Documentary

Trevor Noah, Gretchen Carlson, Jason Aldean Among Subjects of New PBS DocuSeries BREAKING BIG

[caption id="attachment_29108" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] Trevor Noah[/caption] Breaking Big, a 12-episode documentary series, exploring the unexpected journey to success of some of the world’s most influential artists, innovators, political leaders, athletes, authors and entrepreneurs will premiere Friday, June 15, 2018, 8:30-9:00 p.m. ET on PBS stations nationwide. Hosted by Carlos Watson, an Emmy(R) Award-winning journalist and co-founder and CEO of OZY.com, Breaking Big explores the twists and turns on the road to thriving careers for some notable figures in various fields. The series of 30-minute documentary films traces the unusual paths followed by 12 talented men and women – from country music superstar Jason Aldean and former Fox News anchor Gretchen Carlson to Oscar-winning director Lee Daniels and chef and restaurateur Eddie Huang – who overcame nearly insurmountable obstacles and long odds to reach and reimagine their own potential and, ultimately, to break big. The series will include analysis from eminent social scientists, marketing experts, film critics, book editors and others to help viewers understand the risk-taking and bold moves these journeys require. Breaking Big kicks off on June 15 with “Daily Show” star and comedian Trevor Noah as the first guest and subject. The 12 celebrities and influencers profiled in the series, in broadcast order, include: Trevor Noah – Host of “The Daily Show” on Comedy Central Eddie Huang – Chef and restaurateur, author of Fresh Off the Boat Danai Gurira – Actress and Award Winning Playwright (Black Panther, Walking Dead) Jason Aldean – Country music superstar Ruth Zukerman – Co-founder of SoulCycle and Flywheel Christian Siriano – Fashion designer Roxane Gay – Author and cultural critic Michael Strahan – Host of “Good Morning, America” and former NFL star Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand – U.S. Senator, New York Lee Daniels – Academy Award-winning director, Precious and Fox series “Empire” Gretchen Carlson – Former Fox News anchor and Miss America Carmen Yulín Cruz – Mayor of San Juan, Puerto Rico “PBS is known as the home for compelling stories that engage and inspire,” said Marie Nelson, Vice President of News and Independent Film for PBS. “We know audiences will love Breaking Big, a series that offers a compelling look at the many roads to success, pulling back the curtain on the public figures and entertainers we admire to reveal our shared humanity.” “The paths leading up to a game-changing career are varied and rarely without setbacks and lucky breaks,” said Carlos Watson, the host of the series and co-founder and CEO of OZY.com. “The series will explore the various roads to and definitions of success, examine the qualities of people who have achieved mastery in their field and, we hope, serve as inspiration to the next generation hoping to ‘break big.'” Photo Credit: Comedy Central
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HBO Sets Memorial Day Date for John McCain Documentary JOHN MCCAIN: FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS

HBO has set the debut date for and confirmed the title – John McCain: For Whom the Bell Tolls – of the previously announced documentary about Senator John Sidney McCain, III. Produced and directed by six-time Emmy(R) winner Peter Kunhardt, along with Emmy(R) winners George Kunhardt and Teddy Kunhardt, the film is described as an illuminating, exclusive profile of one of the most influential forces in modern American politics. John McCain: For Whom the Bell Tolls will debut this Memorial Day, MONDAY, MAY 28 (8:00-9:45 p.m. ET/PT) on HBO. Following more than 31 years of public service, the six-term senior Arizona senator agreed to participate in the film shortly after being diagnosed with brain cancer, providing unprecedented access to his daily life in Washington, D.C. and Sedona, Arizona. The film features interviews with family, friends, colleagues and leading political figures such as former President Barack Obama, former Vice President Joe Biden, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former Senator Joe Lieberman and former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger. Mesmerized at 12 years old by Ernest Hemingway’s “For Whom the Bell Tolls,” Sen. McCain has used