When the first season of “The Jinx” concluded in 2015, it did so with a bang. That March, Robert Durst’s mumbled confession — “Killed them all, of course” — became the catchphrase of news broadcasts, late night shows and everyday conversations. It also sparked a trend in the larger television landscape. After years of being sidelined as a niche interest or confined to low-budget endeavors, true crime documentaries were at the forefront of pop culture.
“The Jinx” was followed by other buzzy, critically-acclaimed installments in the genre such as “Making a Murderer,” “Amanda Knox” and “The Keepers” on Netflix and “Mommy Dead and Dearest,” “I’ll Be Gone in the Dark” and “The Vow” on HBO. But the man who unintentionally sparked this boom doesn’t necessarily see it as a good thing.
“When people say true crime, I think there might be a misnomer,” Andrew Jarecki, the director behind both seasons of “The Jinx,...
“The Jinx” was followed by other buzzy, critically-acclaimed installments in the genre such as “Making a Murderer,” “Amanda Knox” and “The Keepers” on Netflix and “Mommy Dead and Dearest,” “I’ll Be Gone in the Dark” and “The Vow” on HBO. But the man who unintentionally sparked this boom doesn’t necessarily see it as a good thing.
“When people say true crime, I think there might be a misnomer,” Andrew Jarecki, the director behind both seasons of “The Jinx,...
- 5/27/2024
- by Kayla Cobb
- The Wrap
Vince Staples, the young and talented American rapper and singer, has been making waves in the music industry with his unique style and thought-provoking lyrics. Born Vincent Jamal Staples on July 2, 1993, in Compton, California, he later moved to North Long Beach to escape the high crime rates of his hometown. Growing up in poverty, Staples found solace in music and sports, ultimately paving the way for his successful career in the entertainment industry.
Staples had a challenging upbringing, but he found refuge in academics and extracurricular activities. He attended Optimal Christian Academy during his formative years, where he had a positive and influential experience. However, he moved around frequently, attending several high schools in different cities, such as Jordan High School in Long Beach, Mayfair High School in Lakewood, and Esperanza High School in Anaheim. Staples’ involvement with street gangs during his childhood is well-known, but he has since become...
Staples had a challenging upbringing, but he found refuge in academics and extracurricular activities. He attended Optimal Christian Academy during his formative years, where he had a positive and influential experience. However, he moved around frequently, attending several high schools in different cities, such as Jordan High School in Long Beach, Mayfair High School in Lakewood, and Esperanza High School in Anaheim. Staples’ involvement with street gangs during his childhood is well-known, but he has since become...
- 2/13/2024
- by Penelope H. Fritz
- Martin Cid Music
Each summer, the sisters at the center of Alessandra Lacorazza’s Sundance 2024 premiere In the Summers visit their father in Las Cruces, New Mexico. The film spans several formative years of the sisters’ lives, and their father sometimes struggles to keep pace. Below, cinematographer Alejandro Mejia, whose recent credits include Stolen Youth, discusses shooting the film, including how his love of photography books helped inform the film’s look. See all responses to our annual Sundance cinematographer interviews here. Filmmaker: How and why did you wind up being the cinematographer of your film? What were the factors and attributes that led to your being […]
The post “I Am an Obsessive Collector of Photography Books”: Dp Alejandro Mejia on In the Summers first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.
The post “I Am an Obsessive Collector of Photography Books”: Dp Alejandro Mejia on In the Summers first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.
- 1/22/2024
- by Filmmaker Staff
- Filmmaker Magazine-Director Interviews
Each summer, the sisters at the center of Alessandra Lacorazza’s Sundance 2024 premiere In the Summers visit their father in Las Cruces, New Mexico. The film spans several formative years of the sisters’ lives, and their father sometimes struggles to keep pace. Below, cinematographer Alejandro Mejia, whose recent credits include Stolen Youth, discusses shooting the film, including how his love of photography books helped inform the film’s look. See all responses to our annual Sundance cinematographer interviews here. Filmmaker: How and why did you wind up being the cinematographer of your film? What were the factors and attributes that led to your being […]
The post “I Am an Obsessive Collector of Photography Books”: Dp Alejandro Mejia on In the Summers first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.
The post “I Am an Obsessive Collector of Photography Books”: Dp Alejandro Mejia on In the Summers first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.
- 1/22/2024
- by Filmmaker Staff
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
The 2024 Film Independent Spirit Award nominations — see the full list below — were unveiled on Tuesday, December 5, crowning the past year’s achievements in indie film. The actual awards ceremony, taking place on February 24, 2024 in the usual tent on the beach in Santa Monica, is a little less than three months away, but the films nominated today will carry new momentum into the rest of awards season, including the Oscar race. Joel Kim Booster (“Fire Island”) and Natalie Morales (“No Hard Feelings”) were the presenters of the nominees.
“American Fiction,” “May December,” and “Past Lives” led the Indie Spirits noms with five each, including each of them getting a nod for Best Feature. Todd Haynes for “May December” and Celine Song for “Past Lives” also received Best Director nods. Natalie Portman for “May December,” Greta Lee for “Past Lives,” and Jeffrey Wright for “American Fiction” also received Best Lead Performance nods.
“American Fiction,” “May December,” and “Past Lives” led the Indie Spirits noms with five each, including each of them getting a nod for Best Feature. Todd Haynes for “May December” and Celine Song for “Past Lives” also received Best Director nods. Natalie Portman for “May December,” Greta Lee for “Past Lives,” and Jeffrey Wright for “American Fiction” also received Best Lead Performance nods.
- 12/5/2023
- by Christian Blauvelt
- Indiewire
Nominees for the 2024 Film Independent Spirit Awards — the premiere awards event for the independent film and television community — were announced on Tuesday morning by actor/director/writer Natalie Morales and actor/producer/writer Joel Kim Booster, and HBO’s The Last of Us and Prime Video’s I’m a Virgo the TV pack with four nods each.
Netflix’s Beef followed closely with three noms.
More from TVLineCritics Choice Award Nominations: <em>The Morning Show</em> Scores Most Nods, Beating <em>Succession</em> — See Full ListThe Oscars Telecast Is (Pretty Much) Guaranteed to End Before Bedtime This Year — Here’s WhyTVLine Items: Michelle Williams Is Dying for Sex,...
Netflix’s Beef followed closely with three noms.
More from TVLineCritics Choice Award Nominations: <em>The Morning Show</em> Scores Most Nods, Beating <em>Succession</em> — See Full ListThe Oscars Telecast Is (Pretty Much) Guaranteed to End Before Bedtime This Year — Here’s WhyTVLine Items: Michelle Williams Is Dying for Sex,...
- 12/5/2023
- by Matt Webb Mitovich
- TVLine.com
Hulu has acquired rights to “The Contestant,” a documentary about an aspiring comedian who unknowingly becomes the most famous TV star in Japan.
Clair Titley directed the movie, which premiered at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival to positive reviews. “The Contestant” will launch on Hulu in 2024.
The documentary tells the stranger-than-fiction story of Tomoaki Hamatsu, nicknamed Nasubi, who auditioned for a TV show in 1998. The premise of “Denpa Shonen: A Life in Prizes,” the series that eventually made him a household name in Japan, left Nasubi naked in an empty room for more than a year and tasked him with filling out magazine sweepstakes to earn food, clothes and other necessities. But he had no idea he was becoming wildly famous in Japan as the series was broadcast to more than 15 million people.
“The Contestant” explores one of the first extreme reality shows that pushed boundaries and paved way for others like it.
Clair Titley directed the movie, which premiered at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival to positive reviews. “The Contestant” will launch on Hulu in 2024.
The documentary tells the stranger-than-fiction story of Tomoaki Hamatsu, nicknamed Nasubi, who auditioned for a TV show in 1998. The premise of “Denpa Shonen: A Life in Prizes,” the series that eventually made him a household name in Japan, left Nasubi naked in an empty room for more than a year and tasked him with filling out magazine sweepstakes to earn food, clothes and other necessities. But he had no idea he was becoming wildly famous in Japan as the series was broadcast to more than 15 million people.
“The Contestant” explores one of the first extreme reality shows that pushed boundaries and paved way for others like it.
- 11/28/2023
- by Rebecca Rubin
- Variety Film + TV
Hulu’s “The 1619 Project” and Showtime’s “Nothing Lasts Forever” lead all broadcast documentaries in nominations for the 17th annual Cinema Eye Honors, which were announced on Thursday during the Cinema Eye Fall Lunch at Redbird in downtown Los Angeles.
Each of the programs received three nominations in the five broadcast categories, with “The 1619 Project” nominated in the Anthology Series, cinematography and editing categories and “Nothing Lasts Forever” singled out in Broadcast film, cinematography and editing categories.
Other programs with multiple nominations include the broadcast movie “Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields,” the nonfiction series “Dear Mama” and “Paul T. Goldman” and the anthology series “Edge of the Unknown With Jimmy Chin” and “Our Planet II.”
