Vice has a new Executive Chairman.
The youth-skewing network has named Michael Lang to the position. Lang is a former CEO of Miramax, was part of the team that launched Hulu, where he was a founding board member, and has worked for companies including Disney, Fox, Universal Music and Discovery.
He was most recently CEO of Pixel United, a mobile games business and joins Vice from the role of Operating Partner at Fortress, the company that acquired it out of bankruptcy earlier this year.
It is the latest change in personnel at the company after Co-CEO Hozefa Lokhandwala exited.
In an internal memo to staff, seen by Deadline, Bruce Dixon, who is now sole CEO, said that Lang will “continue the critical restructuring work” and help the “long-term goal of positioning Vice Media for financial stability and future growth”.
In the note, Dixon said that Lang knows co-founder Shane Smith...
The youth-skewing network has named Michael Lang to the position. Lang is a former CEO of Miramax, was part of the team that launched Hulu, where he was a founding board member, and has worked for companies including Disney, Fox, Universal Music and Discovery.
He was most recently CEO of Pixel United, a mobile games business and joins Vice from the role of Operating Partner at Fortress, the company that acquired it out of bankruptcy earlier this year.
It is the latest change in personnel at the company after Co-CEO Hozefa Lokhandwala exited.
In an internal memo to staff, seen by Deadline, Bruce Dixon, who is now sole CEO, said that Lang will “continue the critical restructuring work” and help the “long-term goal of positioning Vice Media for financial stability and future growth”.
In the note, Dixon said that Lang knows co-founder Shane Smith...
- 12/18/2023
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
While he was there for so many vital moments in classic rock history, Elvis Presley wasn’t there for Woodstock. He was part of something else that would become very famous. The King of Rock’ n’ Roll might have been a poor fit for the festival.
Elvis Presley was focused on Las Vegas when Woodstock was happening
1969 was a big year for Elvis. He released his beloved songs “Suspicious Minds,” “In the Ghetto,” and “Don’t Cry Daddy.” All three songs reached the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100, proving that the ’68 Comeback Special had made the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll a relevant force in popular music again.
1969 was also the year of the most famous concert festival of all time: The Woodstock Rock Festival. According to the book Elvis: The #1 Hits — The Secret History of the Classics, Elvis was busy preparing for his return to live performance at The...
Elvis Presley was focused on Las Vegas when Woodstock was happening
1969 was a big year for Elvis. He released his beloved songs “Suspicious Minds,” “In the Ghetto,” and “Don’t Cry Daddy.” All three songs reached the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100, proving that the ’68 Comeback Special had made the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll a relevant force in popular music again.
1969 was also the year of the most famous concert festival of all time: The Woodstock Rock Festival. According to the book Elvis: The #1 Hits — The Secret History of the Classics, Elvis was busy preparing for his return to live performance at The...
- 10/14/2023
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Raid: Shadow Legends, the hit mobile and desktop game from Plarium Games, is getting the TV treatment.
The fantasy role-playing game is being adapted into a limited 10-episode animated series that will release weekly on YouTube beginning on May 18. Titled Raid: Call of the Arbiter, the animated series is produced by Eric Rollman, the former president of Marvel Television and Animation, with showrunner Jay Oliva, whose past work includes directing the 2012 animated movie Batman: The Dark Knight Returns and serving as a storyboard artist for DC and Marvel films like Wonder Woman, Zack Snyder’s Justice League, Spider-Man: Homecoming, Thor: Ragnarok and more.
The animated series features main characters from the Raid video game and centers on the Arbiter, an ancient guardian who is attempting to return to and revive the land known as Teleria, which has seemingly been abandoned by its gods and is marred in conflict.
“There’s...
The fantasy role-playing game is being adapted into a limited 10-episode animated series that will release weekly on YouTube beginning on May 18. Titled Raid: Call of the Arbiter, the animated series is produced by Eric Rollman, the former president of Marvel Television and Animation, with showrunner Jay Oliva, whose past work includes directing the 2012 animated movie Batman: The Dark Knight Returns and serving as a storyboard artist for DC and Marvel films like Wonder Woman, Zack Snyder’s Justice League, Spider-Man: Homecoming, Thor: Ragnarok and more.
The animated series features main characters from the Raid video game and centers on the Arbiter, an ancient guardian who is attempting to return to and revive the land known as Teleria, which has seemingly been abandoned by its gods and is marred in conflict.
“There’s...
- 3/13/2023
- by J. Clara Chan
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Bravo on Tuesday dropped the trailer for its new limited series Swv & Xscape: The Queens of R&b, and the stars are seen clashing. The show is set to premiere Sunday, March 5 at 9:30 p.m. Et and you can watch a preview in the video posted above.
One of the familiar faces in the new series is Kandi Burruss, well-known to Bravo viewers as one of the stars on The Real Housewives of Atlanta. The Grammy-winning singer and songwriter was part of the R&b quartet Xscape along with Tameka “Tiny” Harris, and siblings Latocha Scott-Bivens and Tamika Scott. Xscape has sold more than 9 million records worldwide and notched six top 10 songs in the Billboard 100.
Multiplatinum R&b trio Swv (Sisters With Voices) featuring Cheryl “Coko” Gamble, Tamara “Taj” George and Leanne “Lelee” Lyons has sold more than 30 million records worldwide and been nominated for three Grammys.
The six-part...
One of the familiar faces in the new series is Kandi Burruss, well-known to Bravo viewers as one of the stars on The Real Housewives of Atlanta. The Grammy-winning singer and songwriter was part of the R&b quartet Xscape along with Tameka “Tiny” Harris, and siblings Latocha Scott-Bivens and Tamika Scott. Xscape has sold more than 9 million records worldwide and notched six top 10 songs in the Billboard 100.
Multiplatinum R&b trio Swv (Sisters With Voices) featuring Cheryl “Coko” Gamble, Tamara “Taj” George and Leanne “Lelee” Lyons has sold more than 30 million records worldwide and been nominated for three Grammys.
The six-part...
