After making the leap to narrative filmmaking last year with “Nyad,” Oscar winners Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin have returned to their documentary roots and are currently at work in the edit suite prepping their next doc feature — “Lost in the Amazon” (working title), about how four Indigenous children survived for 40 days in the Amazon jungle after a plane crash in 2023. The story of their disappearance and eventual recovery transfixed the global media.
Vasarhelyi and Chin co-directed and produced the film with Colombian filmmaker Juan Camilo Cruz for National Geographic.
The feature docu will tell the story of the struggle for survival of the four children — who ranged in age from 11 months to 13 years — in the guerilla-held jungles of Colombia after a plane they were aboard crashed and killed their mother. The children survived for 40 days in the deep Amazonian rainforest using their Indigenous knowledge of the jungle and the...
Vasarhelyi and Chin co-directed and produced the film with Colombian filmmaker Juan Camilo Cruz for National Geographic.
The feature docu will tell the story of the struggle for survival of the four children — who ranged in age from 11 months to 13 years — in the guerilla-held jungles of Colombia after a plane they were aboard crashed and killed their mother. The children survived for 40 days in the deep Amazonian rainforest using their Indigenous knowledge of the jungle and the...
- 5/9/2024
- by Addie Morfoot
- Variety Film + TV
A first clip has been unveiled from Shaul Schwarz and Christina Clusiau’s Nat Geo documentary “Fly,” which will screen at Hot Docs on Sunday.
The doc follows three couples entwined in the world of base jumping, one of the world’s deadliest sports. Schwarz and Clusiau began working on “Fly” for seven years following the death of well-known climber Dean Potter, who lost his life while base jumping at Yosemite National Park.
“We were intrigued by these people who wanted to jump off cliffs with parachutes and wondered about their motivations,” says Schwarz. “We had this idea that maybe (base jumpers) are part of this crazy, reckless death cult or are empty adrenaline seekers, but we quickly found out how amazing they were and how full of life they were. That’s when we started filming.”
The directors chose to follow three couples: Jimmy and Marta, affectionately known as...
The doc follows three couples entwined in the world of base jumping, one of the world’s deadliest sports. Schwarz and Clusiau began working on “Fly” for seven years following the death of well-known climber Dean Potter, who lost his life while base jumping at Yosemite National Park.
“We were intrigued by these people who wanted to jump off cliffs with parachutes and wondered about their motivations,” says Schwarz. “We had this idea that maybe (base jumpers) are part of this crazy, reckless death cult or are empty adrenaline seekers, but we quickly found out how amazing they were and how full of life they were. That’s when we started filming.”
The directors chose to follow three couples: Jimmy and Marta, affectionately known as...
- 4/26/2024
- by Addie Morfoot
- Variety Film + TV
Embarking on the pursuit of goals is a timeless and universal endeavor that transcends age limitations. While some may argue that age hinders the realization of dreams, it is crucial to dispel this misconception and recognize that age should not impede our aspirations. Nyad is a sports drama that illustrates the steadfast resoluteness of a resilient woman in her sixties, determined to resurrect a previous, thwarted aspiration—the continuous swim from Cuba to Florida. Directed by the dynamic documentary filmmaking duo, Jimmy Chin and Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, renowned for their Academy and BAFTA-winning documentary Free Solo (2018), which chronicles Alex Honnold’s daring free solo climb in 2017 on El Capitan, a towering 3,000-foot-high rock formation in Yosemite Valley, California. In their debut feature film, they draw significant inspiration from their protagonist’s almost irrationally optimistic outlook and relentless drive. The narrative unfolds as a poignant exploration of the protagonist’s obstinate...
- 2/17/2024
- by Dipankar Sarkar
- Talking Films
Exclusive: Four-time Oscar nominee Ethan Hawke (Training Day), Emmy and BAFTA nominee Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter franchise) and Emmy nominee Jessica Biel (Sinner) are set to star in Batso, the true story of a trio of trailblazing climbers who in the early 1970s took on the most difficult route up iconic peak El Capitan in Yosemite National Park.
3311 Productions, Watch This Ready and Under the Influence have set Kyle Marvin (80 for Brady) to direct Hawke as Warren “Batso” Harding and Radcliffe as Dean Caldwell, who were the first climbers to take on the famously difficult sheer face El Capitan route known as “The Wall of Early Morning Light.” Biel will play Beryl Knauth, a trailblazing climber in her own right and Warren’s romantic partner. The script was written by Eamon O’Sullivan.
Here’s the fun synopsis: “In 1970, ‘The Wall of Early Morning Light’ was an unthinkable climb. For...
3311 Productions, Watch This Ready and Under the Influence have set Kyle Marvin (80 for Brady) to direct Hawke as Warren “Batso” Harding and Radcliffe as Dean Caldwell, who were the first climbers to take on the famously difficult sheer face El Capitan route known as “The Wall of Early Morning Light.” Biel will play Beryl Knauth, a trailblazing climber in her own right and Warren’s romantic partner. The script was written by Eamon O’Sullivan.
Here’s the fun synopsis: “In 1970, ‘The Wall of Early Morning Light’ was an unthinkable climb. For...
- 2/14/2024
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Gear up for an exhilarating adventure with an enhanced episode of “Arctic Ascent With Alex Honnold,” airing at 8:00 Pm on Monday, February 19, 2024, on National Geographic. In this special installment, viewers will join renowned climber Alex Honnold as he embarks on a daring ascent in the unforgiving Arctic terrain.
With breathtaking scenery and heart-pounding challenges, this enhanced episode offers viewers a closer look at Honnold’s extraordinary journey as he pushes the limits of human capability. From scaling towering ice cliffs to navigating treacherous crevasses, every moment is filled with suspense and awe-inspiring feats of athleticism.
Through stunning cinematography and immersive storytelling, viewers will experience the thrill of exploration firsthand, as Honnold navigates the icy wilderness with skill and determination. Whether you’re an avid adventurer or simply enjoy a captivating tale of courage and resilience, “Arctic Ascent With Alex Honnold” promises to captivate audiences of all ages.
Don’t...
With breathtaking scenery and heart-pounding challenges, this enhanced episode offers viewers a closer look at Honnold’s extraordinary journey as he pushes the limits of human capability. From scaling towering ice cliffs to navigating treacherous crevasses, every moment is filled with suspense and awe-inspiring feats of athleticism.
Through stunning cinematography and immersive storytelling, viewers will experience the thrill of exploration firsthand, as Honnold navigates the icy wilderness with skill and determination. Whether you’re an avid adventurer or simply enjoy a captivating tale of courage and resilience, “Arctic Ascent With Alex Honnold” promises to captivate audiences of all ages.
Don’t...
- 2/12/2024
- by Jules Byrd
- TV Everyday
It’s a fairly packed month on Hulu this February thanks to the addition of some interesting TV shows from FX and ABC. While the streamer’s own original content is somewhat limited – Life + Beth is returning for season 2 – you can also catch the new series of Feud this month. The new installment in Ryan Murphy’s juicy anthology show is based on the bestseller Capote’s Women: A True Story of Love, Betrayal, and a Swan Song for an Era by Laurence Leamer, and tells the story of Truman Capote’s betrayal and fall-out with New York’s most glamorous socialites. The cast is absolutely stacked, with Naomi Watts, Diane Lane, Chloë Sevigny and Calista Flockhart all swearing delicious revenge on Tom Hollander’s Capote.
Also via Hulu in February comes the third season of Abbott Elementary, along with new episodes of The Connors, The Good Doctor, Will Trent,...
Also via Hulu in February comes the third season of Abbott Elementary, along with new episodes of The Connors, The Good Doctor, Will Trent,...
- 2/1/2024
- by Kirsten Howard
- Den of Geek
New month, new releases at Disney+! Some of the House of Mouse’s biggest brands will see premieres in February. The streamer will bid adieu to its animated series “Star Wars: The Bad Batch,” which kicks off its third and final season with three new episodes on Feb. 21. Disney+ subscribers will also get to revisit last year’s “The Marvels,” which will have its streaming premiere on Feb. 7.
From a new installment of the anthology series “Genius” to a collaboration with Kugali Media for the animated series “Iwájú,” check out The Streamable’s top picks for the new additions to Disney+ this February and see everything come to the streamer soon!
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What are the 5 Best Shows and Movies Coming to Disney+ in February 2024? “Genius: MLK/X” Premiere | Friday, Feb. 2
The National Geographic anthology series...
