovering from an oxycodone addiction searching for the truth behind her son’s involvement with narcotics and subsequent disappearance. Meanwhile, Dr. Tyrone Brower (Gary Oldman) is a university professor who battles unexpected revelations about his employer, a pharmaceutical giant bringing a new “non-addictive” painkiller to market.
Additional cast members include Greg Kinnear, Michelle Rodriguez, Luke Evans, Lily-Rose Depp, Kid Cudi, Duke Nicholson, Veronica Ferres and Martin Donovan. “Crisis” is writer and director Nicholas Jarecki...
Set against the backdrop of the opioid epidemic, “Crisis” features three interwoven stories that highlight the greed, violence and tragedy of the drug war. An agent named Jake Kelly (Armie Hammer) is tracking down a drug trafficker that arranged a multi-cartel Fentanyl smuggling operation between Canada and the U.S. His mission appears to intertwine with Claire Reimann’s (Evangeline Lilly), who is an architect recovering from an oxycodone addiction searching for the truth behind her son’s involvement with narcotics and subsequent disappearance. Meanwhile, Dr. Tyrone Brower (Gary Oldman) is a university professor who battles unexpected revelations about his employer, a pharmaceutical giant bringing a new “non-addictive” painkiller to market.
Additional cast members include Greg Kinnear, Michelle Rodriguez, Luke Evans, Lily-Rose Depp, Kid Cudi, Duke Nicholson, Veronica Ferres and Martin Donovan. “Crisis” is writer and director Nicholas Jarecki...
- 1/27/2021
- by Antonio Ferme
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: The indie film upstart Quiver Distribution has acquired U.S. rights to Arbitrage writer-director Nicholas Jarecki’s dramatic thriller Crisis. Oscar winner Gary Oldman, Armie Hammer and Evangeline Lilly lead an ensemble cast that includes Greg Kinnear, Michelle Rodriguez, Luke Evans, Lily-Rose Depp, Scott “Kid Cudi” Mescudi, Duke Nicholson, Veronica Ferres and Martin Donovan. Quiver will release the film in theaters nationwide on February 26, 2021, followed by a digital and on-demand release March 5.
The film will be qualified for inclusion in awards season. Pic sets out to do for the opioid crisis what Traffic did for cocaine and the war on drugs during the crack scourge. In a series of interwoven story lines: a drug trafficker arranges a multi-cartel Fentanyl smuggling operation; an architect recovering from an Oxycodone addiction tracks down the truth behind her son’s disappearance; a university professor battles unexpected revelations about his employer, a pharmaceutical company...
The film will be qualified for inclusion in awards season. Pic sets out to do for the opioid crisis what Traffic did for cocaine and the war on drugs during the crack scourge. In a series of interwoven story lines: a drug trafficker arranges a multi-cartel Fentanyl smuggling operation; an architect recovering from an Oxycodone addiction tracks down the truth behind her son’s disappearance; a university professor battles unexpected revelations about his employer, a pharmaceutical company...
- 12/18/2020
- by Mike Fleming Jr
- Deadline Film + TV
Founder of shoe company Zappos, Tony Hsieh, spent his final hours planning to go to rehab before dying in a house fire in Connecticut last month. The 46-year-old multimillionaire lived with a drug and alcohol addiction and friends of Hsieh told the Wall Street Journal that he was aware of how dangerously close to the […]
The post Zappos Founder Tony Hsieh’s Obsession Fire & Drug Use May Have Led To Death appeared first on uInterview.
The post Zappos Founder Tony Hsieh’s Obsession Fire & Drug Use May Have Led To Death appeared first on uInterview.
- 12/14/2020
- by Demi Tsatsaronis
- Uinterview
Exclusive: Xtr, the non-fiction studio behind films including wrestling doc You Cannot Kill David Arquette and the upcoming Magic Johnson feature doc, has secured a multi-million dollar investment from former Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh.