- 2/1/2023
- by Armando Tinoco
- Deadline Film + TV
TheWrap can exclusively share VH1’s first teaser for “Love & Hip Hop: Where Are They Now?,” a four-part special premiering on Monday, Oct. 31 at 10 p.m. Et., following an episode of “Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta” at 8 p.m. Et.
“It’s been a minute,” says a voiceover at the beginning of the teaser video. “But these legendary ‘Love & Hip Hop’ stars are back.”
Returning stars then proceed to remember highlight moments on their respective shows, how they felt, what actually happened and what they want to share in terms of current life updates like their popularity status or new people they’ve met.
In the special, fan-favorite cast members from the powerhouse “Love & Hip Hop” franchise will reminisce and relive the biggest moments from the series by hitting rewind over the last 10 years.
From breakups, shocking betrayals, and most buzzed about moments, viewers get to hear the juicy background story...
“It’s been a minute,” says a voiceover at the beginning of the teaser video. “But these legendary ‘Love & Hip Hop’ stars are back.”
Returning stars then proceed to remember highlight moments on their respective shows, how they felt, what actually happened and what they want to share in terms of current life updates like their popularity status or new people they’ve met.
In the special, fan-favorite cast members from the powerhouse “Love & Hip Hop” franchise will reminisce and relive the biggest moments from the series by hitting rewind over the last 10 years.
From breakups, shocking betrayals, and most buzzed about moments, viewers get to hear the juicy background story...
- 10/24/2022
- by Dessi Gomez
- The Wrap
Revisit the “clusterfuck” that was Woodstock ’99 in an upcoming Netflix docuseries that digs deep into the infamous festival.
The three-part Clusterf**k: Woodstock ’99 series, premiering August 3 on the streaming service, uses unseen home movie footage, commercial archive, and artist video to present the story of the festival that promised to celebrate the legacy of the 1969 event but instead delivered bedlam and bad vibes.
“Woodstock is supposed to be synonymous with peace, love and great music. But in 1999, a much hyped 30th anniversary revival of the festival ended in chaos with fires,...
The three-part Clusterf**k: Woodstock ’99 series, premiering August 3 on the streaming service, uses unseen home movie footage, commercial archive, and artist video to present the story of the festival that promised to celebrate the legacy of the 1969 event but instead delivered bedlam and bad vibes.
“Woodstock is supposed to be synonymous with peace, love and great music. But in 1999, a much hyped 30th anniversary revival of the festival ended in chaos with fires,...
- 7/20/2022
- by Daniel Kreps
- Rollingstone.com
In the summer of 2019, famed Woodstock producer Michael Lang dropped into his old friend Peter Max’s art studio on West 65th Street in New York City. Max, 84, one of the most celebrated and influential pop artists of the past century, was holding court at the studio where, for some 30 years prior, he’d painted portraits of everyone from Mick Jagger to presidents Clinton and Obama to Taylor Swift in his signature, rainbow-hued style. His colorful works lined the walls. Max’s only daughter, Libra, was by his side.
It...
It...
- 6/14/2022
- by Tatiana Siegel
- Rollingstone.com
Betty Davis, the cult funk singer and ex-wife of jazz legend Miles Davis who left an underappreciated yet trailblazing body of work, died Wednesday at the age of 77. Danielle Maggio, a close friend of Davis whose research as an ethnomusicologist focused on Davis’ work, confirmed the singer’s death to Rolling Stone. Amie Downs, communications director for Allegheny County where Davis lived, added that the cause of death was natural causes.
“It is with great sadness that I share the news of the passing of Betty Davis, a multi-talented music influencer and pioneer rock star,...
“It is with great sadness that I share the news of the passing of Betty Davis, a multi-talented music influencer and pioneer rock star,...
- 2/9/2022
- by Daniel Kreps
- Rollingstone.com
From the infamous murders of Tupac and Biggie Smalls to the countless deaths of other rappers, the hip-hop community has long been hit by homicides.
This is now being explored in an unscripted series for WEtv from Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson.
The rapper is producing Hip Hop Homicides, via his G-Unit Film & Television, along with Mona Scott-Young’s Monami Productions and Lionsgate Television.
The series is hosted by Van Lathan, the former TMZ personality who hosted Oscar-winning short film Two Distant Strangers. It will look into the staggering number of unsolved murders in the hip-hop community in an attempt to uncover details of what really happened.
The eight-part series will air later this year on AMC Networks’ WEtv as well as its streaming service Allblk.
Monami Productions will handle physical production. Lionsgate handles international distribution rights.
Jackson will executive produce for G-Unit Film & Television, Mona Scott-Young, Stephanie R. Gayle and...
This is now being explored in an unscripted series for WEtv from Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson.
The rapper is producing Hip Hop Homicides, via his G-Unit Film & Television, along with Mona Scott-Young’s Monami Productions and Lionsgate Television.
The series is hosted by Van Lathan, the former TMZ personality who hosted Oscar-winning short film Two Distant Strangers. It will look into the staggering number of unsolved murders in the hip-hop community in an attempt to uncover details of what really happened.
The eight-part series will air later this year on AMC Networks’ WEtv as well as its streaming service Allblk.
Monami Productions will handle physical production. Lionsgate handles international distribution rights.
Jackson will executive produce for G-Unit Film & Television, Mona Scott-Young, Stephanie R. Gayle and...
- 1/20/2022
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Michael Lang, one of the co-creators of the legendary Woodstock Music & Arts festival series, has died at 77 of a rare form of non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma at Sloan Kettering Hospital in New York City, according to his publicist.
In 1967, Lang dropped out of New York University and headed to Miami. There, he ran a head shop and promoted a series of concerts. including the 1968 Miami Pop Festival, which drew 25,000 attendees and saw performances by Jimi Hendriz, Frank Zappa, John Lee Hooker and more. .
He moved to Woodstock, New York and met Artie Korfeld, brainstorming the idea of a massive music festival that would celebrate the culture. That led to Woodstock, which was held at Max Yasguar’s farm in the Bethel, New York area from Aug. 15 to 18, 1969. The show attracted the cream of that era’s musicians, but was overwhelmed by the sheer number of attendees, estimated at 400,000. Traffic backed up and eventually,...
