National Geographic gives the spotlight to six incredible stories of women making an impact in their community in the docuseries “Impact with Gal Gadot,” premiering April 26.Watch the teaser trailer for a small glimpse at these magnificent stories that are changing the world.
National Geographic Presents IMPACT with Gal Gadot a short-form documentary series that follows the powerful stories of six women who are making an extraordinary impact on their communities around the world. Despite living in areas marred by violence, poverty, trauma, discrimination, oppression, and natural disasters, these brave women remain undeterred as they dare to dream, stand out, speak up and lead.
In the heart of the most dangerous cities in the world, there exist beacons of hope. National Geographic Presents: IMPACT with Gal Gadot is a compelling new six-part short-form documentary series from executive producers Gal Gadot (“Wonder Woman”), Jaron Varsano (“My Dearest Fidel”) and Academy Award®-winning director Vanessa Roth (“Freehold”) that follows the powerful stories of resilient young women around the world who overcome obstacles and do extraordinary things. IMPACT will follow inspiring young women living in communities marred by genocide, gang violence, poverty, discrimination and oppression, and yet, against all odds, dare to dream, stand out, speak up and lead.
Featuring Jeff Goldblum, Patrick Stewart, Slash, Jane Lynch
and musician Andrew Cole
SUPERSTARS BAND TOGETHER FOR ANTI-BULLYING SONG IN THE POWERFUL #NOJOKE ON DEMAND THIS OCTOBER
In #NoJoke, singer Andrew Cole sets out to convince his musical idols to help him make a song for victims of bullying. He’s joined by Jeff Goldblum, Slash, Patrick Stewart, Lemmy, Chad Smith, Jane Lynch and more, who share their talents and their sometimes painful experiences. Andrew’s journey to understand bullying leads him to experts and to the ghosts of his own past—going beyond the tropes of today’s anti-bullying campaigns to the heart of the issue.
From writer/director Manfred Becker, #NoJoke chronicles a musician’s journey to create a song with some of the biggest stars in the industry. Along the way, he faces up to his painful past, while giving viewers a deep personal insight into the issue of bullying.
Ozzy Osbourne, Meat Loaf, Charlie Sheen, Michael Biehn, Diego Boneta, Julian Lennon and Steve Vai also feature in #NoJoke, available October 22 On Demand and Digital from Indiecan Entertainment.
Today marks the release of their new album, Happiness Begins, after 10 years! It’s been an extremely long 10 years for Jonas Brothers fans . . . believe me, as an *NSYNC fan, I know how uneasy it feels when your favorite band splits up. Especially when they’re brothers! Luckily, the guys worked through their issues and got together for one hell of an album!
When it was announced that the guys would be getting the band back together again, fans were hit with an onslaught of all things Jonas – a new single, a new album, a new tour, a documentary, a book, and who knows what’s next! There’s been no shortage of content, that’s for sure.
The documentary, Chasing Happiness, is available on Amazon Prime Video and gives an in-depth look at the guys growing up in the Jonas household, beginning their careers at a young age, navigating their way through life and work and family. Somewhere along the way, the guys seemed to lose the fun aspect of making music and performing, which eventually led to their split. They allow fans to get a glimpse into what happened and how they decided to work through things together as brothers. I highly recommend watching it.
With the release of the new album, we get to see a whole new Jonas Brothers. You can almost hear the fun in every song. It’s a more adult vibe than the old school albums, for sure. It’s funky, it’s mature, it’s a MOOD. There’s literally something for everyone on this album, and a huge congrats goes out to the guys for coming back together while still holding onto their own individual styles in the process.
Personally, Jonas Brothers hold a special place in my heart. They were the first concert I ever took my niece to in 2009. She was 5 years old and it was amazing. My friend’s kids had fallen asleep towards the end of the show, so she took them out to the car, but my niece refused to leave until the show was over. It made me so proud! Since then, she’s been my concert buddy and now she’s 15 dragging me to shows I normally wouldn’t go to. They set the bar for live shows for her 10 years ago and now we’ll be seeing them EXACTLY 10 years later at their show here in Miami this August. My only wish is that I could afford VIP tickets for her to meet them lol.
Either way, make sure to grab the album, score tix to their upcoming Happiness Begins Tour (which is a bit pricey, but I’m sure it’ll be worth it), watch the documentary and keep your eyes open for their upcoming book! The guys are on a roll and it doesn’t look like there’s an end in sight. (Side Note: Someone please get them to convince *NSYNC to make a similar comeback! They’re living proof that maturing their sound and putting out music they want to make can work despite being a huge success to younger crowds back in the day!)
