Filmmaker Clay Tweel has signed on to direct a new documentary based on the life of comedian Andy Kaufman. Produced by Ross Dinerstein’s Campfire Studios, Dwayne Johnson and Dany Garcia’s Seven Bucks Productions, David Letterman’s Worldwide Pants Incorporated and Fifth Season, the film reps the first doc authorized by the Kaufman estate.
Fifth Season (“Being Mary Tyler Moore”) is fully financing the project, which will be overseen by Mary Lisio, executive vice president of non-scripted and documentary, and produced in partnership with the Andy Kaufman estate.
“I’ve always loved Andy because he was able to elicit such emotional reactions to his performances by using both the poignant and the absurd to keep his audience off balance. I hope we can honor his legacy in that way with our film,” Tweel said.
The film’s producers have access to Kaufman’s family, as well as archives and...
Fifth Season (“Being Mary Tyler Moore”) is fully financing the project, which will be overseen by Mary Lisio, executive vice president of non-scripted and documentary, and produced in partnership with the Andy Kaufman estate.
“I’ve always loved Andy because he was able to elicit such emotional reactions to his performances by using both the poignant and the absurd to keep his audience off balance. I hope we can honor his legacy in that way with our film,” Tweel said.
The film’s producers have access to Kaufman’s family, as well as archives and...
- 7/11/2023
- by Michael Schneider
- Variety Film + TV
Award-winning documentarian Clay Tweel (Gleason) has been set to direct the first authorized feature doc on comedy legend Andy Kaufman for Campfire Studios, Seven Bucks Productions, Worldwide Pants Incorporated and Fifth Season.
Fully financed by Fifth Season – with EVP of non-scripted and documentary Mary Lisio overseeing – the film will be produced in partnership with The Andy Kaufman Estate. Boasting unprecedented and exclusive access to Kaufman’s family, as well as personal and never-before-seen archives and private recordings — provided by the Estate — and all Kaufman-related archival material from the estate of his longtime manager George Shapiro, it will track the creative process of a performance artist who operated at an undefinable frequency.
A comedian uninterested in “telling jokes,” Kaufman was lauded for his live performances, his role as Latka Gravas on ABC’s Taxi and his appearances...
Fully financed by Fifth Season – with EVP of non-scripted and documentary Mary Lisio overseeing – the film will be produced in partnership with The Andy Kaufman Estate. Boasting unprecedented and exclusive access to Kaufman’s family, as well as personal and never-before-seen archives and private recordings — provided by the Estate — and all Kaufman-related archival material from the estate of his longtime manager George Shapiro, it will track the creative process of a performance artist who operated at an undefinable frequency.
A comedian uninterested in “telling jokes,” Kaufman was lauded for his live performances, his role as Latka Gravas on ABC’s Taxi and his appearances...
- 7/11/2023
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Have you ever wanted to visit the "Silver Tuna" house from "Home Alone" when the holidays roll around? What about stalking the house of babysitter Laurie Strode from the "Halloween" franchise? Maybe you've felt bold enough to check out the house of Buffalo Bill from "The Silence of the Lambs." Soon, you'll be able to check out some of the most memorable houses from film and television, thanks to a new documentary from "I Love You, You Hate Me" director Tommy Avallone.
"The House From..." is an upcoming documentary that's looking to complete post-production by way of a Kickstarter. If you've ever wanted your name in the credits of a movie as a producer, here's your chance. Tommy Avallone recently sat down to chat with us about traveling across the country to see houses from movies like "The Goonies," "The Twilight Saga," "Pee-wee's Big Adventure," "Home Alone," "Full House," and many more.
"The House From..." is an upcoming documentary that's looking to complete post-production by way of a Kickstarter. If you've ever wanted your name in the credits of a movie as a producer, here's your chance. Tommy Avallone recently sat down to chat with us about traveling across the country to see houses from movies like "The Goonies," "The Twilight Saga," "Pee-wee's Big Adventure," "Home Alone," "Full House," and many more.
- 10/28/2022
- by Ethan Anderton
- Slash Film
Our collective love for pop culture is so strong that it's not just the actors, filmmakers, and characters from the big screen and the flickering box getting all the love. Sometimes, a movie or TV show becomes such a cherished piece of entertainment history that even the props and locations from our favorite stories reach a surprising level of admiration. Some of them have even become, dare I say, iconic? That's what drives people to buy endless merchandise for their shelves and take road trips to visit the real life locations that have been featured in film and TV. Thankfully, checking out some of the most recognizable locales from Hollywood's history is about to get a little bit easier, thanks to an upcoming documentary.
"The House From..." is a new film from Tommy Avallone, director of Peacock's recently released "I Love You, You Hate Me," the documentary chronicling the rise...
"The House From..." is a new film from Tommy Avallone, director of Peacock's recently released "I Love You, You Hate Me," the documentary chronicling the rise...
- 10/20/2022
- by Ethan Anderton
- Slash Film
Peacock’s “I Love You, You Hate Me” two-part docuseries about the rise and fall of Barney the Dinosaur is the fifth title to launch as part of the platform’s inaugural DocFest and arguably the most anticipated.
The docu about the purple dinosaur who preached love and acceptance on PBS “Barney & Friends” debuts Oct. 12 on the streaming service. It examines Barney’s meteoric rise and how the Tyrannosaurus rex quickly became the target of hate and rage across pop culture and the early internet. Hailing from Scout Productions and director Tommy Avallone, the doc features interviews with the show’s cast and crew as well as boldface names, including Bill Nye the Science Guy and NBC’s Al Roker. The series also incorporates archival footage from the PBS’ series, which began airing in 1992.