Hulu led all networks and platforms with eight nominations, followed by Netflix with five and Showtime with four.
Cinema Eye Honors, a New York-based organization devoted to honoring all facets of nonfiction filmmaking, also...
Each of the programs received three nominations in the five broadcast categories, with “The 1619 Project” nominated in the Anthology Series, cinematography and editing categories and “Nothing Lasts Forever” singled out in Broadcast film, cinematography and editing categories.
Other programs with multiple nominations include the broadcast movie “Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields,” the nonfiction series “Dear Mama” and “Paul T. Goldman” and the anthology series “Edge of the Unknown With Jimmy Chin” and “Our Planet II.”
Hulu led all networks and platforms with eight nominations, followed by Netflix with five and Showtime with four.
Cinema Eye Honors, a New York-based organization devoted to honoring all facets of nonfiction filmmaking, also...
- 10/19/2023
- by Steve Pond
- The Wrap
Story Syndicate, the film and television production company established by Oscar and Emmy-winning filmmakers Liz Garbus and Dan Cogan, have launched a scripted division focusing on television and film projects — and now they’ve inked a first-look scripted TV deal with Tomorrow Studios to go with it.
Nellie Reed of Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson’s Color Force has been appointed as head of scripted to spearhead the initiative. Tomorrow Studios, led by founder and CEO Marty Adelstein and partner and president Becky Clements, is known for their work on projects like Netflix’s “One Piece” and Apple TV+’s “Physical.”
“Marty and Becky at Tomorrow Studios are brilliant, creative and share our vision for the next steps for Story Syndicate,” Cogan and Garbus said in a statement, obtained by TheWrap. “Our scripted division is focused on elevated, commercial shows that are often grounded in true stories and speak directly to the cultural zeitgeist.
Nellie Reed of Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson’s Color Force has been appointed as head of scripted to spearhead the initiative. Tomorrow Studios, led by founder and CEO Marty Adelstein and partner and president Becky Clements, is known for their work on projects like Netflix’s “One Piece” and Apple TV+’s “Physical.”
“Marty and Becky at Tomorrow Studios are brilliant, creative and share our vision for the next steps for Story Syndicate,” Cogan and Garbus said in a statement, obtained by TheWrap. “Our scripted division is focused on elevated, commercial shows that are often grounded in true stories and speak directly to the cultural zeitgeist.
- 10/12/2023
- by Umberto Gonzalez
- The Wrap
Liz Garbus and Dan Cogan’s Story Syndicate production company is launching its own scripted film and television division, Variety has learned exclusively.
The new division will be headed up by Nellie Reed, who is joining Story Syndicate from Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson’s Color Force. In addition, Story Syndicate has signed a first-look deal with Tomorrow Studios for its scripted television projects. Reed will work out of Tomorrow Studios’ Los Angeles offices.
“Dan and Liz are incredible storytellers whose work we have admired for years — what they have accomplished in the non-fiction space is undeniable,” said Tomorrow Studios founder and CEO Marty Adelstein and partner and president Becky Clements. “We are thrilled to be working with them and Nellie to further expand their footprint in scripted TV with the kind of culturally relevant, character-driven storytelling for which they are already known.”
Garbus and Cogan originally founded Story Syndicate in 2019. To date,...
The new division will be headed up by Nellie Reed, who is joining Story Syndicate from Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson’s Color Force. In addition, Story Syndicate has signed a first-look deal with Tomorrow Studios for its scripted television projects. Reed will work out of Tomorrow Studios’ Los Angeles offices.
“Dan and Liz are incredible storytellers whose work we have admired for years — what they have accomplished in the non-fiction space is undeniable,” said Tomorrow Studios founder and CEO Marty Adelstein and partner and president Becky Clements. “We are thrilled to be working with them and Nellie to further expand their footprint in scripted TV with the kind of culturally relevant, character-driven storytelling for which they are already known.”
Garbus and Cogan originally founded Story Syndicate in 2019. To date,...
- 10/12/2023
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety Film + TV
With the success of long-format cult-exposé documentaries such as Hulu’s “Stolen Youth,” HBO’s “The Vow” and Netflix’s “Wild Wild Country,” it’s not surprising that both Amazon and Netflix greenlit competing docuseries about Twin Flames Universe – an alleged online love cult run by YouTube influencers Jeff and Shaleia Divine.
Amazon’s “Desperately Seeking Soulmate: Escaping Twin Flames Universe” is being released on Oct. 6, a month before Netflix’s “Escaping Twin Flames.”
“Desperately Seeking Soulmate” is based on journalist Alice Hines’ 2020 Vanity Fair article about the “always online, all-consuming world of Twin Flames Universe.” The article and subsequent docuseries, which Hines leads, takes a deep dive into the alleged online love cult, which is still active. Created by Jeff and Shaleia, Twin Flames Universe sells online classes that guarantee to match each member with their “soulmate.” The three-part Amazon docuseries examines how Jeff and Shaleia met and formed...
Amazon’s “Desperately Seeking Soulmate: Escaping Twin Flames Universe” is being released on Oct. 6, a month before Netflix’s “Escaping Twin Flames.”
“Desperately Seeking Soulmate” is based on journalist Alice Hines’ 2020 Vanity Fair article about the “always online, all-consuming world of Twin Flames Universe.” The article and subsequent docuseries, which Hines leads, takes a deep dive into the alleged online love cult, which is still active. Created by Jeff and Shaleia, Twin Flames Universe sells online classes that guarantee to match each member with their “soulmate.” The three-part Amazon docuseries examines how Jeff and Shaleia met and formed...
- 10/6/2023
- by Addie Morfoot
- Variety Film + TV
Hulu has given a greenlight to “It’s All Country,” a docuseries hosted by country superstar Luke Bryan, who executive produces alongside Peyton Manning.
Pet the logline, the six-episode series “explores the hottest people, topics and moments in country music by examining the iconic songs and artists that changed the face of country music forever. Marking 100 years since the first country music record was made, the series highlights the cultural impact and memorable performers and performances that make country music an American and growing global sensation.”
“It’s All Country” is produced by Manning’s Omaha Productions banner as well as NFL Films and Walt Disney Television Alternative. The project reunites Bryan and Manning, who first paired to host the Country Music Association Awards in 2022 and are set to do so again later this year.
Bryan, whose studio albums include “I’ll Stay Me,” “Crash My Party” and “Born Here Live Here Die Here,...
Pet the logline, the six-episode series “explores the hottest people, topics and moments in country music by examining the iconic songs and artists that changed the face of country music forever. Marking 100 years since the first country music record was made, the series highlights the cultural impact and memorable performers and performances that make country music an American and growing global sensation.”
“It’s All Country” is produced by Manning’s Omaha Productions banner as well as NFL Films and Walt Disney Television Alternative. The project reunites Bryan and Manning, who first paired to host the Country Music Association Awards in 2022 and are set to do so again later this year.
Bryan, whose studio albums include “I’ll Stay Me,” “Crash My Party” and “Born Here Live Here Die Here,...
- 9/12/2023
- by Selome Hailu
- Variety Film + TV
Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning are teaming up for a new country music-focused docuseries in the works at Hulu.
“It’s all Country,” which will be hosted by Bryan, will spotlight impactful artists and memorable performances that have push the genre to new heights since its genesis. Bryan and Manning will executive produce the six-part docuseries, with a premiere date for the series forthcoming.
The official logline is as follows: “A premium, pop-culture-forward docuseries, ‘It’s All Country’ explores the hottest people, topics and moments in country music by examining the iconic songs and artists that changed the face of country music forever. Marking 100 years since the first country music record was made, the series highlights the cultural impact and memorable performers and performances that make country music an American and growing global sensation.”
“It’s all Country” is produced by Omaha Productions, NFL Films and Walt Disney Television Alternative.
“It’s all Country,” which will be hosted by Bryan, will spotlight impactful artists and memorable performances that have push the genre to new heights since its genesis. Bryan and Manning will executive produce the six-part docuseries, with a premiere date for the series forthcoming.
The official logline is as follows: “A premium, pop-culture-forward docuseries, ‘It’s All Country’ explores the hottest people, topics and moments in country music by examining the iconic songs and artists that changed the face of country music forever. Marking 100 years since the first country music record was made, the series highlights the cultural impact and memorable performers and performances that make country music an American and growing global sensation.”
“It’s all Country” is produced by Omaha Productions, NFL Films and Walt Disney Television Alternative.
- 9/12/2023
- by Loree Seitz
- The Wrap
The Television Critics Association announced the winners for the 39th annual awards on Monday.
As expected, it was another clean sweep for Succession and The Bear -- both of which have been awards magnets since their debuts.
Check out the complete list of winners below.
