Morgan Spurlock, a renowned documentary filmmaker, passed away on Thursday in upstate New York due to cancer complications. He was 53 years old. Spurlock was celebrated for his impactful work, especially his 2004 film Super Size Me, which captured his personal experiment with eating McDonald’s food every day for a month. The family of Spurlock confirmed his death. It was a sad day, as we said goodbye to my brother Morgan, said Craig Spurlock, who collaborated with him on several projects. Morgan gave so much through his art, ideas, and generosity. The world has lost a true creative genius and...
- 6/7/2024
- by Steve Delikson
- TVovermind.com
Emanating from their studio in Cincinnati, Ohio, The History of Bad Ideas sees hosts Jason, Jeff and Blake talk about all things geeky on their podcast. Whether it’s rumours of the latest comic book movies, debating who really is the worst villain of all time, discussing the latest comic issues or just wondering about life in general, you are sure to have a fun time with them! In theory.
If you haven’t listened to the show before – why not? – you can check out previous episodes of The History of Bad Ideas podcast on iTunes and look out for new episodes here on Nerdly each and every week…
Episode 544: Clear Your Gallbladders!
The Hobi Gang is together again and debating the best Ghostbuster’s film, Breath of Silence for Angel Hernandez’s career, the complicated life of Morgan Spurlock, and the lack of love for Ryan Reynold’s films.
If you haven’t listened to the show before – why not? – you can check out previous episodes of The History of Bad Ideas podcast on iTunes and look out for new episodes here on Nerdly each and every week…
Episode 544: Clear Your Gallbladders!
The Hobi Gang is together again and debating the best Ghostbuster’s film, Breath of Silence for Angel Hernandez’s career, the complicated life of Morgan Spurlock, and the lack of love for Ryan Reynold’s films.
- 5/30/2024
- by Phil Wheat
- Nerdly
Get in touch to send in cinephile news and discoveries. To keep up with our latest features, sign up for the Weekly Edit newsletter and follow us @mubinotebook on Twitter and Instagram.NEWSNorma Rae.The Academy Foundation Workers Union has approved its first contract, including structured raises, extended leave time, increased job security, and other benefits.Just weeks after the conclusion of the festival, Hot Docs has announced it will lay off staff and temporarily shutter its year-round cinema in Toronto.The Hollywood Commission, chaired by Anita Hill, has introduced an online tool to report workplace abuse in the American motion-picture industry.The organizing wave in New York cinemas continues as the Cinema Village union becomes official. In PRODUCTIONIn his signature direct-oblique style, David Lynch is teasing “something…for you to see and hear,” which “will be coming along” on June 5.REMEMBERINGSuper Size Me.Morgan Spurlock has died at 53. The filmmaker followed his debut feature,...
- 5/29/2024
- MUBI
Morgan Spurlock, acclaimed filmmaker and director of the groundbreaking documentary Super Size Me, has passed away at age 53 from cancer complications, according to his family. He died surrounded by loved ones in New York on Thursday. Early Recognition and Acclaim Spurlock’s debut film, Super Size Me, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2004 and rapidly gained international fame. The film documented his experiment of consuming only McDonald’s for 30 days, exploring the effects on his body and contributing to the national dialogue about fast food and obesity. His brother Craig Spurlock reflected on his impact: It was a...
- 5/27/2024
- by Steve Delikson
- TVovermind.com
Morgan Spurlock, the filmmaker famed for Super Size Me, finalized his divorce from Sara Bernstein just months before his untimely death at 53. Spurlock, who passed away on May 23 in New York due to complications of cancer, leaves behind a complex legacy. From Oscar Nominee to Controversy Spurlock gained global fame with his 2004 documentary Super Size Me. The film, where he ate McDonald’s food exclusively for 30 days, exposed the harsh realities of fast food. As a result, It definitely changed people’s perceptions of fast food. People started thinking about what they’re eating. A Life Fraught with Challenges...
- 5/26/2024
- by Steve Delikson
- TVovermind.com
Many people might not be familiar with the name Morgan Spurlock but in the early 2000s, Spurlock was the talk of the town. Being a documentary filmmaker and television producer, Spurlock received several accolades throughout his career. His greatest feat, however, was creating the iconic documentary Super Size Me.
Morgan Spurlock in a still from Super Size Me | The Con
Since it was the early 2000s, people hadn’t really given importance to the unhealthiness of fast food or junk food. Being a visionary person, Morgan Spurlock decided to jump on that opportunity and created the 2004 film Super Size Me. His body had some great side effects and Spurlock revealed that his body lost resilience after some time!
Morgan Spurlock’s Super Size Me Cost Him Greatly
For those of you who do not know what Super Size Me is, it’s a 2004 documentary film where Morgan Spurlock eats food from McDonald’s for 30 days straight.
Morgan Spurlock in a still from Super Size Me | The Con
Since it was the early 2000s, people hadn’t really given importance to the unhealthiness of fast food or junk food. Being a visionary person, Morgan Spurlock decided to jump on that opportunity and created the 2004 film Super Size Me. His body had some great side effects and Spurlock revealed that his body lost resilience after some time!
Morgan Spurlock’s Super Size Me Cost Him Greatly
For those of you who do not know what Super Size Me is, it’s a 2004 documentary film where Morgan Spurlock eats food from McDonald’s for 30 days straight.
- 5/25/2024
- by Visarg Acharya
- FandomWire
Morgan Spurlock who was known for his quirky documentaries, died this Thursday from complications of cancer. In 2004, he created a gem with Super Size Me, in this documentary, Spurlock conducted an experiment to uncover the truth about the effects of junk food, particularly McDonald’s, on the human body. The film, released in 2004, was a great success and resonated with people, leading to a drop in McDonald’s sales.
Morgan Spurlock in Super Size Me | The Con, Samuel Goldwyn Films
What was impressive is that its impact was visible in real-time, shedding light on how this film connected with the audiences. However, despite the documentary’s success, this social experiment completely ruined Spurlock’s body and mind.
How Morgan Spurlock’s Super Size Me Change the World One Burger At a Time!
Morgan Spurlock‘s groundbreaking documentary shook things up twenty years ago by him committing to a month of nothing but McDonald’s meals,...
Morgan Spurlock in Super Size Me | The Con, Samuel Goldwyn Films
What was impressive is that its impact was visible in real-time, shedding light on how this film connected with the audiences. However, despite the documentary’s success, this social experiment completely ruined Spurlock’s body and mind.
How Morgan Spurlock’s Super Size Me Change the World One Burger At a Time!
Morgan Spurlock‘s groundbreaking documentary shook things up twenty years ago by him committing to a month of nothing but McDonald’s meals,...
- 5/25/2024
- by Sampurna Banerjee
- FandomWire
The death of film-maker Morgan Spurlock leaves behind a documentary that pointed fingers at McDonalds with them later pointing at him as well
Super Size Me was a terrific cheeky stunt – small wonder Morgan Spurlock never matched itSuper Size Me director Morgan Spurlock dies aged 53
When a person shuffles off their mortal coil, they count themselves lucky to have some quantifiable or tangible expression of their legacy – an accomplishment more expansively influential than raising a single child or creating a body of work. In the case of documentarian Morgan Spurlock, who died this week from cancer-related health complications, it would not be exaggeration to claim that he singlehandedly killed the super-sized meal at McDonald’s.
Cashiers at America’s favorite fast-food chain stopped offering customers mega portions for mini charges six weeks after the Sundance film festival premiere of Spurlock’s 2004 exposé Super Size Me, which added an epilogue title card...
Super Size Me was a terrific cheeky stunt – small wonder Morgan Spurlock never matched itSuper Size Me director Morgan Spurlock dies aged 53
When a person shuffles off their mortal coil, they count themselves lucky to have some quantifiable or tangible expression of their legacy – an accomplishment more expansively influential than raising a single child or creating a body of work. In the case of documentarian Morgan Spurlock, who died this week from cancer-related health complications, it would not be exaggeration to claim that he singlehandedly killed the super-sized meal at McDonald’s.