From a new installment of the anthology series “Genius” to a collaboration with Kugali Media for the animated series “Iwájú,” check out The Streamable’s top picks for the new additions to Disney+ this February and see everything come to the streamer soon!
Sign Up Now $7.99+ / month disneyplus.com
Get Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ for just $14.99 a month ($12 savings).
What are the 5 Best Shows and Movies Coming to Disney+ in February 2024? “Genius: MLK/X” Premiere | Friday, Feb. 2
The National Geographic anthology series...
- 1/29/2024
- by Ashley Steves
- The Streamable
Adventure enthusiasts, get ready to embark on an epic journey with the legendary Alex Honnold in the premiere episode of “Arctic Ascent With Alex Honnold.” Set your alarms for 8:00 Pm on Sunday, February 4, 2024, and prepare for an adrenaline-pumping experience on National Geographic.
In this thrilling series, Alex Honnold takes the lead in a groundbreaking expedition that will send shivers down your spine. The mission? To conquer a monumental 4,000-foot sea cliff in the unforgiving Arctic terrain. This isn’t just any climb; it’s a daring first-ever ascent that will push the boundaries of human achievement.
As one of the world’s most renowned climbers, Alex Honnold is no stranger to the challenges of scaling daunting heights, but this adventure takes it to a whole new level. Battling extreme conditions, unpredictable weather, and the sheer scale of this cliff, Alex and his team demonstrate unparalleled courage and skill.
Join...
In this thrilling series, Alex Honnold takes the lead in a groundbreaking expedition that will send shivers down your spine. The mission? To conquer a monumental 4,000-foot sea cliff in the unforgiving Arctic terrain. This isn’t just any climb; it’s a daring first-ever ascent that will push the boundaries of human achievement.
As one of the world’s most renowned climbers, Alex Honnold is no stranger to the challenges of scaling daunting heights, but this adventure takes it to a whole new level. Battling extreme conditions, unpredictable weather, and the sheer scale of this cliff, Alex and his team demonstrate unparalleled courage and skill.
Join...
- 1/27/2024
- by Jules Byrd
- TV Everyday
Prepare for an awe-inspiring adventure as “Arctic Ascent With Alex Honnold” continues its thrilling journey in Season 1, Episode 3, titled “The Wall.” This captivating episode is set to air on Sunday, February 4, 2024, at 10:02 Pm on National Geographic.
In this installment, Alex Honnold and his team are on a mission to conquer their ultimate goal—a colossal 4000-foot sea wall. This monumental feat promises to be an incredible test of their skills, courage, and determination as they scale this formidable natural wonder in the Arctic wilderness.
As the team faces the formidable challenge of the sea wall, viewers can expect breathtaking scenery, heart-pounding moments, and a true test of human capability. Alex Honnold’s expertise and fearlessness will be on full display as he pushes the boundaries of what’s possible in this extreme environment.
Don’t miss this opportunity to witness the team’s triumphs and challenges in their pursuit of the uncharted.
In this installment, Alex Honnold and his team are on a mission to conquer their ultimate goal—a colossal 4000-foot sea wall. This monumental feat promises to be an incredible test of their skills, courage, and determination as they scale this formidable natural wonder in the Arctic wilderness.
As the team faces the formidable challenge of the sea wall, viewers can expect breathtaking scenery, heart-pounding moments, and a true test of human capability. Alex Honnold’s expertise and fearlessness will be on full display as he pushes the boundaries of what’s possible in this extreme environment.
Don’t miss this opportunity to witness the team’s triumphs and challenges in their pursuit of the uncharted.
- 1/27/2024
- by Jules Byrd
- TV Everyday
Prepare for an adrenaline-pumping adventure as “Arctic Ascent With Alex Honnold” continues with its second episode, titled “On Thin Ice.” This gripping installment is set to air on National Geographic at 9:02 Pm on Sunday, February 4, 2024.
In this episode, viewers will join the intrepid team led by the legendary climber Alex Honnold as they embark on a perilous journey through the unforgiving Arctic terrain. However, their expedition takes a harrowing turn when they encounter deadly ice falls that pose a severe threat to their mission and safety.
Navigating the treacherous icecap is no small feat, and the team must rely on their wits, skills, and sheer determination to overcome the challenges that Mother Nature throws their way. Will they be able to conquer the icy obstacles that stand in their path, or will the harsh Arctic conditions prove insurmountable?
With heart-pounding moments and breathtaking landscapes, “On Thin Ice” promises to...
In this episode, viewers will join the intrepid team led by the legendary climber Alex Honnold as they embark on a perilous journey through the unforgiving Arctic terrain. However, their expedition takes a harrowing turn when they encounter deadly ice falls that pose a severe threat to their mission and safety.
Navigating the treacherous icecap is no small feat, and the team must rely on their wits, skills, and sheer determination to overcome the challenges that Mother Nature throws their way. Will they be able to conquer the icy obstacles that stand in their path, or will the harsh Arctic conditions prove insurmountable?
With heart-pounding moments and breathtaking landscapes, “On Thin Ice” promises to...
- 1/27/2024
- by Jules Byrd
- TV Everyday
Watching 2018's "Free Solo," the Oscar-winning documentary about rock climber Alex Honnold's daring attempt to scale Yosemite's El Capitan with no ropes to protect him from potentially falling, was such a visceral viewing experience, it caused my palms to sweat.
The same thing can be said of "Skywalkers: A Love Story," director Jeff Zimbalist's new documentary about Angela Nikolau and Ivan "Vanya" Beerkus, two Russian "rooftoppers" who have become famous for breaking into skyscrapers, climbing to their highest possible points, and taking photos and videos for social media. The two begin the film as rivals, but team up to work together and eventually ... well, the phrase "fall for each other" carries a heavy connotation given their particular niche, so let's just say their dynamic changes as they survive some ridiculously dangerous climbs and come to love one another. Armed with a phalanx of GoPros, cameras, and drones, Vanya is the straightforward tactician,...
The same thing can be said of "Skywalkers: A Love Story," director Jeff Zimbalist's new documentary about Angela Nikolau and Ivan "Vanya" Beerkus, two Russian "rooftoppers" who have become famous for breaking into skyscrapers, climbing to their highest possible points, and taking photos and videos for social media. The two begin the film as rivals, but team up to work together and eventually ... well, the phrase "fall for each other" carries a heavy connotation given their particular niche, so let's just say their dynamic changes as they survive some ridiculously dangerous climbs and come to love one another. Armed with a phalanx of GoPros, cameras, and drones, Vanya is the straightforward tactician,...
- 1/26/2024
- by Ben Pearson
- Slash Film
Premiering at Sundance, documentary Skywalkers: A Love Story, follows a Russian couple known for daredevil stunts
A new film on the death-defying illegal stunts by two high-profile “rooftoppers” has premiered at the Sundance film festival, attracting critical acclaim and comparisons to Free Solo, the Oscar-winning documentary on the climber Alex Honnold and Man on Wire, a Sundance hit 16 years ago on the urban tightrope walker Philippe Petit.
Skywalkers: A Love Story, which premiered on Thursday night at the Utah film festival, follows Russian couple, Angela Nikolau and Vanya Kuznetsov, who goes publicly by the name Ivan Beerkus, as they forge a romantic relationship while illegally summiting skyscrapers and filming their stunts for social media. The documentary opens in the middle of their headline-making attempt to climb Merdeka 118 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – the world’s second-tallest building and heavily guarded during the final phase of its construction – while guards were distracted...
A new film on the death-defying illegal stunts by two high-profile “rooftoppers” has premiered at the Sundance film festival, attracting critical acclaim and comparisons to Free Solo, the Oscar-winning documentary on the climber Alex Honnold and Man on Wire, a Sundance hit 16 years ago on the urban tightrope walker Philippe Petit.
Skywalkers: A Love Story, which premiered on Thursday night at the Utah film festival, follows Russian couple, Angela Nikolau and Vanya Kuznetsov, who goes publicly by the name Ivan Beerkus, as they forge a romantic relationship while illegally summiting skyscrapers and filming their stunts for social media. The documentary opens in the middle of their headline-making attempt to climb Merdeka 118 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – the world’s second-tallest building and heavily guarded during the final phase of its construction – while guards were distracted...