Avallone says the inspiration for “I Love You, You Hate Me” came after seeing a...
The docu about the purple dinosaur who preached love and acceptance on PBS “Barney & Friends” debuts Oct. 12 on the streaming service. It examines Barney’s meteoric rise and how the Tyrannosaurus rex quickly became the target of hate and rage across pop culture and the early internet. Hailing from Scout Productions and director Tommy Avallone, the doc features interviews with the show’s cast and crew as well as boldface names, including Bill Nye the Science Guy and NBC’s Al Roker. The series also incorporates archival footage from the PBS’ series, which began airing in 1992.
Avallone says the inspiration for “I Love You, You Hate Me” came after seeing a...
- 10/13/2022
- by Addie Morfoot
- Variety Film + TV
Click here to read the full article.
In the second hour (or “episode”) of Peacock’s I Love You, You Hate Me, a former neo-Nazi turned anti-hate activist goes for a rather big thematic swing, connecting her personal journey with the slings and arrows directed at one particularly kid-friendly purple dinosaur.
“Obviously, I’m not saying that people who hate a children’s television character are in any way the same thing as someone who embraced the things that I embraced. However the dynamics of basing your identity around what you hate and what you despise, that those dynamics are exactly the same,” she posits.
It’s a contestable but also provocative point made in contradictory and ultimately under-defended terms, and that means that it’s probably a perfect encapsulation of Tommy Avallone’s documentary.
I Love You, You Hate Me doesn’t want to be simply a hollow celebration of ’90s nostalgia,...
In the second hour (or “episode”) of Peacock’s I Love You, You Hate Me, a former neo-Nazi turned anti-hate activist goes for a rather big thematic swing, connecting her personal journey with the slings and arrows directed at one particularly kid-friendly purple dinosaur.
“Obviously, I’m not saying that people who hate a children’s television character are in any way the same thing as someone who embraced the things that I embraced. However the dynamics of basing your identity around what you hate and what you despise, that those dynamics are exactly the same,” she posits.
It’s a contestable but also provocative point made in contradictory and ultimately under-defended terms, and that means that it’s probably a perfect encapsulation of Tommy Avallone’s documentary.
I Love You, You Hate Me doesn’t want to be simply a hollow celebration of ’90s nostalgia,...
- 10/12/2022
- by Daniel Fienberg
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Two generations of children — and their parents — are familiar with the colossal purple dinosaur that frolicked across their television screens each week. The PBS series “Barney & Friends” amassed 14 seasons between 1992 and 2010 in the course of its lengthy run before coming to a flaming halt.
The reasons for the show’s initial success and accursed demise are outlined in a two-part docuseries from director Tommy Avallone, titled “I Love You, You Hate Me,” which is available for streaming on Peacock on Oct. 12.
With parallels to Sundance award-winner “Feels Good Man,” the 2020 indie documentary about Pepe the Frog that explores how a meme can be transformed from a comedic icon into a hate symbol, “I Love You, You Hate Me” delves into the lesser-known evils of the Barney bashing movement, when teenagers and adults alike began to bastardize the once-beloved character with acts of violence both physically and online.
Other figures...
The reasons for the show’s initial success and accursed demise are outlined in a two-part docuseries from director Tommy Avallone, titled “I Love You, You Hate Me,” which is available for streaming on Peacock on Oct. 12.
With parallels to Sundance award-winner “Feels Good Man,” the 2020 indie documentary about Pepe the Frog that explores how a meme can be transformed from a comedic icon into a hate symbol, “I Love You, You Hate Me” delves into the lesser-known evils of the Barney bashing movement, when teenagers and adults alike began to bastardize the once-beloved character with acts of violence both physically and online.
Other figures...
- 10/12/2022
- by Katie Reul
- Variety Film + TV
Barney & Friends was a 90s cultural phenomenon that advocated for peace, togetherness, and love. At first, this was widely embraced, but eventually, it turned to hate during the dawn of the internet and trash TV. Some people thought his songs were annoying, and that’s understandable. But others hated the purple dinosaur so much that they became violent or made it their personality to hate him. There was even a mock religious organization called the Jihad to Destroy Barney. Director Tommy Avallone and Joel Chiodi, Executive Producer and Head of Documentaries at Scout Productions, delve deep into the cultural impact of Barney the Dinosaur with their two-part Peacock documentary I Love You, You Hate Me. But they also get into the concept building and production of the character, as well as how it affected the actors, creatives, and their families. What made you gravitate towards Barney and this documentary at large?...
- 10/12/2022
- TV Insider
Pity the purple dinosaur. He came to spread a message of love, and got the stuffing knocked out of him.
I Love You, You Hate Me, the two-part documentary series premiering on Peacock on Wednesday, explores the way Barney became a runaway hit with tots, and how the tubby T-Rex ignited one of the most devastating backlashes in pop culture history.
Director Tommy Avallone admits that as a kid, he too partook in Barney bashing.
“As a teenager, for one of my birthdays I asked my aunt to make me a Barney costume, so my friends and I could beat him up on camera,” he says. “Several years later, creating this docu-series, it feels good to be on the other side and no longer a Barney hater.”
Episode 1 excavates the dinosaur’s origins in the late 1980s. He was the brainchild of Sheryl Leach, a Texas schoolteacher and new mom...
