Exclusive: Tonia Davis, who has been the Head of Motion Pictures for five years at Higher Ground, is transitioning out of the role. She will remain a producer on upcoming projects at the studio.
Higher Ground Productions President Vinnie Malhotra will continue to oversee the company’s film and television divisions.
Davis tells us, “I am immensely proud of the work we have done together at Higher Ground, including winning an Academy Award and bringing important and entertaining stories to audiences around the world. Now is the right time for me to start my next chapter and I am excited to continue to produce alongside the team at Higher Ground.”
Higher Ground’s Joe Paulsen adds, “Tonia has been an integral part of Higher Ground since the beginning. We are so grateful for her work and dedication over the past five years and excited to continue producing with her during...
Higher Ground Productions President Vinnie Malhotra will continue to oversee the company’s film and television divisions.
Davis tells us, “I am immensely proud of the work we have done together at Higher Ground, including winning an Academy Award and bringing important and entertaining stories to audiences around the world. Now is the right time for me to start my next chapter and I am excited to continue to produce alongside the team at Higher Ground.”
Higher Ground’s Joe Paulsen adds, “Tonia has been an integral part of Higher Ground since the beginning. We are so grateful for her work and dedication over the past five years and excited to continue producing with her during...
- 3/23/2024
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Following a bidding war, TriStar Pictures has beaten out a number of suitors and pre-emptively acquired rights to Alison Espach’s forthcoming novel The Wedding People. Will Speck and Josh Gordon, who have a first-look deal with Sony Pictures, are set to direct, with Oscar-nominated screenwriter Nicole Holofcener writing.
“It’s rare to read something that feels like real life, in all the best ways. .. funny, painful, cathartic and lasting. A throwback to the movies we grew up on with a modern sensibility. This is a story we can’t wait to tell,” said Speck and Gordon.
Speck, Gordon and Eric Fineman will produce through their company Speck + Gordon Inc. alongside Jonathan King and Ash Sarohia for Concordia Studio. Shary Shirazi and Kelseigh Coombs are overseeing the project for TriStar.
“Nicole is the perfect partner to adapt this incredible novel. She writes characters that are beautifully complex, with humor...
“It’s rare to read something that feels like real life, in all the best ways. .. funny, painful, cathartic and lasting. A throwback to the movies we grew up on with a modern sensibility. This is a story we can’t wait to tell,” said Speck and Gordon.
Speck, Gordon and Eric Fineman will produce through their company Speck + Gordon Inc. alongside Jonathan King and Ash Sarohia for Concordia Studio. Shary Shirazi and Kelseigh Coombs are overseeing the project for TriStar.
“Nicole is the perfect partner to adapt this incredible novel. She writes characters that are beautifully complex, with humor...
- 2/29/2024
- by Justin Kroll
- Deadline Film + TV
Former President Barack Obama Wins Another Emmy, Beating Out Morgan Freeman For Outstanding Narrator
Morgan Freeman might have some fierce competition as former President Barack Obama beat him to the Emmy award for outstanding narrator.
The 44th U.S. president won the award for his voicework in Working: What We Do All Day. In addition to Freeman in Our Universe, Obama was up against Mahershala Ali in Chimp Empire, Angela Bassett in Good Night Oppy and Pedro Pascal in Patagonia: Life on the Edge of the World.
Working: What We Do All Day is a docu-series that follows the lives of 12 people working in the home care, tech and hospitality industries. It was inspired by Studs Terkel’s nonfiction book called Working: People Talk About What They Do All Day and How They Feel About What They Do.
Last year, Obama won an Emmy for Outstanding Narrator for his voiceover in Our Great National Parks. The last former president to win an Emmy was Dwight D. Eisenhower,...
The 44th U.S. president won the award for his voicework in Working: What We Do All Day. In addition to Freeman in Our Universe, Obama was up against Mahershala Ali in Chimp Empire, Angela Bassett in Good Night Oppy and Pedro Pascal in Patagonia: Life on the Edge of the World.
Working: What We Do All Day is a docu-series that follows the lives of 12 people working in the home care, tech and hospitality industries. It was inspired by Studs Terkel’s nonfiction book called Working: People Talk About What They Do All Day and How They Feel About What They Do.
