Content warning: This article discusses topics that may be triggering to some readers, including stalking, grooming, and sexual assault.
"Baby Reindeer" is the latest Netflix phenomenon, the must-see limited series that people can't stop talking about. Starring Scottish comedian Richard Gadd and based on his award-winning play of the same name, "Baby Reindeer" is a dramatized look at real events Gadd endured when he was stalked by a woman he refers to as "Martha," and how his prior, unresolved history with sexual assault directly influenced how he responded to the situation. Given that Gadd is essentially reliving his trauma, "Baby Reindeer" differs from the majority of "based on true events" adaptations in that the person telling the story was actually there. There's no mystery to solve because the show's survivor is the one shaping the narrative.
But despite Gadd's tireless attempts to keep the identities of his abuser, his stalker,...
"Baby Reindeer" is the latest Netflix phenomenon, the must-see limited series that people can't stop talking about. Starring Scottish comedian Richard Gadd and based on his award-winning play of the same name, "Baby Reindeer" is a dramatized look at real events Gadd endured when he was stalked by a woman he refers to as "Martha," and how his prior, unresolved history with sexual assault directly influenced how he responded to the situation. Given that Gadd is essentially reliving his trauma, "Baby Reindeer" differs from the majority of "based on true events" adaptations in that the person telling the story was actually there. There's no mystery to solve because the show's survivor is the one shaping the narrative.
But despite Gadd's tireless attempts to keep the identities of his abuser, his stalker,...
- 4/24/2024
- by BJ Colangelo
- Slash Film
‘The Jinx’ Filmmaker Andrew Jarecki Says Despite True-Crime Boom Robert Durst “Is Kind of a Unicorn”
Since HBO’s The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst aired in 2015, Durst, who was arrested shortly before the docuseries’ shocking finale, was convicted of murder in 2021 before dying months later.
In that time, true-crime projects have proliferated in the wake of hits like The Jinx and contemporary docuseries Making a Murderer, the podcast Serial and based-on-a-true-story fictional series like The People v. O.J. Simpson and subsequent American Crime Story installments.
Yet despite being part of this early true-crime wave, The Jinx filmmaker Andrew Jarecki says that there were things about Durst that made him even more riveting than an unsolved murder.
“I think Bob is kind of a unicorn because he’s so unusual, because he’s such a powerful personality and also reckless and also willing to be honest about things that most people aren’t honest about, so you feel like you’re seeing inside him,...
In that time, true-crime projects have proliferated in the wake of hits like The Jinx and contemporary docuseries Making a Murderer, the podcast Serial and based-on-a-true-story fictional series like The People v. O.J. Simpson and subsequent American Crime Story installments.
Yet despite being part of this early true-crime wave, The Jinx filmmaker Andrew Jarecki says that there were things about Durst that made him even more riveting than an unsolved murder.
“I think Bob is kind of a unicorn because he’s so unusual, because he’s such a powerful personality and also reckless and also willing to be honest about things that most people aren’t honest about, so you feel like you’re seeing inside him,...
- 4/21/2024
- by Hilary Lewis
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
I am always on the lookout for TV shows that not only entertain but also offer a peek into real-world mysteries! There’s something undeniably captivating about crime dramas based on true events – they hit closer to home, making us question the thin line between fact and fiction. So, get ready to dive headfirst into the thrilling world of crime dramas that draw inspiration from real-life cases. Trust me, this is a rollercoaster ride you won’t want to miss.
1. “Mindhunter” (2017-2019)
Peering into the Minds of Serial Killers
Few series have delved as deeply into the psychology of serial killers as “Mindhunter.” Based on real-life FBI agents who revolutionized criminal profiling, this show takes us on a chilling journey through interviews with infamous murderers. It’s a gripping exploration of the minds that defy comprehension.
Personal Note: The uncanny portrayal of notorious criminals in “Mindhunter” had me questioning the...
1. “Mindhunter” (2017-2019)
Peering into the Minds of Serial Killers
Few series have delved as deeply into the psychology of serial killers as “Mindhunter.” Based on real-life FBI agents who revolutionized criminal profiling, this show takes us on a chilling journey through interviews with infamous murderers. It’s a gripping exploration of the minds that defy comprehension.
Personal Note: The uncanny portrayal of notorious criminals in “Mindhunter” had me questioning the...
- 4/13/2024
- by Pia Vermaak
- buddytv.com
In 2015, HBO’s Emmy-winning documentary series, “The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst” took the documentary world by storm, helping popularize the true-crime streaming obsession—additionally fueled by Netflix’s “Making a Murderer” also released the same year— which took off soon after.
The series was a global phenomenon centered on the unsolved crimes that revolved around New York real estate heir Robert Durst.
Continue reading ‘The Jinx – Part 2’ Trailer: Acclaimed Doc Series Returns Continue The Story Of Convicted Murder Robert Durst at The Playlist.
The series was a global phenomenon centered on the unsolved crimes that revolved around New York real estate heir Robert Durst.
Continue reading ‘The Jinx – Part 2’ Trailer: Acclaimed Doc Series Returns Continue The Story Of Convicted Murder Robert Durst at The Playlist.
- 4/11/2024
- by Edward Davis
- The Playlist
The Jinx is back!
The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst was a groundbreaking true-crime limited series that had a significant impact on the genre and television as a whole.
Durst's story captivated the nation from the start, but when he muttered the words, "Killed them all, of course," it upended the future of true crime.
Robert Durst was convicted as a result of the groundbreaking docuseries, but he died before being tried for another connected case that, as a result, remains unsolved.
The Jinx raised the bar in terms of production quality for true crime series with its cinematic storytelling, high-quality editing, and dramatic reenactments that kept viewers on the edge of their seats.
Its narrative complexity wove together different timelines with interviews and evidence in a non-linear fashion, which created an immersive effect.
More importantly, Durst himself was the focal point of the docuseries.
Putting him...
The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst was a groundbreaking true-crime limited series that had a significant impact on the genre and television as a whole.
Durst's story captivated the nation from the start, but when he muttered the words, "Killed them all, of course," it upended the future of true crime.
Robert Durst was convicted as a result of the groundbreaking docuseries, but he died before being tried for another connected case that, as a result, remains unsolved.
The Jinx raised the bar in terms of production quality for true crime series with its cinematic storytelling, high-quality editing, and dramatic reenactments that kept viewers on the edge of their seats.
Its narrative complexity wove together different timelines with interviews and evidence in a non-linear fashion, which created an immersive effect.
More importantly, Durst himself was the focal point of the docuseries.
Putting him...
- 3/27/2024
- by Carissa Pavlica
- TVfanatic
Haitian filmmaker Raoul Peck and Canadian cinematographer Iris Ng will be honoured at the 25th edition of Canada’s documentary festival Hot Docs (April 30 – May 1).
Peck, best known for the Oscar-nominated documentary I Am Not Your Negro, will be presented with the outstanding achievement award. His other credits include Lumumba, HBO miniseries Exterminate All The Brutes and most recently Silver Dollar Road.
A selection of Peck’s work will be shown at the festival where the director will participate in several post-screening Q&a’s.
Previous recipients of the outstanding achievement award include Werner Herzog, Patricio Guzmán and Tony Palmer.
Peck, best known for the Oscar-nominated documentary I Am Not Your Negro, will be presented with the outstanding achievement award. His other credits include Lumumba, HBO miniseries Exterminate All The Brutes and most recently Silver Dollar Road.
A selection of Peck’s work will be shown at the festival where the director will participate in several post-screening Q&a’s.
Previous recipients of the outstanding achievement award include Werner Herzog, Patricio Guzmán and Tony Palmer.
- 3/20/2024
- ScreenDaily
Usually, when you hear about a Netflix release topping the charts it's either yet another example of how Netflix viewers will watch anything or the surprising resurgence of a long-forgotten film. But sometimes, the streamer serves up a true crime documentary so salacious we can't help but binge away until we've imbibed the entire harrowing narrative in one. Such was the case recently with "Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal," which had viewers around the world tuning in.
