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The USC School of Cinematic Arts has announced that Miky Lee will deliver the 20024 Commencement address.

James Gray, director, writer, and Sca alumnus, will receive the Mary Pickford Alumni Award at the graduation ceremony at the Shrine Auditorium on Friday, May 10, 2024.

“Miky Lee is a true pioneer and ambassador of collaborative global filmmaking, and we are so happy to have her share her insight and expertise with our graduating students,” Elizabeth M. Daley, Dean of the USC School of Cinematic Arts, said in a statement. “Miky works across borders, cultures, and genres, and champions the kinds of projects our students aspire to creating. We are so pleased she agreed to be this year’s graduation speaker.”

Sca alumnus Jon M. Chu, who graduated in 2003 with a Bfa in film & television production, will speak at this year’s main, university-wide commencement ceremony at 8:30 a.m. at Alumni Park.

As Commencement Speaker,...

After watching the Disney+ docuseries “The Imagineering Story” in 2019, Warner Bros. executives approached Leslie Iwerks about documenting their studio’s history.

“They said, ‘We’d like you to tell honest stories about us,” recalls the Oscar-nominated director, granddaughter of Mickey Mouse designer Ub Iwerks.

Three years later, Iwerks has two docs out about Warner Bros.: The first, “100 Years of Warner Bros.,” which pays homage to the output of the studio over the past century, debuted on Max in May, the same month that the series premiered at the Cannes Film Festival. The director’s sophomore documentary for Warner Bros. Discovery, “Superpowered: The DC Story,” arrives July 20 on Max. The three-part series, which Iwerks co-directed with Mark A. Catalena, is a deep dive into the history and legacy of DC Comics, home to superheroes including Batman and Superman. The series also details the rivalry between DC and Marvel.

Narrated by Rosario Dawson,...

Superpowered: The DC Story explores the history of DC Comics, tracking the many peaks and valleys of the company's long history. The docuseries explores the great successes of one of the biggest comic book companies in the world, including the creation of some of the most popular characters ever, including Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman, as well as the company's expansion into television and film. The series also touches on some of the low points in DC's history, including the scandals surrounding creators such as Bill Finger and the rise of some of their biggest competitors, like Marvel.

Superpowered: The DC Story is a three-episode docuseries helmed by Leslie Iwerks and Mark A. Catalena. Superpowered: The DC Story includes archival footage of some of the most influential names in DC Comics, some of which has never been seen before. The docuseries also features interviews with some of the biggest names...

Speeding to Max on the heels of The Flash, Superpowered: The DC Story hopes to keep momentum for the noueveau-dceu supercharged. Given the underperformance of that film as the latest in an ongoing series of public embarrassments of the brand under the leadership of Warner Bros.-Discovery CEO David Zaslav, the three hour docuseries arrives at a moment when DC needs some heroism.

Luckily for Zaslav, the show succeeds for the most part. Superpowered’s first episode retraces the beginnings of DC Comics as part of the pulp fiction movement of the 1930s. The publisher’s three iconic characters — Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman — all have their origin stories retold, and in a way that breaks from public narrative.

Though keen comic lovers will recall that Bob Kane received creator credit for Batman, Superpowered dives a bit further in to the story, revealing that writers Bill Finger and Jerry Robinson...

"We can't be stuck in the past. We had to take those characters and move them into the 21st century." WB / Max have unveiled a trailer for their new documentary series titled Superpowered: The DC Story, which will be streaming on Max later this month. Yet another doc made about themselves, as part of their content hype machine pointing back at itself, along with 100 Years of Warner Bros - which is also directed by Leslie Iwerks. "The ultimate origin story." Superpowered: The DC Story, a 3-part documentary about the iconic comic book company's legacy. Narrated by Rosario Dawson, it looks at the enduring & influential legacy of DC. The first episode, "The Hero's Journey," explores the original creation of DC's Trinity and the company's post-wwii struggles. The second episode, "Coming of Age," jumps forward to discuss Superman movies, DC's earliest Black superheroes, and the experimental Vertigo Comics. The third episode, "A Better Tomorrow,...

The docuseries Superpowered: The DC Story will premiere on Warner Bros. Discovery's streaming app, Max, during San Diego Comic-Con on July 20.

Regarding its long-awaited return to the showroom floor, DC Comics announced that the three-part documentary about the storied comic book company and its legacy will air for the first time at Sdcc. Superpowered will follow the history of the comic book giant, from its humble beginnings to its later foray into TV and film. Per DC’s official description, it "takes an unprecedented look at the enduring and influential legacy of DC, allowing fans to rediscover the universe of characters, as well as the iconic comic book company’s origins, its evolution and its nearly nine-decade cultural impact across every artistic medium."

Related: Rumor: Spy x Family's Studio Set to Create DC Comics Isekai Anime

Who Is Involved in the Superpowered Docuseries?