Cashiers at America’s favorite fast-food chain stopped offering customers mega portions for mini charges six weeks after the Sundance film festival premiere of Spurlock’s 2004 exposé Super Size Me, which added an epilogue title card...
- 5/25/2024
- by Charles Bramesco
- The Guardian - Film News
Acclaimed filmmaker Morgan Spurlock, best known for his documentary Super Size Me, died on May 23 in New York City at the age of 53 from cancer complications.
Spurlock’s family announced his death with his brother Craig’s statement, “It was a sad day, as we said goodbye to my brother Morgan. Morgan gave so much through his art, ideas and generosity. The world has lost a true creative genius and a special man. I am so proud to have worked together with him.”
Spurlock’s 2004 film Super Size Me catapulted him to critical acclaim and earned him an Oscar nomination for Best Documentary Feature. In the documentary, Spurlock challenged himself to eat only meals from McDonald’s for an entire month to shed light on the fast food industry’s impact on health and wellness. The film’s provocative and insightful approach made it a landmark in the genre.
Beyond Super Size Me,...
Spurlock’s family announced his death with his brother Craig’s statement, “It was a sad day, as we said goodbye to my brother Morgan. Morgan gave so much through his art, ideas and generosity. The world has lost a true creative genius and a special man. I am so proud to have worked together with him.”
Spurlock’s 2004 film Super Size Me catapulted him to critical acclaim and earned him an Oscar nomination for Best Documentary Feature. In the documentary, Spurlock challenged himself to eat only meals from McDonald’s for an entire month to shed light on the fast food industry’s impact on health and wellness. The film’s provocative and insightful approach made it a landmark in the genre.
Beyond Super Size Me,...
- 5/25/2024
- by Baila Eve Zisman
- Uinterview
Documentarians Brett Morgen and Alex Gibney paid tribute to “Super Size Me” filmmaker Morgan Spurlock, who died at 53 on Thursday of complications from cancer.
Morgen — whose films include “The Kid Stays in the Picture,” about legendary producer Robert Evans; “Jane,” about celebrated anthropologist Jane Goodall; and “Moonage Daydream,” about David Bowie — wrote that the Oscar-nominated Spurlock “actually changed the world with his art.”
He was referring to the 2004 film “Super Size Me,” in which Spurlock ate only at McDonald’s for 30 days. After the Oscar-nominated movie’s release and gargantuan success, the fast food chain discontinued its “super size” promotional campaign.
“Morgan Spurlock achieved what most artists only dream: he actually changed the world with his art. He was an amazing father, brother, friend and one of the most important and influential filmmakers of my time. My heart breaks for his family and friends,” Morgen wrote on social media.
“Going Clear” director Alex Gibney tweeted,...
Morgen — whose films include “The Kid Stays in the Picture,” about legendary producer Robert Evans; “Jane,” about celebrated anthropologist Jane Goodall; and “Moonage Daydream,” about David Bowie — wrote that the Oscar-nominated Spurlock “actually changed the world with his art.”
He was referring to the 2004 film “Super Size Me,” in which Spurlock ate only at McDonald’s for 30 days. After the Oscar-nominated movie’s release and gargantuan success, the fast food chain discontinued its “super size” promotional campaign.
“Morgan Spurlock achieved what most artists only dream: he actually changed the world with his art. He was an amazing father, brother, friend and one of the most important and influential filmmakers of my time. My heart breaks for his family and friends,” Morgen wrote on social media.
“Going Clear” director Alex Gibney tweeted,...
- 5/25/2024
- by Sharon Knolle
- The Wrap
The entertainment industry is mourning documentarian Morgan Spurlock.
Spurlock, best known for his Academy Award-nominated documentary Super Size Me, in which he consumed fast food for 30 days to highlight its dangers, died on Thursday at the age of 53 from cancer.
“It was a sad day, as we said goodbye to my brother Morgan,” his brother Craig Spurlock said in a family statement. “Morgan gave so much through his art, ideas and generosity. Today the world has lost a true creative genius and a special man. I am so proud to have worked together with him.”
After the news broke of Spurlock’s death, The Simpsons writer and executive producer Al Jean tweeted, “V v v sad to learn of the passing of Morgan Spurlock. A very talented, funny and brilliant man and a true friend to The Simpsons. A great loss.”
And Alex Gibney remarked simply, “Devastated to hear of...
Spurlock, best known for his Academy Award-nominated documentary Super Size Me, in which he consumed fast food for 30 days to highlight its dangers, died on Thursday at the age of 53 from cancer.
“It was a sad day, as we said goodbye to my brother Morgan,” his brother Craig Spurlock said in a family statement. “Morgan gave so much through his art, ideas and generosity. Today the world has lost a true creative genius and a special man. I am so proud to have worked together with him.”
After the news broke of Spurlock’s death, The Simpsons writer and executive producer Al Jean tweeted, “V v v sad to learn of the passing of Morgan Spurlock. A very talented, funny and brilliant man and a true friend to The Simpsons. A great loss.”
And Alex Gibney remarked simply, “Devastated to hear of...
- 5/25/2024
- by Tatiana Tenreyro
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Morgan Spurlock (right) with Michael Moore and Jon Alpert Photo: Anne Katrin Titze
Morgan Spurlock, the documentarian behind Super Size me and Freakonomics, has died at the age of 53, his family revealed today.
"Morgan gave so much through his art, ideas, and generosity," said his brother and sometime artistic collaborator, Craig Spurlock. "The world has lost a true creative genius and a special man. I am so proud to have worked together with him."
Best known for attempting to live for a month on only Macdonalds super size meals, Spurlock went on to make films including Where In The World Is Osama Bin Laden?, Comic-Con Episode IV: A Fan's Hope and boy band profile One Direction: This Is Us. His career faltered after he confessed to sexual harassment at the height of the #MeToo movement, a choice which he said had been intended to emphasise the need for soul-searching and...
Morgan Spurlock, the documentarian behind Super Size me and Freakonomics, has died at the age of 53, his family revealed today.
"Morgan gave so much through his art, ideas, and generosity," said his brother and sometime artistic collaborator, Craig Spurlock. "The world has lost a true creative genius and a special man. I am so proud to have worked together with him."
Best known for attempting to live for a month on only Macdonalds super size meals, Spurlock went on to make films including Where In The World Is Osama Bin Laden?, Comic-Con Episode IV: A Fan's Hope and boy band profile One Direction: This Is Us. His career faltered after he confessed to sexual harassment at the height of the #MeToo movement, a choice which he said had been intended to emphasise the need for soul-searching and...
- 5/24/2024
- by Jennie Kermode
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
When Morgan Spurlock, who died May 23 from complications of cancer at age 53, first entered the documentary space in 2004 with “Super Size Me,” he managed to turn the film’s success into a career. A career that was not only prolific, but also lucrative — a rarity, to this day, in the field.
The secret to Spurlock’s success? He was not only a talented filmmaker, but also a brilliant businessman.
Just 11 months after the Sundance premiere of “Super Size Me,” Spurlock partnered with FX on the docuseries “30 Days,” which chronicled the journey of an individual situated in an environment antithetical to his background. The first season of the series began airing in 2005 and included episodes about a Christian living as a Muslim and a conservative heterosexual living with a gay man. In total, FX chairman John Landgraf ordered three seasons of “30 Days,” which was executive produced by Ben Silverman and R.J. Cutler.
The secret to Spurlock’s success? He was not only a talented filmmaker, but also a brilliant businessman.
Just 11 months after the Sundance premiere of “Super Size Me,” Spurlock partnered with FX on the docuseries “30 Days,” which chronicled the journey of an individual situated in an environment antithetical to his background. The first season of the series began airing in 2005 and included episodes about a Christian living as a Muslim and a conservative heterosexual living with a gay man. In total, FX chairman John Landgraf ordered three seasons of “30 Days,” which was executive produced by Ben Silverman and R.J. Cutler.