Since it gave up on the movie-by-mail model and became a streaming service, Netflix has consistently provided us with a stream of true crime documentaries that delve into all manner of sordid affairs. From "Making a Murderer" to "The Staircase," other people's trauma has proven a reliably popular genre for Netflix, which has capitalized as much as anyone on our ongoing love affair with true crime.
Now, a new exploration of humanity's dark...
Since it gave up on the movie-by-mail model and became a streaming service, Netflix has consistently provided us with a stream of true crime documentaries that delve into all manner of sordid affairs. From "Making a Murderer" to "The Staircase," other people's trauma has proven a reliably popular genre for Netflix, which has capitalized as much as anyone on our ongoing love affair with true crime.
Now, a new exploration of humanity's dark...
- 1/4/2024
- by Joe Roberts
- Slash Film
Documentaries have the remarkable ability to open our eyes to the world’s realities, challenge our preconceived notions, and transform our perspectives. In an age where information inundates our lives from various sources, these cinematic works offer a unique and intimate platform to engage with issues that matter.
Related: 7 Best Mind-Expanding Documentaries
Over the years, certain documentaries have left an indelible mark, altering the course of public perception and, in some cases, even driving real-world change. This article delves into ten must-watch documentaries that have wielded the power of truth to reshape the way we view the world around us.
“Blackfish” (2013)
A Deep Dive into Captive Marine Life
This documentary hit me like a tidal wave. “Blackfish” pulled back the curtain on how marine animals are treated in captivity, specifically focusing on orcas at SeaWorld. It’s not all fun and games; the film peeled away the glossy exterior to...
Related: 7 Best Mind-Expanding Documentaries
Over the years, certain documentaries have left an indelible mark, altering the course of public perception and, in some cases, even driving real-world change. This article delves into ten must-watch documentaries that have wielded the power of truth to reshape the way we view the world around us.
“Blackfish” (2013)
A Deep Dive into Captive Marine Life
This documentary hit me like a tidal wave. “Blackfish” pulled back the curtain on how marine animals are treated in captivity, specifically focusing on orcas at SeaWorld. It’s not all fun and games; the film peeled away the glossy exterior to...
- 10/25/2023
- by Pia Vermaak
- buddytv.com
Netflix has brought forth some amazing true crime docu-series like Murdaugh Murders, Making a Murderer, Fear City New York vs. Mafia, and many more with gripping yet true accounts of events and an extremely interesting execution style that completely hooks the audience to the screen. Another organized crime docu-series, Get Gotti, directed by Sebastian Smith, was recently added to the list. Get Gotti is a compelling and intense story revolving around the 1980s Gambino clan boss, John Gotti. This three-part documentary series brought forth an intense anecdote of how John Gotti remained elusive to the FBI until some bugs placed in his headquarters revealed all his criminal deeds. The documentary series did a pretty good job portraying the true accounts of organized crime, the FBI’s constant effort to catch Gotti, and the mafia boss’s eventual downfall.
Get Gotti opened with the dead body of a crime boss, Paul Castellano,...
Get Gotti opened with the dead body of a crime boss, Paul Castellano,...
- 10/24/2023
- by Poulami Nanda
- Film Fugitives
Netflix has added Sahara Bushue to its unscripted team, TheWrap can confirm.
Bushue had been consulting for the streaming giant since March. She will now join the company on a permanent basis on unscripted VP Brandon Riegg’s team. Her official title will be director of unscripted series.
Previously, Bushue worked as the senior vice president and head of unscripted for Westbrook Studios, the entertainment venture company founded by Will and Jada Pinkett Smith. She was there for a little over two years when the company produced projects such as “Red Table Talk,” “Welcome to Earth,” “Amend: The Fight for America” and “Women of the Movement.”
Before that, Bushue was the senior vice president for alternative programming and development at NBC. Altogether, she was at the network for 13 years. Throughout her time at NBC, she’s worked on “America’s Got Talent,” “Ellen’s Game of Games,” “World of Dance,” “Little Big Shots” and “Hollywood Game Night.
Bushue had been consulting for the streaming giant since March. She will now join the company on a permanent basis on unscripted VP Brandon Riegg’s team. Her official title will be director of unscripted series.
Previously, Bushue worked as the senior vice president and head of unscripted for Westbrook Studios, the entertainment venture company founded by Will and Jada Pinkett Smith. She was there for a little over two years when the company produced projects such as “Red Table Talk,” “Welcome to Earth,” “Amend: The Fight for America” and “Women of the Movement.”
Before that, Bushue was the senior vice president for alternative programming and development at NBC. Altogether, she was at the network for 13 years. Throughout her time at NBC, she’s worked on “America’s Got Talent,” “Ellen’s Game of Games,” “World of Dance,” “Little Big Shots” and “Hollywood Game Night.
- 10/13/2023
- by Kayla Cobb
- The Wrap
Netflix sure owes a lot to horrific crimes being committed. The streaming service has had massive hits with such true crime documentaries as the truly harrowing "American Murder: The Family Next Door," "The Staircase," and the original Netflix crime doc phenomenon "Making a Murderer." The list of Netflix true crime documentaries is seemingly endless, and it's only growing year after year as our obsession with real-life acts of shocking barbarity shows no signs of abating.
Earlier this year the cinematic true crime series "Missing: Dead or Alive?" found its way into the Netflix Top 10. But that wasn't the first true crime hit for Netflix this year. That honor belongs to "Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal." Across three episodes, the series laid out the events surrounding the downfall of prominent South Carolina attorney Alex Murdaugh, who in 2023 was convicted of murdering his wife, Maggie, and son, Paul. From directors Jenner Furst and Julia Willoughby Nason,...
Earlier this year the cinematic true crime series "Missing: Dead or Alive?" found its way into the Netflix Top 10. But that wasn't the first true crime hit for Netflix this year. That honor belongs to "Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal." Across three episodes, the series laid out the events surrounding the downfall of prominent South Carolina attorney Alex Murdaugh, who in 2023 was convicted of murdering his wife, Maggie, and son, Paul. From directors Jenner Furst and Julia Willoughby Nason,...
- 9/24/2023
- by Joe Roberts
- Slash Film
We’re back!
Thankfully, even with the various strikes, the next few months will be full of TV goodness.
There is a lot out there, and we’ve got you covered. Find out below what we recommend you watch this week!
Saturday, September 9
Convicting a Murderer (Daily Wire+)
Did you fall for the Steven Avery saga with Netflix’s Making a Murderer? Did you demand justice and, in doing so, throw Steven’s unwitting victims under the bus to do it?
Well, Candace Owens has helped put together another view of that docuseries, including how court transcripts and voice recordings were manipulated to paint a picture fitting their narrative rather than allowing the evidence to speak for itself.
Prepare to be taken on a journey through witness and Avery fan interviews that will upend the narrative. Was he wrongly imprisoned for a crime he didn’t commit? Absolutely. But that’s not the whole story.
Thankfully, even with the various strikes, the next few months will be full of TV goodness.
There is a lot out there, and we’ve got you covered. Find out below what we recommend you watch this week!
Saturday, September 9
Convicting a Murderer (Daily Wire+)
Did you fall for the Steven Avery saga with Netflix’s Making a Murderer? Did you demand justice and, in doing so, throw Steven’s unwitting victims under the bus to do it?
Well, Candace Owens has helped put together another view of that docuseries, including how court transcripts and voice recordings were manipulated to paint a picture fitting their narrative rather than allowing the evidence to speak for itself.
Prepare to be taken on a journey through witness and Avery fan interviews that will upend the narrative. Was he wrongly imprisoned for a crime he didn’t commit? Absolutely. But that’s not the whole story.
- 9/9/2023
- by Carissa Pavlica
- TVfanatic
It might seem contradictory that the rise of short video clip popularity coincided with the popularity of long form journalism, but Netflix may be the common factor. The streaming network didn’t invent true crime documentation, but it helped shape the style, and keeps a vast repository of the hottest cold cases.