The company, which was set up by Academy Award-nominated filmmaker and Ryot co-founder Bryn Mooser, has secured $17.5M and will allocate money for its own production slate, as a finishing fund to complete titles from doc filmmakers and for its upcoming documentary streaming service Documentary Plus.
Hsieh spent 21 years at the Amazon-owned shoe company as retired as CEO in August 2020. He previously co-founded Internet advertising network LinkExchange, which he sold to Microsoft in 1998 for $265M.
Xtr scored deals for a number of its documentaries this summer including the Walter Mercado-led film Mucho Mucho Amor with Netflix, Sundance Award-Winner Bloody Nose, Empty Pockets at Utopia, ACLU drama The Fight with Magnolia, You Cannot Kill David...
The company, which was set up by Academy Award-nominated filmmaker and Ryot co-founder Bryn Mooser, has secured $17.5M and will allocate money for its own production slate, as a finishing fund to complete titles from doc filmmakers and for its upcoming documentary streaming service Documentary Plus.
Hsieh spent 21 years at the Amazon-owned shoe company as retired as CEO in August 2020. He previously co-founded Internet advertising network LinkExchange, which he sold to Microsoft in 1998 for $265M.
Xtr scored deals for a number of its documentaries this summer including the Walter Mercado-led film Mucho Mucho Amor with Netflix, Sundance Award-Winner Bloody Nose, Empty Pockets at Utopia, ACLU drama The Fight with Magnolia, You Cannot Kill David...
- 10/7/2020
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Luke Evans, Mia Kirshner, Tony winner Michael Aronov and Martin Donovan are the latest to join Nicholas Jarecki‘s dramatic thriller Dreamland. They’ll co-star opposite Gary Oldman, Armie Hammer, Evangeline Lilly, Greg Kinnear, Michelle Rodriguez, and Lily-Rose Depp in the opioid crisis pic, which is shooting in Montreal.
Dreamland follows three colliding stories: A drug trafficker (Hammer) arranges a multi-cartel Fentanyl smuggling operation between Canada and the U.S.; an architect (Lilly) recovering from an OxyContin addiction tracks down the truth behind her son’s involvement with narcotics; and a university professor (Oldman) battles unexpected revelations about his employer, a drug company with deep government influence bringing a new “non-addictive” painkiller to market.
Evans will play a pharmaceutical executive on the verge of a major breakthrough.
Dreamland follows three colliding stories: A drug trafficker (Hammer) arranges a multi-cartel Fentanyl smuggling operation between Canada and the U.S.; an architect (Lilly) recovering from an OxyContin addiction tracks down the truth behind her son’s involvement with narcotics; and a university professor (Oldman) battles unexpected revelations about his employer, a drug company with deep government influence bringing a new “non-addictive” painkiller to market.
Evans will play a pharmaceutical executive on the verge of a major breakthrough.
- 4/26/2019
- by Amanda N'Duka
- Deadline Film + TV
Nicholas Jarecki’s opioid crisis thriller is now in production in Montreal, Canada.
Sam Worthington, Scott ‘Kid Cudi’ Mescudi and Indira Varma are the latest additions to the cast of Nicholas Jarecki’s opioid crisis thriller Dreamland, with the film now in production in Montreal, Canada.
They join previously announced cast members Gary Oldman, Armie Hammer, Evangeline Lilly, Greg Kinnear, Michelle Rodriguez and Lily Rose Depp.
Jarecki directs the film from his own original script. Lisa Wilson handles foreign sales through her Solution Entertainment Group with Myles Nestel. William Morris Endeavor represents Us rights with Lgna Legal.
Worthington plays a...
Sam Worthington, Scott ‘Kid Cudi’ Mescudi and Indira Varma are the latest additions to the cast of Nicholas Jarecki’s opioid crisis thriller Dreamland, with the film now in production in Montreal, Canada.
They join previously announced cast members Gary Oldman, Armie Hammer, Evangeline Lilly, Greg Kinnear, Michelle Rodriguez and Lily Rose Depp.
