Staff Writer and Content Editor
HBO has just announced that they will debut a new list of documentaries in the fall with projects from big names and some include huge celebrities. Screening every Monday night from October 7, the line up includes a selection of diverse, groundbreaking films. They include Alec Baldwin and James Toback’s “Seduced and Abandoned” along with Whoopi Goldberg’s portrait of pioneering performer Moms Mabley, as well as a Stephen Sondheim profile featuring the work of director Todd Haynes with cameos from Audra McDonald, Darren Criss and Jeremy Jordan just to name a few.
Descriptions of the films screening have been provided by HBO:
Valentine Road (debuting Oct. 7) unravels the school shooting of a young teenager who had begun exploring his gender identity, detailing the circumstances that led to his murder by a fellow student, as well as its complicated aftermath. Directed and produced by first-time filmmaker Marta Cunningham and produced by Sasha Alpert (HBO’s Autism: The Musical) and Eddie Schmidt (HBO’s Twist of Faith), the powerful and disturbing documentary raises questions about the safety of LGBT teens, while challenging the efficacy of the country’s educational and juvenile justice systems to prevent these kinds of tragedies. An official selection of the U.S. Documentary Competition at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival.
Mondays at Racine, Open Heart and Redemption (debuting back-to-back Oct. 14) were all nominated for a Documentary Short Subject Oscar® earlier this year. Marking Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Mondays at Racine, directed by Cynthia Wade (the Oscar®-winning Freeheld), visits a Long Island beauty salon that opens its doors to women diagnosed with cancer. Open Heart, directed by Kief Davidson, follows an Italian cardiologist in Southern Sudan as he fights to save the lives of young patients who have traveled from Rwanda for high-risk heart surgery. Redemption, directed by Jon Alpert and Matthew O’Neill (Emmy® winners for directing HBO’s Baghdad ER), looks at the growing army of jobless New Yorkers whose treasures are found in trash through collecting five-cent bottles and cans.
Life According to Sam (Oct. 21) explores the remarkable world of 16-year-old Sam Berns, spotlighting his family’s courageous fight to save their son from the extremely rare and fatal disease Progeria, a progressive aging disorder. An official selection of the U.S. Documentary Competition at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival, it chronicles their inspiring, relentless pursuit of a treatment and cure as they empower Sam to enjoy the fullest life possible. Directed by Sean and Andrea Fine (Oscar® winners for Inocente).
Seduced and Abandoned (Oct. 28) follows Alec Baldwin and James Toback as they attempt to make a deal to produce their version of Last Tango in Paris at the Cannes Film Festival. From intimate chats with Martin Scorsese, Francis Ford Coppola and Roman Polanski, to the pursuit of high-profile names like Ryan Gosling and Jessica Chastain, to an expose of backroom wheeling and dealing, this cinematic romp is a humorous ode to everything alluring about cinema. Directed by James Toback.
Tales from the Organ Trade (Nov. 4) is an unflinching descent into the shadowy world of black-market organ trafficking: the brokers, the rogue surgeons, the impoverished men and women who are willing to sacrifice an organ for a quick payday and the desperate patients who face the agonizing choice of obeying the law or saving their lives. Directed by Ric Esther Bienstock (Emmy® winner for Frontline: Sex Slaves); narrated by David Cronenberg; produced by Ric Esther Bienstock, Felix Golubev and Simcha Jacobovici.
Dial One For Vets (Nov. 11) explores the epidemic of suicide among American war veterans. According to the VA, one veteran dies by suicide in America every 80 minutes, and while only 1% of Americans has served in the military, former service members account for 20% of all suicides in the U.S. Since 2001, more veterans have died by their own hand than in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan. Directed by Ellen Goosenberg (HBO’s Emmy®-winning I Have Tourette’s But Tourette’s Doesn’t Have Me) and produced by Dana Perry.
Whoopi Goldberg Presents Moms Mabley (Nov. 18) celebrates the iconic African-American standup comedienne Jackie “Moms” Mabley, who broke racial and sexual boundaries. Recently unearthed photography, rediscovered performance footage and the words of numerous celebrated comedians, entertainers and historians underscore her profound influence. Directed by Whoopi Goldberg.
Toxic Hot Seat (Nov. 25) follows a courageous group of firefighters, mothers, journalists, scientists, politicians and other activists as they fight to expose a shadowy campaign of deception that left a toxic legacy in America’s homes and bodies, and has taken nearly 40 years to unravel. Directed by James Redford.
The Battle of Amfar (Dec. 2) shows how Hollywood icon Elizabeth Taylor and research scientist Dr. Mathilde Krim fought to create America’s first national AIDS research foundation. An official selection of the 2013 Sundance Film Festival, it chronicles the organization’s history and continuing importance in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Directed by Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman (HBO’s Sundance award-winning The Celluloid Closet and Oscar®-winning Common Threads: Stories from the Quilt).
Six By Sondheim, which is expected to premiere December 9, 2013, is described as “an intimate look at the prolific career of renowned American lyricist and composer Stephen Sondheim.” Sondheim is most known for crafting such musical gems like West Side Story, Company, Follies, Sweeney Todd and many more. This documentary is being told as a story highlighting some of the biggest experiences in writing six of his most celebrated songs of the Broadway songbook: “Something’s Coming,” “Opening Doors,” “Send in the Clowns,” “I’m Still Here,” “Being Alive” and “Sunday.” Told primarily by the legendary Sondheim himself, the film will draw on his personal archive and dozens of interviews from throughout his extensive career. Darren Criss will not only feature in the documentary but will also be performing along side stars such as Jarvis Cocker America Ferrera and Sondheim himself. Tony winner James Lapine directs the film, with musical segments directed by Todd Haynes. Given Criss’ performance of “Something’s Coming” in Glee’s third season episode, “I Am Unicorn”, and a line up as listed, this should be an amazing celebration of Sondheim and his genius.
http://www.Facebook.com/PopWrapped
http://www.SoundCloud.com/PopWrapped
http://www.Twitter.com/PopWrapped
http://www.Instagram.com/PopWrapped
http://www.Pinterest.com/PopWrapped
http://www.YouTube.com/PopWrapped
http://www.PopWrapped.com
Author