Real-life crime stories are riveting, whether the watcher is concerned about avoiding such events or solving them. There is something for every taste, from feature-length documentaries to full series. Not all crimes are equal under the laws of public opinion, but these are some of the most dangerously addictive true crime offerings currently available on Netflix.
Making a Murderer (2015)
Moira Demos and Laura Ricciardi’s 10-part documentary on Steven Avery catapulted Netflix to the top of the True Crime streaming game. Making a Murderer spurred the fascination with the genre more than any other series. Avery served 18 years...
Real-life crime stories are riveting, whether the watcher is concerned about avoiding such events or solving them. There is something for every taste, from feature-length documentaries to full series. Not all crimes are equal under the laws of public opinion, but these are some of the most dangerously addictive true crime offerings currently available on Netflix.
Making a Murderer (2015)
Moira Demos and Laura Ricciardi’s 10-part documentary on Steven Avery catapulted Netflix to the top of the True Crime streaming game. Making a Murderer spurred the fascination with the genre more than any other series. Avery served 18 years...
- 9/8/2023
- by Alec Bojalad
- Den of Geek
Netflix is a haven for crime thriller fans with such popular hits as Making a Murderer, the David Fincher series Mindhunter, and the recent Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story. The streaming service has just released the trailer for a new thriller that sees the reunion of Excess Baggage stars Benicio Del Toro and Alicia Silverstone, Reptile. The film also stars Justin Timberlake, Eric Bogosian, Domenick Lombardozzi, Frances Fisher, Ato Essandoh, Michael Carmen Pitt, Karl Glusman, and Matilda Lutz.
The official synopsis from Netflix reads,
“Following the brutal murder of a young real estate agent, a hardened detective attempts to uncover the truth in a case where nothing is as it seems, and by doing so dismantles the illusions in his own life.” Del Toro boasts about the film’s twists and turns, “I liked the unpredictability. There were a couple of what I like to call ‘Oh, shit...
The official synopsis from Netflix reads,
“Following the brutal murder of a young real estate agent, a hardened detective attempts to uncover the truth in a case where nothing is as it seems, and by doing so dismantles the illusions in his own life.” Del Toro boasts about the film’s twists and turns, “I liked the unpredictability. There were a couple of what I like to call ‘Oh, shit...
- 8/21/2023
- by EJ Tangonan
- JoBlo.com
Exclusive: The Daily Wire’s streaming service DailyWire+ is lining up a September start in Europe for what it is calling its biggest-budget production to date, a fantasy series inspired by Arthurian legend.
Daily Wire Co-CEO Jeremy Boreing will take a temporary leave of absence from the right wing media organization to direct the seven-episode series, which has long been a passion project of his.
Boreing will co-direct with Ryan Whitaker (Surprised By Oxford). The “multinational” cast is being finalized with filming due to take place in Italy and Hungary.
The Daily Wire confirmed to us that it won’t be needing an interim agreement from SAG.
The drama will be inspired by the first two books of the series written by Stephen R. Lawhead. The Pendragon Cycle is a retelling of the Arthurian legend, set not in the high Medieval age of knights in shining armor, but in the wake of a Roman-occupied Britain,...
Daily Wire Co-CEO Jeremy Boreing will take a temporary leave of absence from the right wing media organization to direct the seven-episode series, which has long been a passion project of his.
Boreing will co-direct with Ryan Whitaker (Surprised By Oxford). The “multinational” cast is being finalized with filming due to take place in Italy and Hungary.
The Daily Wire confirmed to us that it won’t be needing an interim agreement from SAG.
The drama will be inspired by the first two books of the series written by Stephen R. Lawhead. The Pendragon Cycle is a retelling of the Arthurian legend, set not in the high Medieval age of knights in shining armor, but in the wake of a Roman-occupied Britain,...
- 7/28/2023
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Former Netflix content executive Cindy Holland has joined Elizabeth Murdoch’s production company Sister as its new global chief executive officer, tasked with overseeing the business’ strategic direction and portfolio of companies in the U.S. and U.K.
Holland served at the streaming giant for 18 years, including nine years as its vice president of original content. In that role, she established Netflix’s original programming strategy and oversaw teams behind titles including “House of Cards,” “Orange is the New Black,” “BoJack Horseman,” “Grace and Frankie,” “Narcos,” “Making a Murderer,” “Stranger Things,” “The Crown,” “Icarus,” “Ozark,” “Big Mouth,” “Russian Doll,” “When They See Us,” and “The Queen’s Gambit,” among many others.
Most recently, Holland has been an active investor and advisor, with a focus on entertainment and women’s sports. She began her career on the producing side working at Spring Creek Productions with Paula Weinstein and at Mutual Film Company.
Holland served at the streaming giant for 18 years, including nine years as its vice president of original content. In that role, she established Netflix’s original programming strategy and oversaw teams behind titles including “House of Cards,” “Orange is the New Black,” “BoJack Horseman,” “Grace and Frankie,” “Narcos,” “Making a Murderer,” “Stranger Things,” “The Crown,” “Icarus,” “Ozark,” “Big Mouth,” “Russian Doll,” “When They See Us,” and “The Queen’s Gambit,” among many others.
Most recently, Holland has been an active investor and advisor, with a focus on entertainment and women’s sports. She began her career on the producing side working at Spring Creek Productions with Paula Weinstein and at Mutual Film Company.
- 7/14/2023
- by Lucas Manfredi
- The Wrap
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
“Grandma locked me in an oven at 230 degrees when I was just 21 months old,” the cherubic baby with giant blue eyes and a floral headband says in the TikTok video. The baby, who speaks in an adorably childish voice atop the plaintive melody of Dylan Mathew‘s “Love Is Gone,” identifies herself as Rody Marie Floyd, a little girl who lived with her mother and grandmother in Mississippi. She recounts that one day, she was hungry and wouldn’t stop crying, prompting her grandmother to put her in the oven,...
- 5/30/2023
- by Ej Dickson
- Rollingstone.com
From "Making a Murderer," to the trend-setting "Tiger King," to the 2020 revival of "Unsolved Mysteries" (and its sometimes-questionable relationship with mental health), Netflix has become home to many a true crime documentary series. The latest, "Missing: Dead or Alive?," hit the streamer earlier this month, and it's been burning up the Netflix Top 10 recently with an approach that's more cinematic -- though whether that pays off is another question entirely.
According to Netflix's own stats, the series was watched for a total of 15.29 million hours during the week of May 15-May 21,2023. To give a bit more context to that otherwise largely useless metric, there are four episodes in total with a runtime of 3 hours, so if everyone who watched the series saw it through to the end, that means "Missing: Dead Or Alive" has been viewed by at least 5 million people.
The official synopsis for "Missing: Dead or Alive?" explains...
According to Netflix's own stats, the series was watched for a total of 15.29 million hours during the week of May 15-May 21,2023. To give a bit more context to that otherwise largely useless metric, there are four episodes in total with a runtime of 3 hours, so if everyone who watched the series saw it through to the end, that means "Missing: Dead Or Alive" has been viewed by at least 5 million people.
The official synopsis for "Missing: Dead or Alive?" explains...
- 5/28/2023
- by Joshua Meyer
- Slash Film
Cannes Docs highlights Spain as part of its Docs in Progress program, featuring four documentaries that range from the avant-garde to the introspective.
Spain’s doc filmmakers have labored to establish international footing — battling the stigma that the category is made up of dry narratives, productions strive for the robust funding granted to fiction. “There’s still a negative connotation that the documentary’s something purely informative, expository or boring. It’s a state of mind that affects the public, but more importantly the distribution and exhibition. We’ve the great challenge of explaining that yes, the documentary has a cinematographic, narrative and emotional treatment comparable to ‘real cinema,’” says Rafa Molés of Suica Films.
Increasingly, docs have blurred borders, to positive effect.
“Since the democratization of digital devices at the beginning of this century and creation of the first specialized documentary studios in our country from the 2000s to present,...
