An unscripted series about Snoop Dogg’s family will air on E! during the 2024-2025 television season.
The currently untitled project follows the rapper’s daughter, Cori Broadus, and her fiancé, Wayne Deuce, as they navigate relationship tensions ahead of their wedding and a health struggle that impacts Snoop and the rest of the family. Death Row Pictures and 101 Studios produce with Snoop, Shante Broadus, Sara Ramaker, David Glasser and Alexandra Lipsitz serving as executive producers and Eliot Goldberg overseeing for 101.
The news comes as part of a large slate of greenlights and renewals ahead of NBCUniversal’s upfronts presentation on Monday.
Another highlight from the announcement is the series order of “Revival,” a scripted drama adapted from the comic book of the same name, set to air on Syfy. The series follows single mother Dana Cypress who finds herself at the center of a murder mystery in a...
The currently untitled project follows the rapper’s daughter, Cori Broadus, and her fiancé, Wayne Deuce, as they navigate relationship tensions ahead of their wedding and a health struggle that impacts Snoop and the rest of the family. Death Row Pictures and 101 Studios produce with Snoop, Shante Broadus, Sara Ramaker, David Glasser and Alexandra Lipsitz serving as executive producers and Eliot Goldberg overseeing for 101.
The news comes as part of a large slate of greenlights and renewals ahead of NBCUniversal’s upfronts presentation on Monday.
Another highlight from the announcement is the series order of “Revival,” a scripted drama adapted from the comic book of the same name, set to air on Syfy. The series follows single mother Dana Cypress who finds herself at the center of a murder mystery in a...
- 5/9/2024
- by Selome Hailu
- Variety Film + TV
With the 96th Academy Awards now only a month away, each weekend brings a new award show that reveals a new look at the shape of the Oscar race. Tonight, the auteurs behind some of 2023’s biggest films gathered at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles to celebrate the craft of filmmaking at the Directors Guild of America Awards.
Martin Scorsese, Greta Gerwig, Christopher Nolan, Yorgos Lanthimos, and Alexander Payne were nominated for the night’s top prize, Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Theatrical Feature Film, with Oscar frontrunner Nolan walking away with the coveted trophy. Celine Song, Cord Jefferson, A.V. Rockwell, Manuela Martelli, and Noora Niasari competed for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in First-Time Theatrical Feature Film, which ultimately went to Song.
The show celebrated some of the best directors working in television, with awards in a variety of categories ranging from TV dramas and sitcoms to commercials and reality TV.
Martin Scorsese, Greta Gerwig, Christopher Nolan, Yorgos Lanthimos, and Alexander Payne were nominated for the night’s top prize, Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Theatrical Feature Film, with Oscar frontrunner Nolan walking away with the coveted trophy. Celine Song, Cord Jefferson, A.V. Rockwell, Manuela Martelli, and Noora Niasari competed for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in First-Time Theatrical Feature Film, which ultimately went to Song.
The show celebrated some of the best directors working in television, with awards in a variety of categories ranging from TV dramas and sitcoms to commercials and reality TV.
- 2/11/2024
- by Christian Zilko
- Indiewire
The Directors Guild of America announced the nominees for television, commercials and documentary for its 76th annual DGA Awards today, a list headed by three-time winner Bill Hader and installments of the third and final season of HBO’s “Succession,” which claimed four of the five Drama Series nomination slots – the fifth going to an episode of fellow HBO hour “The Last of Us.”
The Comedy Series nomination lineup features the directors of a pair of episodes of Apple TV+’s “Ted Lasso” along with two installments of FX’s “The Bear” (including a repeat nomination for showrunner Christopher Storer – the acclaimed “Fishes” edition from Season 2 of the series – and a first for comedian and actor Ramy Youssef).
SEEBill Hader will set multiple SAG Award records with win for ‘Barry’
The Apple TV+ limited series “Lessons in Chemistry” also scored multiple bids in the Movies For Television/Limited Series category with three.
The Comedy Series nomination lineup features the directors of a pair of episodes of Apple TV+’s “Ted Lasso” along with two installments of FX’s “The Bear” (including a repeat nomination for showrunner Christopher Storer – the acclaimed “Fishes” edition from Season 2 of the series – and a first for comedian and actor Ramy Youssef).
