Christina Aguilara Tackles World Hunger

Christina Aguilera is the new spokesperson Yum Brands’ (KFC, Taco Bell and Pizza Hut) annual hunger relief campaign. Since its launch in 2007 the company’s employees have volunteered more than nine million hours in soup kitchens, food banks and hunger relief agencies. Christina has travelled with the UN to Guatamala to learn about the problem [...]

Greenlit: Boys and Girls Guide to Getting Down, Comedy Central

Boys and Girls Guide to Getting Down (1×30′ pilot) – Narrated guide for city-dwelling twenty-somethings about sex, drugs and mad, bad behaviour, based on the 2006 film of the same name by Paul Sapiano who will executive produce. Channel: Comedy Central TX: 2009 / 2010 Source: The Hollywood Reporter

Greenlit: Life Begins, Ch4

Life Begins (6×60′) – The Family-style multi-camera ob doc set in a maternity unit at Southampton University Hospital, which will capture around 400 births over three months with more than 40 cameras. Channel: Ch4 Producer: Firefly TX:  2010 Source: Broadcast

Geeks Shall Inherit the Earth?

PSFK flags up an interview with author John Hodgman who suggests there is a cultural shift underway from ‘jockdom’ based on family wealth and connections, to a more considered and deliberative geekdom, in which companies and countries (such as China) that recognise and reward geeks will thrive. Read the PSFK upsum Read the full interview [...]

Accelerated Ageing in HIV

While drug regimes have increased the lifespans of people living with HIV, it’s looking like they might come with a sting in the tail: an increasing number of people with HIV are suffering from conditions more usual in people twenty or more years older, such as osteoporosis and dementia. Scientists aren’t sure what’s causing this [...]

Three Things That Will Make Your Documentary Big Enough for Theatrical Release

At the recent Sheffield Doc/Fest, there was an excellent session that asked Feature Docs: What Makes a Doc Theatrical? Here are three things that could make sure your doc makes it onto the big screen:
1) Borrow some attitude from the movies.

Simon Chinn, producer of the Oscar-winning Man on Wire, revealed that the film’s approach was inspired by Reservoir Dogs and a French heist film, Rififi.
2) Get a director on board who can deliver a cinematic experience.

Simon said it was also vital to get a good director on board, who can deliver something that works on the big screen. Kevin Macdonald delivered on One Day in September, and that brought him to the attention of John Smithson, producer of Touching the Void. Acquisitions exec Paula Crickard said that you need to shoot the film ‘big’ and use music and FX that suit the cinema environment.
3) Make people want to get up off their sofas

You are asking people to leave the comfort of their home and spend good money on watching your film, so you have to make it worth their while. Jon Battsek, producer of In the Shadow of the Moon, The Age of Stupid and the Oscar-winning One Day in September said that if you want your film can’t be off-putting, even if you have a hard message to convey. For example, The Cove – the story of dolphin slaughter in Japan – tackles a distressing subject, but it is told as a detective story so you get pulled in to the story without feeling like you’re being bludgeoned over the head with its message. There needs to be something uplifting and inspiring about a theatrical documetary film, such as the portrait of human spirit in Touching the Void. (Photo by B Rosen CC BY-ND 2.0)

Greenlit: Obese, ABC

Obese w/t (6×60′) – Ob doc series follows six obese people (one per episode) over the course of one year. Channel: ABC Producer: 3 Ball Productions TX: 2011 Source: Cynopsis

Greenlit: Fighting the Red Baron, Ch4

Fighting the Red Barron (1×90′) – Ex-RAF and Red Arrows pilots Andy Offer and Mark Cutmore, recreate a reconnaissance mission and dogfight in period aircraft. Also features interviews with original WW1 pilots. Channel: Channel 4 Producer: Darlow Smithson Source: Broadcast

Greenlit: Shipshape, BBC4

Shipshape (2×60′)  – Explores how the sea has influenced British art and culture. Channel: BBC4 Producer: BBC Scotland TX: Summer 2010 Source: Broadcast

Greenlit: Dig 1940, BBC1

Dig 1940 (3×30′) – Jules Hudson and his team of experts excavate wartime artefacts and the wreckage of aircraft shot down during 1940. Hitler’s Germany was determined to invade our small island, and all that stood in the way was the men and women of Britain. Accompanied by the people who witnessed events for real, [...]