Individual Achievement In Drama
Christine Baranski, The Good Fight
Kieran Culkin, Succession
Dominique Fishback, Swarm
Betty Gilpin, Mrs. Davis
Pedro Pascal, The Last of Us
Bella Ramsey, The Last of Us
Rhea Seehorn, Better Call Saul — Winner
Sarah Snook, Succession
Jeremy Strong, Succession
Individual Achievement In Comedy
Quinta Brunson, Abbott Elementary (2022 Winner)
Ayo Edebiri, The Bear
Harrison Ford, Shrinking
Bill Hader, Barry
Janelle James, Abbott Elementary
Natasha Lyonne, Poker Face — Winner
James Marsden, Jury Duty
Jeremy Allen White, The Bear
Outstanding Achievement In News And Information
30 for 30 (ESPN)
Free Chol Soo Lee (PBS)
Frontline (PBS)
Pepsi, Where’s My Jet? (Netflix)
Stolen Youth: Inside the Cult at Sarah Lawrence...
As expected, it was another clean sweep for Succession and The Bear -- both of which have been awards magnets since their debuts.
Check out the complete list of winners below.
Individual Achievement In Drama
Christine Baranski, The Good Fight
Kieran Culkin, Succession
Dominique Fishback, Swarm
Betty Gilpin, Mrs. Davis
Pedro Pascal, The Last of Us
Bella Ramsey, The Last of Us
Rhea Seehorn, Better Call Saul — Winner
Sarah Snook, Succession
Jeremy Strong, Succession
Individual Achievement In Comedy
Quinta Brunson, Abbott Elementary (2022 Winner)
Ayo Edebiri, The Bear
Harrison Ford, Shrinking
Bill Hader, Barry
Janelle James, Abbott Elementary
Natasha Lyonne, Poker Face — Winner
James Marsden, Jury Duty
Jeremy Allen White, The Bear
Outstanding Achievement In News And Information
30 for 30 (ESPN)
Free Chol Soo Lee (PBS)
Frontline (PBS)
Pepsi, Where’s My Jet? (Netflix)
Stolen Youth: Inside the Cult at Sarah Lawrence...
- 8/7/2023
- by Paul Dailly
- TVfanatic
The Television Critics Association (TCA) announced the winners of the organization’s 39th annual TCA Awards, with “Succession” (HBO) and “The Bear” (FX) both winning more than one top prize.
While the TCA summer tour, including the awards ceremony, was canceled in lieu of the WGA and SAG strikes, the group has chosen to announce the winners of the 2022-23 TV season online. The organization also announced filmmaker Mel Brooks as its Career Achievement recipient and “The Carol Burnett Show” as its Heritage Award honoree.
In the two non-gendered acting categories, Individual Achievement In Drama and Individual Achievement In Comedy, the respective winners were “Better Call Saul” star Rhea Seehorn and “Poker Face” co-creator/star Natasha Lyonne. Meanwhile, the aforementioned “Succession” not only won Outstanding Achievement In Drama for the second year in a row (third time total), the HBO series also won the prestigious Program of the Year award for its final season.
While the TCA summer tour, including the awards ceremony, was canceled in lieu of the WGA and SAG strikes, the group has chosen to announce the winners of the 2022-23 TV season online. The organization also announced filmmaker Mel Brooks as its Career Achievement recipient and “The Carol Burnett Show” as its Heritage Award honoree.
In the two non-gendered acting categories, Individual Achievement In Drama and Individual Achievement In Comedy, the respective winners were “Better Call Saul” star Rhea Seehorn and “Poker Face” co-creator/star Natasha Lyonne. Meanwhile, the aforementioned “Succession” not only won Outstanding Achievement In Drama for the second year in a row (third time total), the HBO series also won the prestigious Program of the Year award for its final season.
- 8/7/2023
- by Marcus Jones
- Indiewire
Winners for the 39th annual Television Critics Association (TCA) Awards were announced on Monday and HBO’s Succession emerged victorious. The series was named Program of the Year and took home Outstanding Achievement in Drama honors for the second year in a row.
Related Stories Emmys Scrap September Date Amid Hollywood Strikes — Next Stop, January 2024? Emmy Nomination ‘Fun’ Facts: Network Dramas Shut Out (Again), Axed Shows Earn Kudos, Dragon Lords Over Rings and More Natasha Lyonne Honors Paul Reubens, Reflects on Pee-wee’s Playhouse Stint: ‘Thank You for My Career’
The Bear (Season 1) also nabbed two trophies, for Outstanding New...
Related Stories Emmys Scrap September Date Amid Hollywood Strikes — Next Stop, January 2024? Emmy Nomination ‘Fun’ Facts: Network Dramas Shut Out (Again), Axed Shows Earn Kudos, Dragon Lords Over Rings and More Natasha Lyonne Honors Paul Reubens, Reflects on Pee-wee’s Playhouse Stint: ‘Thank You for My Career’
The Bear (Season 1) also nabbed two trophies, for Outstanding New...
- 8/7/2023
- by Team TVLine
- TVLine.com
HBO’s “Succession” was a critical darling, so it’s probably befitting that the show would end its run with two final lauds from the Television Critics Assn. The 39th Annual TCA Awards — which canceled its in-person event this year due to the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes — released its list of winners on Monday, with “Succession” grabbing the prizes for program of the year, as well as outstanding achievement in drama (an award it also won in 2022 and 2020).
Other major winners included FX’s “The Bear,” which airs on Hulu. The series’ first season was honored as outstanding new program, as well as outstanding achievement in comedy. The TCA spread the wealth when it comes to individual achievements, honoring “Better Call Saul” star Rhea Seehorn in drama, and “Poker Face” star Natasha Lyonne in comedy.
Also, Netflix’s “Beef” and “I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson” won top prizes,...
Other major winners included FX’s “The Bear,” which airs on Hulu. The series’ first season was honored as outstanding new program, as well as outstanding achievement in comedy. The TCA spread the wealth when it comes to individual achievements, honoring “Better Call Saul” star Rhea Seehorn in drama, and “Poker Face” star Natasha Lyonne in comedy.
Also, Netflix’s “Beef” and “I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson” won top prizes,...
- 8/7/2023
- by Michael Schneider
- Variety Film + TV
Hulu's newest true-crime documentary, "Demons and Saviors," has arrived. The film, which premiered Aug. 3, tells the story of Christina Boyer, a woman who was rumored to have telekinetic abilities as a child and was imprisoned for the murder of her 3-year-old daughter as an adult. The documentary lets Boyer tell her story through a series of interviews conducted over the telephone, and features a variety of conversations with people who have often wildly different perspectives on her story.
"Demons and Saviors" doesn't offer easy answers. Instead it focuses on the facts, leaving viewers to decide how they feel about Boyer's story. Here's what we know for sure about the case.
Why Was Christina Boyer Labeled "The Poltergeist Girl" as a Child?
Boyer was born in 1996 in Columbus, Oh. At the age of 14, per ABC News, she began making headlines for her apparent psychic abilities. According to Boyer, it all...
"Demons and Saviors" doesn't offer easy answers. Instead it focuses on the facts, leaving viewers to decide how they feel about Boyer's story. Here's what we know for sure about the case.
Why Was Christina Boyer Labeled "The Poltergeist Girl" as a Child?
Boyer was born in 1996 in Columbus, Oh. At the age of 14, per ABC News, she began making headlines for her apparent psychic abilities. According to Boyer, it all...
- 8/4/2023
- by Eden Arielle Gordon
- Popsugar.com
With the 2023 Truth Seekers Summit presented by Showtime taking place a day after former President Donald Trump was indicted for a third time, this time in an attempt to overturn the 2020 election, MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow set the tone of the event after receiving the Variety and Rolling Stone Truth Seekers Award, “The crisis we have right now in this work that we do is not a crisis about the truth,” she said in a sitdown with Variety’s Co-Editor-In-Chief Ramin Setoodeh. “The truth is the truth; the truth just exists.
- 8/4/2023
- by Sean Malcolm
- Rollingstone.com
While corporate consolidation has led to smaller documentary production budgets and fewer indie doc sales, the demand for true-crime docus has skyrocketed over the last few years.
That’s good news for documentary production companies like Dan Cogan and Liz Garbus’ Story Syndicate. This year, Garbus, Cogan and Story Syndicate’s head of documentary and nonfiction, Jon Bardin, have produced three true-crime documentaries: Hulu’s “Stolen Youth: Inside the Cult at Sarah Lawrence,” Netflix’s” Take Care of Maya” and HBO’s “Last Call: When a Serial Killer Stalked Queer New York.”
About a string of murders in 1990’s Manhattan, “Last Call,” like “Stolen Youth” and “Take Care of Maya,” has become a hit with audiences and critics alike. (The final episode in the four-part series air on July 30.)
Variety spoke with Bardin, Cogan and Garbus about what they are looking for in a true-crime project and what they steer...
That’s good news for documentary production companies like Dan Cogan and Liz Garbus’ Story Syndicate. This year, Garbus, Cogan and Story Syndicate’s head of documentary and nonfiction, Jon Bardin, have produced three true-crime documentaries: Hulu’s “Stolen Youth: Inside the Cult at Sarah Lawrence,” Netflix’s” Take Care of Maya” and HBO’s “Last Call: When a Serial Killer Stalked Queer New York.”
