One of the greatest gifts any documentary can get is direct contribution from everyone involved in the story on display. “What Carter Lost,” the latest film in the Espn “30 for 30” docuseries, gives a thorough look at a tumultuous few months in late 1989, as one Dallas high school ascended to the heights of Texas football – before some players lost nearly everything.
For casual or non-football fans, director Adam Hootnick sets up the on-field supremacy of the Carter High School squad. Lauded here by at least one NFL hall-of-famer as the greatest high school football team in history, this group of Carter students came to wider cultural attention when their 1989 playoff run collided head-on with Odessa Permian, the team profiled in “Friday Night Lights,” Buzz Bissinger’s book that begat the film and later TV series.
Read More:‘Last Chance U’ Review: Netflix Series Proves That Football and TV Are Still a...
For casual or non-football fans, director Adam Hootnick sets up the on-field supremacy of the Carter High School squad. Lauded here by at least one NFL hall-of-famer as the greatest high school football team in history, this group of Carter students came to wider cultural attention when their 1989 playoff run collided head-on with Odessa Permian, the team profiled in “Friday Night Lights,” Buzz Bissinger’s book that begat the film and later TV series.
Read More:‘Last Chance U’ Review: Netflix Series Proves That Football and TV Are Still a...
- 8/24/2017
- by Steve Greene
- Indiewire
Son of the Congo tracks Oklahoma City Thunder forward Serge Ibaka as he goes back to the Congo, the African country where he grew up. As Serge visits his family and shows us his childhood home, it’s clear just how much he overcame to make it to the NBA. Directed by Adam Hootnick, this is the first feature film produced by Grantland.
After the film’s premiere, I sat down with Hootnick and one of the producers from Grantland, David Jacoby. We talked about what sparked this project, the experience of shooting in Africa, and much more.
Check out the full interview below, and enjoy.
What was it originally about Serge’s story that made you want to get involved?
Jacoby: We love the NBA at Grantland and one of the things that we like to do is analyze the game, but also get into the men that are on the court.
After the film’s premiere, I sat down with Hootnick and one of the producers from Grantland, David Jacoby. We talked about what sparked this project, the experience of shooting in Africa, and much more.
Check out the full interview below, and enjoy.
What was it originally about Serge’s story that made you want to get involved?
Jacoby: We love the NBA at Grantland and one of the things that we like to do is analyze the game, but also get into the men that are on the court.
- 3/25/2015
- by Alexander Lowe
- We Got This Covered
Bill Simmons’ Grantland Features is debuting its first full-length documentary this week and the film goes far beyond the U.S. borders and boundaries of a typical sports doc. Ironically, the film wouldn’t even have been made if Espn’s Simmons hadn’t spotted a random email to his pubic account from someone who said they represented NBA star Serge Ibaka. “At first we thought it was a fake,” Grantland writer and editor David Jacoby told TheWrap. “Then when we we realized it was real and decided to do it, we had about 15 minutes to get ready to go to the Congo.
- 3/25/2015
- by Debbie Emery
- The Wrap
Amy Schumer and Bill Hader in TrainwreckPhoto: Universal Pictures With Sundance just wrapping up and Berlin starting up in a few days, we are now immersed in the year-long barrage of film festivals. One such festival in South By Southwest. A few weeks back they announced the first seven films of their program, including the opening night film Brand: A Second Coming. Today, they have revealed the rest of the features to be shown in March (except for the midnight program), and some of it has me very excited. The bigger titles announced do not do much for me. Paul Feig's Spy, starring Melissa McCarthy, and the Will Ferrell/Kevin Hart starrer Get Hard leave a lot to be desired in terms of anticipation, as does a work in progress cut of Judd Apatow's latest film Trainwreck. I'm guessing an Apatow work in progress is probably around three and a half hours.
- 2/3/2015
- by Mike Shutt
- Rope of Silicon
South by Southwest, the multi-faceted film, music and technology festival held annually in Austin, TX will feature such upcoming films as Paul Feig’s Spy, David Gordon Green’s Manglehorn, Alex Gibney’s documentary Steve Jobs: The Man in the Machine, and Ondi Timoner’s Russell Brand profile Brand: A Second Coming as headliners in this year’s film festival lineup.