the book as a guide for his life. This sweeping account draws on his own voice, culled from original interviews, commentary and speeches, archival newsreel and television footage, and previously unseen home movies and photographs. Recounting everything from his years spent as a prisoner of war during the Vietnam War to running for president, the documentary paints an important portrait of an American maverick who has never lost courage and has kept his eye on America’s most important goals. John McCain’s life is a story of triumph, defeat and resilience? – ?Six decades of, in his words, “imperfect service to my country,” in which the mistakes he made were redeemed by the risks he took and the sacrifices he made for the county he loves. “I think all of us think about death, but I think more about life,” says Sen. McCain. “There are so many days in my life that are more than coincidental. That it has made me believe that I am here for a reason. I’ve been tested on a number of occasions. I haven’t always done the right thing. And I think I understand given my family’s history and given my experiences, the important thing is not to look back and figure out all the things I should have done? – ?and there’s lots of those? – ?but to look back with gratitude. You will never talk to anyone that is as fortunate as John McCain.” McCain’s recent battle with brain cancer underscores the fighting spirit and resilience of this remarkable man, who continues to crusade for the causes he believes in, despite advancing health issues and daunting odds. Kunhardt Films’ previous HBO credits include the recent “King in the Wilderness,” the Emmy(R) winner “Jim: The James Foley Story,” the PGA nominee “The Newspaperman: The Life and Times of Ben Bradlee,” “Becoming Warren Buffett,” the Emmy(R) nominated “Nixon by Nixon: In His Own Words,” the Emmy(R) nominated “Gloria: In Her Own Words” and the Emmy(R) winner “Teddy: In His Own Words.”
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Magnolia Pictures Acquires LOVE, GILDA, Documentary on Comedian Gilda Radner, for a 2018 Release

[caption id="attachment_26877" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] Love, Gilda[/caption] Magnolia Pictures has acquired the documentary, Love, Gilda, director Lisa D’Apolito’s touching tribute to comedic trailblazer Gilda Radner and her enduring cultural impact for a planned 2018 theatrical release. Love, Gilda, which world premiered as the Opening Night Selection of the 2018 Tribeca Film Festival, uses rare personal recordings and journal entries to tell Radner’s story in her own voice. Along with interviews from those closest to her, including her brother Michael Radner and Saturday Night Live alumni Chevy Chase, Lorne Michaels, Alan Zweibel, Laraine Newman and Martin Short, Gilda’s writings are read by modern-day comedians inspired by her including Amy Poehler, Maya Rudolph, and Cecily Strong. Love, Gilda opens a unique window into the honest and whimsical world of beloved performer Gilda Radner, whose greatest role was sharing her story. Working with the Radner estate, D’Apolito unearthed a collection of diaries and personal audio and videotapes documenting her childhood, her comedy career, her relationships and ultimately, her struggles with cancer. This never-before-seen-or-heard footage and journal entries form the narrative spine of the documentary, allowing Gilda to tell her own story – through laughter and sometimes tears. “Love, Gilda is a beautiful tribute to an incandescent spirit,” said Magnolia President Eamonn Bowles. “Lisa D’Apolito has crafted an incredibly moving, inspirational look at a groundbreaking comedian.” “I am honored that Love, Gilda has been acquired by such a prestigious company as Magnolia Pictures,” said D’Apolito. “I am excited by their passion and commitment to bringing Gilda’s story to the public and I am happy the film has a home along with some of my favorite films past and present.” Directed by Lisa D’Apolito, Love, Gilda is produced by D’Apolito, Bronwyn Berry, Meryl Goldsmith, and James Tumminia. Executive producers are Edie Baskin, Christopher Clements, Amy Entelis, Julie Goldman, Meryl Goldsmith, Carolyn Hepburn, Courtney Sexton, Alan Zweibel, and Robin Zweibel. Associate producers are Griffin Lichtenson and Nina Guzman. CNN Films, which began collaboration with D’Apolito more than a year ago, retains North American broadcast rights to the film.