Spain’s doc filmmakers have labored to establish international footing — battling the stigma that the category is made up of dry narratives, productions strive for the robust funding granted to fiction. “There’s still a negative connotation that the documentary’s something purely informative, expository or boring. It’s a state of mind that affects the public, but more importantly the distribution and exhibition. We’ve the great challenge of explaining that yes, the documentary has a cinematographic, narrative and emotional treatment comparable to ‘real cinema,’” says Rafa Molés of Suica Films.
Increasingly, docs have blurred borders, to positive effect.
“Since the democratization of digital devices at the beginning of this century and creation of the first specialized documentary studios in our country from the 2000s to present,...
- 5/19/2023
- by Holly Jones
- Variety Film + TV
Who says Michael Bay doesn’t care about story? The explosion maestro even says, “I’m a storyteller at heart.” Athough a new Transformers movie drops this year, Bay is no longer in the driver’s seat, but he is still on board as a producer. However, Bay has just recently closed a deal with the Investigation Discovery channel for executive producing a new series that will be dealing with true crime according to Deadline. The network has stated that the show will expose terrifying but lesser-known true crime stories.
Bay has issued a statement that addressing his partnership with Investigation Discovery and why he’s excited for his new show, “I’m a storyteller at heart. I’m fascinated by the human mind and exploring what makes each of us tick. When you approach documenting real-life crime from that perspective, the end result is always intriguing. Known for the caliber of their programming,...
Bay has issued a statement that addressing his partnership with Investigation Discovery and why he’s excited for his new show, “I’m a storyteller at heart. I’m fascinated by the human mind and exploring what makes each of us tick. When you approach documenting real-life crime from that perspective, the end result is always intriguing. Known for the caliber of their programming,...
- 5/17/2023
- by EJ Tangonan
- JoBlo.com
Exclusive: Convicting a Murderer, the docuseries response to Netflix’s popular true crime series Making a Murderer, has found a streaming home with DailyWire+, the SVOD platform of right-wing media company The Daily Wire.
The ten-part series, which has been six years in the making, is due to launch in summer 2023 with firebrand commentator Candace Owens narrating and fronting the project.
Directed by Shawn Rech, the series will re-examine the story of Steven Avery, who served 18 years in prison after a wrongful conviction for sexual assault and attempted murder, but was later convicted of the 2005 murder of Teresa Halbach.
The Emmy-winning Netflix series was a ratings and critical hit but also drew fire from some corners, including prosecutor Ken Kratz who claimed that key evidence from the trial was omitted from the documentary.
According to producers, Convicting A Murderer will feature exclusive interviews with subjects not included in the Netflix show,...
The ten-part series, which has been six years in the making, is due to launch in summer 2023 with firebrand commentator Candace Owens narrating and fronting the project.
Directed by Shawn Rech, the series will re-examine the story of Steven Avery, who served 18 years in prison after a wrongful conviction for sexual assault and attempted murder, but was later convicted of the 2005 murder of Teresa Halbach.
The Emmy-winning Netflix series was a ratings and critical hit but also drew fire from some corners, including prosecutor Ken Kratz who claimed that key evidence from the trial was omitted from the documentary.
According to producers, Convicting A Murderer will feature exclusive interviews with subjects not included in the Netflix show,...
- 4/21/2023
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
A Kentucky man is taking Netflix to court for defamation over the streamer distributing a documentary that allegedly falsely implied he was involved in a murder.
In the 2023 true crime documentary The Hatchet Wielding Hitchhiker, a photo of Taylor Hazlewood is shown alongside a convicted murderer with audio saying “stone-cold killer” and captions stating that “You can never trust anyone.” He alleges that the images were taken without his knowledge from his Instagram “despite having no connection to any aspect of the Film.”
Hazlewood sued Netflix on April 10 in Texas state court, accusing the company of defamation and misappropriation of likeness or right of publicity. He seeks over $1 million and punitive damages.
The documentary centers on Caleb Lawrence McGillvary, who rose to viral stardom in 2013. He was catapulted to fame when he saved a women by bludgeoning her assailant with a hatchet before he was convicted for the murder of...
In the 2023 true crime documentary The Hatchet Wielding Hitchhiker, a photo of Taylor Hazlewood is shown alongside a convicted murderer with audio saying “stone-cold killer” and captions stating that “You can never trust anyone.” He alleges that the images were taken without his knowledge from his Instagram “despite having no connection to any aspect of the Film.”
Hazlewood sued Netflix on April 10 in Texas state court, accusing the company of defamation and misappropriation of likeness or right of publicity. He seeks over $1 million and punitive damages.
The documentary centers on Caleb Lawrence McGillvary, who rose to viral stardom in 2013. He was catapulted to fame when he saved a women by bludgeoning her assailant with a hatchet before he was convicted for the murder of...
- 4/18/2023
- by Winston Cho
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Netflix executive Lisa Nishimura backed some of the streamer’s biggest successes – Tiger King, The Tinder Swindler, The Power of the Dog, Making a Murderer, and American Factory – but in an era of corporate cost-cutting, it wasn’t enough to save her job.
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Her imminent departure as VP of independent film and documentary features, after a 16-year stint at Netflix, has come as a particular shock to the nonfiction film community, which saw her build Netflix into a dominant force in documentary and become, in the process, one of Netflix’s most visible execs.
(L-r) Lisa Nishimura, Taylor Swift and Ted Sarandos attend the Netflix 2019 Golden Globes After Party
“Lisa...
Related Story Netflix Vets Lisa Nishimura & Ian Bricke Depart In Film Group Reorg Related Story Omar Epps Boards Netflix's Limited Series 'The Perfect Couple' Related Story IFC Center's John Vanco Joins Netflix To Oversee Programming For Streamer's Theaters
Her imminent departure as VP of independent film and documentary features, after a 16-year stint at Netflix, has come as a particular shock to the nonfiction film community, which saw her build Netflix into a dominant force in documentary and become, in the process, one of Netflix’s most visible execs.
(L-r) Lisa Nishimura, Taylor Swift and Ted Sarandos attend the Netflix 2019 Golden Globes After Party
“Lisa...
- 3/31/2023
- by Matthew Carey
- Deadline Film + TV
The exits of film executives Lisa Nishimura and Ian Bricke from Netflix late on March 30 shocked the documentary and indie film world. Not only were they Netflix stalwarts — Nishimura joined in 2007, when it was a DVD business, and Bricke joined in 2011 — but also for how admired and how defining of a voice they’ve been at Netflix in the last decade.
“Both of them are the foundation of the kind of programming that is both commercial and also tasteful, and not just pure fodder for the masses,” one documentary producer who asked not to be named told IndieWire. “Lisa and Ian were the foundational DNA of Netflix as a company.”
IndieWire spoke to multiple sources who worked with Nishimura and Bricke and they all offered variations on the same theme: They’re great people with great taste who have done great work, and they’re shocked by the departures.
In a statement,...
“Both of them are the foundation of the kind of programming that is both commercial and also tasteful, and not just pure fodder for the masses,” one documentary producer who asked not to be named told IndieWire. “Lisa and Ian were the foundational DNA of Netflix as a company.”
IndieWire spoke to multiple sources who worked with Nishimura and Bricke and they all offered variations on the same theme: They’re great people with great taste who have done great work, and they’re shocked by the departures.
In a statement,...
- 3/31/2023
- by Brian Welk and Tony Maglio
- Indiewire
Industry will scrutnise evolving content strategy.
Longtime Netflix executives Lisa Nishimura and Ian Bricke have departed amid a restructure which will have the industry scrutinising its evolving content strategy.
Nishimura was with the company for more than 15 years and led the charge on stand-up comedy and docuseries. She most recently served as VP of independent film and documentary features and worked on the likes of Making A Murderer, My Octopus Teacher, American Factory, and Tiger King.
Among her lower budget narrative credits were Power Of The Dog from Oscar-winning director Jane Campion, and the upcoming They Cloned Tyrone and Nyad.
Longtime Netflix executives Lisa Nishimura and Ian Bricke have departed amid a restructure which will have the industry scrutinising its evolving content strategy.