Actor Rosario Dawson, who has an extensive...

An expansive three-part DC documentary series, Superpowered: The DC Story, will explore DC's history while showcasing over 60 interviews with comic creators and filmmakers.

Warner Bros. Discovery released a full synopsis for the series in a press release. "Narrated by Rosario Dawson, Superpowered: The DC Story takes an unprecedented look at the enduring and influential legacy of DC, allowing fans to rediscover the universe of characters, as well as the iconic comic book company’s origins, its evolution, and its nearly nine-decade cultural impact across every artistic medium," the synopsis reads. "Featuring a wealth of interviews with the industry’s most prolific creators and the actors who bring their iconic characters from the page to the screen, Superpowered: The DC Story reminds us that at the heart of DC are the comics – the four-color fantasies that forever spark the imagination and instill hope."

Related: The Flash Could Lose Warner Bros. Discovery Almost $200 Million

The series,...

“Superpowered: The DC Story” is a new 3-part doc series, directed by Leslie Iwerks, streaming July 20, 2023 on Max:

“…’Superpowered: The DC Story’ features over 60 new and archival interviews from people tied to DC, including Melissa Benoist, Greg Berlanti, Tim Burton, Mike Carlin, Lynda Carter, Henry Cavill, Kaley Cuoco, Gal Gadot, James Gunn, Patty Jenkins, Dwayne Johnson, Michael Keaton, Regina King, Zoë Kravitz, Jim Lee, Zachary Levi, Damon Lindelof, Tom Mankiewicz, Jason Momoa, Christopher Nolan, Robert Pattinson, Christopher Reeve, John Ridley, Margot Robbie, Bruce Timm, Michael E. Uslan and Mark Waid.

“Narrated by Rosario Dawson, the new series takes an unprecedented look at the enduring and influential legacy of DC, allowing fans to rediscover the universe of characters, as well as the iconic comic book company's origins, its evolution and its nearly nine-decade cultural impact across every artistic medium.

“Featuring a wealth of interviews with the industry's most prolific creators and...

Superpowered: The DC Story, a three-part Max Original DC documentary series co-directed by Academy Award® and Emmy®-nominated filmmaker Leslie Iwerks and Peabody Award®-winning and Emmy®-nominated filmmaker Mark Catalena, debuts Thursday, July 20 on Max.

Narrated by Rosario Dawson, Superpowered: The DC Story takes an unprecedented look at the enduring and influential legacy of DC, allowing fans to rediscover the universe of characters, as well as the iconic comic book company’s origins, its evolution and its nearly nine-decade cultural impact across every artistic medium. Featuring a wealth of interviews with the industry’s most prolific creators and the actors who bring their iconic characters from the page to the screen, Superpowered: The DC Story reminds us that at the heart of DC are the comics – the four-color fantasies that forever spark the imagination and instill hope.

Episodes:

Episode 1: The Hero’S Journey

For over 85 years, DC has...

It’s still an open question to whether Warner Bros. will be at San Diego Comic-Con in July. But even if the company skips the event, it’ll be there in spirit via the premiere date for a new docuseries about the history of DC Comics.

“Superpowered: The DC Story,” a three-part docuseries about the storied comic book company and the movies and TV shows it inspired, will premiere on Warner Bros. Discovery’s Max streaming app on July 20. For those keeping score, that happens to be the very first day of Comic-Con 2023.

And to get into the mood, you can watch the trailer above right now.

Narrated by Rosario Dawson, the series is codirected by Leslie Iwerks and Mark Catalena. Per the official description, it “takes an unprecedented look at the enduring and influential legacy of DC, allowing fans to rediscover the universe of characters, as well as the...

“You know, it’s funny, I went to the other side of the tracks, didn’t I?” admits Leslie Iwerks as she begins talking about the four-part docuseries “100 Years of Warner Bros.: The Stuff That Dreams Are Made Of” that she directed for Max. Why the other side? Because the Oscar and Emmy nominee grew up as the daughter of longtime Disney executive Don Iwerks and granddaughter of Ub Iwerks, the Disney animation legend who worked side-by-side with Walt Disney and co-created Mickey Mouse. Yet here Leslie was tasked with putting together the ultimate history of a studio (Warner Bros.) that has long been a chief competitor of Disney. How did that happen? Her 2019 documentary “The Imagineering Story” that told the tale of Disney Imagineering came to the attention of the Warner Bros. folks. “They really liked it and asked if I could do something similar for them (to celebrate their 100th),” Iwerks says.

How do you compress 100 years of boundary-pushing filmmaking, behind-the-scenes drama and technological advancements into four hour-long installments?

This was the challenge laid out before Leslie Iwerks and her new documentary “100 Years of Warner Bros: The Stuff That Dreams Are Made Of.” Iwerks, an unparalleled documentary filmmaker who is responsible for Disney’s wonderful “The Imagineering Story,” tasked Morgan Freeman with narrating the tale of a small studio that would soon conquer Hollywood and its ever-evolving filmmaking slate, which allowed for people to escape into another world or hold a mirror up to our own.