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See New Trailer + Poster for Islamist Terrorism Documentary PATH OF BLOOD

Here is the first trailer and official poster for Jonathan Hacker ‘s Path of Blood which depicts Islamist terrorism as it has never been seen before. The documentary is drawn from a hoard of jihadi home-movie footage that was captured by Saudi security services. A powerful and sometimes shocking cinematic experience, Path of Blood reveals how brainwashed youths, fuelled by idealism and the misguided pursuit of adventure, can descend into madness and carnage. The raw, unvarnished footage, to which the filmmakers negotiated exclusive access, captures young thrill-seekers at a jihadi “boot camp” deep in the Saudi desert, having signed on to overthrow the Saudi government. They plot to detonate car bombs in downtown Riyadh, become embroiled in a game of cat-and-mouse with government forces and, as their plans unravel, resort to ever more brutal tactics. Path of Blood will open theatrically on Friday, July 13 at the IFC CENTER in New York and Friday, July 20 at the LAEMMLE MUSIC HALL in Los Angeles with a national release to follow.
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Documentary on Nigerian School Girls in the Year After Their May 2017 Release from Captivity, To Debut This Fall on HBO

Today marks the one-year anniversary of the release of 82 of the 276 Nigerian school girls who were kidnapped in 2014 from a school in Chibok, Northern Nigeria, and hidden in the vast Sambisa forest for three years, by Boko Haram, a violent Islamic insurgent movement. This fall, HBO Documentary Films will present the revealing film Stolen Daughters: Kidnapped by Boko Haram, telling the story of the girls’ time in captivity and following their lives over the past year. Granted exclusive access to the freed girls, who upon their release last year were taken to a secret government safe house in the capitol of Abuja, the film shows how the young women are adapting to life after their traumatic imprisonment and how the Nigerian government is handling their re-entry into society. Following a global social media campaign with the hashtag #BringBackOurGirls, featuring global celebrities such as Michelle Obama, huge pressure was brought to bear on the Nigerian Government to get the girls back. Four years later, more than 100 of the girls have been freed. Stolen Daughters: Kidnapped by Boko Haram chronicles reunions with family members they have not seen since they were kidnapped, as well as their process of coming to terms with what has happened to them. The kidnapped girls, known as “The Chibok Girls,” are required to live in a protected environment, where contact with the outside world is severely limited, although they are provided with education and counselling. As the film documents, they eventually progress to a residential, government-funded program at the American University of Nigeria. Their fate could not be more different than that of thousands of other Nigerian women and girls who have fallen prey to Boko Haram and are known as the “Forgotten Girls”. In the northeastern city of Maiduguri, which has been the site of numerous attacks by Boko Haram and remains extremely volatile, some of the “Forgotten Girls” share deeply disturbing stories of their abduction and treatment at the hands of the terrorist group? – ?and eventual escape from captivity. Their troubles haven’t ended with their escape from the Sambisa forest, however. With female suicide bombers having killed scores of people in the city, they are often treated with suspicion because of their connection to Boko Haram. “Forgotten Girls” enjoy none of the privileges afforded “The Chibok Girls.” Many live hand-to-mouth in the slums and refugee camps, abandoned by the Nigerian state, but are determined to tell their stories and move forward with their lives, despite the obstacles.
