Exclusive: After four years at Verve, veteran unscripted television agent Bill Thompson has joined Vital Artists Agency, reuniting with former colleague Phil Irven.
At Verve, Thompson launched an unscripted division in 2018 and oversaw that area for the agency. His departure followed the July hire of former ICM agent Andy Stabile as Verve Partner and Head of Unscripted. Thompson met with a couple of companies and went with upstart Vital, which was launched in late 2020 by Rebel Entertainment Partners’ Irven, April Yuan and Cal Boyington. They were joined by veteran unscripted executive Nicole Zien earlier this year.
During his Verve tenure, Thompson built a department that packaged and sold over 100 hours of programming including Pants on Fire (Disney +) American Dreams (Discovery +) and the upcoming USA series Barmageddon with Blake Shelton. On the talent side, Thompson brokered Leah Remini’s seven-figure People Puzzler game show deal and the reboot of Kat Von D’s LA Ink.
At Verve, Thompson launched an unscripted division in 2018 and oversaw that area for the agency. His departure followed the July hire of former ICM agent Andy Stabile as Verve Partner and Head of Unscripted. Thompson met with a couple of companies and went with upstart Vital, which was launched in late 2020 by Rebel Entertainment Partners’ Irven, April Yuan and Cal Boyington. They were joined by veteran unscripted executive Nicole Zien earlier this year.
During his Verve tenure, Thompson built a department that packaged and sold over 100 hours of programming including Pants on Fire (Disney +) American Dreams (Discovery +) and the upcoming USA series Barmageddon with Blake Shelton. On the talent side, Thompson brokered Leah Remini’s seven-figure People Puzzler game show deal and the reboot of Kat Von D’s LA Ink.
- 9/16/2022
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
This Machine, the production company founded by veteran documentary director and producer R.J. Cutler, has bolstered its development and production team with four new hires.
Cutler, the Emmy Award-winning director behind docus including “The September Issue,” “Belushi” and most recently with “Billie Eilish: The World’s a Little Blurry,” launched This Machine in 2020 with an investment from Los Angeles-based Industrial Media.
Cutler has named Sally Rosen Phillips as vice president, creative; Qadriyyah Shamsid-Deen as director, creative; Jim Czarnecki, senior vice president, production, and Ian Egos, vice president. The four new hires bring This Machine’s employee headcount to 20. Rosen Phillips, Shamsid-Deen, Czarnecki and Egos join senior executives Elise Pearlstein, Trevor Smith, Margaret Yen and Katie Doering.
“I’m thrilled to welcome Sally, Qadriyyah, Jim and Ian — four truly creative and passionate individuals — to our rapidly growing team at This Machine,” says Cutler, who served as a producer on Chris Hegedus and...
Cutler, the Emmy Award-winning director behind docus including “The September Issue,” “Belushi” and most recently with “Billie Eilish: The World’s a Little Blurry,” launched This Machine in 2020 with an investment from Los Angeles-based Industrial Media.
Cutler has named Sally Rosen Phillips as vice president, creative; Qadriyyah Shamsid-Deen as director, creative; Jim Czarnecki, senior vice president, production, and Ian Egos, vice president. The four new hires bring This Machine’s employee headcount to 20. Rosen Phillips, Shamsid-Deen, Czarnecki and Egos join senior executives Elise Pearlstein, Trevor Smith, Margaret Yen and Katie Doering.
“I’m thrilled to welcome Sally, Qadriyyah, Jim and Ian — four truly creative and passionate individuals — to our rapidly growing team at This Machine,” says Cutler, who served as a producer on Chris Hegedus and...
- 4/18/2022
- by Addie Morfoot
- Variety Film + TV
The company will finance with Insurgent Media, 20th Century Fox and Chimney Pot the sensational story of Norwegian black metal band Mayhem.
Jonas Åkerlund, the Swedish music video director and former drummer with heavy metal band Bathory, will direct the film from a screenplay he co-wrote.
Rory Culkin (pictured) will play Euronymous aka Øystein Aarseth, the leader of the band that popularised the True Norwegian Black Metal movement who was stabbed to death by fellow band member Varg Vikernes in 1993.
The murder was the final act of in a history of notorious antics that saw the band linked to a church burning in 1992 that sparked a wave of arson attacks on churches across Norway.