TheWrap spoke to Iwerks about how she whittled a massive, century-long story of Hollywood mythmaking into highly digestible episodes, focusing on the storytelling rather than the corporate upheaval and what her favorite Warner Bros. movie is (hint: it’s not a doc). Iwerks was in Cannes at the time, where the film was debuting out of competition.

"They were always the studio that took risks." As part of its anniversary, Warner Bros made and released a documentary film titled 100 Years of Warner Bros. This actually just premiered in the Cannes Classics section of the 2023 Cannes Film Festival, where they usually show docs about the filmmaking industry. The doc is being released as a streaming series on Max, and is available to watch already. 100 Years of Warner Bros. takes a historical look at the powerful legacy of one of America’s leading Hollywood studios. The doc explores the origin, evolution and endurance of Warner Bros. – from a family affair to a global juggernaut – as it celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2023. Featuring legendary filmmakers, actors and executives with the vision, the moxie and the talent to create some of the most indelible stories that have made a lasting impact on the world. Directed by Academy Award and Emmy-nominated filmmaker Leslie Iwerks,...

John le Carre’s George Smiley would have spotted the tail immediately. He would have noticed the man with an earpiece far to his left move in lockstep with the chap to his right.

The early rather odd conversation with the bloke in the white shirt, exposing chest hair, who identified himself as “head of security” would have put him on his guard and seen it for what it was: a warning.

Let me back up a bit.

Snowy-haired Michel, the head doorman at Eden-Roc, greeted me when I arrived for the Air Mail-Warner Bros. Party hosted by Graydon Carter, founder and co-editor of newsletter Air Mail, and David Zaslav, the CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery.

David Zaslav chatting to a guest at the Air Mail-Warner Bros Party.Photo Bamigboye/Deadline

Guests are finishing dinner, we’re here for the after-party.

The place sure looks swell. There’s a...

Warner Bros. has long since become synonymous with Hollywood in every possible way, producing a countless number of some of the industry's most memorable films and still going as strong as ever. This year alone the company has huge features on the docket like Greta Gerwig's exceptionally vibrant Barbie adaptation, the highly anticipated Dune: Part Two sequel, Timothee Chalamet's other big feature Wonka, and the dramatic turn to Dcu 2.0 with The Flash, Blue Beetle, and Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. One upcoming project that people likely didn't expect though is a new documentary mini-series called 100 Years of Warner Bros., that will serve as a one-of-a-kind reflection of the company's tremendously profound impact on the film industry over the past century. Now, per a report from Variety, the docu-series has its release date set for May 25 on the Max streaming platform.

Related: Beetlejuice 2 Officially Announced by Warner Bros.

More than 60 actors, filmmakers and industry insiders reflect on the first 100 years of the Warner Bros. film studio in four original specials that are soon to start streaming on Max.

Martin Scorsese, Oprah Winfrey, Keanu Reeves, Todd Phillips, Patty Jenkins and George Clooney are among those sitting down for 100 Years of Warner Bros., the Leslie Iwerks-directed docuseries that features narration from Morgan Freeman. The first two specials debut May 25 on Max after premiering at the Cannes Film Festival the day prior, while the third and fourth specials will be available to stream June 1.

“The thing about Warner Bros., they were there at the very beginning — not only creating an art form but also an industry — and you had to be tough,” Scorsese says in the project’s trailer. “We all looked to Warner Bros. for films that had a special quality to them and took chances.”

The specials, which...

Warner Bros. Discovery is reaching back to its past to celebrate a century of entertainment in a new, four-part documentary series.

Narrator Morgan Freeman will guide viewers through “100 Years of Warner Bros.,” offering clips from past TV shows and films, along with takes from the directors, actors, and executives who created the magic, and commentary from journalists and historians who watched it all unfold.

The four specials trace the history from the studio’s humble founding in the early 1920s through its growth into today’s multinational entertainment giant. The first two segments will bow at the Festival de Cannes on May 24 an an Official Cannes Classics selection.

Related: 100 Years of Warner Bros: Gallery Celebrating The Milestones In Film and Television Achievement Through The Decades

The series will debut on streamer Max starting Thursday, May 25 with the first two specials, followed by the third and fourth segments on June 1 via Max.

Max has revealed the rollout plans for its four original documentary specials narrated by Morgan Freeman in honor of Warner Bros.’ 100th anniversary.

The first two specials will make their debut at Cannes on May 24 as 2023 Official Cannes Classics Selections, followed by a May 25 debut on Max. The remaining two specials will be available to stream on Max on June 1.

The “100 Years of Warner Bros.” docuseries pays homage to the output of Warner Bros. over the past century. Featuring interviews with directors, actors, executives, journalists and historians, the specials highlight everything from the studios’ early beginnings to its presence in the modern day.