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THE DOCTOR FROM INDIA, Fascinating Story of Holistic Health Pioneer Dr. Vasant Lad, Opens June 1 in NY [Trailer]

From acclaimed director Jeremy Frindel (One Track Heart: The Story of Krishna Das) comes The Doctor From India, a meditative and immersive portrait of the life and work of Dr. Vasant Lad, the holistic health pioneer who first brought the ancient medical practice of Ayurveda from India to the west in the late 1970s. A Zeitgeist Films release in association with Kino Lorber, the film will have a week-long theatrical release at The Quad in New York starting June 1. Dr. Lad will be making a rare trip to New York City and will make appearances for Q&As after screenings on opening weekend at The Quad. He will also be at a special presentation and talk for the film on Saturday, June 2 at 4:00 p.m. at Symphony Space. Integrating his gifts as both a healer and a mystic, Dr. Lad has dedicated his life to sharing what is considered the oldest healthcare system on earth in the complex medical landscape of the United States. This is the beautiful and inspiring story of a man who has for decades been quietly at the center of a revolutionary movement to change the way we care for our bodies and our spirits. With an elegant musical score by Rachel Grimes, The Doctor From India features appearances by Deepak Chopra, Robert Svoboda, David Frawley, and Claudia Welch. Ayurveda is considered by many scholars to be the oldest healing science still in practice. In Sanskrit, Ayurveda translates roughly to “The Science of Life.” Ayurveda is the art of daily living in harmony with the laws of nature. Working through entirely natural means to maintain the health of a healthy person, and to heal the disease of an unhealthy person. Ayurveda is not a passive therapy but rather asks each individual to take responsibility for his or her own health through their diet, relationships and activities, and to take simple actions towards prevention, self-healing and growth towards fulfillment. Vasant Lad is considered one of the preeminent Ayurvedic practitioners and teachers in the world. In 1984, he founded the Ayurvedic Institute in New Mexico, the first Ayurveda school in the U.S. He has written numerous books, including Ayurveda: The Science of Self Healing considered a classic in the field and one of the most widely read books on Ayurveda. He is currently based in both Albuquerque, New Mexico and Pune, India. Jeremy Frindel (Director/Producer/Editor) is the founder of Substratum Films, specializing in cinematic portraiture exploring the resilience and majesty of the human spirit. In 2013 Jeremy released his first feature film, One Track Heart: The Story of Krishna Das. Distributed by Zeitgeist Films, the film screened theatrically across the U.S., and won the Best Documentary prize at the Maui, Dharamsala and Gold Coast Film Festivals among others. Jeremy is in post-production now on his next project Spacefox, a feature documentary following the reinvention of Marty Friedman from lead guitarist in Megadeth to one of the most famous TV comedians in Japan. The Doctor From India is his second feature release. “One of the most exciting things for me in setting off on a new project is the discovery and immersion into a world,” said director Jeremy Frindel. “It was highly intriguing for me to explore the synthesis of deep listening and intuition with medical care. Very quickly it became clear that this would not be a film that focused too heavily on Ayurveda though. What was most exciting to me was the quality of presence that Dr. Lad brought to his patients and students. The way he transformed a room and opened people’s hearts, and the profound healing power within that.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dh8zXbb_ce0
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Jonathan Olshefski’s Award-Winning Documentary ‘QUEST’ to Open 31st Season of PBS series POV [Trailer]

[caption id="attachment_19922" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] Quest[/caption] QUEST, Jonathan Olshefski’s award-winning documentary – a decade in the making – that reveals an intimate portrait of a black family in North Philadelphia, will have its national television debut on PBS series POV on June 18 at 10 PM opening the historic 31st Season of the longest-running independent documentary series on American television. For his debut documentary, QUEST, director Jonathan Olshefski spent nearly a decade chronicling the daily triumphs and tragedies of the Raineys, a working class African-American family in North Philadelphia. The vérité film opens with a shot inside the family’s modest North Philly row home. PJ, who wants to follow in the musical footsteps of her Dad, is drumming on the windowsill. It’s election season in 2009 and while frying bacon for breakfast Mom Christine’a is telling the story of how someone in the neighborhood yelled out, “Vote for McCain!” “You know he didn’t say that around the polls,” she adds. Chris, on the phone with a friend, asks, “You vote for Obama? We know where you live at.” In the next scene, Chris is returning from the polls, and in another phone conversation he happily reports, “There was a line for the first time in umpteen years down here.” Thanks in part to the massive black voter turnout, Barack Obama became the first African-American President of the United States and served two terms. QUEST was filmed during the “Yes We Can” years and the Rainey family is a living, breathing example of the audacity of hope the 44th president spoke of. The award-winning independent film offers an intimate portrait of a black American family not often seen. Both Chris and Christine’a have children from previous relationships and we witness the committed couple and parents make their union official with a simple church ceremony. “In our minds we were already married you know. Just