Last year, Obama won an Emmy for Outstanding Narrator for his voiceover in Our Great National Parks. The last former president to win an Emmy was Dwight D. Eisenhower,...
- 1/9/2024
- by Rose Anne Cox-Peralta
- Uinterview
Carol Burnett’s 90 Years of Laughter and Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie were the big winners on night 2 of the Creative Arts Emmys on Sunday, while Queer Eye — already sick with Emmys — took home yet another for Outstanding Structured Reality Show. So did RuPaul (for hosting Drag Race) and The Simpsons (Animated Series), naturally.
Burnett’s sentimental trip down memory lane won Variety Special (pre-recorded), while Still won for Outstanding Documentary and Director (Davis Guggenheim).
“This is very encouraging,” Burnett said from the stage, before telling everyone to drive home safely.
Barack Obama, who was sadly Ma from the awards show in downtown L.A.’s Peacock Theater, picked up a trophy for narrating Working: What We Do All Day, while Welcome to Wrexham racked up wins for Unstructured Reality Show, Editing and Cinematography.
Keke Palmer won the Emmy for Outstanding game show host for NBC’s Password – the...
Burnett’s sentimental trip down memory lane won Variety Special (pre-recorded), while Still won for Outstanding Documentary and Director (Davis Guggenheim).
“This is very encouraging,” Burnett said from the stage, before telling everyone to drive home safely.
Barack Obama, who was sadly Ma from the awards show in downtown L.A.’s Peacock Theater, picked up a trophy for narrating Working: What We Do All Day, while Welcome to Wrexham racked up wins for Unstructured Reality Show, Editing and Cinematography.
Keke Palmer won the Emmy for Outstanding game show host for NBC’s Password – the...
- 1/8/2024
- by Peter White, Rosy Cordero, Lynette Rice and Armando Tinoco
- Deadline Film + TV
There are a lot of big names on this one.
Netflix’s official trailer for Leave the World Behind, an apocalyptic thriller, stars Ethan Hawke and Julia Roberts and is executive produced by Barack and Michelle Obama.
The premise: “Amanda (Roberts) and her husband Clay (Hawke), rent a luxurious home for the weekend with their kids, Archie (Charlie Evans) and Rose (Farrah Mackenzie). Their vacation is soon upended when two strangers — G.H. (Mahershala Ali) and his daughter Ruth (Myha’la) — arrive in the night, bearing news of a mysterious cyberattack and seeking refuge in the house they claim is theirs. The two families reckon with a looming disaster that grows more terrifying by the minute, forcing everyone to come to terms with their places in a collapsing world.”
The project is based on the acclaimed novel by Rumaan Alam and is written by Mr. Robot showrunner Sam Esmail.
Esmail...
Netflix’s official trailer for Leave the World Behind, an apocalyptic thriller, stars Ethan Hawke and Julia Roberts and is executive produced by Barack and Michelle Obama.
The premise: “Amanda (Roberts) and her husband Clay (Hawke), rent a luxurious home for the weekend with their kids, Archie (Charlie Evans) and Rose (Farrah Mackenzie). Their vacation is soon upended when two strangers — G.H. (Mahershala Ali) and his daughter Ruth (Myha’la) — arrive in the night, bearing news of a mysterious cyberattack and seeking refuge in the house they claim is theirs. The two families reckon with a looming disaster that grows more terrifying by the minute, forcing everyone to come to terms with their places in a collapsing world.”
The project is based on the acclaimed novel by Rumaan Alam and is written by Mr. Robot showrunner Sam Esmail.
Esmail...
- 10/24/2023
- by James Hibberd
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
In 2017, like a lot of Louis C.K. fans, filmmaker Caroline Suh wasn’t sure what to make of the allegations of sexual misconduct against the comedian that were detailed in a New York Times story. The report included female comics’ accounts of C.K. exposing himself to them, which he admitted to, and led FX, Netflix and C.K.’s management company, 3Arts, to drop him.