SXSW runs from March 13 to 21 in Austin and is now in its 22nd year. Variety has details of the 145 films and 100 world premieres bowing at this year’s festival. Brand, as previously reported, will be the festival’s opening night film.
Other notable titles on the list are the Will Ferrell/Kevin Hart comedy Get Hard, a rough cut of Judd Apatow’s Trainwreck, the directorial debut of 28 Days Later screenwriter Alex Garland, Ex Machina, and a new comedy by Michael Showalter, Hello, My Name is Doris.
On the small screen,...
SXSW runs from March 13 to 21 in Austin and is now in its 22nd year. Variety has details of the 145 films and 100 world premieres bowing at this year’s festival. Brand, as previously reported, will be the festival’s opening night film.
Other notable titles on the list are the Will Ferrell/Kevin Hart comedy Get Hard, a rough cut of Judd Apatow’s Trainwreck, the directorial debut of 28 Days Later screenwriter Alex Garland, Ex Machina, and a new comedy by Michael Showalter, Hello, My Name is Doris.
On the small screen,...
- 2/3/2015
- by Brian Welk
- SoundOnSight
This March, cinephiles of all persuasions will congregate in Austin, Texas for 2015’s South by Southwest Film Festival. Each year, the beloved event proves worth the trek, with plenty of terrific dramas, comedies and genre pics on display (last year’s festival screenings included such great flicks as Neighbors, Chef, Open Windows, Stage Fright and The Guest). And today brings exciting news regarding next year’s festival, now that some of the films that will be making their world or U.S. premieres at SXSW 2015 have been announced.
Among the premieres are Dredd director Alex Garland’s anticipated sci-fi thought piece Ex Machina, Michael Showalter’s latest romance Hello, My Name is Doris and The Invitation, a horror-thriller from the director of Jennifer’s Body. With many more titles to be announced in the coming weeks, this is already shaping up to be a terrific year for SXSW.
Check out...
Among the premieres are Dredd director Alex Garland’s anticipated sci-fi thought piece Ex Machina, Michael Showalter’s latest romance Hello, My Name is Doris and The Invitation, a horror-thriller from the director of Jennifer’s Body. With many more titles to be announced in the coming weeks, this is already shaping up to be a terrific year for SXSW.
Check out...
- 1/8/2015
- by Isaac Feldberg
- We Got This Covered
The 2015 South by Southwest Film Conference and Festival will open with the world premiere of a documentary about comedian, actor and author Russell Brand, organizers announced Thursday.
“Brand: A Second Coming,” directed by Ondi Timoner (“We Live in Public,” “Dig!”), will open the festival on Friday, March 13 in Austin, Texas.
Organizers also announced six other films that will screen at this year’s festival, including documentaries about singer Mavis Staples, NBA star Serge Ibaka and anti-bullying activist Lizzie Velasquez.
Films will also include “Ex Machina,” a drama from “28 Days Later” writer Alex Garland starring Oscar Isaac; “Hello, My Name Is Doris,...
“Brand: A Second Coming,” directed by Ondi Timoner (“We Live in Public,” “Dig!”), will open the festival on Friday, March 13 in Austin, Texas.
Organizers also announced six other films that will screen at this year’s festival, including documentaries about singer Mavis Staples, NBA star Serge Ibaka and anti-bullying activist Lizzie Velasquez.
Films will also include “Ex Machina,” a drama from “28 Days Later” writer Alex Garland starring Oscar Isaac; “Hello, My Name Is Doris,...
- 1/8/2015
- by Steve Pond
- The Wrap
This March will mark my fourth straight year attending the South by Southwest Film Festival. Every year creates many memorable moments, whether it be seeing the world premiere of Short Term 12 when it was on no one's radar or seeing Iko Uwais and Cecep Arif Rahman fight on stage when there was a problem with the screening file for The Raid 2, I always have a good time seeing as many movies I can in a short amount of time. And I am happy to be covering it for the first time as press for RopeofSilicon. The opening night films for SXSW have been hit and miss. My first year it was The Cabin in the Woods, and unfortunately, they cannot all be that great. The Incredible Burt Wonderstone and Chef followed after that. This year, SXSW has chosen the documentary Brand: A Second Coming as the opening night film.