Boxing legend Roberto Duran talks with Jesus Figueroa, @ThisFunktional of ThisFunktional.com, about the new documentary “I am Duran.” The interview is in Spanish.
“I AM DURÁN” is directed by Mat Hodgson (The Four Year Plan, Night of the Fight: Hatton’s Last Stand) and features iconic boxing champion Roberto Durán sharing his life story with fans.
“I AM DURÁN” puts viewers in the corner of one of the greatest pound-for-pound fighters ever and shows how Roberto Durán used his “Hands of Stone” to become a national hero and beloved son of Panama.
Roberto Durán is a boxing behemoth, a titanic figure with a career straddling five epic decades who is regarded as one of the most entertaining and skilled fighters of all time.
“I AM DURÁN” tells his story, inextricably interwoven with the story of the nation of Panama.
As Roberto Durán rose, fell, and rose again, staggering between glory and disaster, buffeted by the brutal blows of his opponents and of life itself – so did his beloved Panama.
A country brought to its knees as a pawn in violent regional and international politics and suffering from the harsh yoke of dictator Manuel Noriega’s ruthless regime, in its darkest hour Panama needed a hero, a voice, and an identity.
Roberto Durán’s impact transcended boxing and politics.
Born a fighter, his success inside the ring transformed him into an icon, yet it was his flaws and failures outside the ring that made him a hero and continue to ensure that his universal appeal and popularity endure to this day.
Everything’s been coming up Jonas lately, hasn’t it?? Since the boys men announced their reunion, they’ve released two new songs, an upcoming album, their upcoming Happiness Begins Tour and now we’ll get to watch how everything played out in their new documentary ‘Chasing Happiness,’ which is set to premiere on Amazon Prime on June 4th.
I’ve been hearing about this documentary for weeks now and I’m stoked that we finally have a premiere date! The film promises never-before-seen footage of Nick, Joe, and Kevin Jonas, starting with their early days growing up in New Jersey in a family struggling to make ends meet. It follows them to their heights of stardom — and the events surrounding their 2013 breakup. “Chasing Happiness” also shows the brothers rebuilding their relationships as siblings and band mates, leading to their first new album since 2009.
Jonas Brothers was the first concert I ever took my niece to – about ten years ago – so there’s a little bit of sentimental value over their comeback. We’ll be at their show here in Miami to relive that magic! How about you? Will you be making it out to any of their shows? Are you as excited as we are to watch the documentary??
Check out the trailer for ‘Chasing Happiness’ below:
FEATURING ROBERTO DURÁN, SUGAR RAY LEONARD, SYLVESTER STALLONE, ROBERT DE NIRO, MIKE TYSON, LENNOX LEWIS AND RICKY HATTON
DIRECTED BY MAT HODGSON
We are thrilled to share with you the trailer for the highly-anticipated boxing documentary “I AM DURÁN,” featuring Roberto Durán, Sugar Ray Leonard, Sylvester Stallone, Robert De Niro, Mike Tyson, and several sporting heroes.
“I AM DURÁN” is directed by Mat Hodgson (The Four Year Plan, Night of the Fight: Hatton’s Last Stand) and features iconic boxing champion Roberto Durán sharing his life story with fans.
“I AM DURÁN” puts viewers in the corner of one of the greatest pound-for-pound fighters ever and shows how Roberto Durán used his “Hands of Stone” to become a national hero and beloved son of Panama.
Roberto Durán is a boxing behemoth, a titanic figure with a career straddling five epic decades who is regarded as one of the most entertaining and skilled fighters of all time.
“I AM DURÁN” tells his story, inextricably interwoven with the story of the nation of Panama.
As Roberto Durán rose, fell, and rose again, staggering between glory and disaster, buffeted by the brutal blows of his opponents and of life itself – so did his beloved Panama.
A country brought to its knees as a pawn in violent regional and international politics and suffering from the harsh yoke of dictator Manuel Noriega’s ruthless regime, in its darkest hour Panama needed a hero, a voice and an identity.
Roberto Durán’s impact transcended boxing and politics.
Born a fighter, his success inside the ring transformed him into an icon, yet it was his flaws and failures outside the ring that made him a hero and continue to ensure that his universal appeal and popularity endure to this day.