“I watched his show religiously,” Suh says. “And when the article came out, I was surprised and honestly thought, ‘Is it really that bad that he should be banished from the scene?’ I didn’t really know how to think about it.”
Nearly six years later, now that C.K. has sold out Madison Square Garden and won two Grammys for his comedy albums, Suh and her co-director, Cara Mones, interrogate questions about sex and power raised by the comic’s downfall and comeback in their new documentary,...
“I watched his show religiously,” Suh says. “And when the article came out, I was surprised and honestly thought, ‘Is it really that bad that he should be banished from the scene?’ I didn’t really know how to think about it.”
Nearly six years later, now that C.K. has sold out Madison Square Garden and won two Grammys for his comedy albums, Suh and her co-director, Cara Mones, interrogate questions about sex and power raised by the comic’s downfall and comeback in their new documentary,...
- 9/9/2023
- by Rebecca Keegan
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Last year’s Best Narrator Emmy contest was a real clash of the titans as three-time champion David Attenborough (“The Mating Game”) attempted to fend off famously charismatic first-timer Barack Obama (“Our Great National Parks”). Now that the former U.S. president has one victory under his belt, he is immediately seeking a second for another Netflix series, “Working: What We Do All Day.” This time, he faces an entirely different slate of challengers who could very well make this outing even more difficult.
Those competing against Obama for the 2023 narration prize are returning nominees Angela Bassett (“Good Night Oppy”) and Morgan Freeman (“Our Universe”) and category newcomers Mahershala Ali (“Chimp Empire”) and Pedro Pascal (“Patagonia: Life on the Edge of the World”). Collectively, the professional actors have previously vied for 14 Emmys across 10 categories.
In order to determine if anyone has what it takes to defeat the ex-commander in chief,...
Those competing against Obama for the 2023 narration prize are returning nominees Angela Bassett (“Good Night Oppy”) and Morgan Freeman (“Our Universe”) and category newcomers Mahershala Ali (“Chimp Empire”) and Pedro Pascal (“Patagonia: Life on the Edge of the World”). Collectively, the professional actors have previously vied for 14 Emmys across 10 categories.
In order to determine if anyone has what it takes to defeat the ex-commander in chief,...
- 7/24/2023
- by Matthew Stewart
- Gold Derby
The former First Couple are back in Emmy contention.
Ex-President Obama earned a nomination this morning as Outstanding Narrator for his work on the Netflix documentary series Working: What We Do All Day. The 44th president is the defending champion in that category, after winning in 2022 for narrating the Netflix series Our Great National Parks.
Michelle Obama scored an Emmy nomination of her own as executive producer of The Light We Carry: Michelle Obama & Oprah Winfrey. Recognition for that Netflix project comes in the category Outstanding Hosted Nonfiction Series or Special. Oprah is nominated for hosting the show. Helping to keep the peace in the Obama household, the former president and first lady won’t be going head to head for Emmys.
The Obamas are no stranger to entertainment industry awards. Michelle Obama has won two Childrens and Family Emmy Awards. And she previously won a Grammy for narrating...
Ex-President Obama earned a nomination this morning as Outstanding Narrator for his work on the Netflix documentary series Working: What We Do All Day. The 44th president is the defending champion in that category, after winning in 2022 for narrating the Netflix series Our Great National Parks.
Michelle Obama scored an Emmy nomination of her own as executive producer of The Light We Carry: Michelle Obama & Oprah Winfrey. Recognition for that Netflix project comes in the category Outstanding Hosted Nonfiction Series or Special. Oprah is nominated for hosting the show. Helping to keep the peace in the Obama household, the former president and first lady won’t be going head to head for Emmys.
The Obamas are no stranger to entertainment industry awards. Michelle Obama has won two Childrens and Family Emmy Awards. And she previously won a Grammy for narrating...
- 7/12/2023
- by Matthew Carey
- Deadline Film + TV
Some of the biggest stars in Hollywood can call themselves Emmy nominees this year, including Oscar winner Jessica Chastain, three-time 2023 nominee Pedro Pascal, next-generation talents like Jenna Ortega and Ayo Edebiri, and many, many others – particularly those actors fortunate enough to star on “Succession,” “The Last of Us,” and “The White Lotus.”