being together throughout the years and knowing that we both wanted the same things in life…,” Chris says as his wife lovingly braids his hair. “We were both tired of the BS and the crap, that’s for sure. Anytime you turn around you see couples going through arguments, people cheating on each other, just doing each other wrong. And both of us have been down that road so many times in our past lives, that when we actually did hook up and get together and start talking to each other, we came to the equal conclusion that it’s not worth it, you know. You just need one person to love.” Another tender scene shows Chris taking PJ to school on a tandem bike. “I’ll be here when you get out,” he says as he drops her off. The viewer also witnesses tough moments like Christine’a comforting her older son William, who is diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumor at the same time he is expecting his first child, and the visibly scarred Christine’a discussing her own brush with death in a fire. Because the neighborhood where the Rainey’s live is riddled with violence, PJ has a 6 p.m. curfew. “A lot of people say their neighborhoods are tough but North Philly is definitely a tough neighborhood. PJ, you know, has a curfew. She has to be in at a reasonable time, she’s rebellious about it but doesn’t disobey me,” Chris says. Chris is an attentive father and he tries to shield his daughter from harm. So it’s heartbreaking when we learn that PJ (at age 13), was struck by a stray bullet and nearly killed while walking home from the basketball court. As a result of the shooting, she loses and eye and undergoes surgery for a prosthetic eye. “Like she’s blaming herself for getting shot. I’m blaming myself ya mean be out here,” Chris says breaking down. “When I see my child bleeding from her face saying I’m sorry for getting shot, what do you say to that?” QUEST follows the Raineys as they face odds that would cripple and tear apart another family, but they overcome each obstacle together with grace and dignity. The Raineys’ story is a quest for survival, equal opportunity, and a testament of the resilience of the human spirit.
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Awards
WINNER – Truer Than Fiction Award at the 2018 Independent Spirit Awards WINNER – Outstanding Achievement in Editing at the 2018 Cinema Eye Honors WINNER – Reva and David Logan Grand Jury Award | Full Frame Documentary Film Festival WINNER – Kathleen Bryan Edwards Award for Human Rights | Full Frame Documentary Film Festival WINNER – Grand Jury Award for Best Feature Documentary | Dallas International Film Festival WINNER – Grand Jury Award for Best Feature Documentary | RiverRun International Film Festival WINNER – Les Blank Award: Grand Jury Award for Best Feature Documentary | Ashland Independent Film Festival WINNER – People’s Voice Award | Fist Up Film Festival WINNER – Audience Award | Camden International Film Festival WINNER – Best Documentary Feature | Baltimore International Black Film Festival WINNER – Best U.S. Documentary | Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival WINNER – Documentary Jury Award | Milwaukee Film Festival WINNER – Silver Gateway Award for Second Best Film | Mumbai Film Festival WINNER – Critic’s Choice Award | Key West Film Festival
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History Docu Series HUNTING ISIS Follows American Volunteer Fighters Embedded with Local Militias in Syria and Iraq

In the original documentary series, “Hunting ISIS,” History follows a group of veteran and civilian volunteers who travel to Syria and Iraq to fight against ISIS alongside local militias. The 6-episode series premieres on Tuesday, May 29 at 10pm ET/PT. Following its broadcast on History, the series will air on Viceland on Sunday, June 3 at 10pm ET/PT. ” The terrorist organization known as ISIS emerged as a menace in the Middle East years before most in the West took notice of their attacks abroad. More brutal than Al Qaeda before them, ISIS took advantage of chaos caused by Syria’s still-raging Civil War and the United States’ withdrawal from Iraq to recruit heavily in the region. In 2014, the world watched as they swept across Iraq and Syria, capturing wide territories and ruthlessly killing or enslaving anyone who showed signs of resistance as they declared themselves the “Islamic State.” Local forces backed by a U.S.-led coalition of western military powers began fighting back, but progress has taken years. Not content to sit back and watch ISIS devastate the Middle East from afar, scores of western volunteers have since traveled to region to join the fight against the terrorist group. Through the eyes of American fighters embedded with the Kurdish YPG militia in Syria, and medics supporting a coalition of local forces in Iraq, “Hunting ISIS” follows these men as they begin the difficult push to retake ISIS’ capital cities. Completely unpaid and unsupported by their governments, western volunteers have many reasons for joining the fight. Some are military veterans craving the familiar adrenaline rush and brotherhood of combat, who shoulder a sense of unfinished business in the Middle East. Some are civilians eager to test their mettle while searching for a greater purpose. All are united in their determination to defend the innocent and end the atrocities being committed by ISIS. With unprecedented access, this documentary series witnesses their unique role in one of the defining conflicts of our time, exploring what’s driving these men to war. Filmmaker and award-winning photographer Sebastiano Tomada built his career documenting conflict in some of the world’s most volatile warzones. “Hunting ISIS” is the culmination of over two years embedded in the trenches in Iraq and Syria, granting visceral, intimate access to the front lines of the war against ISIS and those individuals who give up everything to fight it.