- 5/24/2024
- by Addie Morfoot
- Variety Film + TV
Michael Spurlock has a penchant for coming out with movies that have provoked the minds of people around the globe. The Super Size Me franchise is an instance of how he’s not afraid of blowing off the lid from topics that not many want to talk about. His demise this Thursday will mark an end to his illustrious run. But looking back at one of his ventures, Super Size Me 2: Holy Chicken, the movie lost out on something big, because of one reason.
Morgan Spurlock passed away at the age of 53
Morgan Spurlock died of cancer complications
Morgan Spurlock had been suffering from cancer for the past few years of his life, with his friends and family by his side. And on 23rd May, he breathed his last. His family brought the news to light that he had passed away due to the complications arising out of cancer.
Morgan Spurlock passed away at the age of 53
Morgan Spurlock died of cancer complications
Morgan Spurlock had been suffering from cancer for the past few years of his life, with his friends and family by his side. And on 23rd May, he breathed his last. His family brought the news to light that he had passed away due to the complications arising out of cancer.
- 5/24/2024
- by Smriti Sneh
- FandomWire
In an era before social media, his wacky but issue-based fast-food documentary made a real impact on how the world eats
Super Size Me director Morgan Spurlock dies aged 53
Twenty years ago, no one was a bigger beneficiary of the Michael Moore documentary boom than gonzo doc comic Morgan Spurlock who royally punk’d the McDonald’s corporate giant with his uproarious 2004 film Super Size Me. It was a piece of cheek that took advantage of the anti-corporate, anti-fast-food feeling that had been growing, especially in this country since the McLibel trial.
He embarrassed the McDonald’s organisation and single-handedly pressured them into withdrawing their mega-portion policies and even into offering unconvincing “healthy” options. He forced it to eat a triple Mac of shame with a side order of contrition. And it was happening in a pre-social-media age when this kind of proto-viral populist uprising was very difficult to create.
Super Size Me director Morgan Spurlock dies aged 53
Twenty years ago, no one was a bigger beneficiary of the Michael Moore documentary boom than gonzo doc comic Morgan Spurlock who royally punk’d the McDonald’s corporate giant with his uproarious 2004 film Super Size Me. It was a piece of cheek that took advantage of the anti-corporate, anti-fast-food feeling that had been growing, especially in this country since the McLibel trial.
He embarrassed the McDonald’s organisation and single-handedly pressured them into withdrawing their mega-portion policies and even into offering unconvincing “healthy” options. He forced it to eat a triple Mac of shame with a side order of contrition. And it was happening in a pre-social-media age when this kind of proto-viral populist uprising was very difficult to create.
- 5/24/2024
- by Peter Bradshaw
- The Guardian - Film News
Sad news has hit the drive-thru line of Hollywood as we learn about the untimely passing of Morgan Spurlock, the Oscar-nominated director of the eye-opening documentary Super Size Me. According to his family, Spurlock passed away at 53 after losing a private battle with cancer.
In a statement to the press, Spurlock’s family said the risk-taking filmmaker “passed away peacefully in New York surrounded by family and friends” on Thursday. Spurlock was undergoing chemotherapy treatments earlier this year, though the cancer proved too much in the end.
“It was a sad day, as we said goodbye to my brother Morgan,” said Craig Spurlock, one of the filmmaker’s older brothers. The sibling duo joined forces on several documentary projects, including Morgan Spurlock Inside Man and 7 Deadly Sins. “Morgan gave so much through his art, ideas, and generosity. The world has lost a true creative genius and a special man.
In a statement to the press, Spurlock’s family said the risk-taking filmmaker “passed away peacefully in New York surrounded by family and friends” on Thursday. Spurlock was undergoing chemotherapy treatments earlier this year, though the cancer proved too much in the end.
“It was a sad day, as we said goodbye to my brother Morgan,” said Craig Spurlock, one of the filmmaker’s older brothers. The sibling duo joined forces on several documentary projects, including Morgan Spurlock Inside Man and 7 Deadly Sins. “Morgan gave so much through his art, ideas, and generosity. The world has lost a true creative genius and a special man.
- 5/24/2024
- by Steve Seigh
- JoBlo.com
Morgan Spurlock, best known for the 2004 documentary Super Size Me, has died following a private battle with cancer, Deadline reports. He was 53 years old.
Spurlock directed and starred in the aforementioned Super Size Me, which followed the filmmaker over a 30-day period in which he only consumed McDonald’s food and charted the drastic changes in his physical and psychological health. The film earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Documentary Feature.
More from TVLineTV Stars We Lost in 2024<em>Spacey Unmasked</em>: 8 Shocking Allegations From the Kevin Spacey Documentary Streaming on MaxJohnny Wactor, General Hospital Actor, Dead at 37
His filmography...
Spurlock directed and starred in the aforementioned Super Size Me, which followed the filmmaker over a 30-day period in which he only consumed McDonald’s food and charted the drastic changes in his physical and psychological health. The film earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Documentary Feature.
More from TVLineTV Stars We Lost in 2024<em>Spacey Unmasked</em>: 8 Shocking Allegations From the Kevin Spacey Documentary Streaming on MaxJohnny Wactor, General Hospital Actor, Dead at 37
His filmography...
- 5/24/2024
- by Ryan Schwartz
- TVLine.com
“Super Size Me” director Morgan Spurlock is dead at the age of 53 following a battle with cancer, according to a family statement provided to Deadline.
The Academy Award nominee “passed away peacefully in New York surrounded by family and friends,” the statement read. “Morgan gave so much through his art, ideas, and generosity,” his brother Craig Spurlock is quoted as saying.
Spurlock shot to fame with this 2004 documentary “Super Size Me,” which took a personality-driven approach to examining the way that corporate America incentivizes unhealthy eating as epitomized by McDonald’s then-promotion to “super size” portion sizes for french fries and soft drinks. Following in the wake of Michael Moore, Spurlock adopted a style of putting himself on camera as the host leading his viewers through an exploration of the subject. It was a stunt as well: For the documentary, he engaged in eating only McDonald’s food for 30 days.
That...
The Academy Award nominee “passed away peacefully in New York surrounded by family and friends,” the statement read. “Morgan gave so much through his art, ideas, and generosity,” his brother Craig Spurlock is quoted as saying.
Spurlock shot to fame with this 2004 documentary “Super Size Me,” which took a personality-driven approach to examining the way that corporate America incentivizes unhealthy eating as epitomized by McDonald’s then-promotion to “super size” portion sizes for french fries and soft drinks. Following in the wake of Michael Moore, Spurlock adopted a style of putting himself on camera as the host leading his viewers through an exploration of the subject. It was a stunt as well: For the documentary, he engaged in eating only McDonald’s food for 30 days.
That...
- 5/24/2024
- by Christian Blauvelt
- Indiewire
Morgan Spurlock, the independent filmmaker who playfully critiqued consumerism and capitalism in documentaries like Super Size Me and The Greatest Movie Ever Sold, has died at the age of 53.
Spurlock’s family confirmed the director’s death, adding that Spurlock died Thursday surrounded by friends and family in New York. The cause of death was complications from cancer.
“It was a sad day, as we said goodbye to my brother Morgan,” his brother and frequent collaborator Craig Spurlock said in a statement. “Morgan gave so much through his art, ideas,...
Spurlock’s family confirmed the director’s death, adding that Spurlock died Thursday surrounded by friends and family in New York. The cause of death was complications from cancer.
“It was a sad day, as we said goodbye to my brother Morgan,” his brother and frequent collaborator Craig Spurlock said in a statement. “Morgan gave so much through his art, ideas,...