- 1/19/2024
- by Adrian Horton in Park City, Utah
- The Guardian - Film News
Having long dreamed of exploring the unclimbed peaks of Greenland, Alex Honnold (“Free Solo”) embarks on an unprecedented quest to the frontline of the climate crisis in one of the most remote corners of earth. Now, with world-class climbers and scientists, he attempts to summit Ingmikortilaq, a virgin Arctic seacliff rising out of the frozen wilderness, nearly 1,000 feet higher than El Capitan. For Honnold, this expedition is about more than just climbing. It is an opportunity to witness firsthand the impact of climate change on a wilderness that is vitally important to the planet’s future. With renowned adventurer Aldo Kane, a glaciologist, and an epic team of climbers, the group uses cutting-edge technology to study one of the most dangerous and least understood ice caps in the world. The three-Part Series Premieres Feb. 4 on National Geographic and Available Next Day on Hulu and Disney
The post ‘Arctic Ascent With...
The post ‘Arctic Ascent With...
- 1/17/2024
- by Hollywood Outbreak
- HollywoodOutbreak.com
The trailer for National Geographic’s Arctic Ascent with Alex Honnold shows the daring climber attempting to tackle Ingmikortilaq. And for those who suffer from acrophobia, just the two-minute trailer is almost too scary to watch.
“Having long dreamed of exploring the unclimbed peaks of Greenland, Alex Honnold (Free Solo) embarks on an unprecedented quest to the frontline of the climate crisis in one of the most remote corners of earth,” reads National Geographic’s synopsis. “Now, with world-class climbers and scientists, he attempts to summit Ingmikortilaq, a virgin Arctic seacliff rising out of the frozen wilderness, nearly 1,000 feet higher than El Capitan. For Honnold, this expedition is about more than just climbing. It is an opportunity to witness firsthand the impact of climate change on a wilderness that is vitally important to the planet’s future.
With renowned adventurer Aldo Kane, a glaciologist, and an epic team of climbers,...
“Having long dreamed of exploring the unclimbed peaks of Greenland, Alex Honnold (Free Solo) embarks on an unprecedented quest to the frontline of the climate crisis in one of the most remote corners of earth,” reads National Geographic’s synopsis. “Now, with world-class climbers and scientists, he attempts to summit Ingmikortilaq, a virgin Arctic seacliff rising out of the frozen wilderness, nearly 1,000 feet higher than El Capitan. For Honnold, this expedition is about more than just climbing. It is an opportunity to witness firsthand the impact of climate change on a wilderness that is vitally important to the planet’s future.
With renowned adventurer Aldo Kane, a glaciologist, and an epic team of climbers,...
- 1/16/2024
- by Rebecca Murray
- Showbiz Junkies
“Because it’s there” isn’t the only motivation for elite climber Alex Honnold (Free Solo) in Arctic Ascent, a three-part documentary chronicling his 2022 Eastern Greenland expedition to ascend one of the world’s tallest unclimbed natural monoliths. The documentary series premieres Sunday, February 4 at 8/7c on National Geographic. On the grueling six-week journey to its faraway location, his team (including celebrated climber Hazel Findlay) gathers critical climate measurements desperately needed by scientists. Here, we preview the adventure’s three major milestones. 1. Pool Wall The first hurdle, featured in the series premiere, is a monolithic stone edifice called the Pool Wall, where falling ice is a hazard. The climbers try to shield themselves, but Honnold gets clobbered. “It’s like getting hit by an ice cube at high speed. It hurts, but it’s not going to kill you the same way a rock will,” he says. 2. Ice Cap Trek...
- 1/16/2024
- TV Insider
Extreme cinematographer, Renan Ozturk, has been testing the Sony Burano on the top of the Empire State Building. This is what he thinks about the Burano when it comes to sole camera operation in adventure exceptional environments.
Renan Ozturk with the Sony Burano at the top of the Empire State Building. Picture: Renan Ozturk Sony Burano: High-end cinema camera devoted to solo operators
The Sony Burano was designed as a top-notch cinema camera that solo operators can well utilize. It’s not a baby Venice, nor a FX9 Mark II. But a hybridization between them, or should we say that the Burano is located in a good spot in the middle of them. It allows almost all the privileges of Alpha cameras and FX6/FX9, and some of the advantages of the CineAlta Venice 2. You can think of it like an FX9 that can produce better imagery that can be...
Renan Ozturk with the Sony Burano at the top of the Empire State Building. Picture: Renan Ozturk Sony Burano: High-end cinema camera devoted to solo operators
The Sony Burano was designed as a top-notch cinema camera that solo operators can well utilize. It’s not a baby Venice, nor a FX9 Mark II. But a hybridization between them, or should we say that the Burano is located in a good spot in the middle of them. It allows almost all the privileges of Alpha cameras and FX6/FX9, and some of the advantages of the CineAlta Venice 2. You can think of it like an FX9 that can produce better imagery that can be...
- 12/10/2023
- by Yossy Mendelovich
- YMCinema
Exclusive: Plimsoll Productions is making some changes to its natural history team.
The company, which is behind Disney+/National Geographic’s upcoming seven-part wildlife series Incredible Animal Journeys and the James Cameron-executive produced, Benedict Cumberbatch-narrated Super/Natural, has promoted Mark Brownlow following the departure of Tom Hugh-Jones.
Brownlow, who joined the company earlier this year as Executive Producer, becomes Creative Director, Natural History. He replaces Tom Hugh-Jones, who previously held that role, and leaves after seven years.
Browlow will continue to report to Plimsoll’s Chief Creative Officer of Natural History and Science Martha Holmes.
He has overseen Incredible Animal Journeys since joining the ITV-owned company. Before that, he spent 28 years at the BBC, where he worked on series including Blue Planet II and Frozen Planet II. He also previously exec produced a ten-part wildlife series for Apple as well as Eden: Untamed Planet for BBC and AMC Networks,...
The company, which is behind Disney+/National Geographic’s upcoming seven-part wildlife series Incredible Animal Journeys and the James Cameron-executive produced, Benedict Cumberbatch-narrated Super/Natural, has promoted Mark Brownlow following the departure of Tom Hugh-Jones.
Brownlow, who joined the company earlier this year as Executive Producer, becomes Creative Director, Natural History. He replaces Tom Hugh-Jones, who previously held that role, and leaves after seven years.
Browlow will continue to report to Plimsoll’s Chief Creative Officer of Natural History and Science Martha Holmes.
He has overseen Incredible Animal Journeys since joining the ITV-owned company. Before that, he spent 28 years at the BBC, where he worked on series including Blue Planet II and Frozen Planet II. He also previously exec produced a ten-part wildlife series for Apple as well as Eden: Untamed Planet for BBC and AMC Networks,...
- 11/9/2023
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
I really admire Jimmy Chin and Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi’s work, whose film Free Solo is arguably one of the finest documentaries ever made. They have a sense of capturing the human spirit on celluloid in a way that is very non-obtrusive. Perhaps their documentary filmmaking experience helps, and it’s clearly visible in their new film, the biopic titled Nyad. It’s a story chronicling Diana Nyad’s journey—the same Diana who rose to fame as the greatest long-distance swimmer in the 1970s. The film primarily focuses on the part when Nyad pumped herself up for one last attempt to achieve her unfulfilled dream of swimming from Cuba to Florida, and that too in her 60s. The result is an interesting look at the idea of success, meaning, and the masochism of pursuing excellence.
Jimmy and Elizabeth are drawn towards this quality of pursuit—this angle of the greatness of a performance.
Jimmy and Elizabeth are drawn towards this quality of pursuit—this angle of the greatness of a performance.
- 11/3/2023
- by Ayush Awasthi
- Film Fugitives
There’s a story long-distance swimmer Diana Nyad loves to tell about herself — Ok, there are allegedly lots of stories Diana Nyad loves to tell about herself, but for brevity’s sake, we’ll stick with this one — about the provenance of her last name. “Nyad” traces back to “naiad,” a Greek mythological aquatic nymph. You can see why Nyad would be so taken with this coincidence, one allegedly drilled into her ad nauseam by her father, Aristotle Nyad, who we repeatedly meet in flashback during the film, only later to learn — oops! — he was actually her stepfather, thus rendering moot one of the myths Diana built for and about herself.
More thrilling: the myths that ended up being true. Over the course of their lauded documentary filmmaking career, Vasarhelyi and Chin have been consistently compelled by outsized personalities driven to accomplish seemingly insane physical (and thus also mental and emotional) feats of strength,...
More thrilling: the myths that ended up being true. Over the course of their lauded documentary filmmaking career, Vasarhelyi and Chin have been consistently compelled by outsized personalities driven to accomplish seemingly insane physical (and thus also mental and emotional) feats of strength,...