Emory Cohen will portray Vikernes, while Jack Kilmer plays ‘Dead,’ Valter Skarsgård ‘Faust’ and Sky Ferreira ‘Ann-Marit’.
Fox has come on board to handle North America, the UK, Scandinavia and Brazil. Protagonist handles international sales. Fox and Vice Media launched the joint venture...
Jonas Åkerlund, the Swedish music video director and former drummer with heavy metal band Bathory, will direct the film from a screenplay he co-wrote.
Rory Culkin (pictured) will play Euronymous aka Øystein Aarseth, the leader of the band that popularised the True Norwegian Black Metal movement who was stabbed to death by fellow band member Varg Vikernes in 1993.
The murder was the final act of in a history of notorious antics that saw the band linked to a church burning in 1992 that sparked a wave of arson attacks on churches across Norway.
Emory Cohen will portray Vikernes, while Jack Kilmer plays ‘Dead,’ Valter Skarsgård ‘Faust’ and Sky Ferreira ‘Ann-Marit’.
Fox has come on board to handle North America, the UK, Scandinavia and Brazil. Protagonist handles international sales. Fox and Vice Media launched the joint venture...
- 10/19/2016
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
New York-based The Vladar Company has been talking with buyers on a trio of new titles led by mixed martial arts documentary The Hurt Business.
Ksm has acquired German rights to the film, which will chronicle the lives of indomitable Ufc Women’s Bantamweight Champion Ronda Rousey [pictured], Ufc Light-Heavyweight Champion Jon ‘Bones’ Jones and former Ufc light-heavyweight champion Rashad ‘Suga’ Evans.
Vladar co-founder Vlad Yudin, whose credits include Generation Iron, will direct and serve as executive producer alongside co-founder Edwin Mejia and Jim Czarnecki.
Madman has picked up Australian and New Zealand rights to this as well as to the fashion designer documentary Jeremy Scott: The People’s Designer.
Ksm has acquired German rights to the film, which will chronicle the lives of indomitable Ufc Women’s Bantamweight Champion Ronda Rousey [pictured], Ufc Light-Heavyweight Champion Jon ‘Bones’ Jones and former Ufc light-heavyweight champion Rashad ‘Suga’ Evans.
Vladar co-founder Vlad Yudin, whose credits include Generation Iron, will direct and serve as executive producer alongside co-founder Edwin Mejia and Jim Czarnecki.
Madman has picked up Australian and New Zealand rights to this as well as to the fashion designer documentary Jeremy Scott: The People’s Designer.
- 11/7/2015
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
2 new clips have been added from the "Paul Williams Still Alive" documentary directed and written by Stephen Kessler The Abramorama release opened in theaters on June 8th and is produced by Jim Czarnecki, Mike Wilkins, David Zieff and Kessler. He won Grammys and an Academy Award; wrote many #1 songs from Barbra Streisand's "Evergreen" to the Carpenter's "We've Only Just Begun" as well as Kermit the Frog's biggest hit, "The Rainbow Connection"; starred in a Brian DePalma movie; put out his own hit records and albums; was a guest on The Tonight Show fifty times; and is the president of Ascap... and you might not have heard of him. In the 1970's, Paul Williams was the singer / actor / songwriter that emotional, alienated teenage boys all over the world wanted to be, a sex symbol before MTV, when sex symbols could be 5"2 and sing songs about loneliness with the Muppets.
- 6/6/2012
- Upcoming-Movies.com
2 new clips have been added from the "Paul Williams Still Alive" documentary directed and written by Stephen Kessler The Abramorama release opened in theaters on June 8th and is produced by Jim Czarnecki, Mike Wilkins, David Zieff and Kessler. He won Grammys and an Academy Award; wrote many #1 songs from Barbra Streisand's "Evergreen" to the Carpenter's "We've Only Just Begun" as well as Kermit the Frog's biggest hit, "The Rainbow Connection"; starred in a Brian DePalma movie; put out his own hit records and albums; was a guest on The Tonight Show fifty times; and is the president of Ascap... and you might not have heard of him. In the 1970's, Paul Williams was the singer / actor / songwriter that emotional, alienated teenage boys all over the world wanted to be, a sex symbol before MTV, when sex symbols could be 5"2 and sing songs about loneliness with the Muppets.