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ROBIN WILLIAMS: COME INSIDE MY MIND, Intimate Documentary on Comedy Genius, to Premiere on HBO in July

A funny, intimate and heartbreaking portrait of one of the world’s most beloved and inventive comedians, Robin Williams: Come Inside My Mind will debut Monday, July 16, exclusively on HBO. Told largely through Williams’ own words, the film celebrates what he brought to comedy and to the culture at large, from the wild days of late-1970s L.A. to his death in 2014. Marina Zenovich (Emmy(R) winner for HBO’s “Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired”) directs. Robin Williams: Come Inside My Mind explores his extraordinary life and career, revealing what drove him to give voice to the characters in his mind. With previously unheard and unseen glimpses into his creative process through interviews with Williams, as well as home movies and onstage footage, this insightful tribute features in-depth interviews with those who knew and loved him, including Billy Crystal, Eric Idle, Whoopi Goldberg, David Letterman, Steve Martin, Pam Dawber and his son, Zak Williams. The documentary underscores what made Williams so unique, ranging from his youthful days in the San Francisco Bay area, to his time in New York at The Juilliard School, to his rocket-propelled fame on TV’s “Mork & Mindy,” to his profound impact on the American cultural landscape. Such career high points as his landmark comedy show at the Metropolitan Opera, his Broadway debut in “Waiting for Godot,” his Academy Award(R)-winning performance in “Good Will Hunting” and his classic confessional bits about his alcohol and drug issues and 2009 heart surgery capture the spark that made him stand out across four decades in entertainment. Williams’ tragic death in 2014, which revealed he had been suffering from the disease Lewy Body Dementia, left fans around the world heartbroken. The genius of Robin Williams lay in his ability to make a room, a comedy club, a concert hall or the whole world laugh. Family, friends and film crews often saw a man who wasn’t happy unless everyone else was having a good time? – ?but the dualities Williams embodied were present inside him at all times. Robin Williams: Come Inside My Mind is produced by Alex Gibney and Shirel Kozak; executive producers, David Steinberg, Kristen Vaurio and Marina Zenovich; directed by Marina Zenovich. For HBO: senior producer, Nancy Abraham; executive producer, Sheila Nevins.
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HBO Starts Production on Docu Series Based on Michelle Mcnamara’s Book on ‘Golden State Killer’

HBO Documentary Films is now in production on a documentary series based on the bestselling true crime book “I’ll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman’s Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer,” by Michelle McNamara. Academy Award(R) nominee and Emmy(R) winner Liz Garbus (HBO’s “Nothing Left Unsaid: Gloria Vanderbilt & Anderson Cooper”; HBO’s “There’s Something Wrong with Aunt Diane”; “What Happened, Miss Simone?”) is directing. Journalist Michelle McNamara was determined to find the violent psychopath she dubbed “The Golden State Killer,” who terrorized California in the late ’70s and early ’80s, committing 50 home-invasion sexual assaults and ten murders. He then disappeared for more than three decades, eluding multiple police forces and some of the best detectives in the area. On Tuesday, April 24, 2018, the Sacramento Sheriff’s Office arrested former police officer Joseph James DeAngelo at his home in a nearby suburb, identifying him through DNA evidence as the notorious serial killer and charging him with a number of the crimes. “I’ll Be Gone in the Dark” is a comprehensive exploration of the case of an elusive, violent predator by McNamara, who died suddenly while investigating the unsolved crimes. It is also a haunting personal memoir and self-examination of McNamara’s obsessive quest for justice on behalf of the victims and survivors of the crimes. Framed by an introduction by Gillian Flynn and afterword by McNamara’s husband, Patton Oswalt, the book was completed by McNamara’s lead researcher, Paul Haynes, and a close colleague, Billy Jenkins. Published earlier this year, the book debuted at #1 on the New York Times combined print and e-book bestseller list. “I’ll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman’s Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer” was hailed by the New York Times as “a vivid and meticulous investigation” and “a wrenching personal account from a writer who became consumed by her subject.”