Jarecki directs the film from his own original script. Lisa Wilson handles foreign sales through her Solution Entertainment Group with Myles Nestel. William Morris Endeavor represents Us rights with Lgna Legal.
Worthington plays a...
- 4/4/2019
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
Avatar star Sam Worthington has come aboard Nicholas Jarecki‘s opioid thriller, Dreamland, along with Game of Thrones actress Indira Varma and Grammy-winning recording artist and actor Kid Cudi (a.k.a Scott Mescudi). The new additions join a solid cast that includes Gary Oldman, Armie Hammer, Evangeline Lilly, Greg Kinnear, Michelle Rodriguez, and Lily-Rose Depp.
Currently filming in Montreal, the pic follows three colliding stories: a drug trafficker (Hammer) arranges a multi-cartel Fentanyl smuggling operation between Canada and the U.S.; an architect (Lilly) recovering from an OxyContin addiction tracks down the truth behind her son’s involvement with narcotics; and a university professor (Oldman) battles unexpected revelations about his employer, a drug company with deep government influence bringing a new “non-addictive” painkiller to market.
Worthington will play a pharmaceutical scientist who battles with Oldman’s character over molecular matters. Mescudi is an Fda investigator delving deep into prescription...
Currently filming in Montreal, the pic follows three colliding stories: a drug trafficker (Hammer) arranges a multi-cartel Fentanyl smuggling operation between Canada and the U.S.; an architect (Lilly) recovering from an OxyContin addiction tracks down the truth behind her son’s involvement with narcotics; and a university professor (Oldman) battles unexpected revelations about his employer, a drug company with deep government influence bringing a new “non-addictive” painkiller to market.
Worthington will play a pharmaceutical scientist who battles with Oldman’s character over molecular matters. Mescudi is an Fda investigator delving deep into prescription...
- 4/4/2019
- by Amanda N'Duka
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Adam Tsekhman has been cast in Dreamland, joining Oscar winner Gary Oldman, Armie Hammer, Evangeline Lilly, Michelle Rodriguez, and Lily-Rose Depp in the film that tackles the international opioid crisis. Nicholas Jarecki is directing the thriller from his own original script.
The plot revolves around three colliding stories: a drug trafficker (Hammer) arranges a multi-cartel Fentanyl smuggling operation between Canada and the U.S.; an architect (Lilly) recovering from an OxyContin addiction tracks down the truth behind her son’s involvement with narcotics; and a university professor (Oldman) battles unexpected revelations about his employer, a drug company with deep government influence bringing a new “non-addictive” painkiller to market.
Tsekhman will play Armen, an Armenian gangster and Undercover DEA agent’s partner in his drug operation.
Jarecki and Cassian Elwes financed the project through Jarecki’s Green Room Films and are also producing the pic. Exec producers are Michael Suppes,...
The plot revolves around three colliding stories: a drug trafficker (Hammer) arranges a multi-cartel Fentanyl smuggling operation between Canada and the U.S.; an architect (Lilly) recovering from an OxyContin addiction tracks down the truth behind her son’s involvement with narcotics; and a university professor (Oldman) battles unexpected revelations about his employer, a drug company with deep government influence bringing a new “non-addictive” painkiller to market.
Tsekhman will play Armen, an Armenian gangster and Undercover DEA agent’s partner in his drug operation.
Jarecki and Cassian Elwes financed the project through Jarecki’s Green Room Films and are also producing the pic. Exec producers are Michael Suppes,...
- 3/18/2019
- by Amanda N'Duka
- Deadline Film + TV
Greg Kinnear, Michelle Rodriguez and Lily-Rose Depp have been set to join Dreamland, Nicholas Jarecki’s dramatic thriller revolving around the opioid crisis that is being toplined by Gary Oldman, Armie Hammer and Evangeline Lilly. The pic, which was unveiled at the European Film Market earlier this month, is now shooting in Montreal.