But a deep dive into the entire list of 2023 Emmy Award nominees reveals some surprising names, some of whom are first-time nominees after long and successful careers. Ahead, some stars you didn’t know were Emmy nominees this year.
Al Yankovic, “Weird: The Al Yankovic Story”
Angela Bassett, “Good Night Oppy” (Narrator)
Barack Obama, “Working: What We Do All Day” (Narrator)
Ben Schwartz, “Die Hart 2” (Outstanding Actor In A Short Form Comedy Or Drama Series)
Colleen Atwood, “Wednesday” (Outstanding Contemporary Costumes For A Series)
Ed Sheeran, “Ted Lasso” (Original Music and Lyrics)
Hans Zimmer, “Prehistoric Planet” (Outstanding...
But a deep dive into the entire list of 2023 Emmy Award nominees reveals some surprising names, some of whom are first-time nominees after long and successful careers. Ahead, some stars you didn’t know were Emmy nominees this year.
Al Yankovic, “Weird: The Al Yankovic Story”
Angela Bassett, “Good Night Oppy” (Narrator)
Barack Obama, “Working: What We Do All Day” (Narrator)
Ben Schwartz, “Die Hart 2” (Outstanding Actor In A Short Form Comedy Or Drama Series)
Colleen Atwood, “Wednesday” (Outstanding Contemporary Costumes For A Series)
Ed Sheeran, “Ted Lasso” (Original Music and Lyrics)
Hans Zimmer, “Prehistoric Planet” (Outstanding...
- 7/12/2023
- by Christopher Rosen
- Gold Derby
Oscar-winning costume designer Colleen Atwood, prosthetic makeup artist Barrie Gower, and composers Hans Zimmer, Nicholas Britell and Danny Elfman were among the industry heavyweights who landed Creative Arts Emmy nominations on Wednesday morning.
Four-time Oscar winner Atwood landed her second Emmy nomination in the outstanding contemporary costumes for Tim Burton’s “Wednesday.” Speaking about her work on the show and about recreating the icon Morticia Addams’ costumes, Atwood said, “We reinvented look with this silver fabric on the side, which was bonded to the black, twisted and sewn over. The dress had a more contemporary shape to it. I think we honored the previous versions of Morticia that had come before.
Britell, who won an Emmy in 2019 for outstanding original main title theme music for “Succession” landed three nominations. The composer was recognized for his main title music and original dramatic score work on Disney+’s “Andor.” He also landed a nomination for “Succession.
Four-time Oscar winner Atwood landed her second Emmy nomination in the outstanding contemporary costumes for Tim Burton’s “Wednesday.” Speaking about her work on the show and about recreating the icon Morticia Addams’ costumes, Atwood said, “We reinvented look with this silver fabric on the side, which was bonded to the black, twisted and sewn over. The dress had a more contemporary shape to it. I think we honored the previous versions of Morticia that had come before.
Britell, who won an Emmy in 2019 for outstanding original main title theme music for “Succession” landed three nominations. The composer was recognized for his main title music and original dramatic score work on Disney+’s “Andor.” He also landed a nomination for “Succession.
- 7/12/2023
- by Jazz Tangcay
- Variety Film + TV
Former U.S. President Barack Obama scored his second Emmy nomination Wednesday, for the Netflix docuseries Working: What We Do All Day, which he starred in and was nominated for in the category of best narrator.
The show saw Barack and the series’ filmmakers interviewing workers in three different sectors — hospitality, home care and tech — to explore what a typical workday is like in each of those industries and the main challenges faced.
Working comes from the former president and first lady Michelle Obama’s production company Higher Ground, which struck a content deal with Netflix in 2018 to produce films and television series for the streaming giant.
The former first lady was also nominated for the first time, for outstanding hosted nonfiction series or special, The Light We Carry: Michelle Obama & Oprah Winfrey, sharing her nomination with Oprah Winfrey. In The Light We Carry, Michelle sat down with Winfrey for...
The show saw Barack and the series’ filmmakers interviewing workers in three different sectors — hospitality, home care and tech — to explore what a typical workday is like in each of those industries and the main challenges faced.