- 6/6/2012
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Trailer, poster for Paul Williams Still Alive Abramorama's documentary helmed by Stephen Kessler opens June 8th, produced by Stephen Kessler, Jim Czarnecki, Mike Wilkins and David Zieff. He won Grammys and an Academy Award; wrote many #1 songs from Barbra Streisand's "Evergreen" to the Carpenter's "We've Only Just Begun" as well as Kermit the Frog's biggest hit, "The Rainbow Connection"; starred in a Brian DePalma movie; put out his own hit records and albums; was a guest on The Tonight Show fifty times; and is the president of Ascap... and you might not have heard of him. In the 1970's, Paul Williams was the singer / actor / songwriter that emotional, alienated teenage boys all over the world wanted to be, a sex symbol before MTV, when sex symbols could be 5"2 and sing songs about loneliness with the Muppets. One of those boys was Steve Kessler, a chubby kid from Queens.
- 5/17/2012
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Trailer, poster for Paul Williams Still Alive Abramorama's documentary helmed by Stephen Kessler opens June 8th, produced by Stephen Kessler, Jim Czarnecki, Mike Wilkins and David Zieff. He won Grammys and an Academy Award; wrote many #1 songs from Barbra Streisand's "Evergreen" to the Carpenter's "We've Only Just Begun" as well as Kermit the Frog's biggest hit, "The Rainbow Connection"; starred in a Brian DePalma movie; put out his own hit records and albums; was a guest on The Tonight Show fifty times; and is the president of Ascap... and you might not have heard of him. In the 1970's, Paul Williams was the singer / actor / songwriter that emotional, alienated teenage boys all over the world wanted to be, a sex symbol before MTV, when sex symbols could be 5"2 and sing songs about loneliness with the Muppets. One of those boys was Steve Kessler, a chubby kid from Queens.
- 5/17/2012
- Upcoming-Movies.com
MTV has added four new series to its programming slate and a special centering on an up-and-coming musician. The cable network has picked up The Heights (working title), a docudrama that follows a group of friends who live, work and play in the Washington Heights neighborhood of New York City. The Heights will be executive produced by Cheryl Horner Sirulnick, George McTeague, Beck Hickey, Craig Sloane and Jim Czarnecki, in addition to Christy Spitzer, Christina Lee and Shannon Fitzgerald. Shane Tilston is production executive for MTV. The half-hour panel show Epic Fail focuses on embarrassing moments of
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- 3/21/2012
- by Philiana Ng
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences kicks off Part Two of its 29th annual .Contemporary Documentaries. screening series with .Food, Inc.. and .Under Our Skin. Tonight, Wednesday, March 23, at 7 p.m. at the Linwood Dunn Theater in Hollywood. Admission to all screenings in the series is Free.
From cruel and unsanitary conditions in cattle and chicken farming to the addition of corn syrup and sodium to many foods, .Food, Inc.. examines the ways in which large corporations in the American food industry dominate the marketplace and affect the quality of what we consume. Directed by Robert Kenner and produced by Kenner and Elise Pearlstein, .Food, Inc.. earned an Academy Award® nomination for Documentary Feature. Robert Kenner & Elise Pearlstein will be present to take questions from the audience following the screening.
Directed and produced by Andy Abrahams Wilson, .Under Our Skin. investigates the untold story of Lyme disease. As...
From cruel and unsanitary conditions in cattle and chicken farming to the addition of corn syrup and sodium to many foods, .Food, Inc.. examines the ways in which large corporations in the American food industry dominate the marketplace and affect the quality of what we consume. Directed by Robert Kenner and produced by Kenner and Elise Pearlstein, .Food, Inc.. earned an Academy Award® nomination for Documentary Feature. Robert Kenner & Elise Pearlstein will be present to take questions from the audience following the screening.
Directed and produced by Andy Abrahams Wilson, .Under Our Skin. investigates the untold story of Lyme disease. As...
- 3/23/2011
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
The Traverse City Film Festival has set a record-breaking attendance in its fifth year with more than 96,000 admissions for the six-day event than ran from July 28 to August 2.