SEEBill Hader will set multiple SAG Award records with win for ‘Barry’
The Apple TV+ limited series “Lessons in Chemistry” also scored multiple bids in the Movies For Television/Limited Series category with three.
- 1/9/2024
- by Ray Richmond
- Gold Derby
[caption id="attachment_50053" align="aligncenter" width="590"] This Is Mike Stud TV show image via Esquire Network./caption]
Watch the commercial-free early premiere of Esquire Network's new This Is Mike Stud TV show, today. The series officially debuts on Esquire Network, Tuesday, June 21, 2016 at 10:00pm Et/Pt. The show was announced under the working title, The Mike Stud Project. The docu-series follows hip-hop artist Mike Stud, a former All-American baseball player. Stud turned to music, after a career-ending injury took a future in pro ball off the table.
The This Is Mike Stud TV series cast includes: Mike Stud, Matt "Blue" Ouellet, John Kilmer, DJ Fader, Gerry Corcoran, and Patrick "Paddy" Quinn. This Is Mike Stud is produced by Den of Thieves. Jesse Ignjatovic, Evan Prager, and Alexandra Lipsitz executive produce. The series is co-executive produced by Jordan Barrow, Jared Morell and Austin Rosen.
Read More…...
Watch the commercial-free early premiere of Esquire Network's new This Is Mike Stud TV show, today. The series officially debuts on Esquire Network, Tuesday, June 21, 2016 at 10:00pm Et/Pt. The show was announced under the working title, The Mike Stud Project. The docu-series follows hip-hop artist Mike Stud, a former All-American baseball player. Stud turned to music, after a career-ending injury took a future in pro ball off the table.
The This Is Mike Stud TV series cast includes: Mike Stud, Matt "Blue" Ouellet, John Kilmer, DJ Fader, Gerry Corcoran, and Patrick "Paddy" Quinn. This Is Mike Stud is produced by Den of Thieves. Jesse Ignjatovic, Evan Prager, and Alexandra Lipsitz executive produce. The series is co-executive produced by Jordan Barrow, Jared Morell and Austin Rosen.
Read More…...
- 6/2/2016
- by TVSeriesFinale.com
- TVSeriesFinale.com
"Citizenfour," the Edward Snowden documentary from director Laura Poitras, was named the Best Feature documentary of the year according to the International Documentary Association which revealed the winners of the 2014 Ida Documentary Awards.
Here's the complete list of the winners of the 2014 Ida Documentary Awards"
Career Achievement Award
Robert Redford
Pioneer Award
Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato
Preservation And Scholarship Award
Rithy Panh
Emerging Documentary Filmmaker Award sponsored by Red Fire Films and Modern VideoFilm
Darius Clark Monroe
Best Feature Award
Citizenfour
Director: Laura Poitras
RADiUS-twc, Participant Media, and
HBO Documentary Films
Best Short Award
Tashi And The Monk
Directors: Andrew Hinton, Johnny Burke
HBO Documentary Films
Best Curated Series Award
Independent Lens
Executive Producer: Sally Jo Fifer
Deputy Executive Producer: Lois Vossen
Independent Television Service (Itvs) in association with PBS
Best Limited Series Award
Time Of Death
Executive Producers: Cynthia Childs, Dan Cutforth, Casey Kriley, Jane Lipsitz, Alexandra Lipsitz
Co-Executive Producer: Miggi Hood,...
Here's the complete list of the winners of the 2014 Ida Documentary Awards"
Career Achievement Award
Robert Redford
Pioneer Award
Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato
Preservation And Scholarship Award
Rithy Panh
Emerging Documentary Filmmaker Award sponsored by Red Fire Films and Modern VideoFilm
Darius Clark Monroe
Best Feature Award
Citizenfour
Director: Laura Poitras
RADiUS-twc, Participant Media, and
HBO Documentary Films
Best Short Award
Tashi And The Monk
Directors: Andrew Hinton, Johnny Burke
HBO Documentary Films
Best Curated Series Award
Independent Lens
Executive Producer: Sally Jo Fifer
Deputy Executive Producer: Lois Vossen
Independent Television Service (Itvs) in association with PBS
Best Limited Series Award
Time Of Death
Executive Producers: Cynthia Childs, Dan Cutforth, Casey Kriley, Jane Lipsitz, Alexandra Lipsitz
Co-Executive Producer: Miggi Hood,...