- 5/24/2024
- by Daniel Kreps
- Rollingstone.com
Documentarian Morgan Spurlock has died. The award-winning filmmaker known for his 2004 documentary Super Size Me was 53 years old. Spurlock died at home surrounded by family and friends on May 23, 2024, in New York, from complications of cancer. “It was a sad day, as we said goodbye to my brother Morgan,” Craig Spurlock shared in a public statement. “Morgan gave so much through his art, ideas, and generosity. The world has lost a true creative genius and a special man. I am so proud to have worked together with him.” Where in the World Is Osama Bin Laden? (©Weinstein Company/courtesy Everett Collection) Spurlock received critical acclaim for his 2004 documentary Super Size Me, for which he was nominated for an Oscar. The film changed the way America looked at fast food and is still used in middle and high school health classes as a teaching tool. In Super Size Me, Spurlock changed his own diet,...
- 5/24/2024
- TV Insider
Morgan Spurlock, the Academy Award-nominated documentarian, has died at the age of 53 due to complications from cancer.
Spurlock is perhaps best known for his 2004 film Super Size Me in which he consumed only McDonald’s food for a period of 30 days. The documentary was nominated for an Oscar and won Best Documentary Screenplay from the Writers Guild of America. It also grossed more than $20 million at the box office, making it one of the most commercially successful documentaries of all time.
Spurlock initially began his career as a playwright after attending New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. Prior to helming Super Size Me in 2004, he created the dare show I Bet You Will, which initially began as a webseries and was then picked up by MTV.
The success of Super Size Me led Spurlock to become of the Hollywood’s most in-demand documentarians. In the years that followed,...
Spurlock is perhaps best known for his 2004 film Super Size Me in which he consumed only McDonald’s food for a period of 30 days. The documentary was nominated for an Oscar and won Best Documentary Screenplay from the Writers Guild of America. It also grossed more than $20 million at the box office, making it one of the most commercially successful documentaries of all time.
Spurlock initially began his career as a playwright after attending New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. Prior to helming Super Size Me in 2004, he created the dare show I Bet You Will, which initially began as a webseries and was then picked up by MTV.
The success of Super Size Me led Spurlock to become of the Hollywood’s most in-demand documentarians. In the years that followed,...
- 5/24/2024
- by Scoop Harrison
- Consequence - Film News
Documentary filmmaker Morgan Spurlock, whose first feature film was the Oscar-nominated Super Size Me that shifted public perceptions of junk food, especially the McDonald’s chain, died Thursday in upstate New York from complications of cancer. He was 53.
“It was a sad day, as we said goodbye to my brother Morgan,” his brother Craig Spurlock said in a family statement. “Morgan gave so much through his art, ideas and generosity. Today the world has lost a true creative genius and a special man. I am so proud to have worked together with him.”
The family said Spurlock passed away peacefully surrounded by family and friends.
Spurlock, a native West Virginian, graduated from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts to pursue his dream of making movies. After working primarily in TV, he released Super Size Me in 2004, which featured Spurlock eating only McDonald’s for 30 days. Soon after he shot his film,...
“It was a sad day, as we said goodbye to my brother Morgan,” his brother Craig Spurlock said in a family statement. “Morgan gave so much through his art, ideas and generosity. Today the world has lost a true creative genius and a special man. I am so proud to have worked together with him.”
The family said Spurlock passed away peacefully surrounded by family and friends.
Spurlock, a native West Virginian, graduated from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts to pursue his dream of making movies. After working primarily in TV, he released Super Size Me in 2004, which featured Spurlock eating only McDonald’s for 30 days. Soon after he shot his film,...
- 5/24/2024
- by Jackie Strause
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
US documentary filmmaker Morgan Spurlock has died at the age of 53.
The director, best known for his Oscar-nominated film Super Size Me, died from complications with cancer on May 23, his family said in a statement.
Spurlock began his career as a playwright before rising to international prominence with his fast food documentary Super Size Me, about McDonalds, which premiered at Sundance in 2004 and garnered several accolades including best documentary screenplay from the Writers Guild of America.
His other documentaries include Where In The World Is Osama Bin Laden?; The Greatest Movie Ever Sold; and Super Size Me 2: Holy Chicken!...
The director, best known for his Oscar-nominated film Super Size Me, died from complications with cancer on May 23, his family said in a statement.
Spurlock began his career as a playwright before rising to international prominence with his fast food documentary Super Size Me, about McDonalds, which premiered at Sundance in 2004 and garnered several accolades including best documentary screenplay from the Writers Guild of America.
His other documentaries include Where In The World Is Osama Bin Laden?; The Greatest Movie Ever Sold; and Super Size Me 2: Holy Chicken!...
- 5/24/2024
- ScreenDaily
Spurlock won acclaim for a series of issue-based documentaries and TV shows, and made a 3D film about boyband One Direction
• Super Size Me was a terrific cheeky stunt – small wonder Morgan Spurlock never matched it
Documentary-maker Morgan Spurlock, the director of films including Super Size Me and Where in the World Is Osama bin Laden? died on Thursday aged 53.
His family announced in a statement that he “passed away peacefully surrounded by family and friends in New York from complications of cancer.”...
• Super Size Me was a terrific cheeky stunt – small wonder Morgan Spurlock never matched it
Documentary-maker Morgan Spurlock, the director of films including Super Size Me and Where in the World Is Osama bin Laden? died on Thursday aged 53.
His family announced in a statement that he “passed away peacefully surrounded by family and friends in New York from complications of cancer.”...
- 5/24/2024
- by Andrew Pulver
- The Guardian - Film News
Morgan Spurlock, a documentary filmmaker who captured his own psychological and physical symptoms from eating McDonald’s every day for a month in the Oscar-nominated 2004 feature “Super Size Me,” died Thursday in upstate New York due to complications of cancer. He was 53.
Spurlock’s family confirmed his death.
“It was a sad day, as we said goodbye to my brother Morgan,” says Craig Spurlock, who worked with his brother on several projects. “Morgan gave so much through his art, ideas and generosity. Today the world has lost a true creative genius and a special man. I am so proud to have worked together with him.”
Spurlock rose to prominence for “Super Size Me,” in which he conducted an experiment involving consuming only food from McDonald’s for a 30-day stretch. The rules also included the stipulation that Spurlock could not refuse the “super-size” option if prompted during the transaction. The filmmaker...
Spurlock’s family confirmed his death.
“It was a sad day, as we said goodbye to my brother Morgan,” says Craig Spurlock, who worked with his brother on several projects. “Morgan gave so much through his art, ideas and generosity. Today the world has lost a true creative genius and a special man. I am so proud to have worked together with him.”
Spurlock rose to prominence for “Super Size Me,” in which he conducted an experiment involving consuming only food from McDonald’s for a 30-day stretch. The rules also included the stipulation that Spurlock could not refuse the “super-size” option if prompted during the transaction. The filmmaker...
- 5/24/2024
- by Addie Morfoot
- Variety Film + TV
Oscar-nominated filmmaker Morgan Spurlock, director of the groundbreaking documentary Super Size Me, has died after a private battle with cancer. He was 53.
Spurlock “passed away peacefully in New York surrounded by family and friends” on Thursday, according to a family statement that noted the cause was complications of cancer. Deadline understands he had been undergoing chemotherapy treatment earlier this year.
“It was a sad day, as we said goodbye to my brother Morgan,” said Craig Spurlock, one of the filmmaker’s older brothers. They collaborated on several documentary projects, including Morgan Spurlock Inside Man and 7 Deadly Sins. “Morgan gave so much through his art, ideas, and generosity. The world has lost a true creative genius and a special man. I am so proud to have worked together with him.”
For his breakthrough film, Super Size Me, which premiered 20 years ago at the Sundance Film Festival, Spurlock voluntarily ate nothing...
Spurlock “passed away peacefully in New York surrounded by family and friends” on Thursday, according to a family statement that noted the cause was complications of cancer. Deadline understands he had been undergoing chemotherapy treatment earlier this year.