In 1967, Lang dropped out of New York University and headed to Miami. There, he ran a head shop and promoted a series of concerts. including the 1968 Miami Pop Festival, which drew 25,000 attendees and saw performances by Jimi Hendriz, Frank Zappa, John Lee Hooker and more. .
He moved to Woodstock, New York and met Artie Korfeld, brainstorming the idea of a massive music festival that would celebrate the culture. That led to Woodstock, which was held at Max Yasguar’s farm in the Bethel, New York area from Aug. 15 to 18, 1969. The show attracted the cream of that era’s musicians, but was overwhelmed by the sheer number of attendees, estimated at 400,000. Traffic backed up and eventually,...
- 1/9/2022
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
A month before Woodstock 50 was announced, the festival was already in deep trouble. Last December, Michael Lang, the co-founder of the original 1969 event who had become its bemused-hippie symbol in subsequent decades, was in talks with an upstate New York racetrack for a fest that would mark the anniversary of the historic, if chaotic, cultural milestone he had overseen. The new festival would take place August 16th – 18th, 2019, almost exactly 50 years after the original Woodstock.
Lang had begun negotiations with the international media company Dentsu Aegis to finance the event,...
Lang had begun negotiations with the international media company Dentsu Aegis to finance the event,...
- 8/18/2019
- by David Browne and Kory Grow
- Rollingstone.com
Peace, love and strife. On January 9, 2019, it was officially announced that Woodstock 50 would be happening, a 50th anniversary three-day concert event that would commemorate the original Woodstock, held in Upstate New York from Aug. 15-18, 1969. And one of the people responsible for the 50th was a man that had been there since the beginning: Michael Lang, the co-creator of Woodstock who was ready to compete with the likes of Coachella, Stagecoach and Lollapalooza, the huge music festivals the original Woodstock paved the way for. "We are looking for unique performances," Lang, 74, told Rolling Stone. "A lot of festivals these days are kind of cookie-cutter. Very few of them...
- 6/16/2019
- E! Online
Jun 12, 2019
Timothée Chalamet, Jon Stewart, Mark Zuckerberg, and more in today's daily Link Tank!
Here's why Elon Musk's Starlink is irking the international astronomical community.
"On May 23, Elon Musk’s SpaceX launched 60 Starlink communication satellites aboard a single Falcon 9 rocket as part of a new effort to provide internet service to everyone in the world. Within days skywatchers all around the world spotted them flying in formation as they orbited Earth and reflected sunlight from their shiny metal surfaces."
Read more at Inverse.
Jon Stewart criticized Congress for their hypocrisy towards 9/11 first responders.
"A Congressional Judiciary subcommittee heard testimony today from 9/11 first responders today who have been largely ignored by the U.S. government for nearly two decades. One 9/11 fund was set up just days after the attacks in 2001, and until its end in 2004, it distributed $7 billion to the families of those killed and injured. But for many first responders,...
Timothée Chalamet, Jon Stewart, Mark Zuckerberg, and more in today's daily Link Tank!
Here's why Elon Musk's Starlink is irking the international astronomical community.
"On May 23, Elon Musk’s SpaceX launched 60 Starlink communication satellites aboard a single Falcon 9 rocket as part of a new effort to provide internet service to everyone in the world. Within days skywatchers all around the world spotted them flying in formation as they orbited Earth and reflected sunlight from their shiny metal surfaces."
Read more at Inverse.
Jon Stewart criticized Congress for their hypocrisy towards 9/11 first responders.
"A Congressional Judiciary subcommittee heard testimony today from 9/11 first responders today who have been largely ignored by the U.S. government for nearly two decades. One 9/11 fund was set up just days after the attacks in 2001, and until its end in 2004, it distributed $7 billion to the families of those killed and injured. But for many first responders,...
- 6/12/2019
- Den of Geek
Update: The organizers of Woodstock 50 have released a statement about the change of venue, vowing to move forward. “We confirm that we will not be moving forward with Watkins Glen as a venue for Woodstock 50,” Gregory Peck, one of the festival’s principal organizers, said. “We are in discussions with another venue to host Woodstock 50 on August 16th — 18th and look forward to sharing the new location when tickets go on sale in the coming weeks.”
****
The beleaguered Woodstock 50 festival has hit two more hurdles. A little over two months...
****
The beleaguered Woodstock 50 festival has hit two more hurdles. A little over two months...
- 6/10/2019
- by Kory Grow
- Rollingstone.com
4:55 Pm Pt -- A rep for Woodstock tells us, "We are in discussions with another venue to host Woodstock 50 on August 16th - 18th and look forward to sharing the new location when tickets go on sale in the coming weeks. It's not looking good for Woodstock 50 again -- the music festival doesn't have anywhere to set up shop. The hammer dropped Monday afternoon when Watkins Glen International -- an upstate NY race track...
- 6/10/2019
- by TMZ Staff
- TMZ
Some acts are neglected only because the sheer crush of music that overwhelms us every single day makes it virtually impossible to hear/see/experience transcendent music. That some acts languish in obscurity remains a cruel twist of fate. Or that they're never praised by hipsters on every culture blog in our ever-expanding universe is sometimes just luck of the draw. Or rather, the lack of drawing such a lucky card. This will not happen to the extraordinarily talented Darlingside, a band that I caught live a few short years ago at Rockwood Music Hall in New York. Not sure if I would have "discovered" them had I not been there that night to see some other act. Happy accident or destiny? Regardless, this four-person indie folk band hails from Cambridge, Ma. The band consists of Don Mitchell, Auyon Mukharji, Harris Paseltiner, and David Senft. They make and perform beautiful noise.
- 8/4/2017
- by Dusty Wright
- www.culturecatch.com
The Woodstock music festival, the multi-act concert that took place in Bethel, N.Y., in 1969 is celebrating its 45th anniversary today.