Among those interviewed: Quinta Brunson, LeVar Burton, Tim Burton, George Clooney, Ellen DeGeneres, Clint Eastwood, Toby Emmerich, Morgan Freeman, Gal Gadot, Andy Garcia, Jesse Palmer, Todd Phillips, Daniel Radcliffe, Keanu Reeves, Charles Roven, Martin Scorsese, Jacqueline Stewart, Oliver Stone, Emma Thomas, Cass Warner, Oprah Winfrey and Constance Wu,...

Warner Bros. Discovery has been going all out for its 100-year anniversary, starting by reimagining classics from their catalog such as "A Star is Born" and "Rebel Without a Cause." Even beloved Warner brand TCM is getting in on the action, with a slate of remasters of classic films being announced in March of this year. And now, it looks like we're getting a full retelling of the whole Warner Bros. story, with four documentary specials set to hit the revamped Max service (which replaces HBO Max).

"100 Years of Warner Bros.," narrated by Morgan Freeman (naturally) and directed by Leslie Iwerks, will arrive starting on May 25, 2023, the same date Warner Discovery debuts the new Max service. The first two specials are set to arrive on that date, followed by the third and fourth on June 1. According to a release from the studio, the series will explore, "the impact of Warner Bros.

With HBO Max transitioning to Max on May 23, the studio is unveiling new content to entice people to check out the new combined HBO Max/Discovery+ streaming service. One such piece is “100 Years of Warner Bros.,” a four-part documentary that honors the centennial of the studio that gave us the entire Max universe.

Directed by Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Leslie Iwerks (“The Imagineering Story”), granddaughter of Disney legend Ub Iwerks, the documentary series looks at the founding of the iconic Warner Bros. studio, founded in 1923, all the way to present-day. Talking heads include a cavalcade of stars from George Clooney and Keanu Reeves, to directors Baz Luhrmann and Martin Scorsese.

The first trailer certainly whets the appetite, showcasing nearly every major Warner Bros. movie, from “The Jazz Singer” to “Elvis,” with an eye towards showing why the studio was considered an outlier in the game. The fractious relationship between the four Warner brothers themselves is discussed,...

Narrated by Morgan Freeman, Specials Feature Over 60 Interviews With Renowned Actors, Executives, And Legendary Filmmakers

From Academy Award®-Nominated Filmmaker Leslie Iwerks, 2023 Official Cannes Classics Selection To Premiere At Festival de Cannes On May 24

100 Years Of Warner Bros., four Max Original documentary specials narrated by Morgan Freeman and directed by Academy Award® and Emmy®-nominated filmmaker Leslie Iwerks, debut Thursday, May 25 with the first two specials. The third and fourth specials will stream June 1 on Max.

The first two specials will premiere at the Festival de Cannes on May 24 as a 2023 Official Cannes Classics Selection.

Logline: Exploring the impact of Warner Bros. on art, commerce and culture, 100 Years Of Warner Bros. tells the unprecedented story of the fabled entertainment studio on its 100th anniversary. Featuring insights and first-person stories from directors, actors, executives, journalists and historians, the four specials trace Warner Bros.’ underdog origins – from its founding in the early...

In keeping with tradition, the 2023 edition of Cannes Classics promises to be a feast for cineastes with tributes to global masters and restored versions of all-time classics.

Cannes Classics’ Memories of Jean-Luc Godard strand pays homage to the master who died in 2022 by screening a restored version of “Contempt” (1963); “Godard by Godard,” a self-portrait of the auteur; and the world premiere of “Phony Wars,” a trailer for a film that will never get made, described by the festival as a venture where the filmmaker “transformed his synopses into aesthetic programs.”

Liv Ullman will be present at the strand with “Liv Ullmann – A Road Less Travelled,” a documentary directed by Dheeraj Akolkar.

Japanese master Ozu Yasujiro will be paid tribute to with screenings of “Record of a Tenement Gentleman” (1947) and “The Munekata Sisters” (1950) off restored prints. “Return to Reason” – where four films of painter, photographer and director Man Ray have been...

Click here to read the full article.

Four new members have joined the Science and Technology Council of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the Academy said Wednesday.

They include cinematographer and cinematography branch governor Paul Cameron, whose credits include Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, Collateral and Man on Fire; production designer Tom Duffield, a governor in the production design branch whose credits include Patriots Day, Hell or High Water and Ed Wood; and short films and feature animation branch governor Marlon West, who is head of effects animation and a VFX supervisor at Walt Disney Feature Animation Studios. His credits include Encanto, Frozen and Hercules.

The council is also welcoming back former co-chair Paul Debevec, a computer graphics and virtual production innovator and VFX branch governor who serves as a director of research for product innovation at Netflix and is an adjunct research...