Nishimura was with the company for more than 15 years and led the charge on stand-up comedy and docuseries. She most recently served as VP of independent film and documentary features and worked on the likes of Making A Murderer, My Octopus Teacher, American Factory, and Tiger King.
Among her lower budget narrative credits were Power Of The Dog from Oscar-winning director Jane Campion, and the upcoming They Cloned Tyrone and Nyad.
- 3/31/2023
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
As part of a restructuring of Netflix’s film division, longtime company veterans Lisa Nishimura and Ian Bricke have exited the company, TheWrap has learned.
Prior to their departures, Nishimura headed up the indie film and documentary group, while Bricke served as vice president of indie films. Live action films are now being overseen by Kira Goldberg, Ori Marmur and Niija Kuykendall.
In a statement, film division boss Scott Stuber said, “Lisa Nishimura joined Netflix in the DVD days, and as the company moved into streaming, she built our original documentary and stand-up comedy divisions from the ground up, and established Netflix as a powerhouse in both spaces. Her documentary work includes American Factory, My Octopus Teacher, Making a Murderer and Tiger King; and on the narrative film side her work includes Jane Campion’s The Power of the Dog, and the upcoming They Cloned Tyrone, Rustin and Nyad. Along the way,...
Prior to their departures, Nishimura headed up the indie film and documentary group, while Bricke served as vice president of indie films. Live action films are now being overseen by Kira Goldberg, Ori Marmur and Niija Kuykendall.
In a statement, film division boss Scott Stuber said, “Lisa Nishimura joined Netflix in the DVD days, and as the company moved into streaming, she built our original documentary and stand-up comedy divisions from the ground up, and established Netflix as a powerhouse in both spaces. Her documentary work includes American Factory, My Octopus Teacher, Making a Murderer and Tiger King; and on the narrative film side her work includes Jane Campion’s The Power of the Dog, and the upcoming They Cloned Tyrone, Rustin and Nyad. Along the way,...
- 3/31/2023
- by Ross A. Lincoln
- The Wrap
In a surprising move, Netflix has parted ways with two longtime film executives, with Lisa Nishimura and Ian Bricke departing the streaming service.
Nishimura, who served as vp independent film and documentary features, handled an array of projects budgeted at $40 million or below, including the Oscar-nominated doc Crip Camp and the western Power of the Dog, which earned Jane Campion a best director Oscar.
The move comes amid a restructuring, with projects under Scott Stuber’s film division now folding all live-action films under Kira Goldberg, Ori Marmur and Niija Kuykendall. Dan Silver oversees documentary, which previously was partially overseen by Nishimura.
“Lisa Nishimura joined Netflix in the DVD days, and as the company moved into streaming, she built our original documentary and stand-up comedy divisions from the ground up, and established Netflix as a powerhouse in both spaces,” said Stuber in a statement. “Her documentary work includes American Factory,...
Nishimura, who served as vp independent film and documentary features, handled an array of projects budgeted at $40 million or below, including the Oscar-nominated doc Crip Camp and the western Power of the Dog, which earned Jane Campion a best director Oscar.
The move comes amid a restructuring, with projects under Scott Stuber’s film division now folding all live-action films under Kira Goldberg, Ori Marmur and Niija Kuykendall. Dan Silver oversees documentary, which previously was partially overseen by Nishimura.
“Lisa Nishimura joined Netflix in the DVD days, and as the company moved into streaming, she built our original documentary and stand-up comedy divisions from the ground up, and established Netflix as a powerhouse in both spaces,” said Stuber in a statement. “Her documentary work includes American Factory,...
- 3/31/2023
- by Aaron Couch and Mia Galuppo
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Deadline has confirmed that Netflix film executives Lisa Nishimura and Ian Bricke are exiting the streamer amid a reorganization of the film group. All live-action film content now will be overseen by Kira Goldberg, Ori Marmur and Niija Kuykendall.
We hear that Netflix will continue to make indie pics, and that this whole plan was part of streamlining and solidifying ops.
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Scott Stuber, Chairman of Netflix Film, said in a statement: “Lisa Nishimura joined Netflix in the DVD days, and as the company moved into streaming, she built our original documentary and stand-up comedy divisions from the ground up, and established Netflix as a powerhouse in both spaces.
We hear that Netflix will continue to make indie pics, and that this whole plan was part of streamlining and solidifying ops.
Related Story UK Culture Secretary Lays Out Why The Government Is Regulating The Streamers Related Story 'The Residence': Barrett Foa Joins Netflix's Shondaland Drama As Recurring Related Story Megan Thee Stallion Circling Josh & Benny Safdie's Netflix Film With Adam Sandler
Scott Stuber, Chairman of Netflix Film, said in a statement: “Lisa Nishimura joined Netflix in the DVD days, and as the company moved into streaming, she built our original documentary and stand-up comedy divisions from the ground up, and established Netflix as a powerhouse in both spaces.
- 3/31/2023
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Two veteran Netflix creative executives are parting ways with the streamer following a restructuring of the film group.
Indie film and documentary features lead Lisa Nishimura and indie film vice president Ian Bricke have both stepped down. The change comes as the result of streamlining under Netflix film head Scott Stuber. All live-action film content will now roll up to Kira Goldberg, Ori Marmur and Niija Kuykendall.
“Lisa Nishimura joined Netflix in the DVD days, and as the company moved into streaming, she built our original documentary and stand-up comedy divisions from the ground up, and established Netflix as a powerhouse in both spaces,” Stuber told Variety in a statement of the executive, a fixture in the indie community and on the annual festival circuit.
“Her documentary work includes ‘American Factory,’ ‘My Octopus Teacher,’ ‘Making a Murderer’ and ‘Tiger King’; and on the narrative film side her work includes Jane Campion...
Indie film and documentary features lead Lisa Nishimura and indie film vice president Ian Bricke have both stepped down. The change comes as the result of streamlining under Netflix film head Scott Stuber. All live-action film content will now roll up to Kira Goldberg, Ori Marmur and Niija Kuykendall.
“Lisa Nishimura joined Netflix in the DVD days, and as the company moved into streaming, she built our original documentary and stand-up comedy divisions from the ground up, and established Netflix as a powerhouse in both spaces,” Stuber told Variety in a statement of the executive, a fixture in the indie community and on the annual festival circuit.
“Her documentary work includes ‘American Factory,’ ‘My Octopus Teacher,’ ‘Making a Murderer’ and ‘Tiger King’; and on the narrative film side her work includes Jane Campion...
- 3/31/2023
- by Matt Donnelly
- Variety Film + TV
Netflix won’t have to face a defamation suit brought by a retired police officer who said the docuseries Making a Murderer defamed him by accusing him of planting evidence.
In a ruling granting summary judgment in favor of Netflix on Friday, Judge Brett Ludwig found that the First Amendment “does not guarantee a public figure” like plaintiff Andrew Colborn the “role of protagonist in popular discourse” and “protects the media’s ability to cast him in a much less flattering light.”
Making a Murderer, released in December 2015, tells the story of Steven Avery, who spent 18 years in prison for a rape he didn’t commit before DNA evidence exonerated him. He returned home, only to be arrested, convicted and sentenced to life in prison for another murder. The 10-part docuseries explores Avery’s defense that he was framed by the Manitowoc County Sheriff’s Office, including Colborn. It contended...
In a ruling granting summary judgment in favor of Netflix on Friday, Judge Brett Ludwig found that the First Amendment “does not guarantee a public figure” like plaintiff Andrew Colborn the “role of protagonist in popular discourse” and “protects the media’s ability to cast him in a much less flattering light.”
Making a Murderer, released in December 2015, tells the story of Steven Avery, who spent 18 years in prison for a rape he didn’t commit before DNA evidence exonerated him. He returned home, only to be arrested, convicted and sentenced to life in prison for another murder. The 10-part docuseries explores Avery’s defense that he was framed by the Manitowoc County Sheriff’s Office, including Colborn. It contended...