The film written and being directed by Jarecki follows three colliding stories: a drug trafficker (Hammer) arranges a multi-cartel Fentanyl smuggling operation between Canada and the U.S.; an architect (Lilly) recovering from an OxyContin addiction tracks down the truth behind her son’s involvement with narcotics; and a university professor (Oldman) battles unexpected revelations about his employer, a drug company with deep government influence bringing a new “non-addictive” painkiller to market. Veronica Ferres also stars.
Kinnear will a university dean whose friendship with Oldman’s character is tested by conflicts of industry. Rodriguez plays a DEA...
The film written and being directed by Jarecki follows three colliding stories: a drug trafficker (Hammer) arranges a multi-cartel Fentanyl smuggling operation between Canada and the U.S.; an architect (Lilly) recovering from an OxyContin addiction tracks down the truth behind her son’s involvement with narcotics; and a university professor (Oldman) battles unexpected revelations about his employer, a drug company with deep government influence bringing a new “non-addictive” painkiller to market. Veronica Ferres also stars.
Kinnear will a university dean whose friendship with Oldman’s character is tested by conflicts of industry. Rodriguez plays a DEA...
- 2/28/2019
- by Patrick Hipes
- Deadline Film + TV
Greg Kinnear, Michelle Rodriguez, and Lily-Rose Depp have boarded the cast of the opioid crisis thriller “Dreamland.”
The trio joins the previously announced cast of Gary Oldman, Armie Hammer, and Evangeline Lilly.
Kinnear plays a university dean whose friendship with Oldman’s character is tested by conflicts of industry. Rodriguez plays a DEA supervisor who clashes with Hammer’s drug trafficker. Depp plays Hammer’s sister, a brilliant young woman in desperate hours.
“It’s a testament to the issue’s urgency that such a large group of gifted performers have come together for our film,” said Nicholas Jarecki, the film’s director. “The opioid epidemic is a worldwide problem which needs our attention now.”
“Dreamland” is Jarecki’s follow up to “Arbitrage,” the highest grossing independent film to be released “day and date” in cinema history.
Producers are Jarecki and Cassian Elwes, who financed together through Jarecki’s Green...
The trio joins the previously announced cast of Gary Oldman, Armie Hammer, and Evangeline Lilly.
Kinnear plays a university dean whose friendship with Oldman’s character is tested by conflicts of industry. Rodriguez plays a DEA supervisor who clashes with Hammer’s drug trafficker. Depp plays Hammer’s sister, a brilliant young woman in desperate hours.
“It’s a testament to the issue’s urgency that such a large group of gifted performers have come together for our film,” said Nicholas Jarecki, the film’s director. “The opioid epidemic is a worldwide problem which needs our attention now.”
“Dreamland” is Jarecki’s follow up to “Arbitrage,” the highest grossing independent film to be released “day and date” in cinema history.
Producers are Jarecki and Cassian Elwes, who financed together through Jarecki’s Green...
- 2/28/2019
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
Principal photography begins in Montreal.
Greg Kinnear, Michelle Rodriguez and Lily-Rose Depp will join previously announced Gary Oldman, Armie Hammer and Evangeline Lilly in the opioid crisis drama Dreamland.
Nicholas Jarecki (Arbitrage) will direct from his original screenplay, Dreamland weaves together three storylines focusing on a drug trafficker (Hammer) who arranges a multi-cartel Fentanyl smuggling operation between Canada and the Us, an architect recovering from an OxyContin addiction who tracks down the truth behind her son’s involvement with narcotics, and a university professor who battles unexpected revelations about his research employer, a drug company with deep government influence bringing...
Greg Kinnear, Michelle Rodriguez and Lily-Rose Depp will join previously announced Gary Oldman, Armie Hammer and Evangeline Lilly in the opioid crisis drama Dreamland.