About a string of murders in 1990’s Manhattan, “Last Call,” like “Stolen Youth” and “Take Care of Maya,” has become a hit with audiences and critics alike. (The final episode in the four-part series air on July 30.)
Variety spoke with Bardin, Cogan and Garbus about what they are looking for in a true-crime project and what they steer...
- 7/28/2023
- by Addie Morfoot
- Variety Film + TV
Hulu Orders Sherri Papini Kidnapping Hoax Documentary From ‘Britney vs. Spears’ Director (Exclusive)
Hulu has ordered a new documentary series on the Sherri Papini disappearance story, Variety has learned.
Hailing from filmmakers Erin Lee Carr, Michael Beach Nichols, and Marwar Junction Productions, the limited series dives into “the six-year journey of Sherri Papini’s disappearance to her arrest and the ripple effect of the case felt across the nation,” per Hulu.
Sherri Papini was 34 years old when she disappeared from a rural neighborhood in Northern California which catapulted her family — including her husband, Keith Papini — at the center of a global news story as they waited for answers. Suddenly, after 22 days of searching, Sherri was found alive. Burned and battered, with a metal chain tied around her waist, she claimed that she’d been kidnapped at gunpoint and had been tortured for three weeks by her captors.
Six years after her disappearance, Sherri Papini began serving 18 months in prison for lying to the FBI about her kidnapping.
Hailing from filmmakers Erin Lee Carr, Michael Beach Nichols, and Marwar Junction Productions, the limited series dives into “the six-year journey of Sherri Papini’s disappearance to her arrest and the ripple effect of the case felt across the nation,” per Hulu.
Sherri Papini was 34 years old when she disappeared from a rural neighborhood in Northern California which catapulted her family — including her husband, Keith Papini — at the center of a global news story as they waited for answers. Suddenly, after 22 days of searching, Sherri was found alive. Burned and battered, with a metal chain tied around her waist, she claimed that she’d been kidnapped at gunpoint and had been tortured for three weeks by her captors.
Six years after her disappearance, Sherri Papini began serving 18 months in prison for lying to the FBI about her kidnapping.
- 7/25/2023
- by BreAnna Bell
- Variety Film + TV
Oxygen’s true-crime docuseries Real Murders of Orange County revisits one of the most shocking and disturbing murder mysteries that had the system fooled until years later.
In the upcoming episode, “Stolen Youth” Linda Marie Brown, a young mother is killed in her own bed in what seems to be a sudden crime of rage. But the true killer is shockingly revealed years later to be a twisted master of manipulation.
The murder was pinned on the young mother’s teenage stepdaughter, Cinnamon Brown. But during her trial, investigators noticed extremely bizarre behavior from the murder victim’s husband, David Brown, who sat in the courtroom. This bizarre behavior became one of many red flags in this case.
David Brown’s courtroom behavior was shocking
In an exclusive clip shared with Showbiz Cheat Sheet, investigators recalled how David was “never around” throughout Cinnamon’s trial. Investigators thought it was strange...
In the upcoming episode, “Stolen Youth” Linda Marie Brown, a young mother is killed in her own bed in what seems to be a sudden crime of rage. But the true killer is shockingly revealed years later to be a twisted master of manipulation.
The murder was pinned on the young mother’s teenage stepdaughter, Cinnamon Brown. But during her trial, investigators noticed extremely bizarre behavior from the murder victim’s husband, David Brown, who sat in the courtroom. This bizarre behavior became one of many red flags in this case.
David Brown’s courtroom behavior was shocking
In an exclusive clip shared with Showbiz Cheat Sheet, investigators recalled how David was “never around” throughout Cinnamon’s trial. Investigators thought it was strange...
- 7/21/2023
- by Gina Ragusa
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
The Television Critics Association awards nominations went public Friday, and it was great news for some series and sad news for others.
The Last of Us, The Bear, and Succession are in a three-way tie with five nominations apiece.
All three shows were expected to get some awards love, so their performances here are not surprising.
The Bear has been a bonafide hit for FX and Hulu, but there were some more first-year shows in the mix, too.
Andor, Jury Duty, Shrinking, Interview With the Vampire, and Poker Face were all well-represented.
Somewhat surprising: Ted Lasso and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel were shut out.
The news comes after both series have been big hits on the awards front and could set a precedent for upcoming awards shows.
Awards will be handed out at an in-person ceremony on August 7, 2023.
Check out the complete list of nominations below.
Individual Achievement In Drama
Christine Baranski,...
The Last of Us, The Bear, and Succession are in a three-way tie with five nominations apiece.
All three shows were expected to get some awards love, so their performances here are not surprising.
The Bear has been a bonafide hit for FX and Hulu, but there were some more first-year shows in the mix, too.
Andor, Jury Duty, Shrinking, Interview With the Vampire, and Poker Face were all well-represented.
Somewhat surprising: Ted Lasso and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel were shut out.
The news comes after both series have been big hits on the awards front and could set a precedent for upcoming awards shows.
Awards will be handed out at an in-person ceremony on August 7, 2023.
Check out the complete list of nominations below.
Individual Achievement In Drama
Christine Baranski,...
- 6/30/2023
- by Paul Dailly
- TVfanatic
There won’t be a TCA Summer Tour this year, but the Television Critics Association is out with the nominees for its 39th annual TCA Awards. Wrapped HBO Emmy winner Succession, sophomore FX dramedy The Bear and HBO’s freshman drama The Last of Us lead the field with five noms each. See the full list below.
ABC’s Emmy-winning comedy Abbott Elementary and Peacock rookie Poker Face are next with four nominations apiece.
Among networks and platforms, the combined HBO/HBO Max doubled up its closest competition with 20 noms to FX’s 10. Streamers Disney+ and Peacock were next with nine each. PBS/PBS Kids got seven.
There are two new categories this year: Outstanding Achievement in Family Programming and Outstanding Achievement in Children’s Programming. Those nominations were dominated by PBS and/or streamers.
Here are all the nominees for the 2023 TCA Awards, followed by the list of noms...
ABC’s Emmy-winning comedy Abbott Elementary and Peacock rookie Poker Face are next with four nominations apiece.
Among networks and platforms, the combined HBO/HBO Max doubled up its closest competition with 20 noms to FX’s 10. Streamers Disney+ and Peacock were next with nine each. PBS/PBS Kids got seven.
There are two new categories this year: Outstanding Achievement in Family Programming and Outstanding Achievement in Children’s Programming. Those nominations were dominated by PBS and/or streamers.
Here are all the nominees for the 2023 TCA Awards, followed by the list of noms...
- 6/30/2023
- by Erik Pedersen
- Deadline Film + TV
The Television Critics Association revealed its nominations for its 39th Annual TCA Awards with Succession, The Last of Us and The Bear leading the charge. Winners are scheduled to be announced on Monday, August 7.
HBO/Max has the most nominations for the second year in a row with 20 nods including four entrants battling it out for Program of the Year. FX is in second place with 10 nominations and Disney+ shares third place with Peacock with a total of 9, respectively.
“The 2023 nominees for the TCA Awards boast an eclectic lineup from across the entertainment spectrum,” said Melanie McFarland, TCA President and TV Critic for Salon.com. “This season truly had something for everyone—from innovative comedies and gripping dramas to immersive documentaries and refreshingly cerebral storytelling set in a galaxy far, far away. I am eager to see which stars and series our members have chosen to honor when the winners are revealed.
HBO/Max has the most nominations for the second year in a row with 20 nods including four entrants battling it out for Program of the Year. FX is in second place with 10 nominations and Disney+ shares third place with Peacock with a total of 9, respectively.
“The 2023 nominees for the TCA Awards boast an eclectic lineup from across the entertainment spectrum,” said Melanie McFarland, TCA President and TV Critic for Salon.com. “This season truly had something for everyone—from innovative comedies and gripping dramas to immersive documentaries and refreshingly cerebral storytelling set in a galaxy far, far away. I am eager to see which stars and series our members have chosen to honor when the winners are revealed.
- 6/30/2023
- by Rosy Cordero
- Deadline Film + TV
The final seasons of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and (maybe-probably) Ted Lasso got the cold shoulder from the Television Critics Assoc., which honored the Emmy-winning pair with a total of zero TCA Award nominations.
By contrast, Succession‘s swan song scored a leading five nods, putting the Roy family in a three-way tie with fellow HBO drama The Last of Us and Hulu’s breakout hit The Bear.
More from TVLineDid The Bear's Christmas Wear You Out? Will Witcher Recast Wreck Chemistry? Justice for Jonathan Kent? More TV Qs!TVLine Items: The Bear Season 2 Ratings, Book Club Sequel on...
By contrast, Succession‘s swan song scored a leading five nods, putting the Roy family in a three-way tie with fellow HBO drama The Last of Us and Hulu’s breakout hit The Bear.
More from TVLineDid The Bear's Christmas Wear You Out? Will Witcher Recast Wreck Chemistry? Justice for Jonathan Kent? More TV Qs!TVLine Items: The Bear Season 2 Ratings, Book Club Sequel on...