Woodstock Turns 45
Throughout the weekend of Aug. 15 – 19 in 1969, Woodstock played host to a number of acts that hold significant stature in the history of music. When co-creators Joel Rosenman and John Roberts came up with the plan for the festival, they had no idea of the cultural impact it would go on to have. Woodstock was certainly the first of its kind, and now decades later copycats like Bonaroo, Coachella, Governor’s Ball and Firefly are summer fixtures.
“There has to be a granddaddy—and this was certainly it for the festival business,” said Rosenman. “There’s something about festivals that is timeless and indestructible.”
After the 1969 enterprise, Woodstock was held twice more in 1994 and 1999. A fourth Woodstock could potentially be in the cards, according to co-creator Michael Lang,...
Woodstock Turns 45
Throughout the weekend of Aug. 15 – 19 in 1969, Woodstock played host to a number of acts that hold significant stature in the history of music. When co-creators Joel Rosenman and John Roberts came up with the plan for the festival, they had no idea of the cultural impact it would go on to have. Woodstock was certainly the first of its kind, and now decades later copycats like Bonaroo, Coachella, Governor’s Ball and Firefly are summer fixtures.
“There has to be a granddaddy—and this was certainly it for the festival business,” said Rosenman. “There’s something about festivals that is timeless and indestructible.”
After the 1969 enterprise, Woodstock was held twice more in 1994 and 1999. A fourth Woodstock could potentially be in the cards, according to co-creator Michael Lang,...
- 8/15/2014
- Uinterview
New York — Richie Havens, the folk singer and guitarist who was the first performer at Woodstock, died Monday at age 72.
Havens died of a heart attack in New Jersey, his family said in a statement. He was born in Brooklyn.
Havens was known for his crafty guitar work and cover songs, including his well-received cover of Bob Dylan's "Just Like a Woman."
His performance at the three-day 1969 Woodstock Festival, where headliners included Jimi Hendrix, was a turning point in his career. He was the first act to hit the stage, performing for nearly three hours. His performance of "Freedom," based from the spiritual "Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child," became an anthem.
Havens returned to the site during Woodstock's 40th anniversary in 2009.
"Everything in my life, and so many others, is attached to that train," he said in an interview that year with The Associated Press.
Woodstock...
Havens died of a heart attack in New Jersey, his family said in a statement. He was born in Brooklyn.
Havens was known for his crafty guitar work and cover songs, including his well-received cover of Bob Dylan's "Just Like a Woman."
His performance at the three-day 1969 Woodstock Festival, where headliners included Jimi Hendrix, was a turning point in his career. He was the first act to hit the stage, performing for nearly three hours. His performance of "Freedom," based from the spiritual "Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child," became an anthem.
Havens returned to the site during Woodstock's 40th anniversary in 2009.
"Everything in my life, and so many others, is attached to that train," he said in an interview that year with The Associated Press.
Woodstock...
- 4/23/2013
- by AP
- Huffington Post
By Zachary Swickey
Forty-two years ago today, the iconic Woodstock Music Festival was wrapping up after three days of peace and music. The fest is easily one the most legendary events to take place in all of music history. It’s clear that the big music festivals of today – Coachella, Bonnaroo and Lollapalooza – attempt to recapture the same spirit, but even at their best, modern festivals pale in comparison to the lighting-in-a-bottle moment that was Woodstock.
Woodstock began when hippie concert promoter Michael Lang was approached by a group of investors looking to put on a three day music festival – inspired by success of the Monterey International Pop Festival of 1967. Lang found dairy farmer Max Yasgur, who was willing to lease 600 acres of his land for the event at the price of $75,000, and set out to plan a big weekend for an expected 50,000 people. Tickets were priced at $18 in advance (around $105 in today’s money,...
Forty-two years ago today, the iconic Woodstock Music Festival was wrapping up after three days of peace and music. The fest is easily one the most legendary events to take place in all of music history. It’s clear that the big music festivals of today – Coachella, Bonnaroo and Lollapalooza – attempt to recapture the same spirit, but even at their best, modern festivals pale in comparison to the lighting-in-a-bottle moment that was Woodstock.
Woodstock began when hippie concert promoter Michael Lang was approached by a group of investors looking to put on a three day music festival – inspired by success of the Monterey International Pop Festival of 1967. Lang found dairy farmer Max Yasgur, who was willing to lease 600 acres of his land for the event at the price of $75,000, and set out to plan a big weekend for an expected 50,000 people. Tickets were priced at $18 in advance (around $105 in today’s money,...
- 8/17/2011
- by MTV News
- MTV Newsroom
Taking Woodstock is released on DVD this Monday, 8th March (or now on iTunes). We also have a competition running which gives you the opportunity win the movie on DVD which you can enter here.
We’ve managed to get an exclusive interview with it’s director, Ang Lee on his experience filming the movie and on the Woodstock festival itself plus we take a look at his interests in the music scene.
Ang Lee Q&A Interview
Do you remember Woodstock yourself?
I remember seeing it on the news, there were some big hairy guys jamming on their guitars and a sea of people. Very brutally, they said, “Woodstock is happening in the States, in New York.” That’s all I can remember. But that music was in the air The baby-boomers were about to take the world to another chapter of history, so, as an adult, I could not escape from that.
We’ve managed to get an exclusive interview with it’s director, Ang Lee on his experience filming the movie and on the Woodstock festival itself plus we take a look at his interests in the music scene.
Ang Lee Q&A Interview
Do you remember Woodstock yourself?
I remember seeing it on the news, there were some big hairy guys jamming on their guitars and a sea of people. Very brutally, they said, “Woodstock is happening in the States, in New York.” That’s all I can remember. But that music was in the air The baby-boomers were about to take the world to another chapter of history, so, as an adult, I could not escape from that.
- 3/4/2010
- by David Sztypuljak
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
.Those hippies will be high on drugs. Robbing us by day and raping our cattle by night.. Elliot Tiber (Demetri Martin) has secured a permit from the town of Bethel to hold a small music festival. When he hears that the organizers of the Woodstock Music Festival have been run out of nearby Wallkill he offers his permit and land. He sees a way to make money for his conniving, shrewish mother (Imelda Staunton) and henpecked father.s (Henry Goodman) rundown motel that only houses a dirt-poor theatre group (led by Dan Fogler) in the barn. Laidback Woodstock organizer Michael Lang (Jonathan Groff) helicopters in to inspect the motel and land and discovers that Elliot.s land is a...