Working comes from the former president and first lady Michelle Obama’s production company Higher Ground, which struck a content deal with Netflix in 2018 to produce films and television series for the streaming giant.
The former first lady was also nominated for the first time, for outstanding hosted nonfiction series or special, The Light We Carry: Michelle Obama & Oprah Winfrey, sharing her nomination with Oprah Winfrey. In The Light We Carry, Michelle sat down with Winfrey for...
- 7/12/2023
- by Hilton Dresden
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Barack Obama on Thursday expressed his support for the Writers Guild of America as their strike nears its second month. At the start of a LinkedIn livestream event promoting his new Netflix docuseries “Working: What We Do All Day,” the former president spoke of the importance of writers in the entertainment industry.
“I know there are many studios and streamers who feel a little bit embattled and there’s been a little bit too much of a glut of product and they’re looking at their bottom line and their experiencing shareholder pressure, etc, but the fact is, is that they wouldn’t be around if it weren’t for writers creating the stories that matter,” Obama said to host Ira Glass.
“My hope is that as somebody who’s really supportive of the Writer’s Guild and as someone who just believes in storytelling and the craft of it,...
“I know there are many studios and streamers who feel a little bit embattled and there’s been a little bit too much of a glut of product and they’re looking at their bottom line and their experiencing shareholder pressure, etc, but the fact is, is that they wouldn’t be around if it weren’t for writers creating the stories that matter,” Obama said to host Ira Glass.
“My hope is that as somebody who’s really supportive of the Writer’s Guild and as someone who just believes in storytelling and the craft of it,...
- 5/26/2023
- by Mason Bissada
- The Wrap
Former President Barack Obama showed his support for the Writers Guild of America (WGA) during a livestream event on Thursday to promote his new Netflix docuseries, Working: What We Do All Day.
During the live-streamed interview with Ira Glass on LinkedIn, Obama opened with prepared remarks on his support for the Writers Guild of America (WGA), whose members have been on strike for the past four weeks.
“I know there are many studios and streamers who feel a little bit embattled and there’s been a little bit too much...
During the live-streamed interview with Ira Glass on LinkedIn, Obama opened with prepared remarks on his support for the Writers Guild of America (WGA), whose members have been on strike for the past four weeks.
“I know there are many studios and streamers who feel a little bit embattled and there’s been a little bit too much...
- 5/26/2023
- by Charisma Madarang
- Rollingstone.com
The Writers Guild of America is getting even more Oval Office support.
First it was Joe Biden, and now Barack Obama has offered backing to striking scribes — again
Expanding on comments he made online back on May 17 when his Working: What We Do All Day docuseries on Netflix, the 44th Potus started off a livestream sit-down with Ira Glass by reading a prepared statement on the WGA Strike that started on May 2.
Credit: Netflix
In that thoughtful manner that exemplified his two-terms in the White House, President Obama today said:
Part of what this show Working is about is how certain things are constant about the work experience. People trying to find work that’s satisfying, people trying to pay the bills.
Unfortunately, one of the things that’s also been constant is the struggle for people to make sure their employers are treating them fairly and they’re getting...
First it was Joe Biden, and now Barack Obama has offered backing to striking scribes — again
Expanding on comments he made online back on May 17 when his Working: What We Do All Day docuseries on Netflix, the 44th Potus started off a livestream sit-down with Ira Glass by reading a prepared statement on the WGA Strike that started on May 2.
Credit: Netflix
In that thoughtful manner that exemplified his two-terms in the White House, President Obama today said:
Part of what this show Working is about is how certain things are constant about the work experience. People trying to find work that’s satisfying, people trying to pay the bills.
Unfortunately, one of the things that’s also been constant is the struggle for people to make sure their employers are treating them fairly and they’re getting...
- 5/25/2023
- by Dominic Patten
- Deadline Film + TV
Former President Barack Obama opened Netflix’s livestream event for his new docuseries, “Working: What We Do All Day,” on Thursday with a more aggressive statement of support for the Writers Guild of America (WGA) than what he initially said in solidarity with the ongoing writers strike.