I Love You, You Hate Me, the two-part documentary series premiering on Peacock on Wednesday, explores the way Barney became a runaway hit with tots, and how the tubby T-Rex ignited one of the most devastating backlashes in pop culture history.
Director Tommy Avallone admits that as a kid, he too partook in Barney bashing.
“As a teenager, for one of my birthdays I asked my aunt to make me a Barney costume, so my friends and I could beat him up on camera,” he says. “Several years later, creating this docu-series, it feels good to be on the other side and no longer a Barney hater.”
Episode 1 excavates the dinosaur’s origins in the late 1980s. He was the brainchild of Sheryl Leach, a Texas schoolteacher and new mom...
- 10/10/2022
- by Matthew Carey
- Deadline Film + TV
Image Source: Everett Collection
TV phenomenon "Barney & Friends" is the subject of a forthcoming docuseries that breaks down how the beloved children's show became a target for hate. "I Love You, You Hate Me," a two-part event from Peacock directed by Tommy Avallone, highlights the astronomical rise of Barney in the early '90s, as well as the friendly purple dinosaur's terrible treatment from furious public backlash.
In the trailer for "I Love You, You Hate Me," talking heads like Bill Nye the Science Guy, NBC's Al Roker, and others share stories about how the world turned on Barney's positive messages of love, acceptance, and inclusion - all of which stemmed from creator Sheryl Leach - before the clip begs the question: "Why does the world love to hate?" "As her beloved character was heading into the stratosphere, people couldn't accept that this was just a show," Roker says.
TV phenomenon "Barney & Friends" is the subject of a forthcoming docuseries that breaks down how the beloved children's show became a target for hate. "I Love You, You Hate Me," a two-part event from Peacock directed by Tommy Avallone, highlights the astronomical rise of Barney in the early '90s, as well as the friendly purple dinosaur's terrible treatment from furious public backlash.
In the trailer for "I Love You, You Hate Me," talking heads like Bill Nye the Science Guy, NBC's Al Roker, and others share stories about how the world turned on Barney's positive messages of love, acceptance, and inclusion - all of which stemmed from creator Sheryl Leach - before the clip begs the question: "Why does the world love to hate?" "As her beloved character was heading into the stratosphere, people couldn't accept that this was just a show," Roker says.
- 9/29/2022
- by Njera Perkins
- Popsugar.com
I Love You, You Hate Me Trailer: Barney The Dinosaur Gets A Docuseries In The Vein Of Feels Good Man
As a kid of the 1990s, it is impossible to explain the impact Barney the Dinosaur had on my own upbringing and the childhoods of the generations of children that followed. The giant purple singing dinosaur quickly became a beloved hero for toddlers and elementary school-aged kiddos everywhere, with educational messages about emotions, friendship, compassion, and basic academics hidden through song and dance. The dinosaur sensation was a children's entertainment paladin that rivaled Big Bird and Elmo on "Sesame Street," and his loving message, and the earworm of the "I Love You" song, made him a hero to little viewers all around the globe.
It also quickly turned Barney into a conduit for hatred, as conspiracy theories and violent subversions of the show's characters were brought into the fold by people desperate to put an end to the character. In a new 2-part docuseries for Peacock, "I Love You, You...
It also quickly turned Barney into a conduit for hatred, as conspiracy theories and violent subversions of the show's characters were brought into the fold by people desperate to put an end to the character. In a new 2-part docuseries for Peacock, "I Love You, You...
- 9/29/2022
- by BJ Colangelo
- Slash Film
Barney can be your friend, too, if you just make-believe him. But what if you just irrationally hate him?
Hit children’s series “Barney and Friends” promoted loving each other despite differences, but new Peacock docuseries “I Love You, You Hate Me” chronicles the rising backlash to Barney’s message.
The two-part limited series premieres October 12 and features a deep dive into the rise and fall of Barney the Dinosaur’s furious backlash — and what it says about the human need to hate, per an official synopsis. From Barney-bashing to frat parties to homicidal video games, something in American society broke into a million pieces, and it’s never been put together again…or is this just who we were all along?
“‘I Love You, You Hate Me’ unpacks how a children’s character who stood for inclusion, understanding, and kindness birthed a movement of anger and criticism that threatened the show,...
Hit children’s series “Barney and Friends” promoted loving each other despite differences, but new Peacock docuseries “I Love You, You Hate Me” chronicles the rising backlash to Barney’s message.
The two-part limited series premieres October 12 and features a deep dive into the rise and fall of Barney the Dinosaur’s furious backlash — and what it says about the human need to hate, per an official synopsis. From Barney-bashing to frat parties to homicidal video games, something in American society broke into a million pieces, and it’s never been put together again…or is this just who we were all along?
“‘I Love You, You Hate Me’ unpacks how a children’s character who stood for inclusion, understanding, and kindness birthed a movement of anger and criticism that threatened the show,...
- 9/29/2022
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
is a limited doc series chronicling the rise and fall of Barney the Dinosaur’s furious backlash – and what it says about the human need to hate. From Barney-bashing to frat parties to homicidal video games, something in American society broke into a million pieces, and it’s never been put together again… or is this just who we were all along? Quote from Joel Chiodi, Head of Documentaries and SVP of Strategic Development at Scout Productions – “I Love You, You Hate Me unpacks how a children’s character who stood for inclusion, understanding, and kindness birthed a movement of anger and criticism that threatened the show, its creators, and their futures. As it spotlights the beginnings of modern-day hate culture, this documentary traces the creation of the character and how it took a toll on the people closest to it, examining the surprising and lingering impact the ‘Big...