- 12/8/2014
- by Manny
- Manny the Movie Guy
Laura Poitras’ acclaimed documentary has prevailed in the International Documentary Association’s 2014 Ida Documentary Awards.
Citizenfour was named best feature and centres on Nsa whistleblower Edward Snowden.
Johnny Burke and Andrew Hinton’s Tashi And The Monk won best short and the Pare Lorentz Award, presented to films that demonstrate “exemplary filmmaking while focusing on environmental and social issues.”
Robert Redford received the Ida’s Career Achievement Award.
Full list of winners:
Career Achievement Award
Robert Redford
Pioneer Award
Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato
Preservation And Scholarship Award
Rithy Panh
Emerging Documentary Filmmaker Award Sponsored by Red Fire Films and Modern VideoFilm
Darius Clark Monroe
Best Feature Award
Citizenfour
Best Short Award
Tashi And The Monk
Best Curated Series Award
Independent Lens
Executive producer: Sally Jo Fifer
Deputy executive producer: Lois Vossen
Best Limited Series Award
Time Of Death
Executive Producers: Cynthia Childs, Dan Cutforth, Casey Kriley, Jane Lipsitz, Alexandra Lipsitz
Co-Executive Producer: Miggi Hood, Sandy Shapiro
Best...
Citizenfour was named best feature and centres on Nsa whistleblower Edward Snowden.
Johnny Burke and Andrew Hinton’s Tashi And The Monk won best short and the Pare Lorentz Award, presented to films that demonstrate “exemplary filmmaking while focusing on environmental and social issues.”
Robert Redford received the Ida’s Career Achievement Award.
Full list of winners:
Career Achievement Award
Robert Redford
Pioneer Award
Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato
Preservation And Scholarship Award
Rithy Panh
Emerging Documentary Filmmaker Award Sponsored by Red Fire Films and Modern VideoFilm
Darius Clark Monroe
Best Feature Award
Citizenfour
Best Short Award
Tashi And The Monk
Best Curated Series Award
Independent Lens
Executive producer: Sally Jo Fifer
Deputy executive producer: Lois Vossen
Best Limited Series Award
Time Of Death
Executive Producers: Cynthia Childs, Dan Cutforth, Casey Kriley, Jane Lipsitz, Alexandra Lipsitz
Co-Executive Producer: Miggi Hood, Sandy Shapiro
Best...
- 12/5/2014
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
The International Documentary Association (Ida) announced nominations for the 2014 Ida Documentary Awards today, with awards being bestowed December 5th at the Paramount Theatre on the studio lot. The top films nominated in the best feature category include the critically-acclaimed Citizenfour from filmmaker Laura Poitras about Edward Snowden and the state of surveillance of civilians post 9/11 which has been enjoying a theatrical run and Nick Broomfield’s Tales Of The Grim Sleeper about the serial killer who terrorized South Central Los Angeles over 25 years. In the limited series category is Playtone’s CNN doc The Sixties, among others. Best episodic include Oprah Winfrey’s Master Class and HBO’s Vice exec produced by Bill Maher (and others). In addition, Robert Redford will receive the Career Achievement award from the Ida.
Winners in the Best Feature and Best Short categories are selected by Ida’s international membership. Screening committees of industry professionals based in New York City,...
Winners in the Best Feature and Best Short categories are selected by Ida’s international membership. Screening committees of industry professionals based in New York City,...
- 10/29/2014
- by Anita Busch
- Deadline
In the wealthiest nation in the world, one in five children live in the shadow of hunger. In a new Food Network produced documentary, Hunger Hits Home, audiences will get a first-hand look at the crisis of childhood hunger in America through the eyes of the people on the frontlines of the battle.parents and children, anti-hunger activists, educators and politicians committed to eradicating the problem. Hunger Hits Home examines the causes, complications and misconceptions about childhood hunger in the United States and offersa glimpse at some of the innovative solutions being put into practice today.