I’ve been a huge fan of OneRepublic for years now. I’ve even claimed that ‘Native’ is my favorite album of all time — yes, even above my all-time favorite Justin Timberlake‘s albums. They’re musical geniuses no matter how you break it down. I got to see them live once when they co-headlined with The Script a few years ago and it was one of my favorite shows I’ve been to. Now I’m just waiting for them to come down to Miami again!
When I saw that a session from this documentary series with OneRepublic would be available on Netflix, I had to jump at the chance to watch it because why the heck wouldn’t I??
SYNOPSIS: Once In A Lifetime Sessions is an original and unique music documentary series giving viewers the chance to get up close and personal with some of today’s most celebrated music icons. Filmed on location at some of the greatest studios around the world, the Sessions highlight the craftsmanship, artistic depth, incredible skill and talent of the artists whilst also showcasing their catalogue. Each episode is dedicated to a single artist or group and features both an intimate live performance and a vinyl recording session. These are woven together with exclusive interview footage and a masterclass exploring the stories behind some of the most memorable songs of all time. Episodes include OneRepublic, Kasabian, George Ezra, Snow Patrol, TLC, Moby, Noel Gallagher and Nile Rodgers. Now streaming on US Netflix.
In all honesty, I’d never heard of this series before this particular session, but I love shows like this. I used to love watching MAKING THE VIDEO and the DIARY series on MTV back in the day (I’m in my 30’s, don’t attack me lol). As a lover of music and entertainment, I loved being able to see the behind-the-scenes of it all. How things began as an idea and how that idea was actually put together for an artist. That’s what really fascinated me. Getting to know your favorite artists behind the music. This series reminds me of that. You get to learn a little more about OneRepublic from their own mouths and you also get to watch a few live performances of them on stage.
I highly recommend check out this episode and also going back and watching any others that you can find! Personally, I’m hooked!
Andy Richter (“Conan”), Alec Sulkin (‘’Family Guy’’) Matt Selman (‘’The Simpsons’’) Damien Fahey (‘’Family Guy’’) influencer Elijah Daniel and Danny Zuker (‘’Modern Family’’) feature in Funny Tweets, an enlightening and side-splittingly funny exploration of the 140-character laffer!
From director-producer Laurie McGuinness and writer Dan Duvall, Funny Tweets follows a cashier manager whose ‘Funny Tweets’ help him connect with Andy Richter and the writers of ‘’Family Guy’’ and “The Simpsons”. Through interviews, they share how powerful a ‘Funny Tweet’ can be.
Andy Richter (“Conan”), Alec Sulkin (‘’Family Guy’’) Matt Selman (‘’The Simpsons’’) Damien Fahey (‘’Family Guy’’) influencer Elijah Daniel and Danny Zuker (‘’Modern Family’’) feature in Funny Tweets, an enlightening and side-splittingly funny exploration of the 140-character laffer!
From director-producer Laurie McGuinness and writer Dan Duvall, Funny Tweets follows a cashier manager whose ‘Funny Tweets’ help him connect with Andy Richter and the writers of ‘’Family Guy’’ and “The Simpsons”. Through interviews, they share how powerful a ‘Funny Tweet’ can be.
Timed with the fifth anniversary of Paul Walker’s tragic death, Virgil Films is releasing the new documentary I AM PAUL WALKER on 11/30.
I AM PAUL WALKER, a feature-length documentary film exploring the life and legacy of actor Paul Walker, will be released on November 30, 2018, the fifth anniversary of the actor’s tragic passing, by Virgil Films. A DVD will be released December 4, 2018.
The documentary, running approximately 30-minutes longer than the version broadcast on television earlier this year, features interviews with those who were closest to Paul, including Fast & Furious actor Tyrese Gibson and director Rob Cohen, director Wayne Kramer, family members Cody Walker, Caleb Walker, Ashlie Walker, Cheryl Walker, and Paul Walker III and close friends, Oakley Lehman, Dr. Michael Domeier and Manager Matt Luber.
Featuring interviews with those who knew Paul best – the Southern California native who cut his teeth as a child actor before breaking out in the blockbuster Fast and Furious movie franchise – both professionally and personally, along with an extensive personal archive of never-before-seen candid video and still photographs provided by family and friends of the late actor, I AM PAUL WALKER explores Paul’s private side in tandem with the highlights of his highly successful film career. His devotion to his family, his passion for surfing and auto racing, his commitment to marine biology and sharks, his dedication to humanitarian work through his NGO, Reach Out Worldwide, and his love for his family define the character of the man who starred in Fast & Furious, one of the most wildly successful film franchises of all time.