- 9/28/2022
- by Hollywood Outbreak
- HollywoodOutbreak.com
Demi Lovato, Selena Gomez, and Madison Pettis all got their start on Barney and Friends. But the show and its creators got to witness a much darker side of the “I love you”-singing dinosaur, thanks to those who spewed hate for the beloved character, as a new docuseries addresses. I Love You, You Hate Me — which covers the rumor mill, threats, and disdain the dinosaur character faced — shared its trailer on Wednesday.
The trailer features interviews with actors who portrayed the purple dinosaur, including Bob West, along with other...
The trailer features interviews with actors who portrayed the purple dinosaur, including Bob West, along with other...
- 9/28/2022
- by Tomás Mier
- Rollingstone.com
The iconic character Barney the Dinosaur will be the subject of a three-part documentary, which has begun production at Peacock. The docu hails from Scout Productions, the executive producers of Queer Eye, Equal and The Hype, and Tommy Avallone (The Bill Murray Stories). It’s slated for premiere on Peacock in 2022.
The three-part documentary examines the rock star-like trajectory of Barney the Dinosaur, the beloved character who captured the hearts of millions of children and then became the target of hate and rage across pop culture, the early internet and playgrounds around the world.
Using exclusive interviews and archival footage, the three-part documentary will offer first-hand accounts of the Barney phenomenon from the cast and crew to its most outspoken critics.
“Barney the Dinosaur was a ubiquitous character for children and parents alike and we are thrilled to work with the Scout Productions team to bring this three-part series to Peacock,...
The three-part documentary examines the rock star-like trajectory of Barney the Dinosaur, the beloved character who captured the hearts of millions of children and then became the target of hate and rage across pop culture, the early internet and playgrounds around the world.
Using exclusive interviews and archival footage, the three-part documentary will offer first-hand accounts of the Barney phenomenon from the cast and crew to its most outspoken critics.
“Barney the Dinosaur was a ubiquitous character for children and parents alike and we are thrilled to work with the Scout Productions team to bring this three-part series to Peacock,...
- 11/15/2021
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
A three-part documentary about Barney the Dinosaur has started production at Peacock, the streamer announced Monday.
The project will examine the meteoric rise of Barney, the beloved children’s character who captured the hearts of millions of children and then became the target of hate and rage across pop culture, the early internet and playgrounds around the world. It hails from Scout Productions and Tommy Avallone.
“Barney the Dinosaur was a ubiquitous character for children and parents alike and we are thrilled to work with the Scout Productions team to bring this three-part series to Peacock,” said Rod Aissa, executive vice president of unscripted content for NBCUniversal Television & Streaming. “This documentary is bound to captivate audiences like Barney has over the years.”
With exclusive interviews and archival footage, the three-part documentary will offer first-hand accounts of the Barney phenomenon from the cast and crew to its most outspoken critics.
Barney was created by Sheryl Leach,...
The project will examine the meteoric rise of Barney, the beloved children’s character who captured the hearts of millions of children and then became the target of hate and rage across pop culture, the early internet and playgrounds around the world. It hails from Scout Productions and Tommy Avallone.
“Barney the Dinosaur was a ubiquitous character for children and parents alike and we are thrilled to work with the Scout Productions team to bring this three-part series to Peacock,” said Rod Aissa, executive vice president of unscripted content for NBCUniversal Television & Streaming. “This documentary is bound to captivate audiences like Barney has over the years.”
With exclusive interviews and archival footage, the three-part documentary will offer first-hand accounts of the Barney phenomenon from the cast and crew to its most outspoken critics.
Barney was created by Sheryl Leach,...
- 11/15/2021
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety Film + TV
Scout Productions, the company behind Netflix’s Queer Eye, is launching a dedicated documentary division.
The unit will be headed by Joel Chiodi, SVP, Strategic Development, who will oversee the content development and production. Chiodi, who was part of the team that rebooted Queer Eye, will report to Rob Eric, Scout’s Chief Creative Officer.
It comes after the production company won documentary orders including Equal, a four-part series chronicling the fight for LGBTQ rights pre-Stonewall, for HBO Max, and Get Real, a doc series about the history of reality television, for Quibi.
On the development slate are a music project from McQueen director Ian Bonhote, his producing partner Andee Ryder, Peter Ettedgui and the team at Misfits Entertainment, a “tongue in cheek” look at the candy industry, a deep-dive into the self-help world with investigative journalist Nile Cappello and a project from director Tommy Avallone (The Bill Murray Stories...
The unit will be headed by Joel Chiodi, SVP, Strategic Development, who will oversee the content development and production. Chiodi, who was part of the team that rebooted Queer Eye, will report to Rob Eric, Scout’s Chief Creative Officer.
It comes after the production company won documentary orders including Equal, a four-part series chronicling the fight for LGBTQ rights pre-Stonewall, for HBO Max, and Get Real, a doc series about the history of reality television, for Quibi.
On the development slate are a music project from McQueen director Ian Bonhote, his producing partner Andee Ryder, Peter Ettedgui and the team at Misfits Entertainment, a “tongue in cheek” look at the candy industry, a deep-dive into the self-help world with investigative journalist Nile Cappello and a project from director Tommy Avallone (The Bill Murray Stories...
- 9/15/2020
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Scout Productions is extending its unscripted programming slate with the launch of a new documentary division.
Joel Chiodi, Scout Productions’ senior vice president of strategic development, will oversee day to day development and production of the division. He will report to Scout’s chief creative officer, Rob Eric.