Narrated by Oscar®-winning actor and longtime anti-hunger activist Jeff Bridges, Hunger Hits Home is a heart-wrenching, yet empowering hour-long look at one of our nation.s little-known emergencies. An urgent call to action against this burgeoning crisis, the film is part of an ongoing partnership between Food Network and Share Our Strength, whose...
Narrated by Oscar®-winning actor and longtime anti-hunger activist Jeff Bridges, Hunger Hits Home is a heart-wrenching, yet empowering hour-long look at one of our nation.s little-known emergencies. An urgent call to action against this burgeoning crisis, the film is part of an ongoing partnership between Food Network and Share Our Strength, whose...
- 4/11/2012
- by Movie Geeks
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
With their upfronts happening tonight, Bravo announced that it has greenlit 11 new unscripted series, including spin-offs for Top Chef and The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, as well as season orders for eight of their returning favorites. Viewers can expect to see another season of Flipping Out, Tabatha Takes Over, Million Dollar Decorators, Million Dollar Listing Lost Angeles, Top Chef Masters, Chef Roble & Co., Pregnant in Heels, and Inside the Actors Studio.
Click below for a description of Bravo’s new shows.
New Series Greenlights:
Silicon Valley (working title)
Produced by Den of Thieves with Jesse Ignjatovic and Evan Prager...
Click below for a description of Bravo’s new shows.
New Series Greenlights:
Silicon Valley (working title)
Produced by Den of Thieves with Jesse Ignjatovic and Evan Prager...
- 4/4/2012
- by Tim Stack
- EW - Inside TV
Eleven new shows, including a spinoff for "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" star Lisa Vanderpump and a new "Top Chef" series with Jen Carroll, Richard Blais, Fabio Viviani and Spike Mendelsohn, are heading to Bravo. The network has also renewed eight shows, including "Tabatha Takes Over."
"Sur" goes inside "Housewives" star Vanderpump's La hotspot restaurant. "Life After Top Chef" follows the personal and professional lives of the four former "Top Chef" cheftestants. There are also new shows set on yachts, in the offices of icanhascheezburger.com and in art galleries and the network also announced seven new unscripted projects in development.
Two scripted shows are in the works at Bravo, but the subject matter is familiar to the established audience. "22 Birthdays" follows the lives of a group of parents at a private school, with each episode centered around a lavish birthday party. "Blowing Sunshine" hails from "90210's" Jason Ning and...
"Sur" goes inside "Housewives" star Vanderpump's La hotspot restaurant. "Life After Top Chef" follows the personal and professional lives of the four former "Top Chef" cheftestants. There are also new shows set on yachts, in the offices of icanhascheezburger.com and in art galleries and the network also announced seven new unscripted projects in development.
Two scripted shows are in the works at Bravo, but the subject matter is familiar to the established audience. "22 Birthdays" follows the lives of a group of parents at a private school, with each episode centered around a lavish birthday party. "Blowing Sunshine" hails from "90210's" Jason Ning and...
- 4/4/2012
- by Chris Harnick
- Huffington Post
Eleven new shows, including a spinoff for "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" star Lisa Vanderpump and a new "Top Chef" series with Jen Carroll, Richard Blais, Fabio Viviani and Spike Mendelsohn, are heading to Bravo. The network has also renewed eight shows, including "Tabatha Takes Over."
"Sur" goes inside "Housewives" star Vanderpump's La hotspot restaurant. "Life After Top Chef" follows the personal and professional lives of the four former "Top Chef" cheftestants. There are also new shows set on yachts, in the offices of icanhascheezburger.com and in art galleries and the network also announced seven new unscripted projects in development.
Two scripted shows are in the works at Bravo, but the subject matter is familiar to the established audience. "22 Birthdays" follows the lives of a group of parents at a private school, with each episode centered around a lavish birthday party. "Blowing Sunshine" hails from "90210's" Jason Ning and...