- 6/30/2023
- by Team TVLine
- TVLine.com
HBO’s Succession and The Last of Us as well as FX/Hulu comedy The Bear lead all nominations for the 39th annual Television Critics Association’s awards.
The nominations, voted on by the more than 200 members of the Television Critics Association, also saw HBO and its streaming counterpart, Max, lead all platforms with a combined 20 nods including five each for Succession and Last of Us and two apiece for Barry, The Other Two and The White Lotus.
FX — which produces The Bear (five) followed in second place with 10, while Disney+ (Andor) and Peacock (Poker Face) tied for third with nine apiece.
The coveted program of the year race featured last year’s winner, ABC’s Abbott Elementary, joined by Andor, AMC’s Better Call Saul, Poker Face, Succession, The Bear, The Last of Us, The Other Two and The White Lotus.
The outstanding new program, which has been a...
The nominations, voted on by the more than 200 members of the Television Critics Association, also saw HBO and its streaming counterpart, Max, lead all platforms with a combined 20 nods including five each for Succession and Last of Us and two apiece for Barry, The Other Two and The White Lotus.
FX — which produces The Bear (five) followed in second place with 10, while Disney+ (Andor) and Peacock (Poker Face) tied for third with nine apiece.
The coveted program of the year race featured last year’s winner, ABC’s Abbott Elementary, joined by Andor, AMC’s Better Call Saul, Poker Face, Succession, The Bear, The Last of Us, The Other Two and The White Lotus.
The outstanding new program, which has been a...
- 6/30/2023
- by Lesley Goldberg
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
“Succession,” “The Last of Us” and “The Bear” are tied for most Televisions Critics Association Award nominations with five each.
The full list of nominees was released on Friday with the winners scheduled to be announced August 7. During that time the Career Achievement and Heritage Award winners will also be announced.
The two HBO juggernauts will be competing against each other in Outstanding Achievement in Drama as well as Individual Achievement in Drama. In the former category, “Succession” and “The Last of Us” are facing Disney+’s “Andor,” AMC’s “Better Call Saul,” AMC’s “Interview with a Vampire,” Paramount+’s “The Good Fight,” HBO’s “The White Lotus” and Showtime’s “Yellowjackets.” As for individual acting achievements between the two leaders, both Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsay were nominated for “The Last of Us,” and Kieran Culkin, Sarah Snook and Jeremy Strong were nominated for “Succession.”
As for comedies,...
The full list of nominees was released on Friday with the winners scheduled to be announced August 7. During that time the Career Achievement and Heritage Award winners will also be announced.
The two HBO juggernauts will be competing against each other in Outstanding Achievement in Drama as well as Individual Achievement in Drama. In the former category, “Succession” and “The Last of Us” are facing Disney+’s “Andor,” AMC’s “Better Call Saul,” AMC’s “Interview with a Vampire,” Paramount+’s “The Good Fight,” HBO’s “The White Lotus” and Showtime’s “Yellowjackets.” As for individual acting achievements between the two leaders, both Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsay were nominated for “The Last of Us,” and Kieran Culkin, Sarah Snook and Jeremy Strong were nominated for “Succession.”
As for comedies,...
- 6/30/2023
- by Kayla Cobb
- The Wrap
Fresh off a record opening for its second season, “The Bear” is celebrating more good news. The FX on Hulu series leads the 2023 Television Critics Association Awards nominations announced on Friday, in a tie with HBO hits “Succession” and “The Last of Us” for five nods each.
Voted on by more than 200 professional journalists from the U.S. and Canada, each covering television, the 39th Annual TCA Awards will put a spotlight on exceptional performances, series, creators, and stars spanning across all genres and platforms. The upcoming ceremony will announce the winners for 14 categories awarding outstanding achievements in Drama; Comedy; Miniseries; News and Information; Reality; Variety, Sketch or Talk Shows, and more, including the newly created Outstanding Achievement In Children’s Programming, which recognizes shows catering to children seven years old and under; and Outstanding Achievement In Family Programming, which recognizes shows created for youths from seven years old and up.
Voted on by more than 200 professional journalists from the U.S. and Canada, each covering television, the 39th Annual TCA Awards will put a spotlight on exceptional performances, series, creators, and stars spanning across all genres and platforms. The upcoming ceremony will announce the winners for 14 categories awarding outstanding achievements in Drama; Comedy; Miniseries; News and Information; Reality; Variety, Sketch or Talk Shows, and more, including the newly created Outstanding Achievement In Children’s Programming, which recognizes shows catering to children seven years old and under; and Outstanding Achievement In Family Programming, which recognizes shows created for youths from seven years old and up.
- 6/30/2023
- by Marcus Jones
- Indiewire
Though the Television Critics Association’s (TCA) summer 2023 press tour was canceled as a result of the ongoing Writers Guild of America strike, the annual TCA Awards move forward.
This year, the final season of “Succession” was joined by two Season 1 series, “The Last of Us” and “The Bear,” as the most-nominated projects. Each was nominated for five awards among the fourteen total categories.
TCA also added two new categories to the list this year, splitting Outstanding Achievement in Youth Programming into separate awards for children’s and family programming.
“The 2023 nominees for the TCA Awards boast an eclectic lineup from across the entertainment spectrum,” said Melanie McFarland, TCA President and TV Critic for Salon.com. “This season truly had something for everyone — from innovative comedies and gripping dramas, to immersive documentaries and refreshingly cerebral storytelling set in a galaxy far, far away. I am eager to see which stars and...
This year, the final season of “Succession” was joined by two Season 1 series, “The Last of Us” and “The Bear,” as the most-nominated projects. Each was nominated for five awards among the fourteen total categories.
TCA also added two new categories to the list this year, splitting Outstanding Achievement in Youth Programming into separate awards for children’s and family programming.
“The 2023 nominees for the TCA Awards boast an eclectic lineup from across the entertainment spectrum,” said Melanie McFarland, TCA President and TV Critic for Salon.com. “This season truly had something for everyone — from innovative comedies and gripping dramas, to immersive documentaries and refreshingly cerebral storytelling set in a galaxy far, far away. I am eager to see which stars and...
- 6/30/2023
- by Selome Hailu
- Variety Film + TV
Please Note: This forecast, assembled by The Hollywood Reporter’s awards columnist Scott Feinberg, reflects his best attempt to predict the behavior of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, not his personal preferences. He arrives at these standings by drawing upon consultations with voters and strategists, analysis of marketing and campaigns, results of awards that precede the Emmys and the history of the Emmys itself. There will be regular updates to reflect new developments.
*Best Drama Series*
Frontrunners
Succession (HBO/Max)
The White Lotus: Sicily (HBO/Max)
The Last of Us (HBO/Max)
Better Call Saul (AMC)
Yellowjackets (Showtime)
House of the Dragon (HBO/Max)
The Crown (Netflix)
The Diplomat (Netflix)
Major Threats
Andor (Disney+)
The Mandalorian (Disney+)
The Handmaid’s Tale (Hulu)
The Old Man (FX)
1923 (Paramount+)
Yellowstone (Paramount)
Possibilities
Bad Sisters (Apple TV+)
Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story (Netflix) — podcast [Shonda Rhimes]
The Boys (Amazon)
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power...
*Best Drama Series*
Frontrunners
Succession (HBO/Max)
The White Lotus: Sicily (HBO/Max)
The Last of Us (HBO/Max)
Better Call Saul (AMC)
Yellowjackets (Showtime)
House of the Dragon (HBO/Max)
The Crown (Netflix)
The Diplomat (Netflix)
Major Threats
Andor (Disney+)
The Mandalorian (Disney+)
The Handmaid’s Tale (Hulu)
The Old Man (FX)
1923 (Paramount+)
Yellowstone (Paramount)
Possibilities
Bad Sisters (Apple TV+)
Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story (Netflix) — podcast [Shonda Rhimes]
The Boys (Amazon)
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power...
- 6/24/2023
- by Scott Feinberg
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
For Hulu documentary executives Belisa Balaban and Beth Osisek, flexibility is the name of the game when it comes to the constant pivoting required by vérité and investigative projects — a quality that they say only strengthens unscripted storytelling.
“The hallmark of nonfiction is that you don’t always know where a story’s going to go,” Balaban, who serves as SVP of Hulu original documentaries and unscripted series told TheWrap for this week’s Office With a View. “That’s always the central challenge, and also opportunity of nonfiction filmmaking. And of course, that’s the challenge and opportunity for us — then we’ve got to pivot on our end as well — a story might shift, or the length might shift or characters might shift, and we’re there to support filmmakers through that process.”
As Balaban and Osisek, Hulu’s VP of documentaries, embrace feature-length documentaries and multi-part docuseries as what Osisek calls “living,...
“The hallmark of nonfiction is that you don’t always know where a story’s going to go,” Balaban, who serves as SVP of Hulu original documentaries and unscripted series told TheWrap for this week’s Office With a View. “That’s always the central challenge, and also opportunity of nonfiction filmmaking. And of course, that’s the challenge and opportunity for us — then we’ve got to pivot on our end as well — a story might shift, or the length might shift or characters might shift, and we’re there to support filmmakers through that process.”