- 3/15/2023
- by Winston Cho
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
A federal judge has thrown out a defamation suit brought by a retired police officer who argued that the Netflix docuseries “Making a Murderer” falsely accused him of planting evidence.
In a ruling on summary judgment on Friday, Judge Brett Ludwig found that the plaintiff, Andrew Colborn, had failed to show that Netflix or the filmmakers had acted with “actual malice” in crafting their portrayal of him.
The docuseries, which debuted in December 2015, pursued the defense theory that police had framed a man, Steven Avery, for a murder he did not commit. Avery was convicted and sentenced to life in prison, though he continues to seek various appeals.
The series became a breakout hit for Netflix and heralded a true-crime boom on the service.
Colborn filed suit in 2018, arguing that he had been subjected to “worldwide ridicule” by the series. The suit alleged that “Making a Murderer” distorted the facts,...
In a ruling on summary judgment on Friday, Judge Brett Ludwig found that the plaintiff, Andrew Colborn, had failed to show that Netflix or the filmmakers had acted with “actual malice” in crafting their portrayal of him.
The docuseries, which debuted in December 2015, pursued the defense theory that police had framed a man, Steven Avery, for a murder he did not commit. Avery was convicted and sentenced to life in prison, though he continues to seek various appeals.
The series became a breakout hit for Netflix and heralded a true-crime boom on the service.
Colborn filed suit in 2018, arguing that he had been subjected to “worldwide ridicule” by the series. The suit alleged that “Making a Murderer” distorted the facts,...
- 3/15/2023
- by Gene Maddaus
- Variety Film + TV
A retired detective from Wisconsin who sued Netflix for defamation after their depiction of him in Making a Murderer has lost his case. On Friday, according to the Associated Press, a judge ruled that the filmmakers behind the Netflix hit did not defame Andrew Colborn in the 2015 docu-series.
U.S. District Judge Brett Ludwig said that the documentary edits kept the gist of Colborn’s testimony and that he “failed to show that the streaming service or the filmmakers acted with malice toward him,” per the AP. An attorney for...
U.S. District Judge Brett Ludwig said that the documentary edits kept the gist of Colborn’s testimony and that he “failed to show that the streaming service or the filmmakers acted with malice toward him,” per the AP. An attorney for...
- 3/14/2023
- by Tomás Mier
- Rollingstone.com
The latest Netflix true-crime docuseries “Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal” has tapped into America’s obsession with the case of disgraced South Carolina attorney Alex Murdaugh. Its new three-part series climbed to the top of the streaming charts in the latest Wrap Report, which highlights television viewership trends collected from Samba TV’s panel of more than 3 million households drawn from over 25 million connected TVs.
Whether by sheer luck or incredible programming wiles, the docuseries was timed perfectly to the five-week trial of one of the most prominent families in the South that has dominated headlines and been a fixture on news networks for months. The Netflix series drove even more interest in the June 2021 killings of Murdaugh’s wife Maggie and son Paul as it dropped on Feb. 22, the beginning of the week-long period covered by this report.
Also Read:
Black Households Lift Netflix’s ‘You People’ to Top...
Whether by sheer luck or incredible programming wiles, the docuseries was timed perfectly to the five-week trial of one of the most prominent families in the South that has dominated headlines and been a fixture on news networks for months. The Netflix series drove even more interest in the June 2021 killings of Murdaugh’s wife Maggie and son Paul as it dropped on Feb. 22, the beginning of the week-long period covered by this report.
Also Read:
Black Households Lift Netflix’s ‘You People’ to Top...
- 3/6/2023
- by Dallas Lawrence
- The Wrap
Sexual assault is one of the most underreported crimes in the United States, and it’s rare for a perpetrator to be prosecuted. Headlines, though, would have us believe the opposite: that the legal system is beset by a rash of false reports from vindictive and/or unhinged women. As to the dismaying disconnect between reality and perception, the eye-opening Victim/Suspect uncovers an unholy combination of factors: a predisposition to distrust the accuser when the subject is rape, a lack of motivation on the part of some law enforcement to dig up the actual evidence in such a case, manipulative interrogation techniques, and a hideously antiquated notion of consent. “He didn’t hold you down, that’s not rape,” one accuser recalls being told by a cop.
As she did in her previous documentary, the powerful and unsettling Roll Red Roll, director Nancy Schwartzman aims a damning light on...
As she did in her previous documentary, the powerful and unsettling Roll Red Roll, director Nancy Schwartzman aims a damning light on...
- 1/28/2023
- by Sheri Linden
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Frank Scherma, chairman and CEO of the Television Academy, announced on Wednesday his appointees to the Television Academy Executive Committee for 2023.
The six appointees include Casey Bloys, George Cheeks, Pearlena Igbokwe, Gloria Calderón Kellett, Lisa Nishimura and Zack Van Amburg. Each industry executive will help advise the Television Academy’s diverse initiatives and lead the organization throughout the upcoming year.
Bloys, chairman and CEO, HBO and HBO Max Content, oversees all programming efforts including “Game of Thrones” prequel “House of the Dragon,” “Euphoria,” “Succession,” Hacks” and “The White Lotus.” Cheeks is president and CEO of CBS and chief content officer, news and sports, Paramount+. Pearlena Igbokwe is chair of Universal Studio Group, leading four studios: Universal Television, UCP, Universal Television Alternative Studio and Universal International Studios.
An award-winning writer, producer, director and actress, Calderón Kellett currently stars in, produces and showruns Amazon Prime’s “With Love.” Previously, Calderón Kellett wrote...
The six appointees include Casey Bloys, George Cheeks, Pearlena Igbokwe, Gloria Calderón Kellett, Lisa Nishimura and Zack Van Amburg. Each industry executive will help advise the Television Academy’s diverse initiatives and lead the organization throughout the upcoming year.
Bloys, chairman and CEO, HBO and HBO Max Content, oversees all programming efforts including “Game of Thrones” prequel “House of the Dragon,” “Euphoria,” “Succession,” Hacks” and “The White Lotus.” Cheeks is president and CEO of CBS and chief content officer, news and sports, Paramount+. Pearlena Igbokwe is chair of Universal Studio Group, leading four studios: Universal Television, UCP, Universal Television Alternative Studio and Universal International Studios.
An award-winning writer, producer, director and actress, Calderón Kellett currently stars in, produces and showruns Amazon Prime’s “With Love.” Previously, Calderón Kellett wrote...
- 1/19/2023
- by Charna Flam and Julia MacCary
- Variety Film + TV
It has been quite the year for the streaming services. Fresh from the foothold that Covid allowed them to gain, 2022 seemed to be the most important year for streaming so far. In this excellent roundup of stats, facts and figures, ExpressVPN reveals which shows were the most popular each month, and how several big hitters may have changed the game forever.
As of right now Netflix holds the crown (and The Crown) of Top Streaming Service, and while many of its biggest hits are now firmly in franchise territory, it is the new movies and shows that bring in the essential new subscribers.
Thus, Squid Game, the ill-thought out but well received Dahmer, and the recent favourite The Watcher, have all proved that Netflix’s eye is firmly on building up new fans as well as look for the new Tiger King or Bridgerton. It isn’t as easy as...
As of right now Netflix holds the crown (and The Crown) of Top Streaming Service, and while many of its biggest hits are now firmly in franchise territory, it is the new movies and shows that bring in the essential new subscribers.
Thus, Squid Game, the ill-thought out but well received Dahmer, and the recent favourite The Watcher, have all proved that Netflix’s eye is firmly on building up new fans as well as look for the new Tiger King or Bridgerton. It isn’t as easy as...
- 11/22/2022
- by Jon Lyus
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Netflix learned an important lesson from the mammoth success of "Making a Murderer," and that lesson was that people love murder shows. In the almost 7 years since "Making a Murderer" debuted on the streaming service, Netflix's collection of true crime originals has exploded, expanding beyond the straightforward subject matter of murder mysteries to include stranger hits like "Tiger King," "The Tinder Swindler," and "Don't F**k With Cats."