- 10/19/2023
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy are pictured while on the campaign trail in San Antonio, Nov. 21, 1963.
National Geographic’s 2023 fall and winter programming kicks off with JFK: One Day in America, the second installment of the network’s One Day in America series. Nat Geo’s slate also includes documentaries narrated by Angela Bassett, Jeremy Renner, and Awkwafina, as well as Photographer – a series spotlighting the work of iconic photographers.
Additional winter programming includes the premieres of Science Fair: The Series and Arctic Ascent with Alex Honnold. Returning series include Explorer: Lake of Fire, Lost Cities Revealed with Albert Lin, Trafficked with Mariana van Zeller, and Cesar Millan: Better Human Better Dog.
JFK: One Day In America – Premieres Nov. 5 on National Geographic; Nov. 6 on Disney+ and Hulu
To commemorate six decades since the assassination of President John F. Kennedy on Nov. 22, 1963, the Emmy Award-winning, critically...
National Geographic’s 2023 fall and winter programming kicks off with JFK: One Day in America, the second installment of the network’s One Day in America series. Nat Geo’s slate also includes documentaries narrated by Angela Bassett, Jeremy Renner, and Awkwafina, as well as Photographer – a series spotlighting the work of iconic photographers.
Additional winter programming includes the premieres of Science Fair: The Series and Arctic Ascent with Alex Honnold. Returning series include Explorer: Lake of Fire, Lost Cities Revealed with Albert Lin, Trafficked with Mariana van Zeller, and Cesar Millan: Better Human Better Dog.
JFK: One Day In America – Premieres Nov. 5 on National Geographic; Nov. 6 on Disney+ and Hulu
To commemorate six decades since the assassination of President John F. Kennedy on Nov. 22, 1963, the Emmy Award-winning, critically...
- 10/18/2023
- by Rebecca Murray
- Showbiz Junkies
If you’re wondering whether long-distance swimmer Diana Nyad liked Nyad – where the titular character played by Annette Bening fulfills her dream of finishing the Cuba-to-Florida swim at age 64 – a good judge would be her real-life coach, Bonnie Stoll, played by Jodie Foster in the Netflix drama.
“Well, it has her name on it, so she loves it!” Stoll told the Princess of Wales Theatre at the Toronto Film Festival on Thursday night during a post-screening Q&a. Stoll stood in for Nyad, who was a no-show at the international premiere at TIFF after Telluride due to her membership in SAG-AFTRA, as were Bening and Foster due to their own Hollywood strike restrictions.
But the marathon swimming drama does little to dissuade its viewers that the true-life Nyad is 100 percent self-centered and driven or, as Foster’s Stoll tells her best friend in the film, she has “a superiority complex.
“Well, it has her name on it, so she loves it!” Stoll told the Princess of Wales Theatre at the Toronto Film Festival on Thursday night during a post-screening Q&a. Stoll stood in for Nyad, who was a no-show at the international premiere at TIFF after Telluride due to her membership in SAG-AFTRA, as were Bening and Foster due to their own Hollywood strike restrictions.
But the marathon swimming drama does little to dissuade its viewers that the true-life Nyad is 100 percent self-centered and driven or, as Foster’s Stoll tells her best friend in the film, she has “a superiority complex.
- 9/15/2023
- by Etan Vlessing
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Jimmy Chin and Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi premiered their latest movie, Nyad, at the Telluride Film Festival on Friday. The Netflix film, which stars Annette Bening as long-distance swimmer Diana Nyad and Jodie Foster as her coach, Bonnie Stoll, is the first narrative film from the married couple of co-directors, who won an Academy Award for their 2018 documentary Free Solo, about rock climber Alex Honnold, and also made the docs The Rescue in 2021 and Wild Life in 2023.
Chin and Vasarhelyi spoke with THR about working with actors vs. athletes, grappling with Nyad’s complex history, which included exaggerating some claims earlier in her career, and rolling out their film in the midst of Hollywood’s dual strikes. Nyad will also screen at the Toronto Film Festival on Sept. 12, before hitting theaters Oct. 20 and hitting Netflix’s streaming service Nov. 3.
Were you actively looking to make a narrative film?
Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi...
Chin and Vasarhelyi spoke with THR about working with actors vs. athletes, grappling with Nyad’s complex history, which included exaggerating some claims earlier in her career, and rolling out their film in the midst of Hollywood’s dual strikes. Nyad will also screen at the Toronto Film Festival on Sept. 12, before hitting theaters Oct. 20 and hitting Netflix’s streaming service Nov. 3.
Were you actively looking to make a narrative film?
Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi...
- 9/3/2023
- by Rebecca Keegan
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Exclusive: The Oscar-winning team behind Navalny is embarking on its next project, a National Geographic documentary under the working title Blink of an Eye. It will focus on the Pelletier family, “a happy, adventurous family of six,” who decided to go on a world tour after learning three of their children would soon lose their vision.
Navalny’s Daniel Roher is directing with Edmund Stenson, who will make his feature debut on the film. MRC and Fishbowl Films are producing, with Fishbowl’s Melanie Miller and Diane Becker on board to produce. They won Academy Awards for producing Navalny (along with fellow producers Shane Boris and Odessa Rae).
The Pelletier’s world “was changed forever when they found out three of the four children were diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, a rare, incurable disorder that leads to permanent blindness,” noted a release about the documentary. “Edith Lemay and Sebastian Pelletier decide...
Navalny’s Daniel Roher is directing with Edmund Stenson, who will make his feature debut on the film. MRC and Fishbowl Films are producing, with Fishbowl’s Melanie Miller and Diane Becker on board to produce. They won Academy Awards for producing Navalny (along with fellow producers Shane Boris and Odessa Rae).
The Pelletier’s world “was changed forever when they found out three of the four children were diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, a rare, incurable disorder that leads to permanent blindness,” noted a release about the documentary. “Edith Lemay and Sebastian Pelletier decide...
- 9/1/2023
- by Matthew Carey
- Deadline Film + TV
Plimsoll Productions, an ITV Studios company, has promoted veteran producer James Smith to head of adventure.
In his new position, Smith will focus on adventure programming and report to Martha Holmes, Plimsoll’s chief creative officer of natural history and science. Currently, Smith oversees “Free Solo” rock climber Alex Honnold’s series for Disney+ and National Geographic, including the Alaskan expedition quest “The Last Frontier” and the upcoming “Arctic Ascent.” Smith also worked on the Emmy-nominated docuseries “Patagonia: Life on the Edge of the World,” narrated by Pedro Pascal.
Previously, Smith headed Plimsoll’s special and live events department, executive producing National Geographic’s “Yellowstone Live” and “Earth Live.” Prior to Plimsoll, Smith worked in the BBC’s national history unit, where he directed the BAFTA-winning series “Tribe,” hosted by Bruce Parry. He also worked on the Parry-hosted “Amazon” and its follow-up series “Arctic,” as well as docuseries “Springwatch,” “Autumnwatch” and “Winterwatch.
In his new position, Smith will focus on adventure programming and report to Martha Holmes, Plimsoll’s chief creative officer of natural history and science. Currently, Smith oversees “Free Solo” rock climber Alex Honnold’s series for Disney+ and National Geographic, including the Alaskan expedition quest “The Last Frontier” and the upcoming “Arctic Ascent.” Smith also worked on the Emmy-nominated docuseries “Patagonia: Life on the Edge of the World,” narrated by Pedro Pascal.
Previously, Smith headed Plimsoll’s special and live events department, executive producing National Geographic’s “Yellowstone Live” and “Earth Live.” Prior to Plimsoll, Smith worked in the BBC’s national history unit, where he directed the BAFTA-winning series “Tribe,” hosted by Bruce Parry. He also worked on the Parry-hosted “Amazon” and its follow-up series “Arctic,” as well as docuseries “Springwatch,” “Autumnwatch” and “Winterwatch.
- 8/16/2023
- by Ellise Shafer
- Variety Film + TV
Here’s a look at this week’s biggest premieres, parties and openings in Los Angeles and New York, including events for Back to the Future: The Musical, Clayton Kershaw’s Ping Pong 4 Purpose celebrity tournament and the Miu Miu Summer Club Malibu.
Uswnt Watch Party
Re–Inc, the purpose-led business and global community founded in 2019 by two-time World Cup champions Christen Press, Tobin Heath, Meghan Klingenberg and Megan Rapinoe, celebrated the launch of its new division, Re–Media on Friday night in Los Angeles. For the first time not playing in the tournament in over a decade, Health and Press watched the World Cup alongside friends, fans and supporters as they celebrated the launch of the new digital series, The Re–Cap Show.