- 12/17/2009
- by Jeff Swindoll
- Monsters and Critics
Chicago – Ang Lee’s take on the landmark music festival isn’t a film so much as a filmed idea. It aims to capture the atmosphere of the concert without ever showing the actual music. Of course, the real show was the crowd itself.
There’s one lovely shot in “Taking Woodstock” where its protagonist, high on acid, gazes at the countless hordes gathered around the distant main stage. Suddenly, the crowd starts to move like ripples in the water, as they become united by their shared vibes. The image may sound pretentious on paper, but it has a poetry and wonderment that’s largely missing from the rest of the picture.
Blu-Ray Rating: 2.5/5.0
There are few writer-director teams in film history that have tackled as many diverse genres as James Schamus and Ang Lee. Their collaborations include “The Ice Storm,” “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” and “Lust, Caution,” though “Taking Woodstock...
There’s one lovely shot in “Taking Woodstock” where its protagonist, high on acid, gazes at the countless hordes gathered around the distant main stage. Suddenly, the crowd starts to move like ripples in the water, as they become united by their shared vibes. The image may sound pretentious on paper, but it has a poetry and wonderment that’s largely missing from the rest of the picture.
Blu-Ray Rating: 2.5/5.0
There are few writer-director teams in film history that have tackled as many diverse genres as James Schamus and Ang Lee. Their collaborations include “The Ice Storm,” “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” and “Lust, Caution,” though “Taking Woodstock...
- 12/16/2009
- by mattmovieman
- HollywoodChicago.com
A record number of celebrities came out in 2009, making it that much easier for the next one.
Gay celebrities used to mostly follow one of two formulas for coming out:
1. Get caught in an personal situation by a tabloid, i.e. Danny Pintauro
2. Get tired of not being out and call up favorite lifestyle magazine to break the news gently to their three fans who hadn’t already succumbed to the rumors. i.e. Ellen DeGeneres, Lance Bass
But something new happened in 2009, because the path to a celebrity's closet door became as varied as it is for those of us in the real world. We had the “I was always out” or the “casual mention” coming out. Then we added the “bring the boyfriend to an event” coming out which took the nonchalant route. And perhaps then there is most interesting: the “product tie-in” which, as far as I know,...
Gay celebrities used to mostly follow one of two formulas for coming out:
1. Get caught in an personal situation by a tabloid, i.e. Danny Pintauro
2. Get tired of not being out and call up favorite lifestyle magazine to break the news gently to their three fans who hadn’t already succumbed to the rumors. i.e. Ellen DeGeneres, Lance Bass
But something new happened in 2009, because the path to a celebrity's closet door became as varied as it is for those of us in the real world. We had the “I was always out” or the “casual mention” coming out. Then we added the “bring the boyfriend to an event” coming out which took the nonchalant route. And perhaps then there is most interesting: the “product tie-in” which, as far as I know,...
- 12/16/2009
- by lostinmiami
- The Backlot
Taking Woodstock Directed by Ang Lee I've never been able to sit through more than a few minutes of Michael Wadleigh's revered documentary Woodstock. Every time it's on TV, I hope I'm going to catch some footage of Crosby Stills and Nash or Jimi Hendrix. Invariably, what I get is a (split) screenful of hippies partying on down in acres of mud. So, I was intrigued by the idea of Ang Lee making a comedy based on Elliot Tiber's 2007 memoir about his role in this seismic late 60s cultural event. And surely it had to be more fun than the Taiwanese director's downbeat spy yarn, Lust, Caution. Greek-American comedian Demetri Martin plays Elliot, artist interior designer and dutiful son of Russian-Jewish émigrés Sonia and Jake Teichberg (Imelda Staunton and Henry Goodman). The family owns the El Monaco, a ramshackle motel in White Lake, New York, where Elliot's mum...
- 11/2/2009
- by Ricky
- SoundOnSight
We have some cool footage from the UK premiere of Ang Lee’s new movie ‘Taking Woodstock’. The video footage includes a quick interview with director Ang Lee, stars Henry Goodman and Imelda Staunton and screenwriter / producer James Schamus. It’s released in November 13th in the UK.
Synopsis: Taking Woodstock is the new film from Academy Award-winning director Ang Lee – and it’s a trip! Based on the memoirs of Elliot Tiber, the comedy stars Demetri Martin as Elliot, who inadvertently played a role in making 1969’s Woodstock Music and Arts Festival into the famed happening it was. Featuring a standout ensemble cast, and songs from a score of ’60s musical icons including The Grateful Dead, The Doors, Jefferson Airplane, and Country Joe and the Fish – plus a new recording of “Freedom” from Richie Havens – Taking Woodstock is a joyous voyage to a moment in time when everything seemed possible.
Synopsis: Taking Woodstock is the new film from Academy Award-winning director Ang Lee – and it’s a trip! Based on the memoirs of Elliot Tiber, the comedy stars Demetri Martin as Elliot, who inadvertently played a role in making 1969’s Woodstock Music and Arts Festival into the famed happening it was. Featuring a standout ensemble cast, and songs from a score of ’60s musical icons including The Grateful Dead, The Doors, Jefferson Airplane, and Country Joe and the Fish – plus a new recording of “Freedom” from Richie Havens – Taking Woodstock is a joyous voyage to a moment in time when everything seemed possible.
- 10/27/2009
- by David Sztypuljak
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Viewers of Taking Woodstock are getting captivated by film newcomer Jonathan Groff as Michael Lang, the orchestrator of the landmark concert. They are also admiring his hair, a big curly .60s fro.
Review: Taking Woodstock
.It was a wig,. Groff revealed. .It was a total wig. I grew my own hair. I grew it out, I grew out my hair because originally they were going to use my real hair and they were going to perm it. But then they decided with the humidity it was going to be too unpredictable and the hair, the Michael Lang hair is so iconic and so specific and they were like, .We have to get this just right, we can't chance it.. So they put my head in plaster and gave me a wig..