I AM PAUL WALKER, directed by Adrian Buitenhuis, releases on VOD 30th NOV 2018and DVD 4th DEC 2018.
Wheelchair Athletes Push Their Team Towards The Title
While Responding To Adversity On And Off The Court In New Documentary
Coming To Digital HD November 20th
THE REBOUND
From director Shaina Allen, producer Michael Esposito, and Emmy Award-winning Executive Producers Nick Nanton and JW Dicks comes THE REBOUND – a feel good story about the Miami Heat Wheels and their quest for their first-ever NWBA Championship – to Digital HD November 20th.
Miami is a city known for its sports and diversity. For the Miami Heat Wheels it’s a city of opportunity, second chances, and a call to win against all odds. THE REBOUND is an insider’s look at the struggling wheelchair basketball team following a defeat at the national championships. In community supported wheelchair basketball programs across the nation, players push their way physically, mentally and emotionally through each season without the recognition or the resources of mainstream sports. Among the Heat Wheels, passion and drive are abundant, but the team’s dwindling checkbook threatens to cut short its attempt to take the national title.
Debut filmmakers Shaina Allen and Mike Esposito step deep inside the lives of three players as they endure and respond to adversity and fight their way to a second chance. Friends, family, and pride hang in the balance as these men find an extraordinary gift in the hand life has dealt. They hope for an education, a big break, and a new life. The cameras don’t stop when the players leave the court: the film follows them through the trials of daily life with a disability. With each victory, the players, and their team, get closer to the idea that anything is possible – and it’s all about how you rebound.
THE REBOUND is a production of Evergrain Studios in association with DNA Films. More information can be found at the official movie website, www.reboundthefilm.com.
SYNOPSIS: Michael Moore’s “Fahrenheit 11/9” is a provocative and comedic look at the times in which we live. It will explore the two most important questions of the Trump Era: How the f**k did we get here, and how the f**k do we get out? It’s the film to see before it’s too late.
World Premiere at 2018 Toronto International Film Festival
CREDITS
State Run Films Presents | In Association with Briarcliff Entertainment | A Dog Eat Dog Production | A Film by Michael Moore | “FAHRENHEIT 11/9 | Field Producers Conall Jones, Nicky Lazar | Archival Producer Christine Fall | Co-Producers Rod Birleson, Jeff Gibbs, Veronica Moore, Steven Reisner | Camera Jayme Roy, Luke Geissbuhler | Editors Pablo Proenza, Doug Abel | Executive Produced by Basel Hamdan, Tia Lessin | Produced by Carl Deal, Meghan O’Hara | Written, Produced, & Directed by Michael Moore
Copyright 2018 Midwestern Films LLC 2018
This Film Is Not Yet Rated
Run Time: TBD
I had the chance to sit down and watch BELIEVER on HBO this weekend and it was so good!
SYNOPSIS: Believer follows Mormon Dan Reynolds, frontman for the Grammy Award-winning band Imagine Dragons, as he takes on a new mission to explore how the Mormon Church treats its LGBTQ members.
Dan Reynolds (Imagine Dragons) grew up in the Mormon faith alongside his family and friends in Utah. The Mormon doctrine believes that homosexuality is a sin, and they’ve even been known to remove allies from their church. There have been some amendments to their policies over the years, but the astounding number of suicides among teenagers in the Mormon community is still rising.
This prompted Dan to team up with Tyler Glenn (Neon Trees lead singer & fellow Mormon) to look for ways to bring awareness to these situations within the Mormon community. They formed the LoveLoud Festival and this documentary follows their journey in getting the festival organized. One of my favorite parts in the documentary is when Dan’s wife, Aja, is explaining to their young daughter what it means to be gay/transgender. I explained it to my niece the exact same way when she was around the same age and I don’t regret it one bit. Because I did that when she was young, my niece has always been inclusive towards all human beings. Seeing a similar experience documented with their adorable daughter was very special.
It’s an interesting documentary, to say the least. With the help of Tyler, Aja, and several people who are a part of the Mormon community, they shed light on the things that need to change, and continue to fight for the rights of the LGBTQ community.
I recommend watching it, without a doubt. As an ally to the LGBTQ community myself, I think it’s important to see how shunning a person due to their sexual orientation/preference can cause so much harm to that individual and their family. If we want to keep our brothers and sisters safe, we need to be inclusive and supportive. This documentary does a fantastic job of that.