Christen Press and Tobin Heath
Oceana’s SeaChange Summer Party
Oceana held its 16th Annual SeaChange Summer Party on Saturday in Dana Point, hosted by June Diane Raphael...
Uswnt Watch Party
Re–Inc, the purpose-led business and global community founded in 2019 by two-time World Cup champions Christen Press, Tobin Heath, Meghan Klingenberg and Megan Rapinoe, celebrated the launch of its new division, Re–Media on Friday night in Los Angeles. For the first time not playing in the tournament in over a decade, Health and Press watched the World Cup alongside friends, fans and supporters as they celebrated the launch of the new digital series, The Re–Cap Show.
Christen Press and Tobin Heath
Oceana’s SeaChange Summer Party
Oceana held its 16th Annual SeaChange Summer Party on Saturday in Dana Point, hosted by June Diane Raphael...
- 7/28/2023
- by Kirsten Chuba
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
National Geographic invites you to a one-of-a-kind opportunity at San Diego Comic-Con 2023!
“On behalf of Nat Geo, we would love to invite you to their annual Comic-Con Lounge celebration event on Saturday, July 22 from 5:00p – 8:00p at Margaritaville. Alongside Den of Geek, the Comic-con Lounge will feature cocktails and bites inspired by Nat Geo’s exciting lineup of adventures series, including Running Wild with Bear Grylls: The Challenge, Animals Up Close with Bertie Gregory, Arctic Ascent with Alex Honnold, and Never Say Never with Jeff Jenkins.
Plus, meet explorers Bertie Gregory and Jeff Jenkins, and be ready for one-of-a-kind photo opps.”
RSVP here
Lego Prime Day continues with incredible deals across a multitude of themes!
“Amazon’s annual Prime Day event takes place today and tomorrow and there are bargains to be had in all departments. The deepest discounts are likely to be on Amazon hardware such as Echo,...
“On behalf of Nat Geo, we would love to invite you to their annual Comic-Con Lounge celebration event on Saturday, July 22 from 5:00p – 8:00p at Margaritaville. Alongside Den of Geek, the Comic-con Lounge will feature cocktails and bites inspired by Nat Geo’s exciting lineup of adventures series, including Running Wild with Bear Grylls: The Challenge, Animals Up Close with Bertie Gregory, Arctic Ascent with Alex Honnold, and Never Say Never with Jeff Jenkins.
Plus, meet explorers Bertie Gregory and Jeff Jenkins, and be ready for one-of-a-kind photo opps.”
RSVP here
Lego Prime Day continues with incredible deals across a multitude of themes!
“Amazon’s annual Prime Day event takes place today and tomorrow and there are bargains to be had in all departments. The deepest discounts are likely to be on Amazon hardware such as Echo,...
- 7/12/2023
- by Lee Parham
- Den of Geek
Exclusive: William Fichtner (Hypnotic) has been set to star opposite Free Solo‘s Alex Honnold and his fellow climbing legends Brette Harrington (The Alpinist) and Adrian Ballinger (Edge of the Earth) in The Sound, an indie horror pic set in the adrenaline-filled world of big wall rock climbing.
Written and directed by Brendan Devane (The Canyonlands), the film currently in production in Nevada follows a group of climbers as they embark on the formidable challenge of conquering the Forbidden Wall, a perilous climb that has remained off-limits for years. What initially begins as an audacious expedition swiftly transforms into a harrowing battle for survival against a malevolent force that toys with their minds and tests their resilience.
Intel on the climbers’ roles hasn’t been disclosed, but Fichtner portrays Conner, a father who is faced with losing his son in the same way he lost his father at a young age.
Written and directed by Brendan Devane (The Canyonlands), the film currently in production in Nevada follows a group of climbers as they embark on the formidable challenge of conquering the Forbidden Wall, a perilous climb that has remained off-limits for years. What initially begins as an audacious expedition swiftly transforms into a harrowing battle for survival against a malevolent force that toys with their minds and tests their resilience.
Intel on the climbers’ roles hasn’t been disclosed, but Fichtner portrays Conner, a father who is faced with losing his son in the same way he lost his father at a young age.
- 7/10/2023
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
World-class climber and Free Solo star Alex Honnold is mapping out his summer plans, and naturally they call for adventure.
The man who famously ascended Yosemite’s El Capitan rock face without ropes will be doing some mountaineering in Alaska with his fellow climber and friend Tommy Caldwell. And they’re taking the long way to get there.
“The two of us are biking from his house in Colorado to Alaska… [undertaking] a few very large, difficult climb objectives along the way. So, it’s basically a 2,000-mile bike ride with quite a bit of hard climbing, culminating in a difficult climb in Alaska,” Honnold told an audience Thursday at Sheffield DocFest in the U.K. He was Zoomed in by remote for a panel discussion with National Geographic executives who outlined their upcoming documentary projects, including several that feature Honnold. The Alaska trip will be filmed for a series tentatively...
The man who famously ascended Yosemite’s El Capitan rock face without ropes will be doing some mountaineering in Alaska with his fellow climber and friend Tommy Caldwell. And they’re taking the long way to get there.
“The two of us are biking from his house in Colorado to Alaska… [undertaking] a few very large, difficult climb objectives along the way. So, it’s basically a 2,000-mile bike ride with quite a bit of hard climbing, culminating in a difficult climb in Alaska,” Honnold told an audience Thursday at Sheffield DocFest in the U.K. He was Zoomed in by remote for a panel discussion with National Geographic executives who outlined their upcoming documentary projects, including several that feature Honnold. The Alaska trip will be filmed for a series tentatively...
- 6/16/2023
- by Matthew Carey
- Deadline Film + TV
With “Wild Life,” the filmmaking team of Jimmy Chin and Chai Vasarhelyi prove yet again — after “Meru,” Oscar-winning “Free Solo,” and “The Rescue” — that they are nonpareils at delivering consistently stunning visuals and provocative non-fiction content. Unlike most documentary filmmakers these days, they had a juicy NatGeo budget to film in the wildest areas of Chile and Argentina and the opportunity to screen their movie theatrically via Picturehouse before winding up on Disney+ May 26.
The directing duo choose their subjects carefully. In this case, at the center of this dramatic decades-spanning story is Kristine McDivitt Tompkins who, having risen to CEO of Patagonia after 23 years at the company, abruptly left to marry billionaire eco-philanthropist Doug Tompkins and join his mission to save millions of acres of wildlands in Chile and Argentina. In 2015, after he died in a kayak accident, she took on his mission and in 2018 donated 10 million acres as national parkland.
The directing duo choose their subjects carefully. In this case, at the center of this dramatic decades-spanning story is Kristine McDivitt Tompkins who, having risen to CEO of Patagonia after 23 years at the company, abruptly left to marry billionaire eco-philanthropist Doug Tompkins and join his mission to save millions of acres of wildlands in Chile and Argentina. In 2015, after he died in a kayak accident, she took on his mission and in 2018 donated 10 million acres as national parkland.
- 5/27/2023
- by Anne Thompson
- Indiewire
The filmmaking couple Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin have earned a reputation for making documentaries about people who accomplish the unthinkable – the no-ropes climber Alex Honnold in the Oscar-winning Free Solo, or the divers of The Rescue who, against all odds, saved a group of Thai kids stranded in a flooded cave.
As it happens, the heroes of their best-known films have been men, but in their latest documentary, Wild Life, the focus shifts in large part to a woman, the conservationist and former Patagonia CEO Kris Tompkins.
L-r Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, Kris Tompkins, Jimmy Chin
“It was really nice to make a film where there’s a woman at the center,” Vasarhelyi remarked at Cph:dox in Copenhagen, where the film screened last month. Wild Life, from National Geographic and Picturehouse, just expanded to theaters in Southern California, including Los Angeles, as well as the San Francisco Bay area...
As it happens, the heroes of their best-known films have been men, but in their latest documentary, Wild Life, the focus shifts in large part to a woman, the conservationist and former Patagonia CEO Kris Tompkins.
L-r Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, Kris Tompkins, Jimmy Chin
“It was really nice to make a film where there’s a woman at the center,” Vasarhelyi remarked at Cph:dox in Copenhagen, where the film screened last month. Wild Life, from National Geographic and Picturehouse, just expanded to theaters in Southern California, including Los Angeles, as well as the San Francisco Bay area...