Lang possed that sort of free love mentality, totally confident that Woodstock...
Review: Taking Woodstock
.It was a wig,. Groff revealed. .It was a total wig. I grew my own hair. I grew it out, I grew out my hair because originally they were going to use my real hair and they were going to perm it. But then they decided with the humidity it was going to be too unpredictable and the hair, the Michael Lang hair is so iconic and so specific and they were like, .We have to get this just right, we can't chance it.. So they put my head in plaster and gave me a wig..
Lang possed that sort of free love mentality, totally confident that Woodstock...
- 9/1/2009
- www.canmag.com
“Hans Landa would have loved this movie.”
-Scott Marks
For those wondering, Mr. Marks is a pretty good friend of mine who often shares a radically different opinion than my own. Generally, I’ll come out singing the praises of Watchmen whereas he’ll yell at me for being wrong and rip the film to shreds. I can’t remember the last film I didn’t like that Scott loved, but the point has more than been made; unless it’s a classic piece of cinema, we don’t usually see eye-to-eye. Taking Woodstock should be considered an achievement just in that the two of us agreed completely on a movie. Shamefully, neither of us can raise our glasses and salute Ang Lee for making a great film. Truthfully, he’s done just the opposite and made what we agree is a horrendous picture.
What’s so offensive about Taking Woodstock...
-Scott Marks
For those wondering, Mr. Marks is a pretty good friend of mine who often shares a radically different opinion than my own. Generally, I’ll come out singing the praises of Watchmen whereas he’ll yell at me for being wrong and rip the film to shreds. I can’t remember the last film I didn’t like that Scott loved, but the point has more than been made; unless it’s a classic piece of cinema, we don’t usually see eye-to-eye. Taking Woodstock should be considered an achievement just in that the two of us agreed completely on a movie. Shamefully, neither of us can raise our glasses and salute Ang Lee for making a great film. Truthfully, he’s done just the opposite and made what we agree is a horrendous picture.
What’s so offensive about Taking Woodstock...
- 8/28/2009
- by Philip Barrett
- Atomic Popcorn
I would love to tell you that Ang Lee’s new film made a big impression on me as a viewer, taking me back to Woodstock itself and giving me an intimate, insider’s look into a significant American cultural event that I was unfortunately not yet born to experience for myself but, alas, I cannot. What I can tell you is that Taking Woodstock is a light-hearted and fun dramedy that offers a small slice, or glimpse perhaps, into a bit of the essence of Woodstock, or at least of what my imagination and collected exposure to film and music of the event can muster.
Taking Woodstock marks director Ang Lee’s sixth English-language film. That’s one more than the five foreign-language films Lee has made. What I find interesting about Lee is his choice of topics for his American films. I don’t think I am making...
Taking Woodstock marks director Ang Lee’s sixth English-language film. That’s one more than the five foreign-language films Lee has made. What I find interesting about Lee is his choice of topics for his American films. I don’t think I am making...
- 8/28/2009
- by Travis
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Woodstock, the epochal event of the peace, love, and rock & roll generation, hardly seems an ideal subject for Ang Lee, chronicler of perpetual misery. It’s about as far a departure from the existential crisis of a big green superhero, the suppressed longings of gay American cowboys or the anguish of an illicit love affair in Japanese occupied China as possible. Yet, admittedly needing a break from all the tragedy, Lee has taken it on in Taking Woodstock, a charming but too slight piffle hitting theaters a little less than two weeks after the festival’s 40th anniversary. He and screenwriter/producer/longtime collaborator James Schamus make it their own by personalizing things. This is not the Woodstock Michael Wadleigh presented in his iconic documentary, though Lee periodically puts together exact recreations of crowd scenes from it. The music remains far off screen, a distant hum at best. Based on the autobiographical novel by Elliot Tiber, the...
- 8/28/2009
- by Robert Levin
- FilmSchoolRejects.com
Director Ang Lee ("Brokeback Mountain," "Lust, Caution") returns with "Taking Woodstock," an adaptation of Elliot Tiber's autobiography "Taking Woodstock: A true story of a riot, a concert and a life."
Adapted by James Schamus for the big screen, I suggest you take a far out trip with "Taking Woodstock." Peace!
(For a full written movie review of "Taking Woodstock," click here. For interviews with the cast including Emile Hirsch, Liev Schreiber, Demetri Martin, and Jonathan Groff, click here)
Persons of interest
* Demetri Martin .... Elliot Tiber aka Eliyahu Teichberg
* Liev Schreiber .... Vilma
* Emile Hirsch .... Billy
* Eugene Levy .... Yasgur
* Imelda Staunton .... Mrs Tiber
* Katherine Waterston .... Penny
* Kevin Sussman .... Stan
* Skylar Astin .... John Roberts
* Kevin Chamberlin .... Jackson Spiers
* Gabriel Sunday .... Steve
* Jason Antoon .... Abbie Hoffman
* Henry Goodman .... Mr Tiber
* Jonathan Groff .... Michael Lang
* Boris McGiver .... Doug
* Michael Zegen .... Bernie
* Will Janowitz .... Chip Monck
* Clark Middleton .... Frank
* Adam Pally .... Artie Kornfeld
* Andy Prosky...
Adapted by James Schamus for the big screen, I suggest you take a far out trip with "Taking Woodstock." Peace!
(For a full written movie review of "Taking Woodstock," click here. For interviews with the cast including Emile Hirsch, Liev Schreiber, Demetri Martin, and Jonathan Groff, click here)
Persons of interest
* Demetri Martin .... Elliot Tiber aka Eliyahu Teichberg
* Liev Schreiber .... Vilma
* Emile Hirsch .... Billy
* Eugene Levy .... Yasgur
* Imelda Staunton .... Mrs Tiber
* Katherine Waterston .... Penny
* Kevin Sussman .... Stan
* Skylar Astin .... John Roberts
* Kevin Chamberlin .... Jackson Spiers
* Gabriel Sunday .... Steve
* Jason Antoon .... Abbie Hoffman
* Henry Goodman .... Mr Tiber
* Jonathan Groff .... Michael Lang
* Boris McGiver .... Doug
* Michael Zegen .... Bernie
* Will Janowitz .... Chip Monck
* Clark Middleton .... Frank
* Adam Pally .... Artie Kornfeld
* Andy Prosky...