Nicholas Jarecki (Arbitrage) will direct from his original screenplay, Dreamland weaves together three storylines focusing on a drug trafficker (Hammer) who arranges a multi-cartel Fentanyl smuggling operation between Canada and the Us, an architect recovering from an OxyContin addiction who tracks down the truth behind her son’s involvement with narcotics, and a university professor who battles unexpected revelations about his research employer, a drug company with deep government influence bringing...
- 2/28/2019
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Principal photography underway in Montreal and Detroit.
Gary Oldman, Armie Hammer, and Evangeline Lilly will star in Nicholas Jarecki’s opiod crisis drama Dreamland, which The Solution Entertainment Group is launching to international buyers at the Efm this week.
German star Veronica Ferres is also on board and principal photography is underway in Montreal and Detroit on the story of three colliding worlds. Endeavor Content represents Us rights with Lgna Legal.
Dreamland will centre on a drug trafficker who arranges a multi-cartel Fentanyl smuggling operation between Canada and the Us, an architect recovering from an OxyContin addiction who tracks down...
Gary Oldman, Armie Hammer, and Evangeline Lilly will star in Nicholas Jarecki’s opiod crisis drama Dreamland, which The Solution Entertainment Group is launching to international buyers at the Efm this week.
German star Veronica Ferres is also on board and principal photography is underway in Montreal and Detroit on the story of three colliding worlds. Endeavor Content represents Us rights with Lgna Legal.
Dreamland will centre on a drug trafficker who arranges a multi-cartel Fentanyl smuggling operation between Canada and the Us, an architect recovering from an OxyContin addiction who tracks down...
- 2/6/2019
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Gary Oldman, Armie Hammer and Evangeline Lilly have been set to star in thriller Dreamland, billed as the first theatrical feature to tackle the international opioid crisis. Arbitrage‘s Nicholas Jarecki will direct from his original script. Lisa Wilson is handling foreign sales through her Solution Entertainment Group; William Morris Endeavor is repping U.S. rights with Lgna Legal. The project will be introduced to buyers during this week’s Efm in Berlin. German actress Veronica Ferres also stars.
Principal photography is underway in Montreal and Detroit on the film that follows three colliding stories: A drug trafficker arranges a multi-cartel Fentanyl smuggling operation between Canada and the U.S.; an architect recovering from an OxyContin addiction tracks down the truth behind her son’s involvement with narcotics; and a university professor battles unexpected revelations about his employer, a drug company with deep government influence bringing a new “non-addictive” painkiller to market.
Principal photography is underway in Montreal and Detroit on the film that follows three colliding stories: A drug trafficker arranges a multi-cartel Fentanyl smuggling operation between Canada and the U.S.; an architect recovering from an OxyContin addiction tracks down the truth behind her son’s involvement with narcotics; and a university professor battles unexpected revelations about his employer, a drug company with deep government influence bringing a new “non-addictive” painkiller to market.
- 2/6/2019
- by Nancy Tartaglione
- Deadline Film + TV
Gary Oldman, Armie Hammer and Evangeline Lilly are set to star in Nicholas Jarecki‘s opioids thriller “Dreamland.” Principal photography is underway in Montreal and Detroit. German actress Veronica Ferres also stars.
Lisa Wilson handles foreign sales through her Solution Entertainment Group and will offer the film to buyers at Berlin’s European Film Market. Endeavor Content represents U.S. rights with Lgna Legal.
In “Dreamland,” three stories about the world of opioids collide: a drug trafficker arranges a multi-cartel Fentanyl smuggling operation between Canada and the U.S., an architect recovering from an OxyContin addiction tracks down the truth behind her son’s involvement with narcotics, and a university professor battles unexpected revelations about his research employer, a drug company with deep government influence bringing a new “non-addictive” painkiller to market.
“Dreamland” is written and directed by Jarecki as his follow up to “Arbitrage,” which earned a Golden Globe nomination for its star,...
Lisa Wilson handles foreign sales through her Solution Entertainment Group and will offer the film to buyers at Berlin’s European Film Market. Endeavor Content represents U.S. rights with Lgna Legal.