- 4/22/2023
- by Matthew Carey
- Deadline Film + TV
Clouds of gloom have settled over much of the documentary field, brought on by multiple factors: a sluggish acquisition market, cutbacks in the executive ranks at Netflix and Showtime, uncertainty around Hulu’s future, CNN Films taking doc production in house, sharper scrutiny of budgets and content needs, and… well, the list goes on.
But there’s at least one bright spot it the nonfiction firmament – National Geographic Documentary Films. Coming off its latest Oscar nomination – for the feature Fire of Love – the unit of the Walt Disney Company is leaning into documentary production with half a dozen films set for release or in the works.
First up: Wild Life, a film Carolyn Bernstein, EVP of global scripted content and documentary films for NatGeo, calls “a big, beautiful love story.” The couple at the heart of it – Doug and Kris Tompkins — left the corporate world for life in remote Chile.
But there’s at least one bright spot it the nonfiction firmament – National Geographic Documentary Films. Coming off its latest Oscar nomination – for the feature Fire of Love – the unit of the Walt Disney Company is leaning into documentary production with half a dozen films set for release or in the works.
First up: Wild Life, a film Carolyn Bernstein, EVP of global scripted content and documentary films for NatGeo, calls “a big, beautiful love story.” The couple at the heart of it – Doug and Kris Tompkins — left the corporate world for life in remote Chile.
- 4/17/2023
- by Matthew Carey
- Deadline Film + TV
Directors Jimmy Chin and Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi have made their careers capturing humans who use nature as their playgrounds, challenged by the world’s peaks and crevices that are as dangerous as they are majestic. From their Oscar-winning “Free Solo” about Alex Honnold’s risky climb to their 2021 venture “The Rescue” about the cave divers who helped save a stranded Thai boys soccer team, the couple’s brand implies both gorgeous vistas and cinematic thrills.
Their latest, “Wild Life,” trades in many of the same themes, and yet carries little of that tension. This time around,
“Wild Life” tells the story of Douglas and Kristine Tompkins, a billionaire couple who bought up millions of acres of land in Chile and Argentina to turn into national parks. The film, which uses Kris as its primary source, is a paean to their good deeds and a memorial to Doug, who died in a kayaking accident,...
Their latest, “Wild Life,” trades in many of the same themes, and yet carries little of that tension. This time around,
“Wild Life” tells the story of Douglas and Kristine Tompkins, a billionaire couple who bought up millions of acres of land in Chile and Argentina to turn into national parks. The film, which uses Kris as its primary source, is a paean to their good deeds and a memorial to Doug, who died in a kayaking accident,...
- 4/13/2023
- by Esther Zuckerman
- Indiewire
Plimsoll Productions, the prominent company specialized in wildlife and natural history programming now owned by ITV Studios, is bolstering its top management ranks.
The announcement follows the recent acquisition of Plimsoll by U.K. broadcaster ITV in a deal that valued the company at £130 million ($160 million).
The prolific U.K. outfit – which is coming off its busiest year ever with 20 shows in production, including National Geographic series “The Ascent” with Alex Honnold – has promoted Jonathan Jackson, its former chief financial officer, to the role of COO, alongside his CFO role, while production executive Lucy Bilson has been elevated to head of production.
Jackson joined Plimsoll four years ago after serving as group managing director at U.K. distributor Drg (now rebranded as Nent Studios), where he boosted growth. He has also held senior financial roles at BBC Studios and Channel 4. Jackson, who will continue to report directly to Plimsoll CEO and founder Grant Mansfield,...
The announcement follows the recent acquisition of Plimsoll by U.K. broadcaster ITV in a deal that valued the company at £130 million ($160 million).
The prolific U.K. outfit – which is coming off its busiest year ever with 20 shows in production, including National Geographic series “The Ascent” with Alex Honnold – has promoted Jonathan Jackson, its former chief financial officer, to the role of COO, alongside his CFO role, while production executive Lucy Bilson has been elevated to head of production.
Jackson joined Plimsoll four years ago after serving as group managing director at U.K. distributor Drg (now rebranded as Nent Studios), where he boosted growth. He has also held senior financial roles at BBC Studios and Channel 4. Jackson, who will continue to report directly to Plimsoll CEO and founder Grant Mansfield,...
- 3/27/2023
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Oscar winners Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin and BAFTA-nominated director Natalie Hewit are boarding the National Geographic documentary Endurance (working title), the incredible story of “the epic search to find the lost ship of Antarctic explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton.”
The announcement comes almost exactly a year after Shackelton’s ship Endurance was discovered eerily intact on the Weddell Sea floor near the northernmost part of the Antarctic, more than a hundred years after the vessel sank. The Falklands Maritime Heritage Trust organized and funded the mission to find the historic wreck.
Map of the Sir Ernest Shackleton expedition in Antarctica onboard the Endurance
Shackelton and his crew of 27 set sail in late 1914 on an exploratory mission endorsed by Winston Churchill, then Britain’s First Lord of the Admiralty. The ship became trapped in sea ice, forcing the crew to quit the vessel and set up camp on an ice floe.
The announcement comes almost exactly a year after Shackelton’s ship Endurance was discovered eerily intact on the Weddell Sea floor near the northernmost part of the Antarctic, more than a hundred years after the vessel sank. The Falklands Maritime Heritage Trust organized and funded the mission to find the historic wreck.
Map of the Sir Ernest Shackleton expedition in Antarctica onboard the Endurance
Shackelton and his crew of 27 set sail in late 1914 on an exploratory mission endorsed by Winston Churchill, then Britain’s First Lord of the Admiralty. The ship became trapped in sea ice, forcing the crew to quit the vessel and set up camp on an ice floe.
- 3/21/2023
- by Matthew Carey
- Deadline Film + TV
Elizabeth Chai Vasarhely and Jimmy Chin won an Oscar for Best Documentary Feature, a BAFTA, and seven Emmy awards for their 2018 film “Free Solo,” about rock climber Alex Honnold. Now the pair are back with a new National Geographic documentary, “Wild Life.” Fresh off its surprise screening at the Telluride Film Festival last September, the doc gets another one at SXSW this weekend before hitting theaters and streaming this Spring.
Continue reading ‘Wild Life’ Trailer: New Doc From ‘Free Solo’ Directors Elizabeth Chai Vasarhely & Jimmy Chin Debuts Disney+ On May 26 at The Playlist.
Continue reading ‘Wild Life’ Trailer: New Doc From ‘Free Solo’ Directors Elizabeth Chai Vasarhely & Jimmy Chin Debuts Disney+ On May 26 at The Playlist.
- 3/9/2023
- by Ned Booth
- The Playlist
When it comes to entertainment, we’re a suggestible species. Cooking shows make us salivate. Musicals make us hum along. I’ve been known to randomly cheer (and/or cry) when watching an underdog sports story.
Be very careful when watching Laura McGann’s Netflix and A24 documentary The Deepest Breath. This chronicle of the precarious, haunting and near-mystical world of freediving will make you want to join the competitors in breath-holding as you follow their journeys to aquatic depths. You’ll want to. You may not be able to resist. But you should probably resist. The freedivers? Well, they should also probably resist, but The Deepest Breath fits into a recent tradition of documentaries about extreme athletes whose commitment to events in which death is an accepted consequence beggars common sense, if not belief.
In the most literal sense, The Deepest Breath is a breathtaking documentary, one filled with eye-popping visuals,...
Be very careful when watching Laura McGann’s Netflix and A24 documentary The Deepest Breath. This chronicle of the precarious, haunting and near-mystical world of freediving will make you want to join the competitors in breath-holding as you follow their journeys to aquatic depths. You’ll want to. You may not be able to resist. But you should probably resist. The freedivers? Well, they should also probably resist, but The Deepest Breath fits into a recent tradition of documentaries about extreme athletes whose commitment to events in which death is an accepted consequence beggars common sense, if not belief.
In the most literal sense, The Deepest Breath is a breathtaking documentary, one filled with eye-popping visuals,...
- 1/21/2023
- by Daniel Fienberg
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Exclusive: Plimsoll Productions, the company behind series such as Apple’s Tiny World and Disney+’s James Cameron-executive produced and Benedict Cumberbatch-narrated Super/Natural, has hired National Geographic’s Alan Eyres to run its U.S. arm.
Eyres spent the last ten years as SVP of Unscripted Production and Development for the National Geographic Global Channels and was instrumental in launching the Nat Geo tile on Disney+.