"Sur" goes inside "Housewives" star Vanderpump's La hotspot restaurant. "Life After Top Chef" follows the personal and professional lives of the four former "Top Chef" cheftestants. There are also new shows set on yachts, in the offices of icanhascheezburger.com and in art galleries and the network also announced seven new unscripted projects in development.
Two scripted shows are in the works at Bravo, but the subject matter is familiar to the established audience. "22 Birthdays" follows the lives of a group of parents at a private school, with each episode centered around a lavish birthday party. "Blowing Sunshine" hails from "90210's" Jason Ning and...
- 4/4/2012
- by Chris Harnick
- Aol TV.
It’s rare when a film makes an unexpected turn a few minutes into viewing and sends you down another path. That’s the case of Circus Kids the new documentary from director Alexandra Lipsitz. The film begins as a profile of the St. Louis Arches, a group of young carnival performers based in the gateway city, who are a fixture of Circus Flora and St. Louis’s City Museum. We meet the group’s founder Jessica Hentoff, her own kids that are part of the troupe, and the the rest of Arches. Many of the kids come from tough, neighborhoods and relate that the Arches saved them from a life on the street. Okay,I see where this is headed. Or so I thought.
Turns out they’re headed to the Middle East. Israel to be exact. The Arches have been invited to tour there with the Gaililee Circus,...
Turns out they’re headed to the Middle East. Israel to be exact. The Arches have been invited to tour there with the Gaililee Circus,...
- 11/21/2010
- by Jim Batts
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Chicago – We’ve been working our way through the schedule for the upcoming 46th Annual Chicago International Film Festival, kicking off tonight with the premiere of “Stone,” starring Edward Norton, Robert De Niro, and Milla Jovovich. While this year’s festival includes a few high-profile films with A-list stars, we’ve dipped below the line, watching screeners of films that might slide below your radar. Here are the highlights of the opening weekend and into the beginning of next week covering October 7th to October 12th, 2010 (and come back next week for the rest).
The best films of the opening act include an amazing Chicago-set documentary about poetry, a small drama starring two potential future stars, a Russian existential piece, an Australian thriller, and two more documentaries about the transformative sociological power of art. The lineup for this year doesn’t immediately pop like last year’s, which unspooled “An Education,...
The best films of the opening act include an amazing Chicago-set documentary about poetry, a small drama starring two potential future stars, a Russian existential piece, an Australian thriller, and two more documentaries about the transformative sociological power of art. The lineup for this year doesn’t immediately pop like last year’s, which unspooled “An Education,...
- 10/7/2010
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
The 46th Chicago International Film Festival is coming, and The Scorecard Review will be there will exclusive interviews, movie reviews and red carpet events beginning October 7, 2010.
Here is the news release on the documentaries at this year’s festival.
Chicago, September 7, 2010 – As documentary films gain ever-increasing recognition in theaters around the world, the 46th Chicago International Film Festival announces the 2010 lineup of its Docufest documentary program and new series for true movie buffs, “Film on Film.” Sponsored by DePaul University, Docufest and the Film on Film program feature four world premieres, one international premiere, two North American premieres and two USA premieres.
Special guests attending this year range from award-winning filmmakers Alex Gibney and Lucy Walker to debuting directors making bold first impressions and even troupes of circus performers, slam poets, and a “minuteman” border guard. Twelve countries are represented across these 17 films. The Docufest competition jury includes the winner...
Here is the news release on the documentaries at this year’s festival.
Chicago, September 7, 2010 – As documentary films gain ever-increasing recognition in theaters around the world, the 46th Chicago International Film Festival announces the 2010 lineup of its Docufest documentary program and new series for true movie buffs, “Film on Film.” Sponsored by DePaul University, Docufest and the Film on Film program feature four world premieres, one international premiere, two North American premieres and two USA premieres.
Special guests attending this year range from award-winning filmmakers Alex Gibney and Lucy Walker to debuting directors making bold first impressions and even troupes of circus performers, slam poets, and a “minuteman” border guard. Twelve countries are represented across these 17 films. The Docufest competition jury includes the winner...