The festival, founded by docu-filmmaker Michael Moore, screened 71 features and 50 short films from more than 30 countries and 5 continents. More than 65 percent of the screenings were reported sell-outs. The numbers total over 16,000 more admissions than the previous two years.
Among the panelists and visiting filmmakers in the festival include this year's special filmmaker tribute honoree Paul Mazursky, Christine Lahti, Larry Charles, Kevin McMahon, Jim Czarnecki, and Robert Byington.
Also, Moore, together with comedian Jeff Garlin, announced during the festival that they are planning to organize a new Traverse City Comedy Arts Festival to be held this winter. The new event will showcase a weekend of movies, stand-up and sketch comedy among other forms of entertainment.
The festival, founded by docu-filmmaker Michael Moore, screened 71 features and 50 short films from more than 30 countries and 5 continents. More than 65 percent of the screenings were reported sell-outs. The numbers total over 16,000 more admissions than the previous two years.
Among the panelists and visiting filmmakers in the festival include this year's special filmmaker tribute honoree Paul Mazursky, Christine Lahti, Larry Charles, Kevin McMahon, Jim Czarnecki, and Robert Byington.
Also, Moore, together with comedian Jeff Garlin, announced during the festival that they are planning to organize a new Traverse City Comedy Arts Festival to be held this winter. The new event will showcase a weekend of movies, stand-up and sketch comedy among other forms of entertainment.
- 8/4/2009
- icelebz.com
Kat DeLuna's fresh material entitled "Dance Bailalo" from her upcoming second studio album "Inside Out" has been released. Sung bilingual, half in English and half in Spanish, the track is premiered on 97.9 NYC and will reportedly serve as the second single off the new album.
Following the release of the song, Kat will hold a dance competition on her YouTube where dancers will be given a chance to upload a video showing their hottest dance moves. "I will then look at the best submissions and pick the one with the hottest moves. The winners will have a chance to appear in the music video with me," so she says.
Kat DeLuna will drop "Inside Out" this summer under Universal Motown. She collaborates with Lil Wayne in the first single "Unstoppable". She will also work with producers RedOne, the mastermind behind her debut album "9 Lives", and Jim Jonsin, the one who helped T.
Following the release of the song, Kat will hold a dance competition on her YouTube where dancers will be given a chance to upload a video showing their hottest dance moves. "I will then look at the best submissions and pick the one with the hottest moves. The winners will have a chance to appear in the music video with me," so she says.
Kat DeLuna will drop "Inside Out" this summer under Universal Motown. She collaborates with Lil Wayne in the first single "Unstoppable". She will also work with producers RedOne, the mastermind behind her debut album "9 Lives", and Jim Jonsin, the one who helped T.
- 4/7/2009
- by AceShowbiz.com
- Aceshowbiz
Acting COACHINGThe following individuals or companies specialize in one-on-one acting coaching. Private coaching is also available from the majority of those listed in the "Acting Schools and Classes" category. Coaches in other specialties, such as musical theatre, voiceover, or young performers, are listed in those categories.Jules Aaron(323) 660-7342Aaron, the former head of of graduate programs at CalArts and U.C. Riverside, is an award-winning director and acting teacher. He has won directing awards from the L.A. Drama Critics Circle and Back Stage. He coaches actors for specific auditions, develops appropriate monologues, and conducts cold reading sessions. By audition only.Phyllis APPLEGATEOne-On-One(323) 655-5167Emmy-nominated character actor Applegate studied at the Lee Strasberg Institute on scholarship. She offers ongoing individual performance coaching combining Strasberg's methods with her own. Applegate coaches actors on audition techniques, cold readings, character creation, scene study, and text interpretation.The Audition COACHWest Hollwood, www.myspace.
- 3/25/2009
- backstage.com
(Note: This story will be "stickied" at the top of our headlines for the day. Being able to host it is an honor beyond words.)
It was a Blood-Red-letter day for fandom as pros and fans alike gathered to bid a reluctant “Forry-well” to the late great genre-icon Forrest J. Ackerman! Hollywood’s historic Egyptian Theatre served as a temple for the filled-to-capacity ritual sponsored by the American Cinematheque, Profiles in History auction house and the Ackerman estate.