Before the panel, which aired on LinkedIn at 5 p.m. Et/2 p.m. Pt, got underway, moderator Ira Glass revealed Obama had prepared remarks he wanted to deliver about the WGA’s work stoppage, which is currently in its fourth week.
“Part of what this show ‘Working’ is about is how certain things are constant about the work experience. People trying to find work that’s satisfying, people trying to pay the bills,” Obama said. “Unfortunately one of the things that’s also been constant is the struggle for people to make sure their employers are treating them fairly and they’re getting...
Before the panel, which aired on LinkedIn at 5 p.m. Et/2 p.m. Pt, got underway, moderator Ira Glass revealed Obama had prepared remarks he wanted to deliver about the WGA’s work stoppage, which is currently in its fourth week.
“Part of what this show ‘Working’ is about is how certain things are constant about the work experience. People trying to find work that’s satisfying, people trying to pay the bills,” Obama said. “Unfortunately one of the things that’s also been constant is the struggle for people to make sure their employers are treating them fairly and they’re getting...
- 5/25/2023
- by Jennifer Maas
- Variety Film + TV
Former President Barack Obama will be participating in a live conversation Thursday to promote his latest documentary series, Working: What We Do All Day.
Obama will be joined by director Caroline Suh and documentary subjects Randi Williams, Luke Starcher, and Karthik Lakshmanan for a conversation moderated by Ira Glass.
The discussion will cover the inspiration behind the series, Obama’s passion for these topics, what makes a “good job” good, how everyday people are finding joy and purpose in their work, the challenges of today’s work landscape and how the future of work is ever-changing.
The conversation will stream live on LinkedIn at 2pm Pt / 5pm Et. To attend, click here.
Working: What We Do All Day launched on Netflix on May 17. Narrated by President Barack Obama, who makes appearances alongside everyday people in their homes and places of work, the series follows individuals at all levels of the...
Obama will be joined by director Caroline Suh and documentary subjects Randi Williams, Luke Starcher, and Karthik Lakshmanan for a conversation moderated by Ira Glass.
The discussion will cover the inspiration behind the series, Obama’s passion for these topics, what makes a “good job” good, how everyday people are finding joy and purpose in their work, the challenges of today’s work landscape and how the future of work is ever-changing.
The conversation will stream live on LinkedIn at 2pm Pt / 5pm Et. To attend, click here.
Working: What We Do All Day launched on Netflix on May 17. Narrated by President Barack Obama, who makes appearances alongside everyday people in their homes and places of work, the series follows individuals at all levels of the...
- 5/24/2023
- by Katie Campione
- Deadline Film + TV
When you debut a new movie starring a major A-lister like Jennifer Lopez on streaming, it’s likely to be successful, and that was the case with Netflix’s new action-thriller “The Mother.” It debuted atop the Netflix Top 10 (Week of May 8) viewing chart, far ahead of the second-place film “A Man Called Otto.” Read on for more analysis.
Directed by Niki Caro, Lopez’s “The Mother” hit the streamer on Friday and managed to rack up 83.7 million global viewing hours to top the English film chart over a number of non-Netflix movies. It was the #1 film in the U.S. and Canada, as well as 80 other countries, and it was in the top 10 in 93 countries total.
Tom Hanks‘ “A Man Called Otto” dropped to second place with 19.9 million hours viewed, followed by DreamWorks Animation’s 10-year-old animated film “The Croods” with 8.7 million hours viewed.
See Netflix shuts down DVD...
Directed by Niki Caro, Lopez’s “The Mother” hit the streamer on Friday and managed to rack up 83.7 million global viewing hours to top the English film chart over a number of non-Netflix movies. It was the #1 film in the U.S. and Canada, as well as 80 other countries, and it was in the top 10 in 93 countries total.
Tom Hanks‘ “A Man Called Otto” dropped to second place with 19.9 million hours viewed, followed by DreamWorks Animation’s 10-year-old animated film “The Croods” with 8.7 million hours viewed.
See Netflix shuts down DVD...
- 5/16/2023
- by Edward Douglas
- Gold Derby
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