- 9/10/2010
- by Jeff Bayer
- The Scorecard Review
As I mentioned in a post a couple of days ago [1], there have been a ton of documentaries related to heavy metal lately, and one that sort of fits into that category as well is Alexandra Lipsitz's Air Guitar Nation. Documenting the Us and World Air Guitar Championships from a few years back, the movie is more about performance art than music specifically, but either way it's a lot of fun. Now it looks like the documentary is about to be brought to a wider audience as part of a fictional comedy as well. According to THR's Risky Business Blog [2], Tropic Thunder writer Justin Theroux has signed on to produce a movie for Paramount called simply Air Guitar, set in the world of competitive air guitar. He will not actually be the one writing the script however; those duties will fall to Mike Lisbe and Nate Reger (Just Shoot Me!
- 10/28/2009
- by Sean
- FilmJunk
If you've ever held witness to an "air guitar" competition, then you will undoubtedly share in my excitement for this next story. In early 2007, I had the honor of catching Alexandra Lipsitz's ferociously entertaining documentary Air Guitar Nation (read my review) during its extremely limited theatrical run. Later that year, fellow Fat Guy at the Movies Kevin Carr and I attended a regional air guitar competition in Columbus, Ohio and met Dan Crane (aka rocker Bjorn Turoque, pictured above with David "C-Diddy" Jung), one of the stars of the doc. It was an energetic, rockin' affair that has stuck with me ever since. So much so that earlier this year, I decided that the most rockin' double feature of all-time would be a double-bill of Air Guitar Nation and this year's sensation Anvil! The Story of Anvil. Trust me, that two-some of rock odysseys would blow your mind. I tell you that story to tell you...
- 10/27/2009
- by Neil Miller
- FilmSchoolRejects.com
When hard times hit a small mining town, Power (writer-director Ari Gold) doesn’t wish for riches; he only wishes that he’d learned to play drums. But his father (Michael McKean) could never afford to buy him a drum set, so Power has embraced the next best thing: air drumming. Tired of the constant ridicule, and with nothing but a few dollars, some breakfast cereal, and the support of his Aunt Joanie (Jane Lynch), Power sets off across the country to the “paradise” of Newark, where an underground air drumming crew has invited him to join their team. But as the big air drumming competition looms, so does a rival—multi-millionaire drummer Dallas H. (Adrien Grenier), who thinks air drumming is an abomination and seeks to destroy Power and his crew. It sounds absurd -- and it is. I know that I had my differences with this film when I reviewed it at Sundance two years...
- 10/7/2009
- by Neil Miller
- FilmSchoolRejects.com
Tribeca: Loved the Aireoke. It's surprisingly exhausting. Alexandra Lipsitz: It's a dangerous sport. I was bummed that I was wearing high-heels because I couldn't really rock out. I finally took them off at one point so I could jump up and down like I like to do. Tribeca: Fill us in on what's been happening with you and the movie since premiering at Tribeca last spring? Al: Since we were at Tribeca, we've taken the movie to some amazing film festivals across America. And then we went abroad and premiered ...
- 11/13/2007
- TribecaFilm.com
- Opening in select New York City theaters today is director Alexandra Lipsitz’s debut feature-length documentary Air Guitar Nation. The film tells the story of how competitive air guitar came to the United States, which up until 2003, had never sent an official contender to the World Air Guitar Championships held annually in Finland.What is air guitar? It’s that thing people do, mimicking holding an instrument and rocking out, usually reserved for those times when they just lose themselves in a song. In competitive air guitar, performers get up on stage and have one minute to totally rock out to a music selection of their choice. They are judged on technical merit, stage presence, and ‘airness’ – “the level to which their performance transcends mimicry and becomes and art form in and of itself.” Basically, air guitar is pure rock and roll, or rock and roll in it’s purest form,
- 3/23/2007
- IONCINEMA.com
Docurama/Shadow Distribution
NEW YORK -- If you didn't know "Air Guitar Nation" was a documentary, you'd swear it was a mockumentary. This story about the world air guitar championships in Finland is occasionally as funny as "This Is Spinal Tap".
But unlike Spinal Tap guitarist Nigel Tufnel, air guitarists can't turn their amplifiers up to 11. That's because they don't have amplifiers. In fact, they don't even have guitars.
