Set in a unique program behind the walls in the city jail of Richmond, Va, 16 Bars is an electrifying and heartbreaking story of what might have been if some offenders had chosen a different path. Arriving from all walks of life–from decent upbringings to abject poverty and homelessness–the men sign up for a series of programs on the jail’s sixth floor pod which include anger management training, classes, and access to a makeshift recording studio under the tutelage of hip-hop legend Speech (aka Todd Thomas) from the band Arrested Development.
Working across genres from hip-hop to country, director Samuel Bathrick focuses primarily on the journey of Speech along with a group of offenders awaiting trial or release: De’vonte, Anthony, Garland, and Teddy. The jail’s dedicated program manager Sarah–whose commitment extends beyond the white and blue concrete walls of the modern jail–plays the role of disciplinarian and guidance counselor,...
Working across genres from hip-hop to country, director Samuel Bathrick focuses primarily on the journey of Speech along with a group of offenders awaiting trial or release: De’vonte, Anthony, Garland, and Teddy. The jail’s dedicated program manager Sarah–whose commitment extends beyond the white and blue concrete walls of the modern jail–plays the role of disciplinarian and guidance counselor,...
- 11/10/2018
- by John Fink
- The Film Stage
Christina Aguilera's new album ends with a wedding song, but her Liberation Tour began with an epic proposal. Last night, at the Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, Fla., she helped facilitate a once-in-a-lifetime moment after singing "Unless It's With You" in the 3,500 seat concert venue. "What's happening here tonight?" Aguilera asked before inviting "two special people"— Ben Lear and Mike Kontomanolis—onto the onstage. "I want to share this with you guys," the singer said, addressing the audience. "I have a really special surprise that's happening tonight." With tears in his eyes, Lear turned to Kontomanolis and said, "I could not have imagined you...
- 9/26/2018
- E! Online
Ben Lear, the son of TV pioneer Norman Lear, initially wanted to make a scripted movie that dealt with prison.
But as part of his research, he got to know some jailed juveniles in the Los Angeles area and found their stories incredibly compelling. The scripted idea was scrapped in favor of a documentary.
“I remember being nervous and not knowing what to expect, and being immediately put at ease when I met all of them,” Lear, 28, says of his first meeting with the minors. “They were so young and ‘teenagery’ in every way, I just felt an immediate affinity.
But as part of his research, he got to know some jailed juveniles in the Los Angeles area and found their stories incredibly compelling. The scripted idea was scrapped in favor of a documentary.
“I remember being nervous and not knowing what to expect, and being immediately put at ease when I met all of them,” Lear, 28, says of his first meeting with the minors. “They were so young and ‘teenagery’ in every way, I just felt an immediate affinity.
- 5/22/2017
- by Jeff Truesdell
- PEOPLE.com
Keep up with the always-hopping film festival world with our weekly Film Festival Roundup column. Check out last week’s Roundup right here.
Lineup Announcements
– Exclusive: The 12th Annual Sunscreen Film Festival announced its official selections for the 2017 event featuring films with Alec Baldwin, Dylan McDermott, John Cleese, Daphne Zuniga and more. Opening night will feature Michael Mailer’s newest film, “Blind,” a romantic-drama, starring Alec Baldwin, Demi Moore and Dylan McDermott. Closing night will wrap up the festival with “Albion: The Enchanted Stallion,” a family fantasy adventure, starring John Cleese, Debra Messing, Jennifer Morrison and Stephen Dorff.
Retrospective Screenings will include Daphne Zuniga appearance at the festival honoring the 30th anniversary of “Spaceballs.” Also in this category will be “The Greatest Show on Earth,” from 1952 directed by Cecile B. DeMille, which won the Oscar for Best Pictures and Best Writing in 1953. The screening will honor the closing of the Ringling Bros.
Lineup Announcements
– Exclusive: The 12th Annual Sunscreen Film Festival announced its official selections for the 2017 event featuring films with Alec Baldwin, Dylan McDermott, John Cleese, Daphne Zuniga and more. Opening night will feature Michael Mailer’s newest film, “Blind,” a romantic-drama, starring Alec Baldwin, Demi Moore and Dylan McDermott. Closing night will wrap up the festival with “Albion: The Enchanted Stallion,” a family fantasy adventure, starring John Cleese, Debra Messing, Jennifer Morrison and Stephen Dorff.