Guests began waiting on line at around 1:00Pm for the scheduled 3:00Pm reception. By 2:30 over 200 bodies had congregated at the doors of the theater. Inside, staff was scrambling. Pieces of Forry’s collection were being displayed (A first edition of Dracula signed by Bram Stoker and almost everyone who ever played the famous Vampire on screen, Bela Lugosi’s Dracula cape and Forry’s fave prop: the “Robotrix” from...
It was a Blood-Red-letter day for fandom as pros and fans alike gathered to bid a reluctant “Forry-well” to the late great genre-icon Forrest J. Ackerman! Hollywood’s historic Egyptian Theatre served as a temple for the filled-to-capacity ritual sponsored by the American Cinematheque, Profiles in History auction house and the Ackerman estate.
Guests began waiting on line at around 1:00Pm for the scheduled 3:00Pm reception. By 2:30 over 200 bodies had congregated at the doors of the theater. Inside, staff was scrambling. Pieces of Forry’s collection were being displayed (A first edition of Dracula signed by Bram Stoker and almost everyone who ever played the famous Vampire on screen, Bela Lugosi’s Dracula cape and Forry’s fave prop: the “Robotrix” from...
- 3/16/2009
- by Uncle Creepy
- DreadCentral.com
"Put It On", Kat DeLuna's new song in which she joins forces with Lil Wayne has been disclosed. Featuring the use of Auto-Tune, it reportedly comes from her soon-to-be-released second studio effort "Inside Out".
Another song which teams up Kat DeLuna and Lil Wayne is a mid-tempo track called "Unstoppable". Released in January as the lead single off "Inside Out", it is also featured in comedy movie "Confessions of a Shopaholic".
DeLuna will drop "Inside Out" this summer under Universal Motown. Beside collaborating with Wayne, she will work with producers RedOne, the mastermind behind her debut album "9 Lives" and Jim Jonsin, the one who helped T.I. recording single "Whatever You Like".
Audio stream of Kat DeLuna's new song "Put It On" featuring Lil Wayne...
Another song which teams up Kat DeLuna and Lil Wayne is a mid-tempo track called "Unstoppable". Released in January as the lead single off "Inside Out", it is also featured in comedy movie "Confessions of a Shopaholic".
DeLuna will drop "Inside Out" this summer under Universal Motown. Beside collaborating with Wayne, she will work with producers RedOne, the mastermind behind her debut album "9 Lives" and Jim Jonsin, the one who helped T.I. recording single "Whatever You Like".
Audio stream of Kat DeLuna's new song "Put It On" featuring Lil Wayne...
- 2/27/2009
- by AceShowbiz.com
- Aceshowbiz
Have a question about gay male entertainment? Ask the Monkey! (Please include your city and state and/or country)
Q: It seems like Robert Pattinson is attempting to sabotage his own success by talking about his poor hygiene habits etc. Perhaps he is just being very honest, which is refreshing. However, I am curious about his sexual orientation. I have seen him with his friend Tom Sturridge, and they seem very close, but I get the feeling that he is being told by his agent and the Twilight machine not to "come out" since his fans are predominantly young females. Haven't we gotten past all that by now? – Eileen, Gainesville, Virginia
A: First, Pattinson is reportedly straight, having been romantically linked with Nina Schubert, Katie Leung, and Camilla Belle; Sturridge is merely his best friend. And actually, I believe him. Why? Because – as you say – he is so damn honest...
Q: It seems like Robert Pattinson is attempting to sabotage his own success by talking about his poor hygiene habits etc. Perhaps he is just being very honest, which is refreshing. However, I am curious about his sexual orientation. I have seen him with his friend Tom Sturridge, and they seem very close, but I get the feeling that he is being told by his agent and the Twilight machine not to "come out" since his fans are predominantly young females. Haven't we gotten past all that by now? – Eileen, Gainesville, Virginia
A: First, Pattinson is reportedly straight, having been romantically linked with Nina Schubert, Katie Leung, and Camilla Belle; Sturridge is merely his best friend. And actually, I believe him. Why? Because – as you say – he is so damn honest...
- 2/24/2009
- by dennis
- The Backlot
Dominican singer Kat DeLuna promised a smashing 2009 and she begins with the music video premiere of "Unstoppable" on January 23. The 21-year-old nabbed the favor of Lil Wayne to be the collaborator of the song and to appear in the video which was shot in Brooklyn.