I’ll leave you with this incredible tweet from Dan Reynolds via Twitter:
celebrate our diversity. embrace our LGBTQ youth. to “accept” does not simply mean to “love” – it means you give true validity and fully embrace and support diverse sexual orientations and do not see ones sexuality as “incorrect” or “sinful”. love is an empty word otherwise. pic.twitter.com/ACaIZyNrX0
I was finally able to sit down and watch Demi Lovato’s documentary Simply Complicated today and it was so good!
The documentary is a YouTube Original that aired in October 2017. It currently has over 13 million views and with good reason.
It showcases Demi’s life–both the good and the bad. Through family issues, addiction, breakups and the pressure to be perfect, Demi has fought her way to almost 5 1/2 years of sobriety and is still working on finding herself in the process.
I remember sitting down and watching Sonny With a Chance, and Camp Rock with my niece when she was younger. Neither of us knew who Demi Lovato was at first, but I remember thinking that her voice was absolutely incredible. To look back on it now and to know that she hadn’t even tapped into a fraction of her full potential at that time is amazing. Looking at her on-screen, you had no idea that the person behind these characters was struggling with depression, an eating disorder and so many other underlying issues that had barely scratched the surface.
To be honest, I had no idea that things had gotten that bad for her. I knew that there were substance abuse issues, but I wasn’t really aware of the actual timeline of when everything hit rock bottom. I didn’t know the extent of the damage either. So, watching this documentary really shed light on her struggle and the struggle of those around her.
I would strongly suggest preventing your child from watching it if they’re under the age of 13 because it does touch heavily on drug use and alcohol abuse. However, I’m a firm believer in being honest with younger generations and showing them the uglier side of things so that they know what to avoid. This documentary takes an honest look at her struggles, the root of those struggles and the people who helped her through them.
One of the most touching moments for me, personally, was when she spoke about her relationship with Wilmer Valderrama. It’s clear that she still has so much love for him, and it’s nice to see them post-breakup still getting along and not having anything bad to say about one another. I can agree with her reason for needing to be alone and to learn how to depend on herself rather than someone else, but I’m secretly hoping for them to reconnect romantically. What can I say? I’m a hopeless romantic lol.
While watching Simply Complicated, I found myself teary-eyed more often than I’d like to admit. Viewers also get a bit of insight to the recording process for her working alongside her producers and manager. If you don’t walk away from this in pure awe of her vocals, you should probably check your hearing. The girl has got some VO-CALS!!
I definitely recommend watching the documentary, especially since it looks like Part Two might be happening in the near future. It’s a fantastic look at a talented young woman’s road to self-discovery, sobriety and overcoming struggles that so many of us deal with.
Check it out and, as always, let me know what you thought!
The Orchard has released the official poster for Monkey Business: The Adventures of Curious George’s Creators! Featuring a narrow escape from the Nazis on makeshift bicycles, Monkey Business explores the extraordinary lives of Hans and Margret Rey, the authors of the beloved Curious George children’s books.
Monkey Business: The Adventures of Curious George’s Creators will be available on demand and digital August 15, 2017!
Monkey Business: The Adventures of Curious George’s Creators
Documentary Release: August 15, 2017 Directed by: Ema Ryan Yamazaki Animation by: Jacob Kafka Narrated by: Sam Waterston Produced by: Ema Ryan Yamazaki, Emily Harrold Executive Produced by: Marc Levin, Eric Nyari, Paul Davidson, Danielle DiGiacomo, Brad Navin
SYNOPSIS
Curious George is the most popular monkey in the world. Since his introduction in the first publication in 1941, the beloved series has sold over 75 million books in more than 25 languages. MONKEY BUSINESS explores the lesser-known tale of George’s creators, Hans and Margret Rey. Originally from Hamburg, Germany, the Reys first met when Hans was dating Margret’s older sister. Years later, having heard that Hans was wasting his artistic talents as a bookkeeper in Rio, Margret traveled to Brazil to persuade him to marry her and do something creative together. After their four-week honeymoon to Paris turned into a four-year residency, they accidentally became children’s book authors when a publisher suggested they create a book out of a cartoon Hans had drawn. Being German Jews, however, their life in Paris abruptly came to an end in June 1940 when the Reys were forced to escape from the Nazis by riding makeshift bicycles-a manuscript of the first Curious George book was one of the few possessions they could smuggle out with them. Arriving in New York as refugees, they started their life anew and over the next three decades they created a classic that continues to touch the hearts and minds of children around the world.