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Jennifer Hudson to Sing Title Anthem ‘I’ll Fight’ for RBG Documentary [Trailer]

Academy Award, Golden Globe, and Grammy Award-winning actress and singer Jennifer Hudson will sing “I’ll Fight,” the stirring, powerful anthem for RBG, a documentary about the life and legal legacy of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. The original song is written and arranged by the Grammy, Emmy, and Golden Globe-winning, and 9-time Academy Award-nominated, songwriter Diane Warren. The song will be released by Epic Records on Friday, May 4, to coincide with the domestic release of the film. The music single, “I’ll Fight,” sung by Jennifer Hudson, will be available wherever music is sold. RBG is told through the voices of Ginsburg’s friends, former clients and colleagues, and includes interviews with historic figures and her family, including Gloria Steinem, Eugene Scalia, NPR’s Nina Totenberg, Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT), Lilly Ledbetter, and others. In recent years, Justice Ginsburg, now approaching her 25th year of service on the U.S. Supreme Court in the summer of 2018, has also become an intergenerational pop culture icon. West’s and Cohen’s extraordinary access for the film includes interviews with Justice Ginsburg that are interwoven with never-before-seen home movies, images, and scenes from her career achievements and her private life. Throughout the film, there is an exploration of her decades-long romance with her husband, the late Martin Ginsburg, whom she credits with making her contributions to American life possible. “Last year, I wrote, ‘Stand Up For Something’ for Marshall, the film about U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall. Now, I have written a song, ‘I’ll Fight,’ for another legendary Supreme Court Justice, Ruth Bader Ginsburg. It has been an honor to write a song about such a badass, inspiring, and iconic woman. And, it’s a dream-come-true to have my friend, Jennifer Hudson, one of the greatest voices on the planet, sing this song,” said Warren. Bonnie Greenberg, executive music producer for RBG, collaborated with the production to ensure that the anthem would enhance and support the visual images of the film. Greenberg brought in Diane Warren to write the inspirational song, ‘I’ll Fight;’ Jennifer Hudson’s soaring vocals make the anthem transformational. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=biIRlcQqmOc RBG is directed and produced by award-winning filmmakers Betsy West and Julie Cohen and is co-produced by Storyville Films and CNN Films. RBG is executive produced by Amy Entelis and Courtney Sexton of CNN Films; the film premiered to critical acclaim at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival, where it was acquired by Magnolia Pictures and Participant Media for worldwide distribution, including theatrical, home video, SVOD, and international television. CNN Films has U.S. broadcast rights to the film.