- 1/8/2015
- by Mike Shutt
- Rope of Silicon
The world premiere of Ondi Timoner’s Brand: A Second Coming will open the festival in Austin, Texas, on March 13.
The film charts the British comedian and writer’s career as political activist and self-styled revolutionary.
Head of film Janet Pierson and her team unveiled a handful of other titles that will screen during the festival in advance of the full programming announcement on February 3.
They include: the North American premiere of Alex Garland’s feature directorial debut Ex Machina; Michael Showalter’s comedy Hello, My Name Is Doris, starring Sally Field; Karyn Kusama’s thriller The Invitation; Jessica Edwards’ Mavis! about singer Mavis Staples; Adam Hootnick documentary Son Of The Congo, which followes NBA star Serge Ibaka’s return to his homeland; and A Brave Heart: The Lizzie Velasquez Story by Sara Hirsh Bordo, about the anti-cyber bullying figurehead.
“Firebrand Ondi Timoner’s bold and lively documentary on Russell Brand knocked us out with its humour...
The film charts the British comedian and writer’s career as political activist and self-styled revolutionary.
Head of film Janet Pierson and her team unveiled a handful of other titles that will screen during the festival in advance of the full programming announcement on February 3.
They include: the North American premiere of Alex Garland’s feature directorial debut Ex Machina; Michael Showalter’s comedy Hello, My Name Is Doris, starring Sally Field; Karyn Kusama’s thriller The Invitation; Jessica Edwards’ Mavis! about singer Mavis Staples; Adam Hootnick documentary Son Of The Congo, which followes NBA star Serge Ibaka’s return to his homeland; and A Brave Heart: The Lizzie Velasquez Story by Sara Hirsh Bordo, about the anti-cyber bullying figurehead.
“Firebrand Ondi Timoner’s bold and lively documentary on Russell Brand knocked us out with its humour...
- 1/8/2015
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
The SXSW Film Conference and Festival has announced that its 2015 edition (March 13 through 21) will open with Ondi Timoner's documentary on Russell Brand, Brand: A Second Coming, and unveiled a first round of six more titles set to screen in Austin: Sara Hirsh Bordo's A Brave Heart: The Lizzie Velasquez Story; Jessica Edwards's Mavis!, a doc on Mavis Staples; Alex Garland's Ex Machina with Domhnall Gleeson, Oscar Isaac and Alicia Vikander; Adam Hootnick's Son of the Congo; Karyn Kusama's The Invitation; and Michael Showalter's Hello, My Name is Doris with Sally Field. » - David Hudson...
- 1/8/2015
- Fandor: Keyframe
The SXSW Film Conference and Festival has announced that its 2015 edition (March 13 through 21) will open with Ondi Timoner's documentary on Russell Brand, Brand: A Second Coming, and unveiled a first round of six more titles set to screen in Austin: Sara Hirsh Bordo's A Brave Heart: The Lizzie Velasquez Story; Jessica Edwards's Mavis!, a doc on Mavis Staples; Alex Garland's Ex Machina with Domhnall Gleeson, Oscar Isaac and Alicia Vikander; Adam Hootnick's Son of the Congo; Karyn Kusama's The Invitation; and Michael Showalter's Hello, My Name is Doris with Sally Field. » - David Hudson...
- 1/8/2015
- Keyframe
Continuing the "30 for 30" short series, the online companion piece to the feature-length "30 for 30" documentaries, Espn debuted "Judging Jewell" by Adam Hootnick ("Unsettled") yesterday on Grantland. The short documents the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, when security guard Richard Jewell was accused of planting a bomb that killed two and injured 111. To add insult to injury, Jewell had actually discovered the bag holding the bomb and helped clear the area. Though his name was eventually cleared, Jewell was hounded by the media, and upon his death in 2007 the stigma still hadn't cleared. Take a look at the film below:...