“It was a sad day, as we said goodbye to my brother Morgan,” said Craig Spurlock, one of the filmmaker’s older brothers. They collaborated on several documentary projects, including Morgan Spurlock Inside Man and 7 Deadly Sins. “Morgan gave so much through his art, ideas, and generosity. The world has lost a true creative genius and a special man. I am so proud to have worked together with him.”
For his breakthrough film, Super Size Me, which premiered 20 years ago at the Sundance Film Festival, Spurlock voluntarily ate nothing...
- 5/24/2024
- by Matthew Carey
- Deadline Film + TV
The streaming landscape can feel endless. It’s not and we’re here to help. Netflix has hundreds of documentaries in its streaming library, but they’re not all created equal, and we’ve narrowed down the options for you with 25 of our top picks for the best documentary movies currently available to watch on the streaming platform. If you’re looking for something light and visually stunning, you’ve come to the right place. If you’re looking for something gruesome yet fascinating, there are options for you below. If you only have half an hour or 40 minutes to kill, Netflix has something for you.
So peruse our list below, and get watching!
“Athlete A” Netflix
One of the best documentaries in recent years, “Athlete A” works on multiple fronts: First, it effectively chronicles the abuse perpetrated by Larry Nassar, a former sports medicine physician who used his position...
So peruse our list below, and get watching!
“Athlete A” Netflix
One of the best documentaries in recent years, “Athlete A” works on multiple fronts: First, it effectively chronicles the abuse perpetrated by Larry Nassar, a former sports medicine physician who used his position...
- 11/3/2023
- by Kayti Burt
- The Wrap
Documentaries have the remarkable ability to open our eyes to the world’s realities, challenge our preconceived notions, and transform our perspectives. In an age where information inundates our lives from various sources, these cinematic works offer a unique and intimate platform to engage with issues that matter.
Related: 7 Best Mind-Expanding Documentaries
Over the years, certain documentaries have left an indelible mark, altering the course of public perception and, in some cases, even driving real-world change. This article delves into ten must-watch documentaries that have wielded the power of truth to reshape the way we view the world around us.
“Blackfish” (2013)
A Deep Dive into Captive Marine Life
This documentary hit me like a tidal wave. “Blackfish” pulled back the curtain on how marine animals are treated in captivity, specifically focusing on orcas at SeaWorld. It’s not all fun and games; the film peeled away the glossy exterior to...
Related: 7 Best Mind-Expanding Documentaries
Over the years, certain documentaries have left an indelible mark, altering the course of public perception and, in some cases, even driving real-world change. This article delves into ten must-watch documentaries that have wielded the power of truth to reshape the way we view the world around us.
“Blackfish” (2013)
A Deep Dive into Captive Marine Life
This documentary hit me like a tidal wave. “Blackfish” pulled back the curtain on how marine animals are treated in captivity, specifically focusing on orcas at SeaWorld. It’s not all fun and games; the film peeled away the glossy exterior to...
- 10/25/2023
- by Pia Vermaak
- buddytv.com
Exclusive: Mala Chapple has been elevated to President of Story Syndicate, the decorated production company of Liz Garbus and Dan Cogan, having made a significant mark there since joining as Chief Operating Officer in 2021.
In her previous role, Chapple oversaw production, business affairs and financial operations for the company. She also served as an executive producer of Harry & Meghan — the series on the royals that last year notched Netflix’s biggest-ever doc debut, with over 81.55M hours viewed globally in its first week of release — as well as the Netflix adventure-exploration series Unknown.
Going forward, Chapple will continue to steer the organization through ever-shifting market conditions, in concert with Garbus and Cogan. As she increases the scope of her responsibilities, Head of Documentary and Nonfiction Jon Bardin will assume additional oversight as far as day-to-day project management.
“As a creative company, how do you thrive in an evolving marketplace while remaining devoted to unique,...
In her previous role, Chapple oversaw production, business affairs and financial operations for the company. She also served as an executive producer of Harry & Meghan — the series on the royals that last year notched Netflix’s biggest-ever doc debut, with over 81.55M hours viewed globally in its first week of release — as well as the Netflix adventure-exploration series Unknown.
Going forward, Chapple will continue to steer the organization through ever-shifting market conditions, in concert with Garbus and Cogan. As she increases the scope of her responsibilities, Head of Documentary and Nonfiction Jon Bardin will assume additional oversight as far as day-to-day project management.
“As a creative company, how do you thrive in an evolving marketplace while remaining devoted to unique,...
- 7/11/2023
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Jurassic Park was nothing short of a phenomenon when it arrived in cinemas back in June 1993. Like Robert Muldoon being pursued by a pack of velociraptors, there was simply no escaping the clutches of what was a cultural phenomenon. But while much of the focus was on Steven Spielberg’s movie and its heady mix of stunning special effects and a shirtless Jeff Goldblum, what helped give Jurassic Park that extra bit of bite at the box office was the astonishing amount of merchandising surrounding the film.
Jurassic Park was ubiquitous that summer, whether it was the iconic Kenner line of toys featuring familiar characters from the film apart from Lex (blame Jurassic patriarchy), the Sega Genesis game that let you play as a raptor chomping on foolish humans, or the bizarre line of salami and beef jerky products that hit store shelves, life found a way.
Yet by far...
Jurassic Park was ubiquitous that summer, whether it was the iconic Kenner line of toys featuring familiar characters from the film apart from Lex (blame Jurassic patriarchy), the Sega Genesis game that let you play as a raptor chomping on foolish humans, or the bizarre line of salami and beef jerky products that hit store shelves, life found a way.
Yet by far...
- 6/21/2023
- by David Crow
- Den of Geek
“Did you know there’s a direct correlation between the decline of Spirograph and the rise in gang activity? Think about it,” Bart was warned during The Simpsons’ “Golden Era.” He says he will, but we know he won’t give it even a passing thought. The same could be said about the series in the 2010s. As viewership went down over the decade, the country splintered into opposing factions, without much thought. The citizens turned away from trusted media output, and after beating Gunsmoke as the longest-running, scripted primetime show in history, The Simpsons was an institution.
The decade opened with a big 20th anniversary premiere, “Once Upon a Time in Springfield,” promoted as the 450th episode of the series. It ran alongside a special, aired after a year’s buildup from Fox, called The Simpsons 20th Anniversary Special – In 3-D! On Ice!, directed by Morgan Spurlock (Super Size...
The decade opened with a big 20th anniversary premiere, “Once Upon a Time in Springfield,” promoted as the 450th episode of the series. It ran alongside a special, aired after a year’s buildup from Fox, called The Simpsons 20th Anniversary Special – In 3-D! On Ice!, directed by Morgan Spurlock (Super Size...
- 5/21/2023
- by Alec Bojalad
- Den of Geek
Stacey Offman, Jigsaw Production’s exec VP of development and production, is exiting the company to work as an independent producer, Variety has confirmed. Longtime Jigsaw producer Erin Edeiken to serve as head of production for Alex Gibney’s shingle going forward.
Offman, who is exiting on May 19, joined Jigsaw Productions in 2012. In her 11-year tenure at the documentary production company, Offman was part of the team that launched Jigsaw’s television branch as well as the creation of a vertical of non-fiction series and documentaries for an array of studios and broadcast partners.
Offman’s recent projects include Jigsaw’s “Dirty Money,” a six-part investigative series which exposed corruption and financial malfeasance in some of the most influential companies and industries. The series began streaming on Netflix in January 2018. In addition, Offman developed “Salt, Fat, Acid Heat,” a 2018 four-part Netflix culinary travel series based on Samin Nosrat’s book by the same name,...
Offman, who is exiting on May 19, joined Jigsaw Productions in 2012. In her 11-year tenure at the documentary production company, Offman was part of the team that launched Jigsaw’s television branch as well as the creation of a vertical of non-fiction series and documentaries for an array of studios and broadcast partners.