In “Dreamland,” three stories about the world of opioids collide: a drug trafficker arranges a multi-cartel Fentanyl smuggling operation between Canada and the U.S., an architect recovering from an OxyContin addiction tracks down the truth behind her son’s involvement with narcotics, and a university professor battles unexpected revelations about his research employer, a drug company with deep government influence bringing a new “non-addictive” painkiller to market.
“Dreamland” is written and directed by Jarecki as his follow up to “Arbitrage,” which earned a Golden Globe nomination for its star,...
- 2/6/2019
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
Principal photography underway in Montreal and Detroit.
Gary Oldman, Armie Hammer, and Evangeline Lilly will star in Nicholas Jarecki’s opiod crisis drama Dreamland, which The Solution Entertainment Group is launching to international buyers at the Efm this week.
German star Veronica Ferres is also on board and principal photography is underway in Montreal and Detroit on the story of three colliding worlds. Endeavor Content represents Us rights with Lgna Legal.
Dreamland will centre on a drug trafficker who arranges a multi-cartel Fentanyl smuggling operation between Canada and the Us, an architect recovering from an OxyContin addiction who tracks down...
Gary Oldman, Armie Hammer, and Evangeline Lilly will star in Nicholas Jarecki’s opiod crisis drama Dreamland, which The Solution Entertainment Group is launching to international buyers at the Efm this week.
German star Veronica Ferres is also on board and principal photography is underway in Montreal and Detroit on the story of three colliding worlds. Endeavor Content represents Us rights with Lgna Legal.
Dreamland will centre on a drug trafficker who arranges a multi-cartel Fentanyl smuggling operation between Canada and the Us, an architect recovering from an OxyContin addiction who tracks down...
- 2/6/2019
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Four features under his belt (2004’s Malachance, 2006’s Drama/Mex, 2008’s I’m Gonna Explode and 2011’s Miss Bala) and Gerardo Naranjo‘s only history with the Sundance film festival is as a jury member. That might change come next January. One that I consider the odd man out among filmmakers from the Mexican film renaissance that commenced back with Iñárritu’s Amores Perros, from lovers on the run, beauty queens on the move and young adults hitting the road, there is a lot of chaotic displacement in his films. Since his sophomore feature, his films are high value festival items and since this is a U.S. shot project, Viena and the Fantomes could very much land a coveted Premieres category showing to make bidders. Naranjo’s Un Certain Regard section selected thriller Miss Bala seriously made the rounds, so this eighties punk era set film has a certain...
- 11/26/2015
- by Eric Lavallee
- IONCINEMA.com
This story originally appeared on Fast Company.
1. The Birth Of Silicon Valley
Most of the modern technology that we hold dear today--from laptops to ATMs to iPhones--probably wouldn't exist if in 1957 a group of eight young geniuses hadn't banded together and left their brilliant but maniacal boss, William Shockley, to form the first venture-backed startup. Dubbed the "Traitorous Eight" by Shockley, the colleagues, who included future Intel cofounders Gordon Moore and Robert Noyce, would go on to build the first practical integrated circuit and the first wave of Valley companies. One of the eight, Jay Last, now 83, recalls how it happened.
Shockley was a brilliant scientist but a terrible manager. He'd won the Nobel Prize for inventing the transistor and started trying to make an impossible device that didn't work. So he took it out on us. We complained to Arnold Beckman, who funded Shockley Labs. At first he sided with us,...
1. The Birth Of Silicon Valley
Most of the modern technology that we hold dear today--from laptops to ATMs to iPhones--probably wouldn't exist if in 1957 a group of eight young geniuses hadn't banded together and left their brilliant but maniacal boss, William Shockley, to form the first venture-backed startup. Dubbed the "Traitorous Eight" by Shockley, the colleagues, who included future Intel cofounders Gordon Moore and Robert Noyce, would go on to build the first practical integrated circuit and the first wave of Valley companies. One of the eight, Jay Last, now 83, recalls how it happened.