- 1/30/2014
- by Max O'Connell
- Indiewire
Indie Roundup reviews the past week of news from the independent film community and provides a peek at what's coming soon.
Opening. Three indie flicks open on Friday: Jeffrey Levy-Hinte's terrific music doc Soul Power, Chris Nahon's live-action adaptation of anime horror thriller Blood: The Last Vampire, and a reissue of Francois Truffaut's 1969 crime romance Mississippi Mermaid, with Jean-Paul Belmondo and Catherine Deneuve. After a good start in New York and Los Angeles (see below), action thriller The Hurt Locker expands into 50 selected markets.
Deals / Articles of Interest. Our friends at indieWIRE reported on three recent acquisitions with upcoming theatrical releases planned: Chris Fuller's critically-acclaimed teen drama Loren Cass (Kino; July 24); Rebecca Miller's The Private Lives of Pippa Lee, with Robin Wright Penn and Alan Arkin (Screen Media, October); and Dror Zahavi's thriller For My Father (Film Movement, Winter 2010). Eugene Hernandez considers Chris Anderson's...
Opening. Three indie flicks open on Friday: Jeffrey Levy-Hinte's terrific music doc Soul Power, Chris Nahon's live-action adaptation of anime horror thriller Blood: The Last Vampire, and a reissue of Francois Truffaut's 1969 crime romance Mississippi Mermaid, with Jean-Paul Belmondo and Catherine Deneuve. After a good start in New York and Los Angeles (see below), action thriller The Hurt Locker expands into 50 selected markets.
Deals / Articles of Interest. Our friends at indieWIRE reported on three recent acquisitions with upcoming theatrical releases planned: Chris Fuller's critically-acclaimed teen drama Loren Cass (Kino; July 24); Rebecca Miller's The Private Lives of Pippa Lee, with Robin Wright Penn and Alan Arkin (Screen Media, October); and Dror Zahavi's thriller For My Father (Film Movement, Winter 2010). Eugene Hernandez considers Chris Anderson's...
- 7/9/2009
- by Peter Martin
- Cinematical
By Neil Pedley
This week sees the return of the Wachowski brothers, Tarsem Singh ("The Cell") and Henry Bean ("The Believer") to the big screen, not to mention new films from documentarians Nick Broomfield ("Tupac and Biggie") and Doug Pray ("Scratch"). On the other hand, after running around Tribeca, we still need to catch up on last week's releases.
"The Babysitters"
The idea of the spunky teenage boy succumbing to the allure of an experienced older woman is the kind of Hollywood golden goose that launches major careers (think Dustin Hoffman). But when the roles are reversed, the result is the directorial debut of David Ross that sees an entrepreneurial high schooler (Katherine Waterston, daughter of Sam) and her friends turn their babysitting ring into a call girl service, realizing there are alternative ways to pay for college besides waiting tables. It stars when one local dad (John Leguizamo) goes...
This week sees the return of the Wachowski brothers, Tarsem Singh ("The Cell") and Henry Bean ("The Believer") to the big screen, not to mention new films from documentarians Nick Broomfield ("Tupac and Biggie") and Doug Pray ("Scratch"). On the other hand, after running around Tribeca, we still need to catch up on last week's releases.
"The Babysitters"
The idea of the spunky teenage boy succumbing to the allure of an experienced older woman is the kind of Hollywood golden goose that launches major careers (think Dustin Hoffman). But when the roles are reversed, the result is the directorial debut of David Ross that sees an entrepreneurial high schooler (Katherine Waterston, daughter of Sam) and her friends turn their babysitting ring into a call girl service, realizing there are alternative ways to pay for college besides waiting tables. It stars when one local dad (John Leguizamo) goes...
- 5/5/2008
- by Neil Pedley
- ifc.com
Dylan Verrechia's Tijauna Makes Me Happy took home the grand jury award for best narrative feature, while Adam Hootnick's Unsettled picked up the grand jury award for best documentary feature at the 13th Slamdance Film Festival, which concluded Saturday in Park City, Utah.