Brooke Karzen is stepping down from her post as executive vice president and head of Warner Horizon Unscripted Television, Variety has learned. She shared the news with staff via a memo on Monday.

Karzen, who is best known for spearheading “The Bachelor” franchise, has been at Warner Horizon for 22 years. She will continue working for the studio until the end of the year.

In a statement, Warner Bros. Unscripted Television president Mike Darnell said, “In the last few weeks, Brooke came to me with her desire to try something new with her career after a hugely successful 22-year run at the company. For over 20 years, Brooke has been synonymous with ‘The Bachelor,’ overseeing the flagship show since its inception and being intimately involved in the development of ‘The Bachelorette,’ ‘Bachelor in Paradise’ and many other extensions of this global hit franchise.”

“She was also instrumental in bringing the long-running, Emmy-winning...

Brooke Karzen, who has been with Warner Bros’ unscripted production division for more than 20 years, is leaving the company.

Karzen was most recently EVP and head of Warner Horizon Unscripted Television and has also been instrumental in series such as ABC’s The Bachelor franchise NBC’s The Voice.

Related Story The Dish: Warner Bros. Discovery Braces For New Round Of Layoffs This Week Related Story Showbiz Shares Surge In First Trading Day Of Fourth Quarter Related Story Marc Graboff To Depart As President Global Business & Legal Affairs At Warner Bros. Discovery

She initially joined the studio as a programming exec at Telepictures, before moving to Warner Bros Horizon in 2006. She was promoted to EVP, Alternative Programming and Development in 2015.

Karzen, who survived the layoffs at the unscripted division in 2020, reports to Mike Darnell, who has been President, Warner Bros. Unscripted and Alternative Television, since 2013.

Karzen has told colleagues that...

Click here to read the full article.

After a more than two-decade run, Brooke Karzen is stepping down from her role as exec vp and head of Warner Horizon Unscripted Television.

Karzen, who reported to president of Wbtv unscripted and alternative Mike Darnell, announced her departure in a memo to staff Monday, saying that the “time is right for a change” as she plans on taking some time to consider new opportunities.

Karzen has been with Warner since 2000 and has overseen The Bachelor since its inception as well as its numerous offshoots, The Bachelorette and Bachelor in Paradise. She was also instrumental in bringing Mark Burnett’s The Voice to NBC. Her credits include 500 Questions, as well as Little Big Shots and Love at First Kiss.

“In the last few weeks, Brooke came to me with her desire to try something new with her career after a hugely successful 22-year run at the company,...

In what Criterion is describing as their “first collaboration” with fabled animation studio Pixar, Andrew Stanton’s “Wall•E” will be joining the collection this November (spine #1161). And, typical of Criterion releases, it will be festooned with special features, including a new essay (by Sam Wasson), a pair of audio commentaries and a new documentary called “Wall•E A to Z,” featuring co-writer/director Andrew Stanton and writer Jim Reardon.

“Wall•E,” released back in 2008, originated as an idea from “Up” director (and current Pixar chief creative officer) Pete Docter called “Trash Planet.” Soon the idea mutated, as it was passed to Stanton and the focus became squarely on a small, lonely robot inhabiting an abandoned, garbage-covered Earth. When another droid visits Earth, the sleek new Eve, Wall•E falls in love. He follows her to the Axiom, a cruise ship in space, and together they reignite the human race.

“Wall-e,” Pixar’s 2008 sci-fi love-story animated film classic, is getting a special three-disc 4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray release from the Criterion Collection this fall.

The special edition of “Wall-e,” the first collaboration between Criterion and Disney’s Pixar, features a 4K digital master approved by director Andrew Stanton, according to Criterion. The three-disc set will be available Nov. 22, 2022, and is currently available to pre-order from Criterion’s site for 39.96.

“Wall-e” is set in the 29th century, after humans have long since fled Earth for outer space, leaving the movie’s protagonist — the last functioning trash-compacting robot — to go about the work of cleaning up the pollution-choked planet, one piece of garbage at a time. When he meets Eve, a fellow automaton sent to detect plant life, the pair are launched on an intergalactic quest to return humanity to Earth.

According to Criterion’s description, “Transporting us simultaneously back to cinema...

In a bit of an unexpected and pleasant surprise for fans of both animation and physical media, Pixar has teamed up with the folks at Criterion for a special 4K Ultra HD release of one of the greatest animated movies of the last 15 years (at least). "Wall-e," the 2008 Oscar-winning triumph from director Andrew Stanton, is indeed going to get a physical release as part of the Criterion Collection. And it sounds like this is going to be worth the money.

Criterion made the somewhat unexpected announcement out of nowhere, revealing that the 4K edition of "Wall-e" will be hitting shelves in November. So Pixar fans now know what to put on their Christmas lists this year. Aside from an impressive list of special features (more on that in a moment), the film has been mastered in 4K, which was approved by Stanton personally. The new release also comes with some...