Offman’s recent projects include Jigsaw’s “Dirty Money,” a six-part investigative series which exposed corruption and financial malfeasance in some of the most influential companies and industries. The series began streaming on Netflix in January 2018. In addition, Offman developed “Salt, Fat, Acid Heat,” a 2018 four-part Netflix culinary travel series based on Samin Nosrat’s book by the same name,...
- 5/17/2023
- by Addie Morfoot
- Variety Film + TV
This month’s installment of Deep Cuts Rising features a variety of horror movies, with each one reflecting a special event or day in May.
Regardless of how they came to be here, or what they’re about, these past movies can generally be considered overlooked, forgotten or unknown.
This month’s offerings include a tense battle between mothers, a tale of evil in the suburbs, a fast-food slasher, a twisty wartime horror story, and an indie slow burn with a Hitchcockian vibe.
You’ll Like My Mother (1972)
Directed by Lamont Johnson.
The movie stars Oscar winner Patty Duke as young widow Francesca, who’s visiting her late husband’s mother (Rosemary Murphy) for the first time at a remote house in snowy Minnesota. Soon things take a turn when Francesca becomes not only stranded at her in-law’s house, but also drugged and taken prisoner.
Just in time for Mother...
Regardless of how they came to be here, or what they’re about, these past movies can generally be considered overlooked, forgotten or unknown.
This month’s offerings include a tense battle between mothers, a tale of evil in the suburbs, a fast-food slasher, a twisty wartime horror story, and an indie slow burn with a Hitchcockian vibe.
You’ll Like My Mother (1972)
Directed by Lamont Johnson.
The movie stars Oscar winner Patty Duke as young widow Francesca, who’s visiting her late husband’s mother (Rosemary Murphy) for the first time at a remote house in snowy Minnesota. Soon things take a turn when Francesca becomes not only stranded at her in-law’s house, but also drugged and taken prisoner.
Just in time for Mother...
- 5/1/2023
- by Paul Lê
- bloody-disgusting.com
Of all the unofficial holidays derived from an apocryphal bit police code, 4/20 is by far the most enduring. And just as “420” has gradually become entrenched as stoner shorthand for marijuana, the date April 20 has become an opportunity not just for college kids looking to indulge in a little extralegal fun, but also for drug law reformers and other advocacy groups to stump for a more reasonable national attitude toward America’s big green weed of choice.
And as marijuana laws have shifted over the years—from outright prohibition, to limited medicinal usage, to tightly regulated recreational use within certain states—marijuana themed movies have likewise evolved. Once upon a time, the only movies that even touched the subject of pot were hysterical propaganda pieces like Reefer Madness. Then, from the 1960s onward, weed became a popular (and hip) subject of broad comedy—in everything from Animal House to Annie Hall to Friday.
And as marijuana laws have shifted over the years—from outright prohibition, to limited medicinal usage, to tightly regulated recreational use within certain states—marijuana themed movies have likewise evolved. Once upon a time, the only movies that even touched the subject of pot were hysterical propaganda pieces like Reefer Madness. Then, from the 1960s onward, weed became a popular (and hip) subject of broad comedy—in everything from Animal House to Annie Hall to Friday.
- 4/20/2023
- by Matt Warren
- Film Independent News & More
Horrornews.net and legendary former Fangoria magazine editor Tony Timpone have formed a partnership to create the Screamings Screening Series, providing free advance showings of upcoming horror films and TV series in multiple cities. This new venture will give the horror genre a theatrical presence like never before, boasting celebrity appearances and highlighting films from the major studios to independent companies to streaming services.
For over 25 years, Timpone has previewed 200+ genre films from Universal, Columbia, Warners, Fox, Blumhouse, Lionsgate, IFC, Magnolia, Cinedigm, Gravitas Ventures, Screen Media and more. He forged some incredible horror memories with showings of Trick R Treat, 28 Weeks Later, Land of the Dead, It Follows, The Host, Hostel Part III, The Descent, Insidious: Chapter 3, Night of the Demons, Prevenge and American Zombie, just to name a few. Special in-person appearances included memorable directors and popular stars. The legacy will continue with Hnn!
“Nothing beats seeing...
For over 25 years, Timpone has previewed 200+ genre films from Universal, Columbia, Warners, Fox, Blumhouse, Lionsgate, IFC, Magnolia, Cinedigm, Gravitas Ventures, Screen Media and more. He forged some incredible horror memories with showings of Trick R Treat, 28 Weeks Later, Land of the Dead, It Follows, The Host, Hostel Part III, The Descent, Insidious: Chapter 3, Night of the Demons, Prevenge and American Zombie, just to name a few. Special in-person appearances included memorable directors and popular stars. The legacy will continue with Hnn!
“Nothing beats seeing...
- 2/28/2023
- by Michael Joy
- Horror Asylum
Food gurus like Anthony Bourdain and Stanley Tucci will no longer figure as prominently in the recipe for programming at CNN.
The pair are among the celebrities who helped pioneer a winning new formula at the outlet: Take viewers to places they couldn’t normally get to, add some beautiful shots of food or culture and, voila! The news outlet secured a new foothold in documentaries and docu-series that won the attention of top advertisers and could be played again and again.
Now, according to a memo from the Warner Bros. Discovery-backed outlet’s top executive, such ingredients are being put back on the shelf.
CNN is pulling back on production of the original series and films that have been a staple of its programming over the past decade. Series like Borudain’s “Parts Unknown” Tucci’s “Searching for Italy” and W. Kamau Bell’s “United Shades of America...
The pair are among the celebrities who helped pioneer a winning new formula at the outlet: Take viewers to places they couldn’t normally get to, add some beautiful shots of food or culture and, voila! The news outlet secured a new foothold in documentaries and docu-series that won the attention of top advertisers and could be played again and again.
Now, according to a memo from the Warner Bros. Discovery-backed outlet’s top executive, such ingredients are being put back on the shelf.
CNN is pulling back on production of the original series and films that have been a staple of its programming over the past decade. Series like Borudain’s “Parts Unknown” Tucci’s “Searching for Italy” and W. Kamau Bell’s “United Shades of America...
- 10/28/2022
- by Brian Steinberg
- Variety Film + TV
Click here to read the full article.
Unless otherwise noted, the accused denied some or all of the allegations against them.
2006 Tarana Burke
Activist Tarana Burke coins “Me Too” on MySpace.
2014
Oct. 17: Comedian Hannibal Buress’ riff about Bill Cosby resurfaces long-ignored rape accusations. An investigation of Cosby follows.
2016
July 21: Fox News chairman Roger Ailes is forced out amid allegations that he sexually harassed several women at the company.
Oct. 7: “When you’re a star, they let you do it” — The Washington Post publishes leaked Access Hollywood footage in which then-presidential candidate Donald Trump boasts of committing sexual assault.
2017 The Woman’s March of Jan. 21, 2017, set the stage for takedowns of alleged abusers like Matt Lauer.
Jan. 21: Millions of Americans take part in the Women’s March a day after President Trump’s inauguration.
March 19: Fox News ousts Bill O’Reilly following multiple harassment claims.
Oct. 5:...
Unless otherwise noted, the accused denied some or all of the allegations against them.
2006 Tarana Burke
Activist Tarana Burke coins “Me Too” on MySpace.
2014
Oct. 17: Comedian Hannibal Buress’ riff about Bill Cosby resurfaces long-ignored rape accusations. An investigation of Cosby follows.
2016
July 21: Fox News chairman Roger Ailes is forced out amid allegations that he sexually harassed several women at the company.
Oct. 7: “When you’re a star, they let you do it” — The Washington Post publishes leaked Access Hollywood footage in which then-presidential candidate Donald Trump boasts of committing sexual assault.
2017 The Woman’s March of Jan. 21, 2017, set the stage for takedowns of alleged abusers like Matt Lauer.
Jan. 21: Millions of Americans take part in the Women’s March a day after President Trump’s inauguration.