He becomes head of Plimsoll USA, reporting to founder and CEO Grant Mansfield.
It marks the first major hire after British broadcaster ITV acquired the company, best known for natural history programming, for 126M earlier this summer, and comes after Saul Goldberg, who previously headed up U.S. operations at the company left to join CAA as a UK-based agent.
Eyres has worked with Plimsoll on a number of series and docs including serving as network programming executive for Hostile Planet,...
Eyres spent the last ten years as SVP of Unscripted Production and Development for the National Geographic Global Channels and was instrumental in launching the Nat Geo tile on Disney+.
He becomes head of Plimsoll USA, reporting to founder and CEO Grant Mansfield.
It marks the first major hire after British broadcaster ITV acquired the company, best known for natural history programming, for 126M earlier this summer, and comes after Saul Goldberg, who previously headed up U.S. operations at the company left to join CAA as a UK-based agent.
Eyres has worked with Plimsoll on a number of series and docs including serving as network programming executive for Hostile Planet,...
- 11/29/2022
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
For several years, Oscar-winning director Roger Ross Williams hosted an intimate IDFA paella party at his apartment in Amsterdam for attending directors, producers and editors. But in 2018, Williams and his co-host, documentary producer, and the founder of Motto Pictures, Julie Goldman (“The Velvet Underground”), realized that the annual event had transformed into an award season stop.
“At one point, we looked around, and the whole party was filled with the international AMPAS (Academy of Motion Arts and Sciences) members,” says Goldman. “Then, the last year we had the party, someone rang the buzzer an hour before it was supposed to start. We buzzed him up, and it was this guy named Alex, and he said, ‘I was told that I have to come to this party.’”
It turned out that Alex was Alex Honnold, the subject of “Free Solo” – a film that would later win the Oscar for best feature documentary.
“At one point, we looked around, and the whole party was filled with the international AMPAS (Academy of Motion Arts and Sciences) members,” says Goldman. “Then, the last year we had the party, someone rang the buzzer an hour before it was supposed to start. We buzzed him up, and it was this guy named Alex, and he said, ‘I was told that I have to come to this party.’”
It turned out that Alex was Alex Honnold, the subject of “Free Solo” – a film that would later win the Oscar for best feature documentary.
- 11/14/2022
- by Addie Morfoot
- Variety Film + TV
Japanese Breakfast’s Michelle Zauner has teamed up with The North Face to launch the brand’s new fall campaign, dubbed “It’s More Than a Jacket.”
The outdoor gear company released a video to kick off the upcoming line, available in stores and online later this month, which includes Zauner’s acoustic cover of Brandi Carlile’s beloved ballad “The Story,” from the songwriter’s 2007 album of the same name.
“It was a joy to take on the iconic ballad, ‘The Story,'” Zauner, who released the bestselling memoir...
The outdoor gear company released a video to kick off the upcoming line, available in stores and online later this month, which includes Zauner’s acoustic cover of Brandi Carlile’s beloved ballad “The Story,” from the songwriter’s 2007 album of the same name.
“It was a joy to take on the iconic ballad, ‘The Story,'” Zauner, who released the bestselling memoir...
- 10/4/2022
- by John Lonsdale
- Rollingstone.com
It’s hard not to wince watching Free Solo, the Oscar-winning doc about rock climber Alex Honnold ascending Yosemite’s 3,000-foot El Capitan vertical face — without a rope — in 2017. The film’s directors, Jimmy Chin and E. Chai Vasarhelyi, now look to the habits of other adventure athletes in Edge of the Unknown With Jimmy Chin, a 10-part series (which moves to 10/9c September 6 and appears on Disney+ September 7). (Credit: National Geographic/Teague Wasserman) “What drew me to telling these stories is the commitment level,” says Chin, who is an executive producer with Vasarhelyi. “We want to show people what’s really happening behind [some epic adventures and] understand what the stakes are.” Viewers will spend time with Sarah McNair-Landry, a second-generation polar explorer who attempted to cross the Northwest Passage during a brutal winter. And there’s big-mountain skier Angel Collinson, who survived a fall that sent her tumbling 1,000 feet down the side of an Alaskan mountain.
- 9/3/2022
- TV Insider
Alex Honnold, the climber known for summiting El Capitan with no ropes in the documentary Free Solo, added another massive climbing achievement to his resume.
> Watch Alex Honnold’s uINTERVIEW!
Honnold shared an impressive size comparison showing how much higher Ingmikortilaq in Greenland was than his previous titanic climbs.
The rock face was almost 4,000 feet tall, and Honnold said on Twitter that he did the climb along with the British climber Hazel Findlay.
Hazel Findlay & I completed an epic first ascent of Ingmikortilaq, a remote 3,750-foot rock wall in eastern Greenland. For more on the climb, watch GMA and visit https://t.co/Mdgfm98G07. pic.twitter.com/TWQwHUPxbd
— Alex Honnold (@AlexHonnold) August 18, 2022
Honnold and the rest of the team had to travel far via air and water vehicles to the remote Greenland location and spent about five days hanging and securing ropes for the climb.
He said on GMA,...
> Watch Alex Honnold’s uINTERVIEW!
Honnold shared an impressive size comparison showing how much higher Ingmikortilaq in Greenland was than his previous titanic climbs.
The rock face was almost 4,000 feet tall, and Honnold said on Twitter that he did the climb along with the British climber Hazel Findlay.
Hazel Findlay & I completed an epic first ascent of Ingmikortilaq, a remote 3,750-foot rock wall in eastern Greenland. For more on the climb, watch GMA and visit https://t.co/Mdgfm98G07. pic.twitter.com/TWQwHUPxbd
— Alex Honnold (@AlexHonnold) August 18, 2022
Honnold and the rest of the team had to travel far via air and water vehicles to the remote Greenland location and spent about five days hanging and securing ropes for the climb.
He said on GMA,...
- 8/28/2022
- by Jacob Linden
- Uinterview
Climber Alex Honnold is continuing to break records. The “Free Solo” star recently made the first known ascent of Ingmikortilaq, one of the tallest rock faces in the world.
Honnold summited the rock on Tuesday with elite climber Hazel Findlay after a five-day climb that included some severe icy weather conditions, according to NatGeo. The climb was filmed for his upcoming Disney+ National Geographic series “On the Edge With Alex Honnold.”
Also Read:
‘Chip ‘n’ Dale: Rescue Rangers’ Writers Dan Gregor and Doug Mand Discuss Their Emmy-Nominated Disney+ Movie
Ingmikortilaq is a 3,750-foot, 3-million-year-old monolith that rises directly from the Nordvestfjord in Greenland, meaning that Honnold and Findlay had to approach ocean-up style. This means they had to begin their climb from a dingy in the water that they’d rowed from a nearby basecamp on land.
One of Honnold’s previous groundbreaking climbs was chronicled in the 2018 film “Free Solo.
Honnold summited the rock on Tuesday with elite climber Hazel Findlay after a five-day climb that included some severe icy weather conditions, according to NatGeo. The climb was filmed for his upcoming Disney+ National Geographic series “On the Edge With Alex Honnold.”
Also Read:
‘Chip ‘n’ Dale: Rescue Rangers’ Writers Dan Gregor and Doug Mand Discuss Their Emmy-Nominated Disney+ Movie
Ingmikortilaq is a 3,750-foot, 3-million-year-old monolith that rises directly from the Nordvestfjord in Greenland, meaning that Honnold and Findlay had to approach ocean-up style. This means they had to begin their climb from a dingy in the water that they’d rowed from a nearby basecamp on land.
One of Honnold’s previous groundbreaking climbs was chronicled in the 2018 film “Free Solo.
- 8/18/2022
- by Katie Campione
- The Wrap
Venice’s Xr strand has rebranded to include immersive media beyond VR.
Venice Immersive, the Xr (extended reality) section of the Venice International Film Festival, has unveiled its official selection for 2022 with 30 projects playing in competition.
Six of the Xr competition projects come from the UK, including Peaky Blinders: The King’s Ransom, a VR spin-off from the hit drama series.
A dark action-adventure VR game that will immerse players in the world of the show, Peaky Blinders: The King’s Ransom is produced by UK games developer Maze Theory and will launch later this year.
Formerly known as Venice VR Expanded,...
Venice Immersive, the Xr (extended reality) section of the Venice International Film Festival, has unveiled its official selection for 2022 with 30 projects playing in competition.