"Unstoppable" is the first single from DeLuna's sophomore album "Inside Out" which is planned to be released later this summer. The single itself is planned to be spun in radio outlets in March and released as a physical CD on February 24. Speaking about the single DeLuna gushed, "The song is a smash," adding that it is "a little bit different...but crazy."
Apart from Lil Wayne, the singer also spent studio time with Akon, Jim Jonsin and RedOne. After releasing her debut album "9 Lives" in 2007, DeLuna parted ways with her record label Epic to join Universal Motown.
"Unstoppable" is the first single from DeLuna's sophomore album "Inside Out" which is planned to be released later this summer. The single itself is planned to be spun in radio outlets in March and released as a physical CD on February 24. Speaking about the single DeLuna gushed, "The song is a smash," adding that it is "a little bit different...but crazy."
Apart from Lil Wayne, the singer also spent studio time with Akon, Jim Jonsin and RedOne. After releasing her debut album "9 Lives" in 2007, DeLuna parted ways with her record label Epic to join Universal Motown.
- 1/24/2009
- by AceShowbiz.com
- Aceshowbiz
Canadian actress Alison Pill didn't know much about Harvey Milk when she auditioned to play his lesbian campaign manager in Gus Van Sant's biopic Milk. Twenty-two years old, she considered herself fairly informed about the history of the gay rights movement, and yet all she knew about Harvey was something vague about the "Twinkie defense."
Today, Pill is one of Harvey's biggest fans. And she belongs to another fan club, too, one a lot of queer women are going to be joining when they get to know Anne Kronenberg, the curly-haired dyke-on-a-bike who ran Harvey's first successful campaign, played by Pill in the film.
At first glance, it's hard to see much similarity between the two women, although Kronenberg was also 22 years old when tapped by Milk to run his third supervisorial campaign.
Strong, confrontational, and passionate, Anne rode a motorcycle and wore leather jackets. She took on the...
Today, Pill is one of Harvey's biggest fans. And she belongs to another fan club, too, one a lot of queer women are going to be joining when they get to know Anne Kronenberg, the curly-haired dyke-on-a-bike who ran Harvey's first successful campaign, played by Pill in the film.
At first glance, it's hard to see much similarity between the two women, although Kronenberg was also 22 years old when tapped by Milk to run his third supervisorial campaign.
Strong, confrontational, and passionate, Anne rode a motorcycle and wore leather jackets. She took on the...
- 11/25/2008
- by dennis
- AfterEllen.com
OPENS: Friday, May 30 (Magnolia Pictures)
A documentary with both brains and brawn, "Bigger, Stronger, Faster*" provides a lively and incisive look into the nation's growing preoccupation with pumped-up superlatives.
Director and career gym rat Christopher Bell turns a personal odyssey through the performance-enhancing subculture into a freewheeling survey of the state of the juiced union, where Schwarzenegger and Hulk Hogan go mano a mano with Mark McGwire and Barry Bonds.
Paraphrasing from the Six Million Dollar Man's "Better, Stronger, Faster" mantra, the Magnolia Pictures release, which screened this year at Sundance, could go the distance theatrically on the strength of enthusiastic reviews.
Bell, who shares writing credit with director of photography Alex Buono and Tamsin Rawady, grew up in the supersized '80s, worshipping at the butt-kicking muscles of Arnold, the Hulkster and Stallone before trading his Poughkeepsie, N.Y., home for Venice Beach, Calif.
But unlike his similarly pumped siblings Mike aka "Mad Dog" and Mark aka "Smelly", Chris never got into steroids and now questions whether he made the right decision.
His investigation into everything from the congressional hearing into steroid use in baseball to troubling contemporary images of American masculinity (as evidenced by the evolution of the increasingly juiced G.I. Joe doll over the past several decades) yields some unexpectedly thought-provoking results.
We learn, for example, that performance-enhancing drugs have been a fact of life among U.S. Olympic teams dating back to the mid-'50s, when a drunken Soviet coach bragged to an American coach that Russian athletes had been injected with testosterone injections since the mid-'40s.
Soon after that confession, American scientists were hard at work developing a more powerful oral anabolic steroid.