There have also been more experimental takes on the familiar genre, like "Casting JonBenet," a film that approached the well-documented horror of six-year-old JonBenét Ramsey's still-unsolved murder through the process of auditioning local actors from the Ramseys' home town Boulder, Colorado, for a reenactment of the murder.
But perhaps the best offering from Netflix's true crime collection is a show that dropped the "true" part entirely. Mockumentary series "American Vandal" was a deft examination of how Gen Z has been shaped...
There have also been more experimental takes on the familiar genre, like "Casting JonBenet," a film that approached the well-documented horror of six-year-old JonBenét Ramsey's still-unsolved murder through the process of auditioning local actors from the Ramseys' home town Boulder, Colorado, for a reenactment of the murder.
But perhaps the best offering from Netflix's true crime collection is a show that dropped the "true" part entirely. Mockumentary series "American Vandal" was a deft examination of how Gen Z has been shaped...
- 9/11/2022
- by Hannah Shaw-Williams
- Slash Film
Today, Lava for Good Podcasts announced it has teamed up with iHeartMedia, the No. 1 global podcast publisher according to Podtrac. Under the new arrangement, Lava for Good Podcasts’ long-running hit series Wrongful Conviction and Righteous Convictions with Jason Flom and its upcoming slate of new true crime and social justice-focused podcasts will be distributed by the iHeartPodcast Network and will be available on iHeartRadio and everywhere podcasts are heard.
Lava for Good CEO Jason Flom and iHeart COO Will Pearson kicked off the partnership with a visit to Sing Sing Correctional Facility in Ossining, New York in order to cement the two companies’ commitment to shining a light on the stories of social injustice and, as famed criminal justice advocate Bryan Stevenson (Just Mercy) famously advised, showing up to be proximate to the places where injustices prevail.
“The work Lava for Good has done to tell the stories of those...
Lava for Good CEO Jason Flom and iHeart COO Will Pearson kicked off the partnership with a visit to Sing Sing Correctional Facility in Ossining, New York in order to cement the two companies’ commitment to shining a light on the stories of social injustice and, as famed criminal justice advocate Bryan Stevenson (Just Mercy) famously advised, showing up to be proximate to the places where injustices prevail.
“The work Lava for Good has done to tell the stories of those...
- 9/8/2022
- Podnews.net
Stranger things is a huge pop culture sensation right now. When the Duffer Brothers introduced the Netflix exclusive back in 2016, which followed the mystery of a young boy’s disappearance, the intriguing and cool blend of sci-fi, horror, and drama instantly captured the attention of audiences as the first season garnered a strong 14.07 million amongst adults within the first 35 days. According to Variety, Stranger things viewership ranks ahead of Making a Murderer, Daredevil, Jessica Jones, House of Cards, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, The Ranch, and F is for Family. In addition, the show was nominated for 18 Primetime Emmy
David Harbour Is Concerned About ‘Stranger Things’ Child Actor’s Normal Life...
David Harbour Is Concerned About ‘Stranger Things’ Child Actor’s Normal Life...
- 9/7/2022
- by Jeffrey Bowie Jr.
- TVovermind.com
Click here to read the full article.
Outstanding Documentary Or Nonfiction Series
The Andy Warhol Diaries (Netflix)
Writer-director Andrew Rossi and exec producer Ryan Murphy draw from the 1989 book of the same name to offer an intimate portrait of the late artist’s public and private lives. It dropped March 9 (more recently than any competitor), is rated 97 percent on Rotten Tomatoes and landed three other noms, including directing and writing.
The Beatles: Get Back (Disney+)
The Beatles Get Back Documentary
Disney+, the service behind 2021’s winner, Secrets of the Whales, returns to contention with Peter Jackson’s remarkable depiction — drawing from 57 hours of film and 140 hours of audio — of The Beatles’ prep for their final public performance on a London rooftop in 1969. Its five nominations (directing among them) are a category high.
jeen-yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy (Netflix)
Kanye ‘Ye’ West in jeen-yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy.
Filmed over two decades and...
Outstanding Documentary Or Nonfiction Series
The Andy Warhol Diaries (Netflix)
Writer-director Andrew Rossi and exec producer Ryan Murphy draw from the 1989 book of the same name to offer an intimate portrait of the late artist’s public and private lives. It dropped March 9 (more recently than any competitor), is rated 97 percent on Rotten Tomatoes and landed three other noms, including directing and writing.
The Beatles: Get Back (Disney+)
The Beatles Get Back Documentary
Disney+, the service behind 2021’s winner, Secrets of the Whales, returns to contention with Peter Jackson’s remarkable depiction — drawing from 57 hours of film and 140 hours of audio — of The Beatles’ prep for their final public performance on a London rooftop in 1969. Its five nominations (directing among them) are a category high.
jeen-yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy (Netflix)
Kanye ‘Ye’ West in jeen-yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy.
Filmed over two decades and...
- 8/12/2022
- by Scott Feinberg
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
An unlicensed “Making a Murderer” musical is set to have its world premiere at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland next month – without Netflix’s involvement.
“Making a Murderer: The Musical” is based on the story of Steven Avery, who is also the subject of Netflix docuseries “Making a Murderer.” The musical is written by BAFTA-winning writer Phil Mealey (“The Royle Family”), who admits he was inspired by the Netflix documentary.
“When I watched the documentary, like many others I was outraged at the way the system seemed stacked against Steven and his nephew Brendan,” said Mealey. “As a writer I saw so many astonishing twists and turns and intriguing characters that if this were written as an original story no-one would believe it was plausible.”
“Our intention is to highlight and parody the inconsistencies in the case where people with power have not used that power fairly or effectively.
“Making a Murderer: The Musical” is based on the story of Steven Avery, who is also the subject of Netflix docuseries “Making a Murderer.” The musical is written by BAFTA-winning writer Phil Mealey (“The Royle Family”), who admits he was inspired by the Netflix documentary.
“When I watched the documentary, like many others I was outraged at the way the system seemed stacked against Steven and his nephew Brendan,” said Mealey. “As a writer I saw so many astonishing twists and turns and intriguing characters that if this were written as an original story no-one would believe it was plausible.”
“Our intention is to highlight and parody the inconsistencies in the case where people with power have not used that power fairly or effectively.
- 7/15/2022
- by K.J. Yossman
- Variety Film + TV
Click here to read the full article.
When you think of the two-season run of Dan Perrault and Tony Yacenda’s American Vandal, you probably think of drawn dicks and the Turd Burglar.
Or, if you’re more obsessed with the realities of the television industry, maybe you remember American Vandal as one of the earliest signs of Netflix’s shift to an “ownership is everything” ethos; the show was canceled after two wildly acclaimed seasons because it was a CBS Television Studios production and not a Netflix original.
When I reflect on American Vandal, it’s mostly on the commitment to the exaggerated bit. Both seasons were one-joke mockumentary gags that somehow ended up being less funny and more successful because of Perrault and Yacenda’s astonishingly sincere approach to the stories they were telling and not simply to extended and escalating gags.
After a strangely long absence — they...
When you think of the two-season run of Dan Perrault and Tony Yacenda’s American Vandal, you probably think of drawn dicks and the Turd Burglar.
Or, if you’re more obsessed with the realities of the television industry, maybe you remember American Vandal as one of the earliest signs of Netflix’s shift to an “ownership is everything” ethos; the show was canceled after two wildly acclaimed seasons because it was a CBS Television Studios production and not a Netflix original.
When I reflect on American Vandal, it’s mostly on the commitment to the exaggerated bit. Both seasons were one-joke mockumentary gags that somehow ended up being less funny and more successful because of Perrault and Yacenda’s astonishingly sincere approach to the stories they were telling and not simply to extended and escalating gags.
After a strangely long absence — they...
- 6/15/2022
- by Daniel Fienberg
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
True crime has become a defining genre on television these days, moving away from the world of documentary and into prestigious narrative filmmaking. In the wake of successful true crime docs like “The Jinx,” HBO is presenting a big, splashy, star-studded look at a case that has captivated audiences for over a decade. The latest is the A-list HBO Max recreation of the Michael Peterson case that French filmmaker Jean-Xavier de Lestrade documented in his 2004 miniseries “The Staircase.”