Separately, the Slamdunk Film Festival concluded on Friday, awarding its best fictional feature prize to The Junior Defenders and its documentary prize to This African Life.
At the Slamdance awards ceremony, which took place Friday, the top audience award winners were Jeremy Saulnier's Murder Party, named best narrative feature, and Red Without Blue, written and directed by Brooke Sebold, Benita Sills and Todd Sills, which took the prize for best documentary.
Jury awards were also given to Robin Fuller's The Ballad of Mary Slade, best animated short; Alice Nelson's A Map with Gaps, best documentary short; Cesar Velasco Broca's Avant Petalos Grillados, best experimental short; and Charles Williams' The Cow Thief, best narrative short.
Other audience award winners were Danny Bourque's "Commode Creations: The Artwork of Barney Smith," which copped the Global Audience Award for Best Anarchy Film, and JoEllen Martinson and William Scott Rees' The Mallorys Go Black Market, which scored the Spirit of Slamdance Award.
Separately, the Slamdunk Film Festival concluded on Friday, awarding its best fictional feature prize to The Junior Defenders and its documentary prize to This African Life.
At the Slamdance awards ceremony, which took place Friday, the top audience award winners were Jeremy Saulnier's Murder Party, named best narrative feature, and Red Without Blue, written and directed by Brooke Sebold, Benita Sills and Todd Sills, which took the prize for best documentary.
Jury awards were also given to Robin Fuller's The Ballad of Mary Slade, best animated short; Alice Nelson's A Map with Gaps, best documentary short; Cesar Velasco Broca's Avant Petalos Grillados, best experimental short; and Charles Williams' The Cow Thief, best narrative short.
Other audience award winners were Danny Bourque's "Commode Creations: The Artwork of Barney Smith," which copped the Global Audience Award for Best Anarchy Film, and JoEllen Martinson and William Scott Rees' The Mallorys Go Black Market, which scored the Spirit of Slamdance Award.
- 1/29/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Dylan Verrechia's Tijauna Makes Me Happy took home the grand jury award for best narrative feature, while Adam Hootnick's Unsettled picked up the grand jury award for best documentary feature at the 13th Slamdance Film Festival, which concluded Saturday in Park City, Utah.
Separately, the Slamdunk Film Festival concluded on Friday, awarding its best fictional feature prize to The Junior Defenders and its documentary prize to This African Life.
At the Slamdance awards ceremony, which took place Friday, the top audience award winners were Jeremy Saulnier's Murder Party, named best narrative feature, and Red Without Blue, written and directed by Brooke Sebold, Benita Sills and Todd Sills, which took the prize for best documentary.
Jury awards were also given to Robin Fuller's The Ballad of Mary Slade, best animated short; Alice Nelson's A Map with Gaps, best documentary short; Cesar Velasco Broca's Avant Petalos Grillados, best experimental short; and Charles Williams' The Cow Thief, best narrative short.
Other audience award winners were Danny Bourque's "Commode Creations: The Artwork of Barney Smith," which copped the Global Audience Award for Best Anarchy Film, and JoEllen Martinson and William Scott Rees' The Mallorys Go Black Market, which scored the Spirit of Slamdance Award.
Separately, the Slamdunk Film Festival concluded on Friday, awarding its best fictional feature prize to The Junior Defenders and its documentary prize to This African Life.
At the Slamdance awards ceremony, which took place Friday, the top audience award winners were Jeremy Saulnier's Murder Party, named best narrative feature, and Red Without Blue, written and directed by Brooke Sebold, Benita Sills and Todd Sills, which took the prize for best documentary.
Jury awards were also given to Robin Fuller's The Ballad of Mary Slade, best animated short; Alice Nelson's A Map with Gaps, best documentary short; Cesar Velasco Broca's Avant Petalos Grillados, best experimental short; and Charles Williams' The Cow Thief, best narrative short.
Other audience award winners were Danny Bourque's "Commode Creations: The Artwork of Barney Smith," which copped the Global Audience Award for Best Anarchy Film, and JoEllen Martinson and William Scott Rees' The Mallorys Go Black Market, which scored the Spirit of Slamdance Award.
- 1/28/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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