March 19: Fox News ousts Bill O’Reilly following multiple harassment claims.
Oct. 5:...
- 9/29/2022
- by Julian Sancton
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Voting has only just begun for select nominees at the 2022 WGA Awards. Drama series, comedy series and new series votes will be taken until Jan. 5, while voting doesn’t even open for original and adapted screenplays until Jan. 12 (with a deadline of Jan. 26). Nominations for the television categories, as well as new media, news, radio/audio and promotional writing awards will be announced on Jan. 13, with screenplay nominations announced Jan. 27. Final voting for all takes place between Feb. 2 and Feb. 16, with the winners being announced at the 74th annual ceremony on March 20.
Although it is still very early days for some of these categories, Variety breaks down where select series, scripts and categories stand so far.
Original Screenplay
The contenders in the original screenplay field are dominated by repeat WGA and Academy Award nominees with a few breakthrough tyro scribes in the mix. “King Richard,” penned by Zach Baylin (who...
Although it is still very early days for some of these categories, Variety breaks down where select series, scripts and categories stand so far.
Original Screenplay
The contenders in the original screenplay field are dominated by repeat WGA and Academy Award nominees with a few breakthrough tyro scribes in the mix. “King Richard,” penned by Zach Baylin (who...
- 12/30/2021
- by Danielle Turchiano and Malina Saval
- Variety Film + TV
Top streamers such as Apple and Netflix are reportedly bidding on a biopic about legendary Hollywood talent agent Sue Mengers, with Jennifer Lawrence tapped to the star in the lead role and Paolo Sorrentino on board to direct. Deadline confirmed the hot package is being shopped around, adding: “We hear that Apple is in the mix for the Sue Mengers project, and has read the script with Netflix also buzzed to be another contender for the project.”
Matthew Belloni, former editorial director of The Hollywood Reporter, also confirmed Apple and Netflix are two of the big contenders for Lawrence and Sorrentino’s Sue Mengers movie. Writing in his “What I’m Hearing…” newsletter, Belloni shared that the “Apple bid is in the $80 million range, says one source, including the $20 million-plus fee for Lawrence to star and produce with partner Justine Polsky via their Excellent Cadaver shingle.” John Logan, Lauren Schuker Blum,...
Matthew Belloni, former editorial director of The Hollywood Reporter, also confirmed Apple and Netflix are two of the big contenders for Lawrence and Sorrentino’s Sue Mengers movie. Writing in his “What I’m Hearing…” newsletter, Belloni shared that the “Apple bid is in the $80 million range, says one source, including the $20 million-plus fee for Lawrence to star and produce with partner Justine Polsky via their Excellent Cadaver shingle.” John Logan, Lauren Schuker Blum,...
- 8/9/2021
- by Zack Sharf
- Indiewire
Streamers Bidding On Superagent Sue Mengers Biopic Package With Jennifer Lawrence & Paolo Sorrentino
A big biopic project about famed talent agent Sue Mengers is being shopped around town Deadline has confirmed with Oscar winners Jennifer Lawrence circling and filmmaker Paolo Sorrentino attached. Lauren Schuker Blum, Rebecca Angelo and John Logan wrote the screenplay about the female agent who crashed the Hollywood boys club of agenting with her brandishing an outsized personality to go with her client list.
We hear that Apple is in the mix for the Sue Mengers project, and has read the script with Netflix also buzzed to be another contender for the project. Apple and Netflix did not return calls tonight when reached.
Mengers had stints at McA, ICM and Wma, and she repped a list of clients that at one time or other included Barbra Streisand, Candice Bergen, Peter Bogdanovich, Michael Caine, Dyan Cannon, Cher, Joan Collins, Brian De Palma, Faye Dunaway, Bob Fosse, Gene Hackman, Sidney Lumet, Ali McGraw,...
We hear that Apple is in the mix for the Sue Mengers project, and has read the script with Netflix also buzzed to be another contender for the project. Apple and Netflix did not return calls tonight when reached.
Mengers had stints at McA, ICM and Wma, and she repped a list of clients that at one time or other included Barbra Streisand, Candice Bergen, Peter Bogdanovich, Michael Caine, Dyan Cannon, Cher, Joan Collins, Brian De Palma, Faye Dunaway, Bob Fosse, Gene Hackman, Sidney Lumet, Ali McGraw,...
- 8/9/2021
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
The siren heard over the opening seconds of “A Cop Movie” doesn’t emanate from a car at all, but from an actor, imitating the piercing sound of approaching police with her voice. That’s a fitting fake-out with which to begin Alonso Ruizpalacios’ astoundingly original look at what makes an effective Mexico City cop. Technically, this outside-the-box project could be classified as a documentary, though the “Güeros” director is anything but typical in his approach, which will probably play best to those who tune in blind. The film, which debuted at the Berlin Film Festival, will launch on Netflix, where it’s easy to be caught unawares by movies like “Dick Johnson Is Dead” which push the boundaries.
Gazing out through the windshield of a Mexico City squad car, the movie opens a lot your standard episode of “Cops”. María Teresa Hernández Cañas — or Teresa for short — receives a...
Gazing out through the windshield of a Mexico City squad car, the movie opens a lot your standard episode of “Cops”. María Teresa Hernández Cañas — or Teresa for short — receives a...
- 3/5/2021
- by Peter Debruge
- Variety Film + TV
When producers of reality TV are looking to reframe the narratives around their project from “trash” to “substance,” a common tactic is to refer to the show as a “social experiment.” Jeff Probst does it all the time on Survivor. Ashton Kutcher went so far as to deem a little show called Beauty and the Geek “the ultimate social experiment.”
It’s a strategy Nick Bilton, a longtime journalist making his directing debut, uses repeatedly on HBO’s Fake Famous. Whether that cements its place as the Morgan Spurlock-esque blend of weighty and frivolous it obviously intends ...
It’s a strategy Nick Bilton, a longtime journalist making his directing debut, uses repeatedly on HBO’s Fake Famous. Whether that cements its place as the Morgan Spurlock-esque blend of weighty and frivolous it obviously intends ...
When producers of reality TV are looking to reframe the narratives around their project from “trash” to “substance,” a common tactic is to refer to the show as a “social experiment.” Jeff Probst does it all the time on Survivor. Ashton Kutcher went so far as to deem a little show called Beauty and the Geek “the ultimate social experiment.”
It’s a strategy Nick Bilton, a longtime journalist making his directing debut, uses repeatedly on HBO’s Fake Famous. Whether that cements its place as the Morgan Spurlock-esque blend of weighty and frivolous it obviously intends ...
It’s a strategy Nick Bilton, a longtime journalist making his directing debut, uses repeatedly on HBO’s Fake Famous. Whether that cements its place as the Morgan Spurlock-esque blend of weighty and frivolous it obviously intends ...
CNN in March gave a handful of advertisers and ad-agency personnel a sneak peek of its ambitious six-part documentary series on late night, just days before New York City was shut down by the coronavirus pandemic. The project hasn’t been seen in public since. Weeks may lapse before it surfaces again.
Johnny Carson, David Letterman and Stephen Colbert no doubt make for compelling television, but so too at this moment does news about the nation’s health, a swirl of protests and President Trump’s shambolic tenure in the White House. Since March, CNN has had too much of all that to feature some other parts of its content pipeline.
“Given the unpredictability of the news environment, we thought it would best to postpone our CNN Original Series ‘The Story of Late Night,’” says Amy Entelis, executive vice president for talent and content development at CNN. “It is such a special series,...
Johnny Carson, David Letterman and Stephen Colbert no doubt make for compelling television, but so too at this moment does news about the nation’s health, a swirl of protests and President Trump’s shambolic tenure in the White House. Since March, CNN has had too much of all that to feature some other parts of its content pipeline.
“Given the unpredictability of the news environment, we thought it would best to postpone our CNN Original Series ‘The Story of Late Night,’” says Amy Entelis, executive vice president for talent and content development at CNN. “It is such a special series,...