Air guitarists are usually teenage boys who mime to their favorite guitarists in front of the bedroom mirror. But the participants in "Air Guitar Nation", a Magical Elves production, have taken it a few stages further. It's become a way of life. This documentary by Alexandra Lipsitz makes the most of its mirth-inducing subject by featuring frenzied stage performances and bizarre behind-the-scenes interviews.
The enthusiasm -- or should that be derangement? -- of the participants means that "Air Guitar" is often hilarious. It's a one-joke film, but despite a sag in the middle, there's enough oddity to keep it fresh for most of the 82 minutes. Cult success looks assured, and it should do good business on DVD.
It begins with a national competition to find an American air guitar hero to compete at the world championships in Finland. Two New Yorkers leap to the front of the pack: Asian-American C-Diddy (real name David Jung), an actor with a manic comedic style, and the more intense rock wannabe Bjorn Turock (real name Dan Crane). C-Diddy wins all the heats, but Turock just won't give up. He makes his way to Finland under his own steam to take on his rival.
It would be difficult to find a more flagrant bunch of exhibitionists in the rock scene proper. Bizarre scenes keep on coming. Aside from the performances, there are interviews with parents -- C-Diddy's wanted him to become a doctor -- lectures on air guitar as an art form, training camps to perfect air technique and a mayoral reception for contestants in Finland.
Production values are very good, with a tight edit by Conor O'Neill wringing the most out of some varied footage. It should also provide a boost to C-Diddy's fledgling career as a performer. The flamboyant performer might not have what it takes to be a real rocker, but a career as a comedian surely awaits.
NEW YORK -- If you didn't know "Air Guitar Nation" was a documentary, you'd swear it was a mockumentary. This story about the world air guitar championships in Finland is occasionally as funny as "This Is Spinal Tap".
But unlike Spinal Tap guitarist Nigel Tufnel, air guitarists can't turn their amplifiers up to 11. That's because they don't have amplifiers. In fact, they don't even have guitars.
Air guitarists are usually teenage boys who mime to their favorite guitarists in front of the bedroom mirror. But the participants in "Air Guitar Nation", a Magical Elves production, have taken it a few stages further. It's become a way of life. This documentary by Alexandra Lipsitz makes the most of its mirth-inducing subject by featuring frenzied stage performances and bizarre behind-the-scenes interviews.
The enthusiasm -- or should that be derangement? -- of the participants means that "Air Guitar" is often hilarious. It's a one-joke film, but despite a sag in the middle, there's enough oddity to keep it fresh for most of the 82 minutes. Cult success looks assured, and it should do good business on DVD.
It begins with a national competition to find an American air guitar hero to compete at the world championships in Finland. Two New Yorkers leap to the front of the pack: Asian-American C-Diddy (real name David Jung), an actor with a manic comedic style, and the more intense rock wannabe Bjorn Turock (real name Dan Crane). C-Diddy wins all the heats, but Turock just won't give up. He makes his way to Finland under his own steam to take on his rival.
It would be difficult to find a more flagrant bunch of exhibitionists in the rock scene proper. Bizarre scenes keep on coming. Aside from the performances, there are interviews with parents -- C-Diddy's wanted him to become a doctor -- lectures on air guitar as an art form, training camps to perfect air technique and a mayoral reception for contestants in Finland.
Production values are very good, with a tight edit by Conor O'Neill wringing the most out of some varied footage. It should also provide a boost to C-Diddy's fledgling career as a performer. The flamboyant performer might not have what it takes to be a real rocker, but a career as a comedian surely awaits.
- 3/23/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Docurama/Shadow Distribution
NEW YORK -- If you didn't know "Air Guitar Nation" was a documentary, you'd swear it was a mockumentary. This story about the world air guitar championships in Finland is occasionally as funny as "This Is Spinal Tap".
But unlike Spinal Tap guitarist Nigel Tufnel, air guitarists can't turn their amplifiers up to 11. That's because they don't have amplifiers. In fact, they don't even have guitars.