Another day, another DC drama.

Warner Bros. Discovery has killed its 78 million Batgirl movie six months after it wrapped production. Adding insult to injury, the film’s cast members didn’t receive a heads up and were “blindsided,” sources say.

The DC Extended Universe film that stars In the Heights’ Leslie Grace as Barbara Gordon, a.k.a. Batgirl, was poised to stream on HBO Max or receive a theatrical release. In a shocking turn of events, it will get neither and is being shelved altogether.

But why the abrupt move?...

Industrial Light & Magic, the visual effects house started by George Lucas, is finally getting a documentary series. And it’s coming to Disney+.

The new documentary series, directed by “The Empire Strikes Back” and “The Force Awakens” screenwriter Lawrence Kasdan, is a six-part affair that will debut exclusively on Disney+ on July 27.

And what’s more, On Friday, May 27, attendees of the Star Wars Celebration will be among the first in the world to get a sneak peek at the project, called “Light & Magic,” with a panel featuring Lawrence Kasdan and Ron Howard. The panel will also feature VFX titans Dennis Muren, Phil Tippett, Joe Johnston and Rose Duignan, and Lynwen Brennan, Lucasfilm executive vice president and general manager.

The last documentary about Ilm, “Industrial Light & Magic: Creating the Impossible,” directed by Leslie Iwerks (who helmed Disney+’s documentary series crown jewel “The Imagineering Story”), was released in 2010 (it currently...

HBO Max is continuing to increase its DC content with a three-part docuseries about the comic book company's history and legacy.

Leslie Iwerks — an Academy Award and Emmy-nominated director whose previous credits include "The Pixar Story" and "The Imagineering Story" docuseries at Disney+ — will be co-directing the DC Comics docuseries. Greg Berlanti, the creative force behind The CW "Arrowverse," is on board as executive producer, and Mark Catalena will also executive produce and co-direct the project with Iwerks. Other executive producers on the project besides Iwerks, Berlanti, and Catalena are Sarah Schechter, David Madden, Rachael Jerahian, and Jonathan Gabay.

While we don't have...

The post DC Comics Docuseries Coming to HBO Max From The Pixar Story Director appeared first on /Film.

HBO Max is teaming up with super-producer Greg Berlanti for a new documentary series that is set to explore the history and legacy of DC Comics. The three-part series will dive into the long lineage of DC, giving fans a chance to rediscover the universe of characters, as well as the comic book company’s origins, its evolution, and its almost nine-decade impact throughout all mediums of pop culture. Oscar and Emmy nominee Leslie Iwerks (Recycled Life) is on board as executive producer and co-director. Berlanti already has a deep connection to the DC universe, serving as writer and exec producer on The CW’s DC output, including Arrow, Batwoman, The Flash, and Supergirl. He’s also an exec producer on HBO Max’s DC series Doom Patrol and will be producing a new “super hero anthology” under the title Strange Adventures for the streamer. “DC has a rich legacy...

HBO Max will highlight the influential legacy of comics powerhouse DC in a three-part documentary series from Oscar and Emmy-nominated director, producer and showrunner Leslie Iwerks and Greg Berlanti.

Produced by Warner Bros. Unscripted Television in association with Warner Horizon, DC, Berlanti Productions and Iwerks & Co., the documentary series takes an unprecedented look at the enduring and influential legacy of DC, allowing fans to rediscover the universe of characters, as well as the iconic comic book company’s origins, its evolution and its nearly nine-decade cultural impact across every artistic medium.

“DC has a rich legacy of over 80 years of iconic storytelling: from the introduction of the genre defining Super Hero Superman in 1938 to the amazing movies, TV shows, cartoons, games and comics which have been synonymous with superheroism for generations thereafter. We are so excited to dive into this history and bring fans along this amazing journey,” said Jim Lee,...

HBO Max and mega-producer Greg Berlanti are teaming for a documentary series about the history and legacy of DC Comics.

The streamer has ordered a three-part series that will delve into the storied history of DC, promising to “allow fans to rediscover the universe of characters, as well as the iconic comic book company’s origins, its evolution and its nearly nine-decade cultural impact across every artistic medium,” per its logline.

Berlanti — whose prolific output includes The CW’s DC series and a Green Lantern series in the works at HBO Max — will executive produce alongside co-director Leslie Iwerks (The ...

HBO Max and mega-producer Greg Berlanti are teaming for a documentary series about the history and legacy of DC Comics.

The streamer has ordered a three-part series that will delve into the storied history of DC, promising to “allow fans to rediscover the universe of characters, as well as the iconic comic book company’s origins, its evolution and its nearly nine-decade cultural impact across every artistic medium,” per its logline.

Berlanti — whose prolific output includes The CW’s DC series and a Green Lantern series in the works at HBO Max — will executive produce alongside co-director Leslie Iwerks (The ...