- 8/28/2009
- by Manny
- Manny the Movie Guy
Emile Hirsch + Rock Music + Kurt Cobain = Modern Hamlet? Romance and adventures of vampires and werewolves may not be her forte, but Catherine Hardwicke remains a sought-after filmmaker with a vision. Working with Emile Hirsch for her next project - a modern rendition of Hamlet - Hardwicke is keen for Emile to sing on the big screen - something the young actor has never done before.
This is not the first time for Hardwicke and Hirsch to work together. In Lords of Dogtown, Hardwicke assembled a group of talented young actors - including John Robinson, Victor Rasuk, Michael Angarano and Hirsch to portray young and ambitious skateboarders who became legends of the sport. The result is a gritty, exhilarating modern day adventure of young men doing what they love best. Hirsch gave one of the most absorbing performances among the group.
With her reputation as a filmmaker who truly understands young talents,...
This is not the first time for Hardwicke and Hirsch to work together. In Lords of Dogtown, Hardwicke assembled a group of talented young actors - including John Robinson, Victor Rasuk, Michael Angarano and Hirsch to portray young and ambitious skateboarders who became legends of the sport. The result is a gritty, exhilarating modern day adventure of young men doing what they love best. Hirsch gave one of the most absorbing performances among the group.
With her reputation as a filmmaker who truly understands young talents,...
- 8/27/2009
- The Movie Fanatic
Emile Hirsch + Rock Music + Kurt Cobain = Modern Hamlet? Romance and adventures of vampires and werewolves may not be her forte, but Catherine Hardwicke remains a sought-after filmmaker with a vision. Working with Emile Hirsch for her next project - a modern rendition of Hamlet - Hardwicke is keen for Emile to sing on the big screen - something the young actor has never done before.
This is not the first time for Hardwicke and Hirsch to work together. In Lords of Dogtown, Hardwicke assembled a group of talented young actors - including John Robinson, Victor Rasuk, Michael Angarano and Hirsch to portray young and ambitious skateboarders who became legends of the sport. The result is a gritty, exhilarating modern day adventure of young men doing what they love best. Hirsch gave one of the most absorbing performances among the group.
With her reputation as a filmmaker who truly understands young talents,...
This is not the first time for Hardwicke and Hirsch to work together. In Lords of Dogtown, Hardwicke assembled a group of talented young actors - including John Robinson, Victor Rasuk, Michael Angarano and Hirsch to portray young and ambitious skateboarders who became legends of the sport. The result is a gritty, exhilarating modern day adventure of young men doing what they love best. Hirsch gave one of the most absorbing performances among the group.
With her reputation as a filmmaker who truly understands young talents,...
- 8/27/2009
- The Movie Fanatic
Emile Hirsch + Rock Music + Kurt Cobain = Modern Hamlet? Romance and adventures of vampires and werewolves may not be her forte, but Catherine Hardwicke remains a sought-after filmmaker with a vision. Working with Emile Hirsch for her next project - a modern rendition of Hamlet - Hardwicke is keen for Emile to sing on the big screen - something the young actor has never done before.
This is not the first time for Hardwicke and Hirsch to work together. In Lords of Dogtown, Hardwicke assembled a group of talented young actors - including John Robinson, Victor Rasuk, Michael Angarano and Hirsch to portray young and ambitious skateboarders who became legends of the sport. The result is a gritty, exhilarating modern day adventure of young men doing what they love best. Hirsch gave one of the most absorbing performances among the group.
With her reputation as a filmmaker who truly understands young talents,...
This is not the first time for Hardwicke and Hirsch to work together. In Lords of Dogtown, Hardwicke assembled a group of talented young actors - including John Robinson, Victor Rasuk, Michael Angarano and Hirsch to portray young and ambitious skateboarders who became legends of the sport. The result is a gritty, exhilarating modern day adventure of young men doing what they love best. Hirsch gave one of the most absorbing performances among the group.
With her reputation as a filmmaker who truly understands young talents,...
- 8/27/2009
- The Movie Fanatic
Emile Hirsch + Rock Music + Kurt Cobain = Modern Hamlet? Romance and adventures of vampires and werewolves may not be her forte, but Catherine Hardwicke remains a sought-after filmmaker with a vision. Working with Emile Hirsch for her next project - a modern rendition of Hamlet - Hardwicke is keen for Emile to sing on the big screen - something the young actor has never done before.
This is not the first time for Hardwicke and Hirsch to work together. In Lords of Dogtown, Hardwicke assembled a group of talented young actors - including John Robinson, Victor Rasuk, Michael Angarano and Hirsch to portray young and ambitious skateboarders who became legends of the sport. The result is a gritty, exhilarating modern day adventure of young men doing what they love best. Hirsch gave one of the most absorbing performances among the group.
With her reputation as a filmmaker who truly understands young talents,...
This is not the first time for Hardwicke and Hirsch to work together. In Lords of Dogtown, Hardwicke assembled a group of talented young actors - including John Robinson, Victor Rasuk, Michael Angarano and Hirsch to portray young and ambitious skateboarders who became legends of the sport. The result is a gritty, exhilarating modern day adventure of young men doing what they love best. Hirsch gave one of the most absorbing performances among the group.
With her reputation as a filmmaker who truly understands young talents,...
- 8/27/2009
- The Movie Fanatic
If I could have the opportunity to go back in time and visit the 1960s, I will first choose 1969. Two big life-changing events happened that year. First, the Stonewall Riots in June which marked the beginning of the Gay Liberation movement; and second, the .Woodstock Music & Art Fair. in August that changed the face of popular culture forever.
From August 15th to the 18th in 1969, half a million people attended and more tried and failed to get to the Woodstock concert site in White Lake, NY. It is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most pivotal moments in music history.