Air guitarists are usually teenage boys who mime to their favorite guitarists in front of the bedroom mirror. But the participants in "Air Guitar Nation", a Magical Elves production, have taken it a few stages further. It's become a way of life. This documentary by Alexandra Lipsitz makes the most of its mirth-inducing subject by featuring frenzied stage performances and bizarre behind-the-scenes interviews.
The enthusiasm -- or should that be derangement? -- of the participants means that "Air Guitar" is often hilarious. It's a one-joke film, but despite a sag in the middle, there's enough oddity to keep it fresh for most of the 82 minutes. Cult success looks assured, and it should do good business on DVD.
It begins with a national competition to find an American air guitar hero to compete at the world championships in Finland. Two New Yorkers leap to the front of the pack: Asian-American C-Diddy (real name David Jung), an actor with a manic comedic style, and the more intense rock wannabe Bjorn Turock (real name Dan Crane). C-Diddy wins all the heats, but Turock just won't give up. He makes his way to Finland under his own steam to take on his rival.
It would be difficult to find a more flagrant bunch of exhibitionists in the rock scene proper. Bizarre scenes keep on coming. Aside from the performances, there are interviews with parents -- C-Diddy's wanted him to become a doctor -- lectures on air guitar as an art form, training camps to perfect air technique and a mayoral reception for contestants in Finland.
Production values are very good, with a tight edit by Conor O'Neill wringing the most out of some varied footage. It should also provide a boost to C-Diddy's fledgling career as a performer. The flamboyant performer might not have what it takes to be a real rocker, but a career as a comedian surely awaits.
NEW YORK -- If you didn't know "Air Guitar Nation" was a documentary, you'd swear it was a mockumentary. This story about the world air guitar championships in Finland is occasionally as funny as "This Is Spinal Tap".
But unlike Spinal Tap guitarist Nigel Tufnel, air guitarists can't turn their amplifiers up to 11. That's because they don't have amplifiers. In fact, they don't even have guitars.
Air guitarists are usually teenage boys who mime to their favorite guitarists in front of the bedroom mirror. But the participants in "Air Guitar Nation", a Magical Elves production, have taken it a few stages further. It's become a way of life. This documentary by Alexandra Lipsitz makes the most of its mirth-inducing subject by featuring frenzied stage performances and bizarre behind-the-scenes interviews.
The enthusiasm -- or should that be derangement? -- of the participants means that "Air Guitar" is often hilarious. It's a one-joke film, but despite a sag in the middle, there's enough oddity to keep it fresh for most of the 82 minutes. Cult success looks assured, and it should do good business on DVD.
It begins with a national competition to find an American air guitar hero to compete at the world championships in Finland. Two New Yorkers leap to the front of the pack: Asian-American C-Diddy (real name David Jung), an actor with a manic comedic style, and the more intense rock wannabe Bjorn Turock (real name Dan Crane). C-Diddy wins all the heats, but Turock just won't give up. He makes his way to Finland under his own steam to take on his rival.
It would be difficult to find a more flagrant bunch of exhibitionists in the rock scene proper. Bizarre scenes keep on coming. Aside from the performances, there are interviews with parents -- C-Diddy's wanted him to become a doctor -- lectures on air guitar as an art form, training camps to perfect air technique and a mayoral reception for contestants in Finland.
Production values are very good, with a tight edit by Conor O'Neill wringing the most out of some varied footage. It should also provide a boost to C-Diddy's fledgling career as a performer. The flamboyant performer might not have what it takes to be a real rocker, but a career as a comedian surely awaits.
- 3/23/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
- If it weren’t for Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page and co. many of us wouldn’t have this awkward social behavior/dancing disease. Rock stardom has been a source of fascination for many of us who’ve have yet to pick up a guitar or for that matter a guitar pick – and this fascination is now the source of a new documentary film tapping into this phenomenon. Alexandra Lipsitz’s doc tells the battle of naked ambition played out on the national and, ultimately, world stage, Air Guitar Nation chronicles the birth of the Us Air Guitar Championships as legions of aspiring rock stars live out their dreams on a quest to become the world champion in a strange world where musical ability plays second fiddle to virtual virtuosity. As the film un-reels, two aspiring rock legends strum and strut their way towards glory and the coveted national title.
- 3/19/2007
- IONCINEMA.com
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