Fans of quality sports documentaries can mark their calendars for Tuesday, October 2, when Espn's "30 for 30" franchise returns. Originally designed as a series of 30 documentaries tied to Espn's 30th anniversary, the "30 for 30" brand was resurrected this spring and will be back for what the network is calling "Vol. II." Up first for the new run of "30 for 30" docs is "Broke," from Billy Corben, who chronicled the University of Miami football program in "The U" for the first cycle. In "Broke," Corben focuses on once-wealthy sports stars who have found themselves in bankruptcy....
- 8/4/2012
- by Daniel Fienberg
- Hitfix
Utah is going to get a booty-full dose of Miami this January. "Life and Freaky Times of Uncle Luke," a short by local indie film outfit Borscht, was selected for the Sundance Film Festival's 2012 Short Film Program. It joins 31 shorts from the U.S. chosen from over 4,000 submissions.
In the film, Luther Campbell, the former 2 Live Crew frontman and recent Miami mayoral candidate, revolutionizes hip-hop, fights for first amendment rights, and launches Miami into a golden era as mayor. A working cut of the film screened last April at the 2011 Borscht Film Festival at the Arsht Center's packed Knight Concert Hall.
The film's narrative peaks when South Florida's Turkey Point nuclear plant explodes, turning Miami into a radioactive wasteland. Uncle Luke must use his booty bass powers to save the city using old-fashioned methods of repopulation. It's a very Miami twist on the 1962 French science fiction short "La Jetee," which also inspired "12 Monkeys.
In the film, Luther Campbell, the former 2 Live Crew frontman and recent Miami mayoral candidate, revolutionizes hip-hop, fights for first amendment rights, and launches Miami into a golden era as mayor. A working cut of the film screened last April at the 2011 Borscht Film Festival at the Arsht Center's packed Knight Concert Hall.
The film's narrative peaks when South Florida's Turkey Point nuclear plant explodes, turning Miami into a radioactive wasteland. Uncle Luke must use his booty bass powers to save the city using old-fashioned methods of repopulation. It's a very Miami twist on the 1962 French science fiction short "La Jetee," which also inspired "12 Monkeys.
- 12/7/2011
- by Amanda McCorquodale
- Huffington Post
Documentary filmmaker Billy Corben kicked off his career with 2001’s Raw Deal: A Question Of Consent, a provocative (and risible) Sundance conversation-starter that used real footage to determine the verity of a rape charge at a University Of Florida fraternity. From there, Corben firmly established himself as a chronicler—and even champion—of outlaws, from the drug smugglers of Cocaine Cowboys, Cocaine Cowboys II, and Square Grouper: The Godfathers Of Ganja to the notorious Miami Hurricanes football teams of the ’80s in the 30 For 30 doc “The U.” His latest effort, Limelight, extends some more sympathy to the ...
- 9/22/2011
- avclub.com
Just days after Magnolia Pictures inked a deal to release Jiro Dreams Of Sushi, which is also making its world premier at the Tribeca Film Fest this week, they have also picked up Limelight, a new documentary by Billy Corben that tells the story of the former New York City club kingpin, Peter Gatien. Magnolia purchased the world wide release rights from rakontur, a small media studio owned by Corben and his partner, Alfred Spellman. They aim to have the film out in theaters by August. Gist: Peter Gatien started in the early 1970s as a jean retail store entrepreneur in his hometown of Cornwall, Ontario, and grew into one of the most prominent nightclub moguls in the Us, owning not only The Limelight, but Club USA, Tunnel and Palladium as well, all of which were home to countless illegal activities. Gatien was eventually shut down and deported back to Canada for tax evasion,...
- 4/25/2011
- IONCINEMA.com
Magnolia Pictures announced Tuesday the acquisition of global rights to "Square Grouper: The Godfathers of Ganja," Billy Corben and Alfred Spellman's documentary about South Floridian pot smuggling in the 1970s. Corben and Spellman are best known for the TV docu-series "Cocaine Cowboys," as well as the Espn "30 for 30" installment "The U," which chronicled the Miami Hurricane football dynasty. The film will make its debut at SXSW, then be distributed by Magnolia later this year. Here's the full Magnolia announcement: Magnolia Pictures Acquires World Rights to Marijuana Doc Square Grouper: The Godfathers Of...
- 2/8/2011
- The Wrap
Magnolia Pictured has picked up world rights to the documentary "Square Grouper: The Godfathers of Ganja," from Billy Corben and Alfred Spellman, the filmmakers behind "Cocaine Boys" and Espn's "The U," ahead of its world premiere at SXSW. "Square Grouper" tells three separate stories to present a portrait of South Florida's pot smuggling culture in the 1970s. "Billy and Alfred have struck gold again with 'Square Grooper.' They are consistently ...
- 2/8/2011
- Indiewire
In this day and age, it's difficult for men to agree on much of anything, but we all feel that the Miami Hurricanes are the greatest college football team of all time. Yeah? A new feature-length doc entitled The U about the University of Miami's equal parts legendary and notorious football program more than upholds this notion. As the latest entry in Espn's 30 for 30 showcase, The U joins other sports documentaries made by reputable and well known filmmakers the likes of Peter Berg, Barry Levinson and forthcoming ones by Morgan Freeman and Jeff Tremaine of Jackass. After the jump is a choice clip from The U and an interview with its producer, Alfred Spellman, who has made a name for himself alongside pal and U director, Billy Corben, with their Miami-based production company rakontur. Spellman discusses his doc, and the team itself within a historical and cultural context. He also...
- 12/16/2009
- by Hunter Stephenson
- Slash Film
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.