Scout has already set two documentary projects under the new division. The first is “Equal” at HBO Max, a four-part docuseries chronicling the fight for LGBTQ rights pre-Stonewall. The other is “Get Real” at Quibi, a series that examines the 30-year history of reality television.
“Digging into the legacy and history of ‘Equal’ has inspired us to return to our roots,” said Scout co-founder Michael Williams. “Scout’s authentic, point-of-view storytelling is a perfect fit for the documentary space whether we are talking about the world of music or taking a closer look at the history of our collective obsession with reality TV.
Joel Chiodi, Scout Productions’ senior vice president of strategic development, will oversee day to day development and production of the division. He will report to Scout’s chief creative officer, Rob Eric.
Scout has already set two documentary projects under the new division. The first is “Equal” at HBO Max, a four-part docuseries chronicling the fight for LGBTQ rights pre-Stonewall. The other is “Get Real” at Quibi, a series that examines the 30-year history of reality television.
“Digging into the legacy and history of ‘Equal’ has inspired us to return to our roots,” said Scout co-founder Michael Williams. “Scout’s authentic, point-of-view storytelling is a perfect fit for the documentary space whether we are talking about the world of music or taking a closer look at the history of our collective obsession with reality TV.
- 9/15/2020
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety Film + TV
Parents would naturally do just about anything to save their children’s lives. That’s precisely what Brian and Danielle Dwyer did in 2014, when their son Waldo was diagnosed with a rare form of eye cancer, and they chose to complement his chemotherapy with medicinal cannabis oil. “Waldo on Weed,” which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival, will no doubt strike a chord with those who are pot-inclined. More than the film’s activist message, however, it’s writer-director Tommy Avallone’s portrait of whatever-it-takes parental risk and sacrifice that will help it resonate with audiences no matter their views on marijuana.
Born a whopping 13 lbs, 8.5 oz, the enormously named Waldo James Mysterious Dwyer was your typical adorable infant until, at six months, he received his dire diagnosis and was put on a chemotherapy regimen that made him sick and miserable. Luckily for Waldo, however, dad Brian — the gregarious owner of a Philadelphia pizza shop,...
Born a whopping 13 lbs, 8.5 oz, the enormously named Waldo James Mysterious Dwyer was your typical adorable infant until, at six months, he received his dire diagnosis and was put on a chemotherapy regimen that made him sick and miserable. Luckily for Waldo, however, dad Brian — the gregarious owner of a Philadelphia pizza shop,...
- 5/10/2019
- by Nick Schager
- Variety Film + TV
Joseph Baxter Jan 18, 2019
The new documentary The Bill Murray Stories, showcasing real-life sightings of the eccentric comedy legend, is on Netflix now.
When thinking of the legend of Bill Murray, films like Ghostbusters, Caddyshack, and Lost in Translation come to mind.
The Bill Murray Stories: Life Lessons Learned from a Mythical Man, the 2018 documentary which was recently released on Netflix, tells a different story. The film evokes an approachable-but-eccentric celebrity who tends to pop up in the weirdest, most random places. Filmmaker Tommy Avallone directed and wrote this poetic paean to the extracurricular activities of Murray; a tale strung together with sporadic accounts from ordinary folks across the country showing the most wonderfully random run-ins with the entertainment icon. Whether it’s joining someone’s ball game at the park, photobombing wedding shots, crashing parties, to just showing up at a doorstep, Murray’s curiously arbitrary thrill-seeking exploits have become the stuff of legend,...
The new documentary The Bill Murray Stories, showcasing real-life sightings of the eccentric comedy legend, is on Netflix now.
When thinking of the legend of Bill Murray, films like Ghostbusters, Caddyshack, and Lost in Translation come to mind.
The Bill Murray Stories: Life Lessons Learned from a Mythical Man, the 2018 documentary which was recently released on Netflix, tells a different story. The film evokes an approachable-but-eccentric celebrity who tends to pop up in the weirdest, most random places. Filmmaker Tommy Avallone directed and wrote this poetic paean to the extracurricular activities of Murray; a tale strung together with sporadic accounts from ordinary folks across the country showing the most wonderfully random run-ins with the entertainment icon. Whether it’s joining someone’s ball game at the park, photobombing wedding shots, crashing parties, to just showing up at a doorstep, Murray’s curiously arbitrary thrill-seeking exploits have become the stuff of legend,...
- 1/16/2019
- Den of Geek
With dozens of new titles hitting Netflix each month, it can be difficult to keep track of what to watch. So TheWrap has compiled a list, updated each month, of the best new shows and movies to check out and which to watch before they’re gone for good.
Leaving Dec. 1: “Sons of Anarchy” Season 1-7 The hit FX drama from creator Kurt Sutter, which was later spun off into the currently airing “Mayans M.C.,” stars Charlie Hunnam as Jackson “Jax” Teller, the leader of a outlaw motorcycle club in Central California.
Arriving Dec. 2: “The Lobster” An absurdist comedy co-written and directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, whose latest film “The Favourite” hit theaters in November, “The Lobster” stars Colin Farrell as a man seeking a partner in a world where single people are transformed into animals.
Arriving Dec. 7: “Dumplin” Danielle Macdonald stars as Dumplin’, the plus-size, teenage...
Leaving Dec. 1: “Sons of Anarchy” Season 1-7 The hit FX drama from creator Kurt Sutter, which was later spun off into the currently airing “Mayans M.C.,” stars Charlie Hunnam as Jackson “Jax” Teller, the leader of a outlaw motorcycle club in Central California.