Leslie Iwerks is genuine Disney royalty. Her father, Don Iwerks, is a Disney legend who worked alongside Walt developing camera systems for Disney live-action features like 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and later influential Disney theme park attractions like the Circlevision-360 technology that powered things like America the Beautiful and 3D systems that powered the company’s inaugural 3D attraction Magic Journeys. And her grandfather, Ub Iwerks, was one of Walt’s original business partners and the designer of Oswald the Lucky Rabbit and Mickey Mouse. Some of those original, highly influential short films, like “Steamboat Willie” …...

Coronavirus stay-at-home orders dramatically impacted television viewing habits, driving up consumption of just about every genre of programming, including documentary. The resulting huge audience numbers and media attention generated by Tiger King and The Last Dance could give those nonfiction series a leg-up as Emmy voters prepare to mark their nomination ballots.

Tiger King, the seven-part series on “murder, mayhem and madness” in the eccentric world of big cat breeders and private zoo operators, dropped on Netflix March 20, just as lockdown orders were being imposed across much of the U.S. Director Eric Goode is the first to say people moored in their homes, TV remote in hand, helped turn the series into a cultural phenomenon.

“I do think we all must assume that that’s part of it,” Goode states. “For sure.”

Tiger King is contending for Emmy nominations in multiple categories, including Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series. It...

"The Imagineering Story" is an original six-hour series documenting the history of "Walt Disney Imagineering" and the 'Audio-Animatronic' robots at the Disney theme parks, directed by Leslie Iwerks, now streaming on Disney+ :

"...the series looks at the 65-year history of 'Walt Disney Imagineering' through parallel storylines focused on the people, the craft, and the business. 'Oscar' and 'Emmy'-nominated director, producer Leslie Iwerks, creator of the series, will feature interviews and exclusive sneak peeks from Disney parks around the world..."

One note: whether deliberate or not the awful-looking 'Donald Trump' robot at Disney's 'Hall of Presidents' discredits the fine workmanship of Disney's skilled designers.

But a wax figure from 'Madame Tussauds' London, UK museum did get it right.

Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "The Imagineering Story"...

(Welcome to Out of the Disney Vault, where we explore the unsung gems and forgotten disasters currently streaming on Disney+.) One of the new titles offered on Disney+ is the six-part documentary The Imagineering Story, directed by Leslie Iwerks. The overall documentary is meant to capture the heft and sweep of decades’ worth of creative pioneering […]

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Leslie Iwerks quite literally has Disney in her blood. Her grandfather, Ub Iwerks, is one of Disney's most famed creative minds, as one of the co-creators of Mickey Mouse and one the studio's pioneering animators. Iwerks has followed in her family's footsteps, but in a different way. Instead, she's largely documented the inner-workings of Disney to share with the world. Such is the case with her latest project, The Imagineering Story.

The documentary series is one of the first original shows produced for Disney+ and offers fans an unprecedented peek behind the curtain at what it takes to be a Disney Imagineer. These are the people that bring places like Disneyland and Walt Disney World to life. If there's such a thing as Disney magic, Imagineers are the magicians. I recently had the chance to speak with Leslie Iwerks. We discussed, not just her new show, but her Disney family legacy and much more.

Leslie Iwerks, an Academy Award and Emmy nominated director, writer and producer, has signed with The Gersh Agency for representation both individually and for Iwerks & Co., her multimedia production company.

Iwerks’ six-part docuseries, The Imagineering Story, debuted on Disney+ on November 12. Narrated by Angela Bassett, the series traces the sixty-five year history of the artists and engineers who design and construct Disney’s theme parks and attractions.

Among her other works is the feature documentary League of Legends Origins, which debuted on Netflix in October. The film chronicles the unexpected cultural phenomenon of the #1 most played online PC game in the world.

Iwerks also directed, wrote and executive produced Pixar’s 20th anniversary special for The Wonderful World of Disney, a three-hour television special on ABC hosted by John Ratzenberger.

In addition to overseeing current productions at Iwerks & Co., Iwerks has a number of projects in development, including a new scripted series,...

From director Leslie Iwerks, the six-hour Disney+ docu-series The Imagineering Story, narrated by Angela Bassett, is a fascinating and unprecedented look at the unique blend of artists and engineers, known as Imagineers, whose job it is to carry on the legacy of Walt Disney in theme parks, around the globe. It’s a rare peek behind the curtain at the creation of Disneyland and every subsequent theme park – from Epcot and Disney’s Animal Kingdom to the parks in Tokyo, Paris and Shanghai – and highlights the trials and tribulations, as well as the joys and successes, including classic …...