But though Bell tracks down an unusually colorful lineup of talking heads and archival footage, he never veers too far from his own brothers and sympathetic parents, who keep "Bigger, Stronger, Faster", so relatably and affectingly down-to-earth.
DIRECTOR: Christopher Bell SCREENWRITERS: Christopher Bell, Alexander Buono, Tamsin Rawady EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Terrance J. Aarnio, Robert Weiser, Richard Schiffrin PRODUCERS: Alex Buono, Tamsin Rawady, Jim Czarnecki DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY: Alex Buono MUSIC: Dave Porter EDITOR: Brian Singbiel Rated PG-13, 106 minutes.
A documentary with both brains and brawn, "Bigger, Stronger, Faster*" provides a lively and incisive look into the nation's growing preoccupation with pumped-up superlatives.
Director and career gym rat Christopher Bell turns a personal odyssey through the performance-enhancing subculture into a freewheeling survey of the state of the juiced union, where Schwarzenegger and Hulk Hogan go mano a mano with Mark McGwire and Barry Bonds.
Paraphrasing from the Six Million Dollar Man's "Better, Stronger, Faster" mantra, the Magnolia Pictures release, which screened this year at Sundance, could go the distance theatrically on the strength of enthusiastic reviews.
Bell, who shares writing credit with director of photography Alex Buono and Tamsin Rawady, grew up in the supersized '80s, worshipping at the butt-kicking muscles of Arnold, the Hulkster and Stallone before trading his Poughkeepsie, N.Y., home for Venice Beach, Calif.
But unlike his similarly pumped siblings Mike aka "Mad Dog" and Mark aka "Smelly", Chris never got into steroids and now questions whether he made the right decision.
His investigation into everything from the congressional hearing into steroid use in baseball to troubling contemporary images of American masculinity (as evidenced by the evolution of the increasingly juiced G.I. Joe doll over the past several decades) yields some unexpectedly thought-provoking results.
We learn, for example, that performance-enhancing drugs have been a fact of life among U.S. Olympic teams dating back to the mid-'50s, when a drunken Soviet coach bragged to an American coach that Russian athletes had been injected with testosterone injections since the mid-'40s.
Soon after that confession, American scientists were hard at work developing a more powerful oral anabolic steroid.
But though Bell tracks down an unusually colorful lineup of talking heads and archival footage, he never veers too far from his own brothers and sympathetic parents, who keep "Bigger, Stronger, Faster", so relatably and affectingly down-to-earth.
DIRECTOR: Christopher Bell SCREENWRITERS: Christopher Bell, Alexander Buono, Tamsin Rawady EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Terrance J. Aarnio, Robert Weiser, Richard Schiffrin PRODUCERS: Alex Buono, Tamsin Rawady, Jim Czarnecki DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY: Alex Buono MUSIC: Dave Porter EDITOR: Brian Singbiel Rated PG-13, 106 minutes.
- 5/29/2008
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Tribeca Film Festival (Distributed by Magnolia Pictures, produced by BSF Films)
NEW YORK -- This entertaining and journalistically credible documentary about steroid abuse succeeds in immersing viewers in the world of its story. "Bigger, Stronger, Faster*" ranges far and wide in its subject matter: weightlifting, working class relationships and aspirations, Arnold Schwarzenegger's political success and, ultimately, the failure of the American dream to deliver on its promise are just some of the topics covered. This everything-but-the-kitchen-sink approach not only makes for pacey entertainment, it also allows director Christopher Bell to delve deep into the matter at hand.
The docu will have definite appeal to sporty ESPN fans, but it could go wider if marketing stresses that it's not a straightforward documentary about substance abuse. Like last year's Tribeca hit. "The King of Kong", it has both drama and narrative. At root, it's a very personal story about the director and his two brothers, and that could broaden its appeal.
Athletes who take steroids are punished professionally, Bell says, as we like them to succeed under their own steam. But, others counter, what's wrong with taking drugs to become bigger, stronger and faster especially when steroids have never been proved to be harmful? Bell, a former wannabe wrestler, and his two steroid-obsessed brothers back up the science and politics with their touching stories of failure. Bell's point is that to achieve the American dream we have to be the best at what we do, and we can only be the best if we cheat.