Arriving Dec. 2: “The Lobster” An absurdist comedy co-written and directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, whose latest film “The Favourite” hit theaters in November, “The Lobster” stars Colin Farrell as a man seeking a partner in a world where single people are transformed into animals.
Arriving Dec. 7: “Dumplin” Danielle Macdonald stars as Dumplin’, the plus-size, teenage...
- 11/21/2018
- by Reid Nakamura
- The Wrap
Instead of blandly charting Bill Murray’s career/ private life and attempting to fathom the man behind the roles, writer/director Tommy Avallone’s documentary opts to study the actor/comic’s mostly off-screen, seldom seen side, involving impromptu encounters with random members of the public. Murray doesn’t just coldly shake hands, sign autographs and pose for selfies like most A-listers. In recent years he has infiltrated/ created moments with passing people. Colouring random lives in attempt to raise smiles and make life more interesting.
Many of his encounters have become folklore/ the stuff of legend, like Bigfoot sightings, while others have been caught on iPhones/ cameras and now amassed into this hilarious and inspiring documentary. Outside of his film career, Murray has crashed social gatherings like parties and football matches, bar tended in clubs, hijacked concerts (and cleaned up after them), read poetry to Polish construction works, taken...
Many of his encounters have become folklore/ the stuff of legend, like Bigfoot sightings, while others have been caught on iPhones/ cameras and now amassed into this hilarious and inspiring documentary. Outside of his film career, Murray has crashed social gatherings like parties and football matches, bar tended in clubs, hijacked concerts (and cleaned up after them), read poetry to Polish construction works, taken...
- 10/3/2018
- by Daniel Goodwin
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Bill Murray has a penchant for popping up in the most unexpected places. Over the last few years, he’s appeared at bachelor parties, ice cream socials and karaoke clubs, leaving behind a trail of awe-struck fans. Those remarkable encounters are the focus of the new documentary, The Bill Murray Stories: Life Lessons Learned From a Mythical Man.
In the new trailer for the film, fans recall their Murray sightings, some of which are accompanied by never-before-seen footage of the actor in the wild. Amidst tales of Murray bartending, playing kickball and crashing weddings,...
In the new trailer for the film, fans recall their Murray sightings, some of which are accompanied by never-before-seen footage of the actor in the wild. Amidst tales of Murray bartending, playing kickball and crashing weddings,...
- 9/11/2018
- by Jon Blistein
- Rollingstone.com
"This is a search for answers." Gravitas Ventures has released the official trailer for a documentary known The Bill Murray Stories, in full the title is The Bill Murray Stories: Life Lessons Learned from a Mythical Man. This premiered at the SXSW Film Festival earlier this year, though it hasn't stopped by too many other festivals. As the title suggests, the film is about the various random encounters that people have had with legendary actor Bill Murray. He'll randomly show up at parties or birthdays or soccer matches, staying briefly before disappearing again. The film attempts to examine why and what's going on and who Bill Murray really is, what makes him do this. It's an intriguing look at the one-of-a-kind mind of a legend. Here's the official trailer for Tommy Avallone's doc The Bill Murray Stories, direct from YouTube: One man's journey to find meaning in Bill...
- 9/9/2018
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Gravitas Ventures has acquired all North American rights to the documentary “The Bill Murray Stories: Life Lessons Learned From a Mythical Man.”
The film, which premiered at the South by Southwest festival in March, features interviews with everyday Americans as they recount their memorable interactions with Bill Murray. It’s directed by Tommy Avallone, executive produced by Glen Zipper, and produced by Max Paolucci, Derrick Kunzer, Raymond Esposito, and Kevin Sisti Jr. The movie will be released in select theaters on Oct. 25 and on demand the following day.
“My friend, Brian, told me my first Bill Murray story in 2006 and I was hooked,” Avallone said. “The more stories I discovered, the more I became convinced that there had to be some deeper meaning behind Bill’s quirky interactions with everyday people. And that’s what my journey in this film is all about — my search for that deeper meaning and...
The film, which premiered at the South by Southwest festival in March, features interviews with everyday Americans as they recount their memorable interactions with Bill Murray. It’s directed by Tommy Avallone, executive produced by Glen Zipper, and produced by Max Paolucci, Derrick Kunzer, Raymond Esposito, and Kevin Sisti Jr. The movie will be released in select theaters on Oct. 25 and on demand the following day.
“My friend, Brian, told me my first Bill Murray story in 2006 and I was hooked,” Avallone said. “The more stories I discovered, the more I became convinced that there had to be some deeper meaning behind Bill’s quirky interactions with everyday people. And that’s what my journey in this film is all about — my search for that deeper meaning and...
- 9/5/2018
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
We've all heard the folklore. Some dude's having his bachelor party when Bill Murray sneaks in, ready to drink a toast and dish out advice for the groom. A drunken kid at a college party stumbles into the kitchen and finds Murray, who knows nobody in the apartment, doing the dishes. And so on. With stories this divertingly random popping up on a weekly or monthly basis, a low-budget doc or two was inevitable. Tommy Avallone does as well as can be expected in The Bill Murray Stories, investigating the facts behind the legends and, of course, trying to engineer...