LOGO DOCUMENTARY FILMS SERÁ EL PRIMERO EN TELEVISAR “STRIKE A POSE”, UN DOCUMENTAL QUE CELEBRA EL 25to ANIVERSARIO DEL FAMOSO TOUR DE MADONNA TITULADO “BLOND AMBITION”
El Documental Explora las Vidas de Sus Siete Bailarines, quienes le Mostraron al Mundo Cómo Encontrar el Coraje para “Expresarse tal y como Son”
El Film Debutará en Logo el Jueves, 6 de Abril a las 9pm ET/PT
Poco después de revelar que Lady Gaga aparecerá en el programa “RuPaul’s Drag Race” en Logo, la cadena anunció hoy que el primer documental de Logo Documentary Films este año será “Strike a Pose”, cuyo debut en Logo será el jueves, 6 de abril a las 9pm ET/PT. La película sigue los pasos de siete jóvenes bailarines – seis homosexuales y un heterosexual – que forman parte del polémico tour de Madonna titulado Blond Ambition y del posterior documental “Truth or Dare”. Sin proponérselo, los jóvenes acaban convirtiéndose en iconos de los derechos de los homosexuales y de la libertad sexual. Veinticinco años después, los bailarines revelan la verdad sobre sus vidas durante y después de la gira, y hablan de la importancia de haberse embarcado en una travesía conmovedora y repleta de coraje para, según canta Madonna, “Expresarse tal y como son”. Aclamado por la crítica, el documental de los cineastas Ester Gould y Reijer Zwaan y de Logo Documentary Films, ganador de Emmys, fue elegido oficialmente para participar en los festivales de cine de Tribeca 2016, Berlín y Hot Docs.
“Estos siete bailarines del tour de Blond Ambition inspiraron a toda una generación. Desde los pasillos de los salones de baile al escenario principal, su atrevida manera de expresarse a sí mismos fue una verdadera inspiración para la cultura pop”, dijo Taj Paxton, vicepresidente de Logo Documentary Films. “Estamos orgullosos de mostrar a los hombres detrás de la mujer y alentar a la próxima generación de líderes y creadores de tendencias de la comunidad LGBTQ”.
Conoce a los bailarines:
Oliver Crumes III – Nació y creció en los proyectos de vivienda pública de Nueva Orleans. Admite que al unirse por primera vez al elenco era homófobo, y agradece a Madonna y a otros bailarines que le abrieran el corazón.
Carlton Wilborn – En “Truth or Dare”, Carlton se convirtió en la personificación del orgullo a través de la expresión de sí mismo – riéndose a carcajadas, bailando salvajemente y saltando desnudo en la cama de Madonna. Pero a cuestas con un gran secreto, su personalidad extrovertida era más una pose que verdadera confianza.
Luis Camacho – En la década de los 80, Luis y su pareja de baile, José Gutiérrez, se dedicaban a posar por las salas de baile de Harlem – la escena gay y drag donde los hombres compiten entre ellos para demostrar su destreza bailando, su estilo y su presencia sobre una pasarela. José y él le enseñaron a Madonna cómo zarandearse como una modelo y protagonizaron junto a ella el famoso número “Like a Virigin” durante la gira de esta.
Salim “Slam” Gauwloos – Nacido en un pequeño pueblo flamenco y de padres belgamarroquíes, Salim dejó a todos helados en “Truth or Dare” al besar a su compañero de baile Gabriel Trupin – el primer beso gay en exhibirse en una película de peso. Hasta hace poco, Salim no era conciente de lo mucho que el tour y “Truth or Dare” representan para la gente en todo el mundo: “¡Hemos ayudado a que el mundo salga del armario!”
Kevin Stea – Cuando Madonna expulsó del tour a uno de sus bailarines, Kevin recibió una invitación para unirse al conjunto como bailarín y capitán de danza. Para Kevin, el tour le permitió alcanzar su madurez y consagrarse. Kevin ha trabajado con estrellas como Prince, Beyoncé, Michael Jackson, Cher, David Bowie y Lady Gaga.
Gabriel Trupin – Gabriel, el bailarín más introvertido y callado de la formación, murió en San Francisco en 1995 a los 26 años, tras perder una batalla silenciosa con el SIDA. Gabriel mantuvo en secreto su enfermedad hasta que ya no pudo ocultársela a su madre y a sus parientes más cercanos. Cuando Gabriel se enteró de que la famosa escena del beso francés con Slam iba a ser parte de “Truth or Dare”, le suplicó a Madonna que no la usara. Pero ella acabó utilizándola y Gabriel la demandó por haber divulgado su homosexualidad públicamente sin su consentimiento. Las dos partes alcanzaron un acuerdo extrajudicial.