Bell does his journalistic work well. He puts tough questions to sportsmen, politicians and his own family. He garners opinions from both sides of the steroids debate -- the athletes tend to be for them, the politicians against them, the doctors in the middle -- and he doesn't shy away from science and statistics. Film clips of Schwarzenegger, Stallone, et al, add a pop flavor.
Director: Christopher Bell. Screenwriters: Christopher Bell, Alex Buono, Tamsin Rawady. Producers: Alex Buono, Tamsin Rawady, Jim Czarnecki. Executive producers: Terrance J Aarnio, Robert Weiser, Richard Schiffrin. Director of photography: Alex Buono. Original music: Dave Porter. Editor: Brian Singbiel. No MPAA rating, 106 minutes.
NEW YORK -- This entertaining and journalistically credible documentary about steroid abuse succeeds in immersing viewers in the world of its story. "Bigger, Stronger, Faster*" ranges far and wide in its subject matter: weightlifting, working class relationships and aspirations, Arnold Schwarzenegger's political success and, ultimately, the failure of the American dream to deliver on its promise are just some of the topics covered. This everything-but-the-kitchen-sink approach not only makes for pacey entertainment, it also allows director Christopher Bell to delve deep into the matter at hand.
The docu will have definite appeal to sporty ESPN fans, but it could go wider if marketing stresses that it's not a straightforward documentary about substance abuse. Like last year's Tribeca hit. "The King of Kong", it has both drama and narrative. At root, it's a very personal story about the director and his two brothers, and that could broaden its appeal.
Athletes who take steroids are punished professionally, Bell says, as we like them to succeed under their own steam. But, others counter, what's wrong with taking drugs to become bigger, stronger and faster especially when steroids have never been proved to be harmful? Bell, a former wannabe wrestler, and his two steroid-obsessed brothers back up the science and politics with their touching stories of failure. Bell's point is that to achieve the American dream we have to be the best at what we do, and we can only be the best if we cheat.
Bell does his journalistic work well. He puts tough questions to sportsmen, politicians and his own family. He garners opinions from both sides of the steroids debate -- the athletes tend to be for them, the politicians against them, the doctors in the middle -- and he doesn't shy away from science and statistics. Film clips of Schwarzenegger, Stallone, et al, add a pop flavor.
Director: Christopher Bell. Screenwriters: Christopher Bell, Alex Buono, Tamsin Rawady. Producers: Alex Buono, Tamsin Rawady, Jim Czarnecki. Executive producers: Terrance J Aarnio, Robert Weiser, Richard Schiffrin. Director of photography: Alex Buono. Original music: Dave Porter. Editor: Brian Singbiel. No MPAA rating, 106 minutes.
Magnolia Pictures has acquired worldwide rights to the Sundance steroid documentary Bigger, Stronger, Faster*.
The film, directed by Christopher Bell, was one of the most buzzworthy at January's festival.
Bigger focuses on the rampant steroid scandals that have dominated the headlines lately as well as the American obsession with winning at all costs. Bell draws from his own personal experience as the brother of two siblings who used performance-enhancing drugs.
Produced by Alex Buono, Tamsin Rawady and Jim Czarnecki, the docu also features interviews with such athletes as Barry Bonds, Floyd Landis, Carl Lewis and Ben Johnson.
Magnolia, the theatrical and home entertainment distribution arm of the Wagner/Cuban Cos., will release the film this year in the U.S. It will be broadcast on HDNet after its release.
"It's informative, fascinating and hysterical -- all the things a movie about steroids should be," Cuban said.
The film, directed by Christopher Bell, was one of the most buzzworthy at January's festival.
Bigger focuses on the rampant steroid scandals that have dominated the headlines lately as well as the American obsession with winning at all costs. Bell draws from his own personal experience as the brother of two siblings who used performance-enhancing drugs.
Produced by Alex Buono, Tamsin Rawady and Jim Czarnecki, the docu also features interviews with such athletes as Barry Bonds, Floyd Landis, Carl Lewis and Ben Johnson.
Magnolia, the theatrical and home entertainment distribution arm of the Wagner/Cuban Cos., will release the film this year in the U.S. It will be broadcast on HDNet after its release.
"It's informative, fascinating and hysterical -- all the things a movie about steroids should be," Cuban said.
- 2/28/2008
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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