- 3/29/2018
- by John DeFore
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
New Jersey-based filmmaker Tommy Avallone is gathering serious buzz at SXSW for his The Bill Murray Stories: Life Lessons Learned From a Mythical Man, a doc charting Bill Murray’s impromptu drop-ins on “the regular folk” — encounters seem closer to urban legends than actual experiences. Even Bill Murray himself said at ComicCon in 2015 that the stories — such as his bartending at the Shangri-la bar in Austin during SXSW 2010 or his showing up at a birthday party in South Carolina after a basketball game or his washing dishes at someone’s house party in St Andrews, Scotland — weren’t […]...
- 3/16/2018
- by Tiffany Pritchard
- Filmmaker Magazine-Director Interviews
New Jersey-based filmmaker Tommy Avallone is gathering serious buzz at SXSW for his The Bill Murray Stories: Life Lessons Learned From a Mythical Man, a doc charting Bill Murray’s impromptu drop-ins on “the regular folk” — encounters seem closer to urban legends than actual experiences. Even Bill Murray himself said at ComicCon in 2015 that the stories — such as his bartending at the Shangri-la bar in Austin during SXSW 2010 or his showing up at a birthday party in South Carolina after a basketball game or his washing dishes at someone’s house party in St Andrews, Scotland — weren’t […]...
- 3/16/2018
- by Tiffany Pritchard
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
With his latest documentary effort, the SXSW-premiering The Bill Murray Stories, director Tommy Avallone has become an expert on all things Bill Murray, examining how the man, the myth and the legend intersect. The film paints a portrait of Murray from the perspective of those who have been witness to his legendary antics and fan interactions. In the most famous case, Murray is said to have walked up behind a random passerby and put his hands over their eyes, telling them…...
- 3/12/2018
- Deadline
Women in television, Darren Aronofsky and Barry Jenkins keynotes, Nasa mission to the sun talk on the agenda.
March 10 Update: SXSW director of film Janet Pierson has confirmed the world premiere of Steven Spielberg’s Ready Player One will be the (not so) surprise screening on Sunday.
The world premiere of John Krasinski’s horror film A Quiet Place starring Krasinski alongside his wife, Emily Blunt kicked off the annual film festival in Austin, Texas, which runs from March 9-17.
However SXSW isn’t all about the big screen and offers a panoply of music, gaming, technology discussions, conferences, and keynote speeches to savour.
March 10 Update: SXSW director of film Janet Pierson has confirmed the world premiere of Steven Spielberg’s Ready Player One will be the (not so) surprise screening on Sunday.
The world premiere of John Krasinski’s horror film A Quiet Place starring Krasinski alongside his wife, Emily Blunt kicked off the annual film festival in Austin, Texas, which runs from March 9-17.
However SXSW isn’t all about the big screen and offers a panoply of music, gaming, technology discussions, conferences, and keynote speeches to savour.
- 3/8/2018
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Jordan Peele’s The Last O.G to screen in Independent Episodic; Timur Bekmambetov’s Profile among SXSW line-up.
Source: Paramount Pictures
SXSW top brass on Wednesday (January 31) said the world premiere of John Krasinski’s A Quiet Place will open the 25th edition of the festival, which runs in Austin, Texas, from March 9-18.
Krasinski directed and stars in horror-thriller A Quiet Place alongside his wife Emily Blunt in the tale of an isolated family living in silence for fear of attack by an unknown force than tracks sound. Platinum Dunes produced the feature, which opens in the Us through on April 6 through Paramount.
SXSW launches the inaugural Independent Episodic section this year, an expansion on the Episodic section launched in 2014. Overall, the festival will screen 132 features, with additional titles to be announced.
The full line-up will include 44 films from first-time filmmakers, 86 world premieres, 11 North American premieres and five Us premieres. The films were culled...
Source: Paramount Pictures
SXSW top brass on Wednesday (January 31) said the world premiere of John Krasinski’s A Quiet Place will open the 25th edition of the festival, which runs in Austin, Texas, from March 9-18.
Krasinski directed and stars in horror-thriller A Quiet Place alongside his wife Emily Blunt in the tale of an isolated family living in silence for fear of attack by an unknown force than tracks sound. Platinum Dunes produced the feature, which opens in the Us through on April 6 through Paramount.
SXSW launches the inaugural Independent Episodic section this year, an expansion on the Episodic section launched in 2014. Overall, the festival will screen 132 features, with additional titles to be announced.
The full line-up will include 44 films from first-time filmmakers, 86 world premieres, 11 North American premieres and five Us premieres. The films were culled...
- 1/31/2018
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Round-Up: Horror Decor’s Holiday Items, Flutter Release Details, Breach & Clear: Deadline Soundtrack
Horror Decor's winter 2015 line of holiday merchandise is available now. Also in this round-up: release details for Flutter and samples from the Breach & Clear: Deadline soundtrack.
Horror Decor's Holiday Items: Press Release: "Ring in the ho-ho-horror holidays this year with Horror Decor! The home decor brand has unleashed its Winter 2015 line of horror-themed holiday merchandise featuring an assortment of ornaments, candles, and printed pillows perfectly suited for genre fans on all ages.
Notably, this line marks the return of Strange Kids Club’s Cuddle Creeps, a disgustingly fun and ghoulishly freaky series of printed pillows designed to charm and scare. Inspired by '80s nostalgia and cult-classic horror icons, the new creeps are Jack, a cantankerous caretaker who sees dead people, and Candy Man, a tormented spirit of tragic origin and deadly intent. They're joined by Regan, a foul-mouthed girl haunted by hellspawn, and Ed, a backstabbing buddy who’s just looking for a friend…...