José Gutiérrez – José continuó trabajando con Madonna durante años después del Blond Ambition Tour y apareció en el vídeo “Justify My Love”. José y Luis coreografiaron el vídeo “Vogue”, que fue nominado a un premio MTV. José sigue siendo una conocida figura de la escena ‘vogue’ y se la enseña a la juventud LGBT de Nueva York y de todo el mundo. Su contribución más reciente fue a la serie “The Get Down” de Baz Luhrmann.
Logo Documentary Films adquirió los derechos televisivos del film después del Festival de Cine de Tribeca. El lanzamiento de la película tuvo lugar a principios de este año. Pamela Post y Taj Paxton supervisan el debut televisivo de la película como parte de la división de documentales de Logo.
SOBRE LOGO
Logo es una marca líder en entretenimiento inspirada en la comunidad LGBT y refleja la clase creativa en plataformas televisivas, digitales y sociales. Logo se centra en personalidades, programas, especiales e historias únicas. Logo forma parte de Viacom’s Music & Entertainment Group, incluyendo VH1, MTV, MTV2, Comedy Central y Spike.
LOGO DOCUMENTARY FILMS WILL BE THE FIRST TO TELEVISE “STRIKE A POSE,” A DOCUMENTARY CELEBRATING THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF MADONNA’SINFAMOUS “BLOND AMBITION” TOUR
Documentary Explores the Lives of Her Seven Dancers Who Showed the World How to Find the Courage to “Express Themselves”
Film to Premiere on Logo on Thursday, April 6 at 9pm ET/PT
Hot off the heels of Logo’s “RuPaul’s Drag Race” Lady Gaga reveal, the network announced today the first of the Logo Documentary Films for this year will be “Strike a Pose,” which will premiere on Logo on Thursday, April 6 at 9pm ET/PT. The film catches up with seven young male dancers – 6 gay, one straight – on Madonna’s controversial Blond Ambition tour and her subsequent “Truth or Dare” documentary, as they unwittingly become icons for gay rights and sexual freedom. Twenty-five years later, the dancers reveal the truth about life during and after the tour and the significance of their courageous but harrowing journey to, as Madonna sings, “Express Yourself.” The critically acclaimed documentary, from filmmakers Ester Gould and Reijer Zwaan and the Emmy Award-winning Logo Documentary Films, was an official selection at the 2016 Tribeca, Berlin and Hot Docs Film Festivals.
“These seven dancers from the Blond Ambition tour inspired a whole generation. From the halls of the ballrooms to center stage, their bold self-expression was a true pop-culture inspiration,” said Taj Paxton, VP of Logo Documentary Films. “We’re proud to showcase the men behind the woman and to stir the next generation of leaders and tastemakers in the LGBTQ community.”
Meet the dancers:
Oliver Crumes III – Born and raised in the projects of New Orleans, Oliver admits to being homophobic when he first joined the troupe and thanks Madonna and the other dancers for opening his heart.
Carlton Wilborn – In “Truth or Dare,” Carlton became the personification of proud self-expression – laughing loud, dancing wild and jumping into Madonna’s bed bare-naked. But carrying a big secret, his extrovert personality was more a pose than true confidence.
Luis Camacho – In the 1980’s, Luis and his dance partner Jose Gutierez were striking poses in Harlem’s house ballrooms – a gay and drag scene in which men compete against one another for their dancing skills, style and catwalk presence. He and Jose taught Madonna how to vogue and performed the infamous “Like A Virgin” number with her during the tour.
Salim “Slam” Gauwloos -Born in a small Flemish town by Belgian-Moroccan parents, Salim made an impression in “Truth or Dare” by kissing fellow dancer Gabriel Trupin – the first gay kiss ever to be shown in a major movie. It is only lately that he has come to see what both the tour and “Truth or Dare” have meant to people around the world: “We helped the world to come out of the closet!”
Kevin Stea – Only when another dancer was kicked off the tour by Madonna was Kevin asked to come on board as a dancer and dance captain. He now sees the tour as both his coming-of-age and coming-out party. Kevin has worked with stars like Prince, Beyoncé, Michael Jackson, Cher, David Bowie and Lady Gaga.
Gabriel Trupin – Gabriel, the most quiet and least outgoing of the dancers, died in San Francisco in 1995 at the age of 26, after losing a silent battle with AIDS. Gabriel kept his sickness a secret until he could no longer hide it from his mother and close relatives. When Gabriel heard that the famous “Truth or Dare” scene of him French-kissing with Slam was to be part of the film, he begged Madonna not to use it. When she did, he sued her for forced outing, and the case was settled out of court.