Retrospective Screenings will include Daphne Zuniga appearance at the festival honoring the 30th anniversary of “Spaceballs.” Also in this category will be “The Greatest Show on Earth,” from 1952 directed by Cecile B. DeMille, which won the Oscar for Best Pictures and Best Writing in 1953. The screening will honor the closing of the Ringling Bros.
- 3/30/2017
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
The iconic filmmaker will receive the Writers Guild Of America, West’s 2017 Laurel Award for screenwriting achievement in recognition of his body of work.
Stone, whose latest film Snowden has earned plaudits, will be honoured at the Guild’s awards show in Beverly Hills on February 19.
“Oliver Stone may be our most committed screenwriter, using an unparalleled sense of conflict and drama to define the past half century,” said Wgaw president Howard A. Rodman. “Stone’s Vietnam trilogy – Platoon, Born On The Fourth Of July, Heaven & Earth– not only illuminated the war, but made us face its consequences.
“His unofficial and extraordinary history of the 1960s and 1970s – from JFK and The Doors through Nixon and Wall Street – wove a coherent narrative from incoherent facts. His dialogue is always memorable: think of Gordon Gekko’s ‘greed is good,’ or Tony Manero’s 182 ‘fucks’ in Scarface.
“But even Stone’s most amoral characters are, in the end...
Stone, whose latest film Snowden has earned plaudits, will be honoured at the Guild’s awards show in Beverly Hills on February 19.
“Oliver Stone may be our most committed screenwriter, using an unparalleled sense of conflict and drama to define the past half century,” said Wgaw president Howard A. Rodman. “Stone’s Vietnam trilogy – Platoon, Born On The Fourth Of July, Heaven & Earth– not only illuminated the war, but made us face its consequences.
“His unofficial and extraordinary history of the 1960s and 1970s – from JFK and The Doors through Nixon and Wall Street – wove a coherent narrative from incoherent facts. His dialogue is always memorable: think of Gordon Gekko’s ‘greed is good,’ or Tony Manero’s 182 ‘fucks’ in Scarface.
“But even Stone’s most amoral characters are, in the end...
- 12/15/2016
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
The documentary They Call Us Monsters explores the juvenile justice system and the young men who become entangled in it.
Directed by Ben Lear, the son of Norman Lear, the doc has been acquired by Maston Films and The Orchard for release, and will open in theaters in January 2017.
Here, The Hollywood Reporter exclusively debuts a new trailer for the film, which received critical acclaim on the festival circuit. THR's review stated: "Among the many topical documentaries to make the festival circuit recently, one of the most powerful and eye-opening is They Call Us Monsters, which raises profound questions...
Directed by Ben Lear, the son of Norman Lear, the doc has been acquired by Maston Films and The Orchard for release, and will open in theaters in January 2017.
Here, The Hollywood Reporter exclusively debuts a new trailer for the film, which received critical acclaim on the festival circuit. THR's review stated: "Among the many topical documentaries to make the festival circuit recently, one of the most powerful and eye-opening is They Call Us Monsters, which raises profound questions...
- 11/30/2016
- by Rebecca Ford
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Ben Lear makes his directorial debut with “They Call Us Monsters,” a searing but sensitive documentary following the experiences of juvenile offenders through the justice system. His father, Norman, used the form of the sitcom to hold a mirror up to American culture, but Ben takes a more direct approach with his non-fiction work, and […]
The post Documentary ‘They Call Us Monsters’ Is A Searing & Sensitive Look At Juvenile Offenders [Laff Review] appeared first on The Playlist.
The post Documentary ‘They Call Us Monsters’ Is A Searing & Sensitive Look At Juvenile Offenders [Laff Review] appeared first on The Playlist.
- 6/11/2016
- by Katie Walsh
- The Playlist
Bunim-Murray, the production company behind “Keeping up with the Kardashians,” “Project Runway,” and original reality format “The Real World” unveiled a powerful documentary about juvenile justice and California’s practice of issuing life sentences for crimes committed by minors at the L.A. Film Festival this week. Directed by Ben Lear, “They Call us Monsters” screened as a world premiere at the Bing Theater at Lacma for a packed crowd including Brian Grazer, proud father Norman Lear and parents and family of three dubiously likable subjects, necessarily in absentia on account of potentially life-long obligations to the California Department of Corrections.
- 6/11/2016
- by Mikey Glazer
- The Wrap
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