Horror Decor's Holiday Items: Press Release: "Ring in the ho-ho-horror holidays this year with Horror Decor! The home decor brand has unleashed its Winter 2015 line of horror-themed holiday merchandise featuring an assortment of ornaments, candles, and printed pillows perfectly suited for genre fans on all ages.
Notably, this line marks the return of Strange Kids Club’s Cuddle Creeps, a disgustingly fun and ghoulishly freaky series of printed pillows designed to charm and scare. Inspired by '80s nostalgia and cult-classic horror icons, the new creeps are Jack, a cantankerous caretaker who sees dead people, and Candy Man, a tormented spirit of tragic origin and deadly intent. They're joined by Regan, a foul-mouthed girl haunted by hellspawn, and Ed, a backstabbing buddy who’s just looking for a friend…...
- 11/21/2015
- by Tamika Jones
- DailyDead
[Editors Note: Project of the Day is presented in partnership with BlackMagic Design, one of the world's leading innovators and manufacturers of creative video technology.] Here's your daily dose of an indie film, web series, TV pilot, what-have-you in progress -- at the end of the week, you'll have the chance to vote for your favorite. In the meantime: Is this a project you’d want to see? Tell us in the comments. Ghostheads Logline: A Ghostbusters Documentary, About Ghostbusters Fans. Elevator Pitch: "Ghostheads" is a documentary that explores the extreme side of the Ghostbusters fandom. Within the documentary, there will be storylines mixed in with interviews from Ghostbuster fans all over the world, such as U.S., Canada, Mexico, Australia, Italy, and the UK, to name a few places. Robin Shelby (who played Slimer in "Ghostbusters II") is narrating the film. Production Team: Director/Writer: Brendan Mertens Producer: Tommy Avallone ("I...
- 11/11/2015
- by Indiewire
- Indiewire
WWE.com
Mick Foley is one of the most well-known and respected retired wrestlers on the planet. He’s held the WWE Title 3-Times, was one-half of an incredibly memorable tag team with The Rock, wrote a couple of New York Times bestsellers, and at heart, is man who just loves Christmas time.
Foley is now on tour performing his hit show “Hardcore Legend: An Evening with Mick Foley” as well as being featured in the upcoming documentary “I am Santa Claus.” Here Foley talks about his current projects as well as thoughts on Brock Lesnar ending The Streak, and who on the current roster he would have loved to wrestle.
Andrew Soucek (As): Your Hardcore Legends show has been getting great reviews, everything I’ve seen has been really positive. In general, how are you feeling about it?
Mick Foley (Mf): It’s been a lot of fun,...
Mick Foley is one of the most well-known and respected retired wrestlers on the planet. He’s held the WWE Title 3-Times, was one-half of an incredibly memorable tag team with The Rock, wrote a couple of New York Times bestsellers, and at heart, is man who just loves Christmas time.
Foley is now on tour performing his hit show “Hardcore Legend: An Evening with Mick Foley” as well as being featured in the upcoming documentary “I am Santa Claus.” Here Foley talks about his current projects as well as thoughts on Brock Lesnar ending The Streak, and who on the current roster he would have loved to wrestle.
Andrew Soucek (As): Your Hardcore Legends show has been getting great reviews, everything I’ve seen has been really positive. In general, how are you feeling about it?
Mick Foley (Mf): It’s been a lot of fun,...
- 10/19/2014
- by Andrew Soucek
- Obsessed with Film
Last weekend I was able to get an interview with The Hardcore Legend Mick Foley whilst at the press conference for the upcoming 2K Games WWE 2K14 video game.
Foley, who in his wrestling career was known for his extreme style of wrestling is more recently known for the extreme opposite to his former antics by releasing children’s books and dressing up as Santa Claus in the upcoming documentary ‘I Am Santa Claus’ by director Tommy Avallone. In this interview I ask the former WWE World Heavyweight Champion what lead to his involvement in I Am Santa Claus, along with his favourite SummerSlam memories and match of all time and his time as a commentator on WWE Smackdown a few years back.
As you’ll see towards the end of the interview Mick and I are joined by Scott Schwartz, an actor I didn’t recognise much to Mick’s dismay.
Foley, who in his wrestling career was known for his extreme style of wrestling is more recently known for the extreme opposite to his former antics by releasing children’s books and dressing up as Santa Claus in the upcoming documentary ‘I Am Santa Claus’ by director Tommy Avallone. In this interview I ask the former WWE World Heavyweight Champion what lead to his involvement in I Am Santa Claus, along with his favourite SummerSlam memories and match of all time and his time as a commentator on WWE Smackdown a few years back.
As you’ll see towards the end of the interview Mick and I are joined by Scott Schwartz, an actor I didn’t recognise much to Mick’s dismay.
- 8/23/2013
- by David Pustansky
- Obsessed with Film
We’re about six months away from Christmas, so why not highlight a film about Santa Claus? Actually it’s a very appropriate time to discuss this particular film, because it’s about the off season for guys who play the role of St. Nick. Titled I Am Santa Claus, it’s a documentary that follows six Kris Kringles, including none other than pro wrestling legend Mick Foley. WWE Raw fans may be familiar with his appearances in the ring dressed as the jolly old icon, but for this film he went a bit further by even dying his hair and beard and fully trying out the gig as many men do every December. Additionally Foley is a producer of the doc, which is directed by relative newcomer Tommy Avallone. He’s been thanked in the credits for the films Resurrect Dead: The Mystery of the Toynbee Tiles and Indie Game: The Movie, which...
- 6/15/2013
- by Christopher Campbell
- FilmSchoolRejects.com
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