Jose Gutierez – Jose continued to work with Madonna for years after the Blond Ambition Tour and was featured in the “Justify My Love” video. Jose & Luis choreographed the “Vogue” video, resulting in a nomination for an MTV Award. Jose is still a renowned figure in the voguing scene and teaches it to LGBT youth in New York and worldwide. He recently contributed to the Baz Luhrmann series “The Get Down.”
Logo Documentary Films acquired the television rights to the film after the Tribeca Film Festival. The film was released earlier this year. Overseeing the television premiere for Logo’s documentary division is Pamela Post & Taj Paxton.
ABOUT LOGO
Logo is a leading entertainment brand inspired by the LGBT community and reflects the creative class across television, digital and social platforms. Logo features one-of-a-kind personalities, shows, specials, and unique stories. Logo is part of Viacom’s Music & Entertainment Group including VH1, MTV, MTV2, Comedy Central and Spike.
I loved it. It was sooooooo good. This company is too sweet. The sculptures – amazing. The skills. Damn!
10 minutes into the documentary I was blown away…and I’m not just saying this because I used to play Dungeons & Dragons. (ohh the memories) It’s just a really well done documentary.
THE DWARVENAUT is a must see…especially if you’re a fan of D&D & fantasy flicks! Great job Mr. Director and story tellers. Great job.
Hey everyone! Keisha & I got together recently to watch and review Broken Kingdom. It’s a fabulous indie film created by the wonderful Daniel Gillies. He put his blood, sweat and tears into making this film, and it’s definitely worth checking out! You can rent ($2.99) or purchase ($5) a digital copy of Broken Kingdom (synopsis below) by visiting brokenkingdomfilm.com. You can also opt to purchase a combo of Broken Kingdom and a documentary entitled Kingdom Come for $8 (documentary synopsis below).
SYNOPSIS: Two stories weave their way from the harrowing slums of Bogotá to the hills of Hollywood. A 14-year-old street girl and an American writer discover an uncommon union, while a day-care teacher in Los Angeles does everything she can to fight the weight of a tragic secret.
DOCUMENTARY SYNOPSIS: Kingdom Come follows a first-time director (Daniel Gillies) as he tries to raise a million dollars to finance his first film, Broken Kingdom. This emotionally-charged journey is interwoven with over 30 rare interviews from acclaimed indie darlings including Mark Ruffalo, Illeana Douglas, Don Cheadle, Kevin Smith, Edward Burns, Tim Roth, Morgan Spurlock, Selma Blair, Robert Townsend, Bill Pullman and many more.
Wasup movie fans?! I checked out a movie…well…more like a documentary…but it’s still a movie, right? (lol)
When his amputated leg is discovered in a grill sold at a North Carolina auction, John Wood finds himself at the center of a worldwide media frenzy. Believing the new-found attention to be his chance at doing some great things in an otherwise disappointing, wayward life, he’s quickly swept up in the hysteria as the leg’s enterprising buyer, Shannon Whisnant, then sues to regain its custody. But the stranger-than-fiction chain of events, fueling John’s drug addiction and compounded by generations of his familial dysfunction,soon sets John on the streets and heading to his certain demise. Just in time, however, another twist in these fantastical occurrences gives John a final shot at becoming whole for the first time in his life.
I thought it was great. One of the best documentaries I’ve seen in a long time. Even the wife liked and she hardly likes anything I watch. (lol)
I really enjoyed the way it was shot, the music used in the film, the editing. I call a movie like this…”A perfect little package…with a nice bow on top.”
It’s definitely worth the watch people. It’s a crazy story. It’s kind of hard to believe it actually happened…but it did.
In #NoJoke, singer Andrew Cole sets out to convince his musical idols to help him make a song for victims of bullying. He’s joined by Jeff Goldblum, Slash, Patrick Stewart, Lemmy, Chad Smith, Jane Lynch and more, who share their talents and their sometimes painful experiences. Andrew’s journey to understand bullying leads him to experts and to the ghosts of his own past—going beyond the tropes of today’s anti-bullying campaigns to the heart of the issue.
Timed with the fifth anniversary of Paul Walker’s tragic death, Virgil Films is releasing the new documentary I AM PAUL WALKER on 11/30.
FAHRENHEIT 11/9
I was finally able to sit down and watch Demi Lovato’s documentary Simply Complicated today and it was so good!
According to Kristin 