Shockley was a brilliant scientist but a terrible manager. He'd won the Nobel Prize for inventing the transistor and started trying to make an impossible device that didn't work. So he took it out on us. We complained to Arnold Beckman, who funded Shockley Labs. At first he sided with us,...
- 1/16/2013
- by Fast Company
- Huffington Post
Amazon-owned e-retailer Zappos has been hit by a cyber-attack. The online fashion store warned customers that personal data, including phone numbers and email addresses, may have been stolen, but offered assurance that credit card information remains secure. "We were recently the victim of a cyber-attack by a criminal who gained access to parts of our internal network and systems through one of our servers in Kentucky," said Zappos chief executive Tony Hsieh in a statement. "We are co-operating with law enforcement to undergo an exhaustive investigation. "We've spent over 12 years building our reputation, brand, and trust with our customers. It's painful to see us take so many steps (more)...
- 1/16/2012
- by By Mark Langshaw
- Digital Spy
Paul Carr didn't just bite the hand that fed him -- he also managed to shake a little money loose from it. The former TechCrunch columnist -- who resigned last week in protest over TechCrunch founder Michael Arrington's ouster -- has started a new company. And he's using his former employer's money to do it. Carr announced his new venture on his blog Friday, noting that it's being funded with seed money from CrunchFund -- which, while run by Arrington and Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh, receives half of its funding from AOL. Also...
- 9/24/2011
- by Tim Kenneally
- The Wrap
Those of you who were around last year and follow me on Twitter (so... like maybe four of you) will recall that I started a Shark Week Theme Songs hashtag on Twitter since I felt like the sharks were not given appropriate musical backup. This year, it seems like they've gone ahead and picked Lady Gaga's "Teeth" as the unofficial Shark Week theme song which I do approve of. However that does not mean I've given up my mission which has more to do with wordplay anyway. Those of you who'd like to play along but don't have Twitter can still read mine without joining and those of you on Twitter are welcome to use the #sharkweekthemesongs tag for any of your own creations. Enjoy! Here's your Monday night TV:
8:00pm: "The Bachelorette" on ABC. Seventh season finale.
"Basketball Wives" on VH1
"Eureka" on SyFy
"Giuliana and Bill...
8:00pm: "The Bachelorette" on ABC. Seventh season finale.
"Basketball Wives" on VH1
"Eureka" on SyFy
"Giuliana and Bill...
- 8/1/2011
- by Intern Rusty
At SXSW, the chief of one of America's favorite online shoe stores lets Fast Company in on his newest idea, a lifestyle and business brand with partner Jenn Lim named after his bestselling business book, "Delivering Happiness."
Delivering Happiness is no longer merely the bestselling business book by Zappos.com CEO Tony Hsieh. It's a lifestyle.
Hsieh is launching a new a company to exploit the growing market of individuals who have the audacity to enjoy work. It's an early stage startup that will advise businesses on value-based management, design a line of motivational apparel, and expand the loyal community that formed around the book. In the future, Hsieh, and his business partner, Jenn Lim, hope to publish educational literature for soul-searching college students and provide life-changing experience packages. To help those already on the road to personal fulfillment, Delivering Happiness wants to offer wild packaged experiences, from helicopter flying lessons to foreign adventures.
Delivering Happiness is no longer merely the bestselling business book by Zappos.com CEO Tony Hsieh. It's a lifestyle.
Hsieh is launching a new a company to exploit the growing market of individuals who have the audacity to enjoy work. It's an early stage startup that will advise businesses on value-based management, design a line of motivational apparel, and expand the loyal community that formed around the book. In the future, Hsieh, and his business partner, Jenn Lim, hope to publish educational literature for soul-searching college students and provide life-changing experience packages. To help those already on the road to personal fulfillment, Delivering Happiness wants to offer wild packaged experiences, from helicopter flying lessons to foreign adventures.