On the November 13, 2019 episode of /Film Daily, /Film Editor-in-Chief Peter Sciretta is joined by /Film weekend editor Brad Oman and writer Chris Evangelista to talk about the latest film and tv news. And in Our Feature Presentation, Ben Pearson talks to director Leslie Iwerks about The Imagineering Story. Opening Banter: Who got Disney+? […]

The post Daily Podcast: Disney+ News Extravaganza & Leslie Iwerks Interview appeared first on /Film.

Oscar-nominated filmmaker Leslie Iwerks is about to unveil her newest documentary. The Imagineering Story is a six-part documentary series which tracks the history and evolution of Imagineering in Walt Disney theme parks, and it serves as a sort of spiritual follow-up to her 2007 film The Pixar Story, which chronicled the genesis of that company and […]

The post ‘The Imagineering Story’ Director Leslie Iwerks on the Culture of Imagineering, the Definitive Disney Attraction, John Lasseter, and More [Interview] appeared first on /Film.

Disney+, the highly anticipated streaming service from The Walt Disney Company, launched today in the U.S., Canada, and The Netherlands. With nearly 500 films and 7,500 episodes of television from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic, and more, Disney+ is the exclusive home for some of the world's most beloved stories as well as a robust slate of original content ready to be discovered.

"The launch of Disney+ is a historic moment for our company that marks a new era of innovation and creativity," said Robert A. Iger, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, The Walt Disney Company. "Disney+ provides an exceptional entertainment experience, showcasing our library of beloved movies, TV series and exclusive original content from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars and National Geographic."

As part of the launch, the service premiered its first original series and films including The Mandalorian, the epic first-ever live-action Star Wars series; Lady and the Tramp,...

Disney+ on Friday revealed some of the new content it is adding to its nonfiction slate on or after the streaming service’s November 12 launch, including newly announced documentaries about Mickey Mouse from Morgan Neville and Marwencol‘s Jeff Malmberg, and about Wolfgang Puck, from Jiro Dreams of Sushi director David Gelb.

The streamer, which showcased its expanding slate at an event Friday at NeueHouse Hollywood sponsored by the International Documentary Association, also said it is reviving Disney’s short-form film series People & Places, which originally aired in the 1950s and ’60s.

Disney+ also acquired rights to be the exclusive streaming home of sibling Nat Geo’s Emmy-winning docu feature Science Fair and the Don Hahn-directed Howard about Disney songwriter Howard Ashman, which bowed at Tribeca in 2018.

In addition, Disney said that Gillian Jacobs, Paul Scheer, Andrew Rossi and Gelb will helm episodes of Marvel’s 616, the superhero factory...

"The Imagineering Story" is the new six-hour original series documenting the history of "Walt Disney Imagineering" and the 'Audio-Animatronic' robots at the Disney theme parks, directed by Leslie Iwerks, launching November 12, 2019 on the upcoming Disney+ streaming service:

"...the series looks at the 65-year history of 'Walt Disney Imagineering' through parallel storylines focused on the people, the craft, and the business. 'Oscar' and 'Emmy'-nominated director, producer Leslie Iwerks, creator of the series, will feature interviews and exclusive sneak peeks from Disney parks around the world..."

One note: whether deliberate or not the awful-looking 'Donald Trump' robot at Disney's 'Hall of Presidents' discredits the fine workmanship of Disney's skilled designers.

But a wax figure from 'Madame Tussauds' London, UK museum did get it right.

Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "The Imagineering Story"...

Disney+ has ordered a six-part non-fiction series about the School of American Ballet in New York City from Imagine’s Ron Howard and Brian Grazer.

The series, “On Pointe,” marks the first time the famed 85-year-old Lincoln Center-based school will open its doors to cameras, allowing for access to its facility, classes, faculties and students.

According to Disney, “On Pointe” will capture a “year in the life” of the young students of the School of American Ballet (Sab). Shot in true vérité, observational style, “On Pointe” will follow Sab students through their audition process, training, and home and school lives, including their preparation for New York City Ballet’s annual performances of George Balanchine’s “The Nutcracker,” on the Lincoln Center stage.

Also Read: Why the CBS-Produced Gina Rodriguez Potus Series 'Diary of a Female President' Landed at Disney+ Instead of The CW

For high school students, the series...

Disney Plus has given a series order to a documentary series about the School of American Ballet from Imagine Documentaries and Dctv.

“On Pointe” will follow a year in the life of students at the New York City school as they go through rigorous training, auditions and preparations for the New York City Ballet’s annual performances of “The Nutcracker.” It’s described as a six-part series.

Imagine teamed with New York-based production company Dctv earlier this year to gain unprecedented access to the prestigious school based at Lincoln Center.

Brian Grazer, Ron Howard, Justin Wilkes and Sara Bernstein are executive producers for Imagine. Dctv’s Matthew O’Neill is executive producer and showrunner. Larissa Bills will produce and direct.

“On Pointe” is part of a growing slate of original unscripted and documentary series in the works for Disney Plus, the ambitious streaming platform set to launch on Nov. 12. Other...