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The day The New York Times broke the Harvey Weinstein story, I found myself choking back bile all day.

In the weeks since, it has become resoundingly clear that Weinstein is a virulent serial predator, and has earned whatever hell rains down on him. But Harvey Weinstein isn’t the problem, and bringing him down — while satisfying, necessary, and just — will be far from sufficient if we don’t simultaneously tear down our rotten corporate culture and reckon with our own complicity in propping it up.

As democracy derives its consent from the governed, tyranny derives its consent from the tyrannized. And while it’s long overdue, I no longer consent to being tyrannized.

I wasn’t sexually harassed by Harvey Weinstein. I worked with him briefly, consulting on “sex, lies, and videotape,” the film that changed the independent film business, Sundance, and Harvey forever; the film whose prescient title...

On the heels of the 39th edition of the Toronto Int. Film Festival (Sept 4-14), Ifp’s Independent Film Week is where a plethora of fiction, non-fiction and new this year, web-based series from the likes of Desiree Akhavan and Calvin Reeder find future coin. Sectioned off as projects at the very beginning of financing to those that are nearing completion, there happens to be tons of Sundance alumni in the names below. Among those that caught our attention we have Medicine for Melancholy‘s Barry Jenkins’ sophomore feature, produced by Bad Milo!‘s Adele Romanski, Moonlight is about “two Miami boys navigate the temptations of the drug trade and their burgeoning sexuality in this triptych drama about black queer youth”. Concussion‘s Stacie Passon digs into the thriller genre with Strange Things Started Happening. Produced by vet Mary Jane Skalski (Mysterious Skin), this is about “a woman who has...

Yes, Hollywood Stars can live up (or down) to their stereotypes. But they can also be invaluable in promoting a good cause. Here's how the best partnerships work.

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In The Intersecting Worlds of celebrities and public causes, two opposing clichés are locked in competition for custody of our imagination: the celebrity as superhero and the celebrity as screwup. Both images are rooted in our notion that famous people are, in some profound way, not normal -- and which version we prefer at any given moment can depend on who's making the headlines. When we read, for instance, about George Clooney striving to bring democracy and health to Sudan, or Sean Penn appearing to carry on his shoulders all the troubles of Haiti as well as the rigors of overseeing a massive Ngo, we can believe that exceptional people who have the power to attract exceptional attention can,...

FilmAid International has announced independent film veteran Liz Manne as its executive director. The longtime studio executive and independent film producer co-founded Fine Line Features in 1999 and served as its Executive Vice President Marketing until 2007. Manne also served as the Sundance Channel's Executive Vice President Programming and Marketing, as well as founding, co-founding and operating as a consultant for several organizations in the film industry. Most recently, Manne ...

Liz Manne, longtime independent film marketing executive, has been appointed executive director of FilmAid International. FilmAid, founded by producer Caroline Baron during the Balkan crisis of 1999, uses film to educate and bring hope to refugees and communities in need around the world. Manne co-founded Fine Line Features with Ira Deutchman and later became Evp of programming and marketing for Robert Redford's Sundance Channel and an adviser to HBO Films. She most recently was appointed by President Barack Obama to serve on the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities, focusing on cultural diplomacy. She's also on the board of directors of Mountainfilm in Telluride and is an AMPAS member. Her producing credits include 3 Backyards, The Heart of the Game and Lucky. "Liz brings to FilmAid an unbeatable combination of leadership talent, film industry savvy and a long-standing commitment to social justice," said FilmAid's Baron. "We couldn't be more...

By Ira Teinowitz

President Obama is tapping some big names from Hollywood to serve on the President’s Committee on Arts and the Humanities.

Among the 25 members announced Monday by the White House were actors Edward Norton, Forest Whitaker, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kerry Washington and Alfre Woodard; CAA partner and managing director Bryan Lourd; independent film producer Liz Manne; and publicist Andy Spahn. They join a committee that will include Vogue editor Anna Wintour, cellist Yo-Yo Ma and Teresa Heinz, a philanthropist and wife of Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass. President Obama previo...

"Sex and the City" star Sarah Jessica Parker, Oscar winner Forest Whitaker and agent Bryan Lourd were among big Hollywood names named on Monday as members of U.S. President Barack Obama's Committee on Arts and the Humanities.The panel focuses on arts and humanities education, cultural diplomacy, economic revitalization through the arts and humanities and special events.First lady Michelle Obama is its honorary chairwoman and film producer George Stevens Jr. and theater producer Margo Lion had already been named as its co-chairs.Besides Parker, Whitaker and Lourd, who is a partner and managing director of Creative Artists Agency, other Hollywood figures named to the group included actors Edward Norton, Kerry Washington and Alfre Woodard, director George Wolfe, independent filmmaker Liz Manne and publicist Andy Spahn.The list of 25 people from the worlds of arts and entertainment also included cellist Yo Yo Ma, Vogue editor Anna Wintour,...

In 2006, Duopoly’s Catherine Tait and Liz Manne, along with a third partner Al Cattabiani (former CEO/Founder of Wellspring), developed and launched a new media start-up, iThentic (http://ithentic.com/), an online and mobile video company. In 2007, Barna-Alper Productions made a strategic investment in iThentic and the Company restructured its operations to be headquartered in Toronto with offices in New York City. Catherine Tait serves as CEO of iThentic.

Jeff Bridges will star in A Dog Year, an HBO Films production that will be distributed by Picturehouse. Producer George LaVoo is making his directorial debut on the movie, being produced by Liz Manne via her Duopoly shingle. Based on the memoir by Jon Katz and adapted by LaVoo, the story centers on a man having a midlife crisis whose life is turned upside down when he takes in a border collie crazier than he is. The film is scheduled to go before cameras in July in New York.