- 7/13/2020
- by Brian Steinberg
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Quiver Entertainment, an offshoot of eOne executive Berry Meyerowitz and onetime Lionsgate Films president Jeff Sackman’s Quiver Distribution, has acquired the rights to Kew Media Distribution’s library of 1,000 titles.
Kew Media Distribution went bust in February and administrator Fti Consulting has overseen the sale of its catalog, within which it included the international rights to shows including hit BBC drama Line Of Duty and the HBO/Channel 4 Michael Jackson documentary Leaving Neverland.
Nearly 40 companies expressed an interest in acquiring the library, which Fti then whittled down to nine potential buyers. It entered into exclusive talks with Quiver Entertainment after March 27. The financial details of the deal were not disclosed.
The sale has been far from straightforward. Prior to Kew Media Distribution going bust, a number of producers took action to terminate their contracts with the company after it failed to pay them royalties they were owed.
Kew Media Distribution went bust in February and administrator Fti Consulting has overseen the sale of its catalog, within which it included the international rights to shows including hit BBC drama Line Of Duty and the HBO/Channel 4 Michael Jackson documentary Leaving Neverland.
Nearly 40 companies expressed an interest in acquiring the library, which Fti then whittled down to nine potential buyers. It entered into exclusive talks with Quiver Entertainment after March 27. The financial details of the deal were not disclosed.
The sale has been far from straightforward. Prior to Kew Media Distribution going bust, a number of producers took action to terminate their contracts with the company after it failed to pay them royalties they were owed.
- 5/12/2020
- by Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
John Cooper wasn’t so sure about “Honeyland.” A year before the documentary about a Macedonian beekeeper would score two Oscar nominations, the future Sundance World Cinema Documentary selection didn’t resonate with the festival director as he entered his final year.
“I just didn’t get that film when I watched it,” said Cooper from his Sundance office during the 2020 edition of the festival, as he ended his 11-year run overseeing the event. “And I didn’t have to get it, because everyone else in the room loved it. It’s hard to find 125 films that you love, that you totally respect. I don’t pick all these films. I play the room.”
Cooper’s candid admissions about the flaws of the programming process speak to the unpredictable nature of running a festival, and how much of its impact begins with frantic behind-the-scenes debate. Each year’s program invites...
“I just didn’t get that film when I watched it,” said Cooper from his Sundance office during the 2020 edition of the festival, as he ended his 11-year run overseeing the event. “And I didn’t have to get it, because everyone else in the room loved it. It’s hard to find 125 films that you love, that you totally respect. I don’t pick all these films. I play the room.”
Cooper’s candid admissions about the flaws of the programming process speak to the unpredictable nature of running a festival, and how much of its impact begins with frantic behind-the-scenes debate. Each year’s program invites...
- 1/31/2020
- by Eric Kohn
- Indiewire
Each January, the Cinema Eye Honors allow the documentary community to celebrate the non-fiction achievements of the previous year with more energy and authenticity than any of the season’s other, bigger awards shows. In many ways, the 14th edition — which took place at the Museum of the Moving Image in Queens on Monday night — was a typical example, a loose production filled with jocular moments unique to the tight-knit non-fiction crowd. But it wasn’t devoid of somber moments.
The audience was filled with accomplished documentary filmmakers who cheered on their peers as they won in categories that ranged from cinematography to editing and graphic design, spreading the love for documentary achievements on virtually every level of the production process. As usual, the ceremony eschewed star power for presenters from the documentary world, including its host.
While the past five years have been hosted by “Hoop Dreams” director Steve James,...
The audience was filled with accomplished documentary filmmakers who cheered on their peers as they won in categories that ranged from cinematography to editing and graphic design, spreading the love for documentary achievements on virtually every level of the production process. As usual, the ceremony eschewed star power for presenters from the documentary world, including its host.
While the past five years have been hosted by “Hoop Dreams” director Steve James,...
- 1/7/2020
- by Eric Kohn
- Indiewire
“American Factory” won the top award at the Cinema Eye Honors for Nonfiction Filmmaking Monday night, and directors Steven Bognar and Julia Reichert were also honored for Outstanding Direction, for their documentary about a former General Motors plant that is given a second life by a Chinese manufacturer. The film was among several on the Oscars shortlist to win at the annual awards ceremony.
“American Factory,” which follows the changes that take place in a Dayton, Ohio suburb as a result of the factory’s change in ownership and examines the cultural clashes that come from a Chinese company opening up shop in the Us, has also won Critics’ Choice Documentary Awards for Best Political Documentary and Best Director, the Gotham Award for Best Documentary, and the International Documentary Association Award for Best Director.
It also won the Directing Award at Sundance, where it premieired before being acquired by Netflix...
“American Factory,” which follows the changes that take place in a Dayton, Ohio suburb as a result of the factory’s change in ownership and examines the cultural clashes that come from a Chinese company opening up shop in the Us, has also won Critics’ Choice Documentary Awards for Best Political Documentary and Best Director, the Gotham Award for Best Documentary, and the International Documentary Association Award for Best Director.
It also won the Directing Award at Sundance, where it premieired before being acquired by Netflix...
- 1/7/2020
- by Chris Lindahl
- Indiewire
Twelve years after Super Size Me, Morgan Spurlock’s first self-experimental delve into the fast food industry, the junk grub shunting documentarian returns with a not too hotly anticipated follow-up, but one that’s as surprisingly fun and enlightening as its predecessor. Instead of blitzing his body with McDonald’s for a month, Spurlock sets out to open his first fast food/ “fried” chicken restaurant; a shrewd marketing move considering the sequel and outlet will promote each other, but as a central concept, Super Size Me 2: Holy Chicken! lacks the lightbulb moment/ car-crash sales point compared to the original’s “what would happen if someone were to eat nothing but McDonald’s for a month?”. Yet Spurlock’s frontman charisma, film craft savvy and doc content make SSM2 as entertaining, edifying and educative as the original.
Spurlock relays his objective, aspirations and inspiration during the set-up then conducts market research by conversing with the public,...
Spurlock relays his objective, aspirations and inspiration during the set-up then conducts market research by conversing with the public,...
- 11/26/2019
- by Daniel Goodwin
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
In January, work and life partners Howard Cohen and Eric d’Arbeloff went to war.
Their 15-year-old film distribution and production company, Roadside Attractions, engaged in heated rounds of bidding for four titles playing at the Sundance Film Festival — the Cinderella story “Brittany Runs a Marathon,” the Mindy Kaling comedy “Late Night,” the political documentary “Knock Down the House” and the Ted Bundy biopic “Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile.”
They lost. They were outbid by what Cohen and d’Arbeloff estimate was as much as six times what they offered sales agents for the chance to roll out the movies to American audiences. Amazon Studios snapped up “Brittany” and “Late Night” for a combined $27 million. Netflix acquired “Extremely Wicked” and “Knock Down the House” for nearly $20 million.
“All four of those movies went to streamers, and arguably all four might have been better served by us,” says Cohen, reflecting...
Their 15-year-old film distribution and production company, Roadside Attractions, engaged in heated rounds of bidding for four titles playing at the Sundance Film Festival — the Cinderella story “Brittany Runs a Marathon,” the Mindy Kaling comedy “Late Night,” the political documentary “Knock Down the House” and the Ted Bundy biopic “Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile.”
They lost. They were outbid by what Cohen and d’Arbeloff estimate was as much as six times what they offered sales agents for the chance to roll out the movies to American audiences. Amazon Studios snapped up “Brittany” and “Late Night” for a combined $27 million. Netflix acquired “Extremely Wicked” and “Knock Down the House” for nearly $20 million.
“All four of those movies went to streamers, and arguably all four might have been better served by us,” says Cohen, reflecting...
- 10/23/2019
- by Matt Donnelly
- Variety Film + TV
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