- 3/14/2011
- by Gregory Ferenstein
- Fast Company
We continue our examination of the new business book Practically Radical with author William C. Taylor's discussion of Threadless. How does a clothes company run by the customer manage to exceed expectations?
In an era of huge dislocations and scarce resources, fewer and fewer companies are in a position to hire lots of new people or devote big budgets to new projects as a way of moving forward. But most companies are surrounded by customers, suppliers, fans, advocates, and interested parties of all kinds who are passionate about what they do, bursting with ideas, and eager to be more involved. Why not invite them to demonstrate their creativity to you, share their best ideas with you, and collaborate to solve your toughest problems or deliver on your most promising opportunities? That's one of the great mind-flips for leaders today: The performance of your organization can draw on talented "players" who...
In an era of huge dislocations and scarce resources, fewer and fewer companies are in a position to hire lots of new people or devote big budgets to new projects as a way of moving forward. But most companies are surrounded by customers, suppliers, fans, advocates, and interested parties of all kinds who are passionate about what they do, bursting with ideas, and eager to be more involved. Why not invite them to demonstrate their creativity to you, share their best ideas with you, and collaborate to solve your toughest problems or deliver on your most promising opportunities? That's one of the great mind-flips for leaders today: The performance of your organization can draw on talented "players" who...
- 1/6/2011
- by William C. Taylor
- Fast Company
Josh Williams liked to travel, and explore, and he wanted others to embrace that same spirit--and what it means--in a social and sharable way. So in 2007 he started Gowalla, a location-based social network, which has grown fast, and now has over 600,000 active users and a team of 25 employees based in the new tech hub that is Austin, Texas. Josh talked with Fast Company about technology as a tool for change, how Gowalla got started, and told us just what the life of a 30-year-old tech CEO with a wife and two kids is like ...
What's your big idea?
Inspire people to keep up with their friends, share the places they go and discover the extraordinary in the world around them. Put simply, let's get people to go out and explore.What was the inspiration behind your idea?
Passports. Over time, when you travel, your passport fills up with stamps. Each...
What's your big idea?
Inspire people to keep up with their friends, share the places they go and discover the extraordinary in the world around them. Put simply, let's get people to go out and explore.What was the inspiration behind your idea?
Passports. Over time, when you travel, your passport fills up with stamps. Each...
- 11/24/2010
- by David D. Burstein
- Fast Company
First a publishing sensation, now a Hollywood film, Elizabeth Gilbert's spiritual journey has plenty of followers. But does enlightenment come at a price?
Last week, Julia Roberts appeared on Us television to advertise her latest film, an adaptation of Elizabeth Gilbert's travel memoir, Eat Pray Love. Roberts, who while shooting the film in India became a Hindu, described it in terms of her character's spiritual journey and "the gambut" of emotions she runs, from divorce and despair to new love and happiness. It's an exciting gambut for the studio, too, which to promote the film's release yesterday in the Us (it is out in the UK next month) is offering three Eat Pray Love fragrances in conjunction with Fresh, and tie-in chakra beads from an Los Angeles-based jeweller.
Spiritual journeys are a basic requirement of good story telling, as marketing campaigns are of Hollywood films, so it is churlish get...
Last week, Julia Roberts appeared on Us television to advertise her latest film, an adaptation of Elizabeth Gilbert's travel memoir, Eat Pray Love. Roberts, who while shooting the film in India became a Hindu, described it in terms of her character's spiritual journey and "the gambut" of emotions she runs, from divorce and despair to new love and happiness. It's an exciting gambut for the studio, too, which to promote the film's release yesterday in the Us (it is out in the UK next month) is offering three Eat Pray Love fragrances in conjunction with Fresh, and tie-in chakra beads from an Los Angeles-based jeweller.
Spiritual journeys are a basic requirement of good story telling, as marketing campaigns are of Hollywood films, so it is churlish get...
- 8/13/2010
- by Emma Brockes
- The Guardian - Film News
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