As Balaban and Osisek, Hulu’s VP of documentaries, embrace feature-length documentaries and multi-part docuseries as what Osisek calls “living,...
- 6/16/2023
- by Loree Seitz
- The Wrap
Please Note: This forecast, assembled by The Hollywood Reporter’s awards columnist Scott Feinberg, reflects his best attempt to predict the behavior of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, not his personal preferences. He arrives at these standings by drawing upon consultations with voters and strategists, analysis of marketing and campaigns, results of awards that precede the Emmys and the history of the Emmys itself. There will be regular updates to reflect new developments.
*Best Drama Series*
Frontrunners
Succession (HBO/Max)
The White Lotus: Sicily (HBO/Max)
The Last of Us (HBO/Max)
Better Call Saul (AMC)
The Crown (Netflix)
Yellowjackets (Showtime)
The Mandalorian (Disney+)
The Diplomat (Netflix)
Major Threats
House of the Dragon (HBO/Max)
Andor (Disney+)
The Handmaid’s Tale (Hulu)
The Old Man (FX)
1923 (Paramount+)
Yellowstone (Paramount)
Possibilities
Bad Sisters (Apple TV+)
Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story (Netflix) — podcast [Shonda Rhimes]
The Boys (Amazon)
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power...
*Best Drama Series*
Frontrunners
Succession (HBO/Max)
The White Lotus: Sicily (HBO/Max)
The Last of Us (HBO/Max)
Better Call Saul (AMC)
The Crown (Netflix)
Yellowjackets (Showtime)
The Mandalorian (Disney+)
The Diplomat (Netflix)
Major Threats
House of the Dragon (HBO/Max)
Andor (Disney+)
The Handmaid’s Tale (Hulu)
The Old Man (FX)
1923 (Paramount+)
Yellowstone (Paramount)
Possibilities
Bad Sisters (Apple TV+)
Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story (Netflix) — podcast [Shonda Rhimes]
The Boys (Amazon)
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power...
- 6/16/2023
- by Scott Feinberg
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Please Note: This forecast, assembled by The Hollywood Reporter’s awards columnist Scott Feinberg, reflects his best attempt to predict the behavior of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, not his personal preferences. He arrives at these standings by drawing upon consultations with voters and strategists, analysis of marketing and campaigns, results of awards that precede the Emmys and the history of the Emmys itself. There will be regular updates to reflect new developments.
*Best Drama Series*
Frontrunners
Succession (HBO/Max)
The White Lotus: Sicily (HBO/Max)
The Last of Us (HBO/Max)
Better Call Saul (AMC)
The Crown (Netflix)
Yellowjackets (Showtime)
The Mandalorian (Disney+)
The Diplomat (Netflix)
Major Threats
House of the Dragon (HBO/Max)
Andor (Disney+)
The Handmaid’s Tale (Hulu)
The Old Man (FX)
1923 (Paramount+)
Yellowstone (Paramount)
Bad Sisters (Apple TV+)
Possibilities
The Boys (Amazon)
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (Amazon)
Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story...
*Best Drama Series*
Frontrunners
Succession (HBO/Max)
The White Lotus: Sicily (HBO/Max)
The Last of Us (HBO/Max)
Better Call Saul (AMC)
The Crown (Netflix)
Yellowjackets (Showtime)
The Mandalorian (Disney+)
The Diplomat (Netflix)
Major Threats
House of the Dragon (HBO/Max)
Andor (Disney+)
The Handmaid’s Tale (Hulu)
The Old Man (FX)
1923 (Paramount+)
Yellowstone (Paramount)
Bad Sisters (Apple TV+)
Possibilities
The Boys (Amazon)
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (Amazon)
Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story...
- 6/8/2023
- by Scott Feinberg
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The creative forces behind four of the documentary films and shows that are hoping to compete at this year’s Emmys took some time to chat with Gold Derby and discussed several topics including their favorite documentaries, surprising subjects covered by docs and the changing nature of what documentaries can be. This was part of Gold Derby’s Meet the Experts panel on TV Documentaries that included Ellen Goosenberg Kent (“Afghan Dreamers”), Michael Gasparro (“Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal”), Zach Heinzerling (“Stolen Youth: Inside the Cult at Sarah Lawrence”) and Jimmy Chin (“Wild Life”).
You can watch the TV documentary group panel above with the people behind these four programs. Click on each person’s name above to be taken to each exclusive interview.
Gasparro sighted classic documentary films like “The Thin Blue Line” as his entry point into the genre but also cited one that was a milestone for documentary series.
You can watch the TV documentary group panel above with the people behind these four programs. Click on each person’s name above to be taken to each exclusive interview.
Gasparro sighted classic documentary films like “The Thin Blue Line” as his entry point into the genre but also cited one that was a milestone for documentary series.
- 6/2/2023
- by Charles Bright
- Gold Derby
Zach Heinzerling, the director of the Hulu docuseries “Stolen Youth: Inside the Cult at Sarah Lawrence,” really wants people to know that cults aren’t strictly limited to being religious in nature. “A cult is essentially any power imbalance or manipulative relationship between more than one person. Usually the examples we have of cults have been kind of seemingly esoteric groups of people that the average person can’t relate to,” he tells Gold Derby during our recent Meet the Experts: TV Documentaries panel (watch the exclusive video interview above).
He goes on to explain that this has also been a focus for one of the cult’s survivors, Daniel Levin, by showing a group that audiences could empathize with. “In this instance, he’s shedding a light on that word and using it in a way where we’re educating the public on what that word really means.”
See...
He goes on to explain that this has also been a focus for one of the cult’s survivors, Daniel Levin, by showing a group that audiences could empathize with. “In this instance, he’s shedding a light on that word and using it in a way where we’re educating the public on what that word really means.”
See...
- 6/2/2023
- by Charles Bright
- Gold Derby
This story about the docuseries “Stolen Youth” originally ran in the Race Begins issue of TheWrap’s awards magazine.
In 2019, a tight close-up of a middle-aged man’s chubby face dominated the cover of New York magazine. His eyes stared gently — though with absolute power — right at us. The article inside described the shocking story of Larry Ray, who moved into his daughter’s dorm building at Sarah Lawrence College and proceeded to systematically brainwash several students into a forced-labor and sex-trafficking cult.
The whole saga is told in “Stolen Youth,” a three-episode Hulu series that examines the sordid details of the Ray case. He was convicted on 15 criminal counts in 2022. But the show also offers an empathetic platform for his victims, some still in the throes of Ray’s mind control. Oscar-nominated director Zachary Heinzerling (“Cutie and the Boxer”) talked about his approach to this complex, tangled web.
“Stolen Youth...
In 2019, a tight close-up of a middle-aged man’s chubby face dominated the cover of New York magazine. His eyes stared gently — though with absolute power — right at us. The article inside described the shocking story of Larry Ray, who moved into his daughter’s dorm building at Sarah Lawrence College and proceeded to systematically brainwash several students into a forced-labor and sex-trafficking cult.
The whole saga is told in “Stolen Youth,” a three-episode Hulu series that examines the sordid details of the Ray case. He was convicted on 15 criminal counts in 2022. But the show also offers an empathetic platform for his victims, some still in the throes of Ray’s mind control. Oscar-nominated director Zachary Heinzerling (“Cutie and the Boxer”) talked about his approach to this complex, tangled web.
“Stolen Youth...
- 6/1/2023
- by Joe McGovern
- The Wrap
Spoiler Alert: This story contains spoilers from “Qui,” the sixth episode of “Yellowjackets” Season 2, now streaming on Showtime.
One of the most compelling mysteries in Showtime’s “Yellowjackets” is finally solved in this week’s episode — what happened to teen Shauna’s (Sophie Nélisse) baby?
The episode sees Shauna in labor, with her fellow Yellowjackets surrounding and supporting her as she experiences contractions before finally giving birth. She passes out, before coming to and holding her baby. Things aren’t going smoothly, though, since a starving Shauna isn’t able to produce enough milk. Later, she wakes from her sleep, with her baby not in his bed. She freaks out, and looks for the Yellowjackets — and stumbles into a nightmare of them eating the baby.
Then Shauna wakes from her sleep, to find that her baby boy did not make it, and what we thought we were seeing was all a dream.
One of the most compelling mysteries in Showtime’s “Yellowjackets” is finally solved in this week’s episode — what happened to teen Shauna’s (Sophie Nélisse) baby?
The episode sees Shauna in labor, with her fellow Yellowjackets surrounding and supporting her as she experiences contractions before finally giving birth. She passes out, before coming to and holding her baby. Things aren’t going smoothly, though, since a starving Shauna isn’t able to produce enough milk. Later, she wakes from her sleep, with her baby not in his bed. She freaks out, and looks for the Yellowjackets — and stumbles into a nightmare of them eating the baby.