Six of the Xr competition projects come from the UK, including Peaky Blinders: The King’s Ransom, a VR spin-off from the hit drama series.
A dark action-adventure VR game that will immerse players in the world of the show, Peaky Blinders: The King’s Ransom is produced by UK games developer Maze Theory and will launch later this year.
Formerly known as Venice VR Expanded,...
- 7/27/2022
- by Tim Dams
- ScreenDaily
San Francisco, June 11 (Ians) Meta Founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg has announced that Quest 2 virtual reality (VR) headset will get Horizon Home as part of a new update. The functionality will help users create their own environments without using third-party apps. “Met up with legendary climber Alex Honnold in the new Horizon Home […]...
- 6/11/2022
- by Glamsham Bureau
- GlamSham
Glimpse, an interactive animated film from Swan Song writer-director Benjamin Cleary and Michael O’Connor and featuring the voices of Taron Egerton and Lucy Boynton, and a VR project following Alex Hannold, the subject of the Oscar-winning climbing documentary Free Solo, have won the prizes of the Cannes Xr program that is part of Cannes’ Marché du Film.
Glimpse, which won the VeeR Future Award – Best VR Interactive Experience, follows a heartbroken panda named Herbie (Egerton) who examines the memories of his relationship after recently breaking up with his deer girlfriend Rice (Boynton). The original score is by Julianna Barwick. The project is a co-production of Cleary and O’Connor’s Mr. Kite and Albyon, the studio branch of the Atlas V group. It is Albyon’s first co-production. Lee Harris produced for Electric Skies.
Alex Honnold: The Soloist VR won the VeeR Future Award – Best VR Story prize. Directed by Jonathan Griffith,...
Glimpse, which won the VeeR Future Award – Best VR Interactive Experience, follows a heartbroken panda named Herbie (Egerton) who examines the memories of his relationship after recently breaking up with his deer girlfriend Rice (Boynton). The original score is by Julianna Barwick. The project is a co-production of Cleary and O’Connor’s Mr. Kite and Albyon, the studio branch of the Atlas V group. It is Albyon’s first co-production. Lee Harris produced for Electric Skies.
Alex Honnold: The Soloist VR won the VeeR Future Award – Best VR Story prize. Directed by Jonathan Griffith,...
- 5/24/2022
- by Patrick Hipes
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Plimsoll Productions, producer of AppleTV+’s Tiny Planet and Netflix’s Animal, is supercharging its science slate by promoting Martha Holmes to Chief Creative Officer of Natural History and Science.
Former Blue Planet producer Holmes, who is exec-ing upcoming Disney+ series On the Edge with Alex Honnold amongst others, moves up from Head of Natural History, having joined Plimsoll from the BBC Studios Natural History Unit (Nhu) when it was launched by Grant Mansfield almost a decade ago.
Reporting to Mansfield, Holmes’ new department has 150 staff, a vast number for an independent production company.
She will continue to oversee natural history while helming Plimsoll’s push deeper into science and takes a place on the Plimsoll Board as one of three Executive Directors.
Most recently, she has been instrumental in creating the Benedict Cumberbatch-narrated/James Cameron-produced Super/Natural for Disney+ and National Geographic’s Great Migrations.
“Martha...
Former Blue Planet producer Holmes, who is exec-ing upcoming Disney+ series On the Edge with Alex Honnold amongst others, moves up from Head of Natural History, having joined Plimsoll from the BBC Studios Natural History Unit (Nhu) when it was launched by Grant Mansfield almost a decade ago.
Reporting to Mansfield, Holmes’ new department has 150 staff, a vast number for an independent production company.
She will continue to oversee natural history while helming Plimsoll’s push deeper into science and takes a place on the Plimsoll Board as one of three Executive Directors.
Most recently, she has been instrumental in creating the Benedict Cumberbatch-narrated/James Cameron-produced Super/Natural for Disney+ and National Geographic’s Great Migrations.
“Martha...
- 4/28/2022
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
Elon Musk’s successful takeover bid for Twitter has raised concerns about his plans for the social media platform, because of his political views. Historically those views have teetered left and right, but tend to gravitate towards libertarian. His anti-union stance as CEO of electric vehicle maker Tesla has displeased liberals, even if they constitute his best automotive customers.
Objections to The Boring Company, his venture that proposes to build underground transportation networks beneath cities, fall not on ideological grounds but practical ones: some civil engineers just call it pie in the sky.
But there is one skyward thrust of Musk’s sci-tech empire that attracts almost universal praise – the aerospace enterprise SpaceX. The Netflix documentary Return to Space, directed by Oscar winners Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin, chronicles the company’s development of a recyclable rocket and its collaboration with NASA to get this country back into human space exploration.
Objections to The Boring Company, his venture that proposes to build underground transportation networks beneath cities, fall not on ideological grounds but practical ones: some civil engineers just call it pie in the sky.
But there is one skyward thrust of Musk’s sci-tech empire that attracts almost universal praise – the aerospace enterprise SpaceX. The Netflix documentary Return to Space, directed by Oscar winners Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin, chronicles the company’s development of a recyclable rocket and its collaboration with NASA to get this country back into human space exploration.
- 4/25/2022
- by Matthew Carey
- Deadline Film + TV
Free Solo‘s Alex Honnold is taking on another gravity-defying climbing feat in the Disney+ Earth Day special Explorer: The Last Tepui, from National Geographic. The special, debuting, fittingly, on Earth Day on Friday, April 22, on the streaming service, follows the elite climber and “a world-class climbing team led by National Geographic Explorer and climber Mark Synnott on a grueling mission deep in the Amazon jungle as they attempt a first-ascent climb up a 1,000 foot sheer cliff,” according to Disney+. “Their goal is to deliver legendary biologist and National Geographic Explorer Bruce Means to the top of a massive ‘island in the sky’ known as a tepui.” Dr. Means is determined to complete his life’s work by searching the cliff wall for undiscovered animal species. To see that dream completed, the team must trek miles of treacherous jungle terrain. In the above TV Insider exclusive clip, Honnold and his...
- 4/20/2022
- TV Insider
"If we push on, we're risking your life" This Earth Day, learn why the tepuis – much like the Galapagos – are a treasure trove of biodiversity worth protecting. Disney has revealed the official trailer for a one-hour special made for Earth Day this year called Explorer: The Last Tepui, the latest in National Geographer's long-running "Explorer" series. The film follows elite climber Alex Honnold (best known from Free Solo) and a world-class climbing team led by Nat Geo and climber Mark Synnott on a grueling mission deep in the Amazon jungle as they attempt a first-ascent climb up a 1000 ft sheer cliff. Their goal is to deliver the legendary biologist and National Geographic Explorer Bruce Means to the top of a massive “island in the sky” known as a tepui, so he can look for new species. I like that this isn't just another climbing doc, as it's all about helping...
- 4/10/2022
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
The new ‘Earth Day’ one-hour documentary special "Explorer: The Last Tepui" from National Geographic streams April 22, 2022 on Disney+:
“…take a journey around the world - from the rainforests of Guyana to the farms of California to witness and celebrate the diversity and resilience of our planet and the species that inhabit it. Filmed in some of the world's most fascinating, biodiverse, and mysterious environments, this dynamic documentary gives viewers a revealing look at Earth's splendors, its ecosystems and inhabitants that face insurmountable environmental changes and threats.
“ ‘Explorer: The Last Tepui’ follows elite climber Alex Honnold and a world-class climbing team led by ‘National Geographic Explorer’ and climber Mark Synnott on a grueling mission deep in the Amazon jungle as they attempt a first-ascent climb up a 1000 foot sheer cliff.
“Their goal is to deliver legendary biologist and National Geographic Explorer Bruce Means to the top of a massive "island...
“…take a journey around the world - from the rainforests of Guyana to the farms of California to witness and celebrate the diversity and resilience of our planet and the species that inhabit it. Filmed in some of the world's most fascinating, biodiverse, and mysterious environments, this dynamic documentary gives viewers a revealing look at Earth's splendors, its ecosystems and inhabitants that face insurmountable environmental changes and threats.
“ ‘Explorer: The Last Tepui’ follows elite climber Alex Honnold and a world-class climbing team led by ‘National Geographic Explorer’ and climber Mark Synnott on a grueling mission deep in the Amazon jungle as they attempt a first-ascent climb up a 1000 foot sheer cliff.
“Their goal is to deliver legendary biologist and National Geographic Explorer Bruce Means to the top of a massive "island...
- 4/9/2022
- by Unknown
- SneakPeek
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