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SERVED LIKE A GIRL Chronicling Female Veterans Competing for Ms. Veteran America to Premiere on PBS on Memorial Day [Trailer]

Served Like a Girl, directed by Lysa Heslov, is a powerful and poignant look at a group of diverse female veterans as they transition from active duty to civilian life after serving tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan. Struggling with PTSD, homelessness, broken families, serious illness, physical injuries, and military sexual abuse, these inspiring women find ways to adapt to the challenges they face through participation in the “Ms. Veteran America” competition. Guided by event founder and veteran Major Jas Boothe, the women work hard to prepare for the competition, and, in the process, recover parts of their identities they had lost on the battlefield. Filled with humor and heart in equal measures, Served Like a Girl premieres on Independent Lens on Memorial Day, Monday, May 28, 2018, 10:00-11:30 PM ET on PBS. Wounded U.S. female service personnel often return home to a stark reality; many face debilitating emotional, social and economic challenges. The Ms. Veteran America competition was established in 2012 to encourage women veterans to recognize and support their sisters as they return to civilian life. More than a vehicle for shared recovery, the competition’s main mission is to raise funds and awareness for America’s 55,000 homeless women veterans, a goal that resonates strongly with the women profiled in the film. Served Like a Girl features: Sergeant Nichole Alred served six years in the Army as a mechanic, including one tour in Kuwait and two in Iraq. Nichole joined the Army as a single mother in an effort to give her son a better life. Nichole and her mother share a special relationship; her mother was her biggest supporter during both her time in the military and in the Ms. Veteran America competition. Nichole lives in Alabama with her husband. Major Jas Boothe is a Chicago native, disabled veteran, cancer survivor, and international speaker who served 17 years in the Army. She founded Final Salute in 2010 and the Ms. Veteran America competition in 2012, which have collectively raised over $2 million and assisted over 3600 women veterans and children in over 30 states and territories. In honor of her leadership and positive impact on the community, Boothe has been recognized by Oprah Winfrey, Toyota, People Magazine, CNN Heroes, and the Department of Defense. She lives in Northern Virginia. Lieutenant Commander Rachel Engler is second-generation Navy on both her mother and father’s side. A former NFL cheerleader and a registered nurse, she received her officer’s commission straight out of college and deployed to Afghanistan. In 2011, she was diagnosed with a chronic neuromuscular illness called Myasthenia Gravis, a condition that still affects her life today, but which hasn’t slowed her volunteer work on behalf of her fellow veterans. She lives in Arlington, Virginia. Master-at-Arms First Class Hope Garcia served ten years in the Navy before being placed on the Permanent Disability Retired list. She struggles with PTSD and the trauma resulting from military sexual assault. But Hope continues to work for a better life for herself and her sons. At the time of filming Hope was working her way through school while attempting to build a career as a pin-up model. Through participating in the Ms. Veteran America competition, Hope was reunited with her mother and the two were able to start rebuilding their relationship. She lives in Los Angeles. Master Sergeant Denyse Gordon comes from a family with a long and proud history of military and civic service. Her maternal grandfather served during WWII, her stepfather was a Vietnam- era veteran and served in the U.S. Navy, her sister is a U.S. Army Reserve Captain who is a veteran of both the Gulf War and Operation Enduring/Iraqi Freedom, her mother retired as an Executive Officer with the New York City Police Department Traffic Division, and Denyse, who is also an Operation Enduring/Iraqi Freedom combat veteran, is a 22-and-a-half-year U.S. Air Force Reserves Master Sergeant, having served 12 years on active duty. In 2012, she was crowned the first Ms. Veteran America and continues with the competition as its director. She lives in Northern Virginia. Specialist Marissa Strock lost both lower legs in 2005, when an IED detonated beneath her Army Humvee outside Baghdad. Three of the five people on board were killed, and Marissa spent weeks in a medically induced coma. After competing in Ms. Veteran America 2013 and taking home three trophies, including one for significant military achievement, this self-proclaimed “glamputee” has served as the event’s master of ceremonies in subsequent years. She has an impressive collection of fabulous shoes and refuses to let the loss of her legs slow her down. She lives in West Bloomfield, Michigan. Sergeant Andrea Waterbury enlisted in the Army two days after 9/11 and was deployed in Iraq for two years starting in 2003. A dynamic, small-town woman and divorced mother of four, she works as the Cavalier Cadet Corp instructor at Chillicothe High School in Ohio and continues to serve proudly in the Army Reserves. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLRDXIXm1HA Image: Denyse Gordon, Joanne Makay, Hope Garcia, Rachel Engler, Jas Boothe, Nichole Alred and Andrea Waterbury – INDEPENDENT LENS “Served Like a Girl”
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