Then Shauna wakes from her sleep, to find that her baby boy did not make it, and what we thought we were seeing was all a dream.
- 5/5/2023
- by Jazz Tangcay
- Variety Film + TV
Hulu is adding three new titles to its growing lineup of original docs: “Freaknik: The Wildest Party Never Told,” “Queenmaker: The Making of An It Girl,” and “The Jewel Thief.”
“Freaknik: The Wildest Party Never Told” “recounts the rise and fall of a small Atlanta Hbcu picnic that exploded into an influential street party and spotlighted Atl as a major cultural stage,” per Hulu’s description. “Can the magic of Freaknik be brought back 40 years later?
Executive producers include showrunner Geraldine L. Porras and director P Frank Williams, as well as Jermaine Dupri, Luther Campbell, Peter Bittenbender and Melissa Cooper for Mass Appeal, Eric Tomosunas for Swirl Films, Terry Ross and Alex Avant. Nikki Byles and Jay Allen are producers.
From MRC, “Queenmaker: The Making of an It Girl” reveals the story behind the now-defunct “Park Avenue Peerage” blog. “In the height of heiress-era NYC, an anonymous blogger infiltrated Manhattan’s elite,...
“Freaknik: The Wildest Party Never Told” “recounts the rise and fall of a small Atlanta Hbcu picnic that exploded into an influential street party and spotlighted Atl as a major cultural stage,” per Hulu’s description. “Can the magic of Freaknik be brought back 40 years later?
Executive producers include showrunner Geraldine L. Porras and director P Frank Williams, as well as Jermaine Dupri, Luther Campbell, Peter Bittenbender and Melissa Cooper for Mass Appeal, Eric Tomosunas for Swirl Films, Terry Ross and Alex Avant. Nikki Byles and Jay Allen are producers.
From MRC, “Queenmaker: The Making of an It Girl” reveals the story behind the now-defunct “Park Avenue Peerage” blog. “In the height of heiress-era NYC, an anonymous blogger infiltrated Manhattan’s elite,...
- 4/6/2023
- by Jennifer Maas
- Variety Film + TV
(Welcome to The Daily Stream, an ongoing series in which the /Film team shares what they've been watching, why it's worth checking out, and where you can stream it.)
The Series: "Stolen Youth: Inside the Cult at Sarah Lawrence"
Where You Can Stream It: Hulu
The Pitch: True crime media is something I am both engaged in and heavily critical of. If you have been reading my work here at /Film, you'll come to see that it's become a beat of mine, usually highlighting the negative aspects of the subgenre. Despite all the exploitation that the subgenre is known for, I believe that, like all other genres, it has the ability to tell empowering and enlightening stories of survival in an empathetic way. This is why it's unfortunate that so many creatives choose the lazier approach by favoring a more shocking and insensitive route.
This is probably why I...
The Series: "Stolen Youth: Inside the Cult at Sarah Lawrence"
Where You Can Stream It: Hulu
The Pitch: True crime media is something I am both engaged in and heavily critical of. If you have been reading my work here at /Film, you'll come to see that it's become a beat of mine, usually highlighting the negative aspects of the subgenre. Despite all the exploitation that the subgenre is known for, I believe that, like all other genres, it has the ability to tell empowering and enlightening stories of survival in an empathetic way. This is why it's unfortunate that so many creatives choose the lazier approach by favoring a more shocking and insensitive route.
This is probably why I...
- 2/28/2023
- by Erin Brady
- Slash Film
Tot up the time you’ve wasted scrolling through streaming apps in search of the perfect viewing choice for that particular Tuesday night, and it’ll scare you. Hours of your life, accumulatively spent clicking the right-hand arrow and muting autoplay trailers. Instead of giving your thumb a work-out, you could have been composing symphonies! Writing the next great American novel! Gazing into the eyes of your loved ones! Or even better, actually watching TV.
No more. Every month, Den of Geek picks our TV recommendations to save your time. Here’s what February has to offer…
Best of the Best: Stolen Youth
Stream On: Hulu (U.S.), Disney+ (U.K.)
With so many true crime options available in the streaming world, you could be forgiven for thinking that they’re mostly interchangeable. That line of thinking would be a mistake with Stolen Youth: Inside the Cult at Sarah Lawrence.
No more. Every month, Den of Geek picks our TV recommendations to save your time. Here’s what February has to offer…
Best of the Best: Stolen Youth
Stream On: Hulu (U.S.), Disney+ (U.K.)
With so many true crime options available in the streaming world, you could be forgiven for thinking that they’re mostly interchangeable. That line of thinking would be a mistake with Stolen Youth: Inside the Cult at Sarah Lawrence.
- 2/28/2023
- by Louisa Mellor
- Den of Geek
Plot: The true story of a group of college sophomores who fells under the saw of a father or one of their friends and found themselves willing members of a cult.
Review: During the pandemic, I got very into true crime documentaries. I can’t get enough of them, and luckily Netflix, Hulu and many other streaming services have been around the scratch my itch. People everywhere have gotten into these shows, and given how you can always rely on reality to be stranger than fiction, docuseries aren’t going anywhere. However, it can’t be denied there’s an exploitative aspect to some of them, especially when the stories profiled are recent.
This brings me to Stolen Youth: Inside the Cult at Sarah Lawrence. This criminal trial was still ongoing when the show premiered on Hulu a few weeks ago, with two of the primary players, Larry Ray and Isabella Pollok,...
Review: During the pandemic, I got very into true crime documentaries. I can’t get enough of them, and luckily Netflix, Hulu and many other streaming services have been around the scratch my itch. People everywhere have gotten into these shows, and given how you can always rely on reality to be stranger than fiction, docuseries aren’t going anywhere. However, it can’t be denied there’s an exploitative aspect to some of them, especially when the stories profiled are recent.
This brings me to Stolen Youth: Inside the Cult at Sarah Lawrence. This criminal trial was still ongoing when the show premiered on Hulu a few weeks ago, with two of the primary players, Larry Ray and Isabella Pollok,...
- 2/25/2023
- by Chris Bumbray
- JoBlo.com
Isabella Pollok, a member of the Sarah Lawrence sex cult featured in the Hulu docuseries “Stolen Youth,” was sentenced Wednesday to 54 months in federal prison.
Pollok, 31, pleaded guilty last year to conspiracy to commit money laundering, avoiding a trial. According to prosecutors, she served as the chief lieutenant to Lawrence Ray, who relied on her to gain the trust of young women whom he would exploit for sex and money.
Ray was sentenced in January to 60 years in prison, after being convicted of extortion, sex trafficking and racketeering.
Under her plea agreement, Pollok faced a maximum of five years in prison. Her attorneys argued, however, that she should face no jail time, and stated that Ray had “brainwashed” her into doing his bidding.
“Isabella did whatever Ray directed,” the defense argued in a sentencing memo. “She does not deny that she enforced his bizarre edicts and philosophies. Rather, by pleading guilty,...
Pollok, 31, pleaded guilty last year to conspiracy to commit money laundering, avoiding a trial. According to prosecutors, she served as the chief lieutenant to Lawrence Ray, who relied on her to gain the trust of young women whom he would exploit for sex and money.
Ray was sentenced in January to 60 years in prison, after being convicted of extortion, sex trafficking and racketeering.
Under her plea agreement, Pollok faced a maximum of five years in prison. Her attorneys argued, however, that she should face no jail time, and stated that Ray had “brainwashed” her into doing his bidding.
“Isabella did whatever Ray directed,” the defense argued in a sentencing memo. “She does not deny that she enforced his bizarre edicts and philosophies. Rather, by pleading guilty,...
- 2/22/2023
- by Gene Maddaus
- Variety Film + TV
On Feb. 9, "Stolen Youth: Inside the Cult at Sarah Lawrence" premiered on Hulu. The true-crime documentary miniseries tells the harrowing story of the cult at Sarah Lawrence College, a prestigious liberal arts school just outside New York City. At the center of the story is Larry Ray, who was the leader of the cult. The documentary has people wondering where the sinister con artist is now, and while the short answer is that he's exactly where he should be - behind bars - there's more to know.
Who Is Larry Ray?
Before Ray's disturbing crimes were unveiled, Ray (whose real name is Lawrence Grecco) worked in several professions, according to People, from nightlife to consulting - he even traded stocks on Wall Street in the 1980s. According to New York Magazine, Ray also held political fundraisers, including for Patrick Kennedy. He did all of this despite not having a degree.
Who Is Larry Ray?
Before Ray's disturbing crimes were unveiled, Ray (whose real name is Lawrence Grecco) worked in several professions, according to People, from nightlife to consulting - he even traded stocks on Wall Street in the 1980s. According to New York Magazine, Ray also held political fundraisers, including for Patrick Kennedy. He did all of this despite not having a degree.
- 2/10/2023
- by Jessica Vacco-Bolanos
- Popsugar.com
Welcome to the 201st episode of TV’s Top 5, The Hollywood Reporter’s TV podcast.