Despite its critical success, “The Staircase” didn’t quite reach the levels of national zeitgeist that “The Jinx”, “Making a Murderer” or “Serial” have in years since. But its fingerprints are all over those shows, not just in terms of access to the accused, but also in the attention to forensic detail, novelistic approach to storytelling, and a central suspect whose guilt or innocence continues to divide viewers. Now, it’s considered...
Despite its critical success, “The Staircase” didn’t quite reach the levels of national zeitgeist that “The Jinx”, “Making a Murderer” or “Serial” have in years since. But its fingerprints are all over those shows, not just in terms of access to the accused, but also in the attention to forensic detail, novelistic approach to storytelling, and a central suspect whose guilt or innocence continues to divide viewers. Now, it’s considered...
- 4/29/2022
- by Kristen Lopez
- Indiewire
Crime has always been part of television’s DNA, but in global marketplaces, true crime is enjoying unprecedented levels of success across the streamers and on more traditional outlets.
Earlier this year, Shonda Rhimes’ “Inventing Anna,” starring Julia Garner as the fake heiress Anna Sorokin (aka Anna Delvey), became one of Netflix’s biggest shows ever.
“Inventing Anna” is the tip of TV’s latest crime wave as producers and commissioners hope to find the horrifying stories that might one day take their place alongside such TV true crime successes as “ The Jinx,” “ The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story,” “Don’t Fuck With Cats” or “Making a Murderer,” the Netflix series that took true crime to the streamers.
“The fascination with true crime has never been stronger,” says Dan Korn, VP of programming at A+E Networks U.K ., whose channels include Crime + Investigation. “We spend a lot of...
Earlier this year, Shonda Rhimes’ “Inventing Anna,” starring Julia Garner as the fake heiress Anna Sorokin (aka Anna Delvey), became one of Netflix’s biggest shows ever.
“Inventing Anna” is the tip of TV’s latest crime wave as producers and commissioners hope to find the horrifying stories that might one day take their place alongside such TV true crime successes as “ The Jinx,” “ The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story,” “Don’t Fuck With Cats” or “Making a Murderer,” the Netflix series that took true crime to the streamers.
“The fascination with true crime has never been stronger,” says Dan Korn, VP of programming at A+E Networks U.K ., whose channels include Crime + Investigation. “We spend a lot of...
- 4/2/2022
- by Steve Clarke
- Variety Film + TV
It is not a secret that we have become obsessed with all things true-crime. The fascination was always there, whether it was Unsolved Mysteries or America’s Most Wanted. But ever since Serial and Making a Murderer, it seems like there is a new case coming to life on-screen each month. Small-town murders, fake Russian heiresses, Tinder swindlers, tiger kings… hell, even bad vegans make for good TV! Which is why the Savannah College of Art and Design’s annual TVfest was so on-point to put together a panel exploring the appeal of true-crime content on television. On the bill: The Act‘s executive producer Robin Veith, who is also the writer and EP of Hulu’s upcoming Candy about a 1980s axe-murder in Texas starring Jessica Biel; Patrick Macmanus, the writer and co-creator of Peacock’s The Girl From Plainville and Dr. Death; and Jenny Klein, an executive producer and...
- 3/21/2022
- TV Insider
If any genre’s stock has grown over the past decade, it’s been that of true crime. A trend that began in the mid-2010s with podcasts and docuseries like HBO’s “The Jinx” and Netflix’s “Making a Murderer” soon gave way to splashy TV fictionalizations like “Mindhunter” and FX’s “American Crime Story” series. The latest developments have been podcast adaptations like “Dirty John” and Apple TV+’s “The Shrink Next Door” that wink even more at the audience with self-aware casting choices and comic overtones.
Continue reading ‘The Thing About Pam’ Trailer: Renée Zellweger Portrays Midwestern Murderess In Upcoming NBC True Crime Drama at The Playlist.
Continue reading ‘The Thing About Pam’ Trailer: Renée Zellweger Portrays Midwestern Murderess In Upcoming NBC True Crime Drama at The Playlist.
- 2/5/2022
- by Jake Sweltz
- The Playlist
IndieWire turns 25 this year. To mark the occasion, we’re running a series of essays about the future of everything we cover.
Remember when documentaries were deeply honorable but commercially unviable? “Knock Down the House” shattered Sundance records in 2019 when Netflix bought it for $10 million; Apple and A24 broke that record the next year with the $12 million acquisition of “Boys State.” Apple paid a reported $25 million for “Billie Eilish: The World’s a Little Blurry,” while studios like Concordia, Participant, Radical, and Xtr pump millions into the non-fiction genre.
Today, everyone loves documentaries. Streamers are hailed as giving the genre a new lease on life. However, the streaming business is not dedicated to speaking truth to power, as documentaries often do; streamers amass subscribers and create shareholder value.
So, what does that mean for the future of documentaries? If the risk-averse, franchise-dominated movie business is any example, we should expect more documentaries about famous people,...
Remember when documentaries were deeply honorable but commercially unviable? “Knock Down the House” shattered Sundance records in 2019 when Netflix bought it for $10 million; Apple and A24 broke that record the next year with the $12 million acquisition of “Boys State.” Apple paid a reported $25 million for “Billie Eilish: The World’s a Little Blurry,” while studios like Concordia, Participant, Radical, and Xtr pump millions into the non-fiction genre.
Today, everyone loves documentaries. Streamers are hailed as giving the genre a new lease on life. However, the streaming business is not dedicated to speaking truth to power, as documentaries often do; streamers amass subscribers and create shareholder value.
So, what does that mean for the future of documentaries? If the risk-averse, franchise-dominated movie business is any example, we should expect more documentaries about famous people,...
- 12/11/2021
- by Chris Lindahl
- Indiewire
While many might assume that Leslie Shatz got access to incredible master tapes while working as the sound designer for the documentary “The Velvet Underground” that would actually be a big misconception. “We wanted to preserve a feeling and the recordings are distorted and you don’t want to change that either. So the idea is what should I do to make it better without making it better,” he tells us during our recent webchat (watch the video interview above). Part of what helped the sound design come together for the documentary was how he took the music and put it everywhere in the film. “Because it wasn’t stereo, we couldn’t go left or right, but we took the source of the sound and made it come from many speakers at the same time so, in fact, your room becomes the venue.”
“The Velvet Underground,” which is currently...
“The Velvet Underground,” which is currently...
- 12/4/2021
- by Charles Bright
- Gold Derby
This article is presented by Hunt A Killer
Why should only the people who made Making a Murderer or The Jinx have all the felonious fun? True crime aficionados are just looking for an excuse to stick pins in a murder-corkboard with newspaper clippings, murder scenes, and mug shots, strung together with red yarn. They could get their fix from the game Hunt A Killer, the most immersive mystery solving game on the docket.
Hunt A Killer is a role-playing police procedural in a box. They have investigations that can be solved in one night and ongoing subscriptions. The subscriptions are structured like a true crime TV show, each box is an episode, and each installment uncovers a new detail or breakthrough in the case. The one time boxes are more like feature films that can be solved in one or two nights.
The game offers an in-depth investigation. Players...
Why should only the people who made Making a Murderer or The Jinx have all the felonious fun? True crime aficionados are just looking for an excuse to stick pins in a murder-corkboard with newspaper clippings, murder scenes, and mug shots, strung together with red yarn. They could get their fix from the game Hunt A Killer, the most immersive mystery solving game on the docket.
Hunt A Killer is a role-playing police procedural in a box. They have investigations that can be solved in one night and ongoing subscriptions. The subscriptions are structured like a true crime TV show, each box is an episode, and each installment uncovers a new detail or breakthrough in the case. The one time boxes are more like feature films that can be solved in one or two nights.
The game offers an in-depth investigation. Players...
- 11/30/2021
- by Chris Longo
- Den of Geek
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