Every week, hosts Lesley Goldberg (West Coast TV editor) and Daniel Fienberg (chief TV critic) break down the latest TV news with context from the business and critical sides, welcome showrunners, executives and other guests, and provide a critical guide of what to watch (or skip, as the case may be).
This week, You showrunner Sera Gamble joins the podcast to discuss the fourth season of Netflix’s Penn Badgley drama. The series, from exec producer Greg Berlanti, moves the action to London as the stalker drama also experiments with being split into two parts (with the second half of the season due in March). During the interview, excerpts of which you can read below, Gamble opens up about finding redemption for Badgley’s Joe Goldberg, if the character has to die in the end...
Every week, hosts Lesley Goldberg (West Coast TV editor) and Daniel Fienberg (chief TV critic) break down the latest TV news with context from the business and critical sides, welcome showrunners, executives and other guests, and provide a critical guide of what to watch (or skip, as the case may be).
This week, You showrunner Sera Gamble joins the podcast to discuss the fourth season of Netflix’s Penn Badgley drama. The series, from exec producer Greg Berlanti, moves the action to London as the stalker drama also experiments with being split into two parts (with the second half of the season due in March). During the interview, excerpts of which you can read below, Gamble opens up about finding redemption for Badgley’s Joe Goldberg, if the character has to die in the end...
- 2/10/2023
- by Lesley Goldberg
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Chris Evans has appeared to make a surprise announcement regarding his career.
The former Big Breakfast and Top Gear host reportedly said he will “limit” himself to radio during a chat with a fan.
His alleged answer is said to have come in response to a fan who asked if he would be on TV in the future.
According to The Mirror, Evans said of future TV stints: “No can do. Family time is everything to me.”
He reportedly added: “Radio in the Am is my limit.”
The broadcaster is married to Natasha Shishmanian, and the couple have four children together.
The Independent has contacted Evans for comment.
Evans has been a fixture on television since the early 1990s, when he co-presented The Big Breakfast.
After departing the series in 1994, the same year he hosted Channel 4’s Don’t Forget Your Toothbrush,, Evans started presenting Tfi Friday for four years,...
The former Big Breakfast and Top Gear host reportedly said he will “limit” himself to radio during a chat with a fan.
His alleged answer is said to have come in response to a fan who asked if he would be on TV in the future.
According to The Mirror, Evans said of future TV stints: “No can do. Family time is everything to me.”
He reportedly added: “Radio in the Am is my limit.”
The broadcaster is married to Natasha Shishmanian, and the couple have four children together.
The Independent has contacted Evans for comment.
Evans has been a fixture on television since the early 1990s, when he co-presented The Big Breakfast.
After departing the series in 1994, the same year he hosted Channel 4’s Don’t Forget Your Toothbrush,, Evans started presenting Tfi Friday for four years,...
- 2/10/2023
- by Jacob Stolworthy
- The Independent - TV
The new true-crime documentary, Stolen Youth: Inside the Cult at Sarah Lawrence, has been met with shock from viewers.
Since the series arrived in US streaming service Hulu on Thursday (9 February), many have posted on social media about how disturbing they have found the story of a sex cult led by a student’s middle-aged father.
Stolen Youth showcases interviews with victims of Larry Ray, incorporating video tapes and audio recordings to tell the story of his grim 10-year influence over a group of young people.
It follows the story from the cult’s origins in 2010 – which began when Ray moved into his daughter’s halls of residence near New York and started to manipulate her friends – to its recent demise.
Last month, Ray was sentenced to 60 years in prison, after being charged with crimes including sex trafficking, extortion and racketeering conspiracy.
Viewers have been posting their first reactions on Twitter.
Since the series arrived in US streaming service Hulu on Thursday (9 February), many have posted on social media about how disturbing they have found the story of a sex cult led by a student’s middle-aged father.
Stolen Youth showcases interviews with victims of Larry Ray, incorporating video tapes and audio recordings to tell the story of his grim 10-year influence over a group of young people.
It follows the story from the cult’s origins in 2010 – which began when Ray moved into his daughter’s halls of residence near New York and started to manipulate her friends – to its recent demise.
Last month, Ray was sentenced to 60 years in prison, after being charged with crimes including sex trafficking, extortion and racketeering conspiracy.
Viewers have been posting their first reactions on Twitter.
- 2/10/2023
- by Ellie Harrison
- The Independent - TV
In 2010, Lawrence “Larry” Ray moved in with his daughter and her friends at Sarah Lawrence College. More than 10 years later, he has been sentenced to 60 years in prison. Hulu‘s true crime series Stolen Youth: Inside the Cult at Sarah Lawrence, which premieres on Thursday, Feb. 9, details “Larry” Ray’s crimes and his victims’ stories.
Hulu’s ‘Stolen Youth’ premieres Feb. 9 | Hulu ‘Stolen Youth’ details Lawrence ‘Larry’ Ray’s sex crimes
Lawrence “Larry” Ray became a household name when The Cut published “The Stolen Kids of Sarah Lawrence” in April 2019. Now, Hulu’s series Stolen Youth: Inside the Cult at Sarah Lawrence details the victims’ stories.
When Talia told her housemates that her dad was getting out of prison and needed to crash with them in their Sarah Lawrence dorm, they were mostly unfazed. Nine years later, it seems he was the worst thing that ever happened to her and her roommates https://t.
Hulu’s ‘Stolen Youth’ premieres Feb. 9 | Hulu ‘Stolen Youth’ details Lawrence ‘Larry’ Ray’s sex crimes
Lawrence “Larry” Ray became a household name when The Cut published “The Stolen Kids of Sarah Lawrence” in April 2019. Now, Hulu’s series Stolen Youth: Inside the Cult at Sarah Lawrence details the victims’ stories.
When Talia told her housemates that her dad was getting out of prison and needed to crash with them in their Sarah Lawrence dorm, they were mostly unfazed. Nine years later, it seems he was the worst thing that ever happened to her and her roommates https://t.
- 2/9/2023
- by Lauren Anderson
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Content warning: This post contains mentions of emotional and psychological abuse.
"Stolen Youth," Hulu's new docuseries that explores Larry Ray's reign of psychological terror over a group of Sarah Lawrence college students, is extremely difficult to watch. The three-part series, released on Feb. 8, contains many real videos taken during the students' time living with Ray, and many feature verbal and physical abuse.
The story of what would become known as the "cult at Sarah Lawrence" first broke when The Cut published an exposé in 2019. It detailed how Ray had moved into his daughter Talia's dorm at Sarah Lawrence, quickly developing a hold over her roommates by regaling them with self-improvement advice. He claimed his knowledge was drawn from his years in the Marines, but Ray had lied about that - along with many other aspects of his life.
Anyone who followed the story in 2019 knows what happened next.
"Stolen Youth," Hulu's new docuseries that explores Larry Ray's reign of psychological terror over a group of Sarah Lawrence college students, is extremely difficult to watch. The three-part series, released on Feb. 8, contains many real videos taken during the students' time living with Ray, and many feature verbal and physical abuse.
The story of what would become known as the "cult at Sarah Lawrence" first broke when The Cut published an exposé in 2019. It detailed how Ray had moved into his daughter Talia's dorm at Sarah Lawrence, quickly developing a hold over her roommates by regaling them with self-improvement advice. He claimed his knowledge was drawn from his years in the Marines, but Ray had lied about that - along with many other aspects of his life.
Anyone who followed the story in 2019 knows what happened next.
- 2/9/2023
- by Eden Arielle Gordon
- Popsugar.com
Martin Lewis has reacted after being shown his first ever appearance on This Morning on his 20th anniversary.
He also praised ITV for “supporting consumerism television”, and accused the BBC of relegating the broadcast of similar shows “in the middle of a cost of living crisis”.
“I know we shouldn’t say things like this,” he said, before thanking ITV for giving him an opportunity to share his expertise. “Quite right,” Willoughby replied.
A BBC spokesperson told The Independent in reposne: “Consumer affairs programming appears across the BBC and Watchdog is watched by millions as part of The One Show.
“Our cost of living campaign ‘Tackling It Together’ is running across all BBC platforms at all times of the day, delivering value for all.”
Money savings expert Lewis, 50, has appeared on the ITV daytime show every week since 2003 and, to celebrate the ocassion, hosts Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby showed...
He also praised ITV for “supporting consumerism television”, and accused the BBC of relegating the broadcast of similar shows “in the middle of a cost of living crisis”.
“I know we shouldn’t say things like this,” he said, before thanking ITV for giving him an opportunity to share his expertise. “Quite right,” Willoughby replied.
A BBC spokesperson told The Independent in reposne: “Consumer affairs programming appears across the BBC and Watchdog is watched by millions as part of The One Show.
“Our cost of living campaign ‘Tackling It Together’ is running across all BBC platforms at all times of the day, delivering value for all.”
Money savings expert Lewis, 50, has appeared on the ITV daytime show every week since 2003 and, to celebrate the ocassion, hosts Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby showed...
- 2/9/2023
- by Jacob Stolworthy
- The Independent - TV
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