Forty years later, director Ang Lee (.Lust, Caution,. .Brokeback Mountain.) captures the event in the new film .Taking Woodstock.. Based on the autobiography by Elliot Tiber called .Taking Woodstock: A True Story on a Riot, a Concert, and a Life,...
From August 15th to the 18th in 1969, half a million people attended and more tried and failed to get to the Woodstock concert site in White Lake, NY. It is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most pivotal moments in music history.
Forty years later, director Ang Lee (.Lust, Caution,. .Brokeback Mountain.) captures the event in the new film .Taking Woodstock.. Based on the autobiography by Elliot Tiber called .Taking Woodstock: A True Story on a Riot, a Concert, and a Life,...
- 8/26/2009
- by Manny
- Manny the Movie Guy
I had a fantastic time meeting the main cast of "Taking Woodstock." And the film is equally thought-provoking (I'll post my review very soon!).
Directed by Ang Lee ("Brokeback Mountain," "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon") and based on a book by Elliot Tiber called "Taking Woodstock: A True Story of A Riot, A Concert, and A Life," the film is a bittersweet look at the event that changed pop culture forever.
So take a trip with "Taking Woodstock" when it opens this Friday, August 28.
Now, here are my interviews:
Emile Hirsch
The super-fantastic Emile Hirsch and I talked about:
Why He Loves My First Interview With Him For "Milk" (I'm Pretty Proud Of That :happy)
His character Billy
Working with Ang Lee
How he prepared for the role
And His Full-frontal Male Nudity Scene!
Liev Schreiber
We talked about:
His character, Vilma, a drag queen activist who is also Eliott's...
Directed by Ang Lee ("Brokeback Mountain," "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon") and based on a book by Elliot Tiber called "Taking Woodstock: A True Story of A Riot, A Concert, and A Life," the film is a bittersweet look at the event that changed pop culture forever.
So take a trip with "Taking Woodstock" when it opens this Friday, August 28.
Now, here are my interviews:
Emile Hirsch
The super-fantastic Emile Hirsch and I talked about:
Why He Loves My First Interview With Him For "Milk" (I'm Pretty Proud Of That :happy)
His character Billy
Working with Ang Lee
How he prepared for the role
And His Full-frontal Male Nudity Scene!
Liev Schreiber
We talked about:
His character, Vilma, a drag queen activist who is also Eliott's...
- 8/25/2009
- by Manny
- Manny the Movie Guy
Chicago – In our latest trippy edition of HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film, we have 50 admit-two passes up for grabs to the highly anticipated Chicago screening of “Taking Woodstock” from Oscar-winning director Ang Lee (“Brokeback Mountain” and “Sense and Sensibility”). “Taking Woodstock” stars Emile Hirsch, Liev Schreiber, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Dan Fogler, Demetri Martin, Paul Dano, Henry Goodman, Jonathan Groff and Eugene Levy.
To win your free pass to the advance screening of “Taking Woodstock” in Chicago courtesy of HollywoodChicago.com, all you need to do is answer our question below. That’s it! The screening will be held on Aug. 27, 2009 at 7:30 p.m. in downtown Chicago. Directions to enter this Hookup and immediately win can be found beneath the graphic below.
The movie poster for “Taking Woodstock” with Emile Hirsch, Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Paul Dano.
Image credit: Focus Features
Here is the “Taking Woodstock” plot description:
“Taking Woodstock” is...
To win your free pass to the advance screening of “Taking Woodstock” in Chicago courtesy of HollywoodChicago.com, all you need to do is answer our question below. That’s it! The screening will be held on Aug. 27, 2009 at 7:30 p.m. in downtown Chicago. Directions to enter this Hookup and immediately win can be found beneath the graphic below.
The movie poster for “Taking Woodstock” with Emile Hirsch, Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Paul Dano.
Image credit: Focus Features
Here is the “Taking Woodstock” plot description:
“Taking Woodstock” is...
- 8/25/2009
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Friday afternoon means we load up the weekend with a batch of trailers and behind the scenes featurettes and miscellaneous clips - a few from films coming shortly, a few coming soon and a few you may not of heard about yet. Have any faves from this edition of the Weekend Trailer Round-up? Let us know!
Defendor Woody Harrelson is a self-made super-hero with a prostitute side-kick
Reality intersects with delusion in the mind of Arthur Poppington (Woody Harrelson), a regular man who adopts a superhero persona known as Defendor, and combs the city streets at night in search of his arch-enemy, Captain Industry. In his attempts to combat crime and bring down Captain Industry, a drug and weapons dealer who he mistakenly blames for the death of his mother, Defendor ends up befriending a young prostitute, Katerina Debrofkowitz (Kat Dennings). Armed with unconventional weapons of mass confusion, aided by his new friend,...
Defendor Woody Harrelson is a self-made super-hero with a prostitute side-kick
Reality intersects with delusion in the mind of Arthur Poppington (Woody Harrelson), a regular man who adopts a superhero persona known as Defendor, and combs the city streets at night in search of his arch-enemy, Captain Industry. In his attempts to combat crime and bring down Captain Industry, a drug and weapons dealer who he mistakenly blames for the death of his mother, Defendor ends up befriending a young prostitute, Katerina Debrofkowitz (Kat Dennings). Armed with unconventional weapons of mass confusion, aided by his new friend,...
- 8/22/2009
- by Dave
- MovieSet.com
It might seem to some like comedian Demetri Martin came from out of nowhere, especially for those who first become aware of him as the star of Ang Lee's latest movie Taking Woodstock . In fact, Martin has been paying his dues for years as a comedy writer for the likes of "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" and doing the stand-up circuit before scoring his own Comedy Central show "Important Things with Demetri Martin." Lee's movie, written by his long-time collaborator (and head of Focus Features) James Schamus, takes place behind the scenes of the legendary Woodstock Music Festival of 1969, and Martin plays Elliot Tiber, a young Jewish man on the local community zoning board for the small town of Bethel, New York, contacted by concert promoter Michael Lang to help...
- 8/21/2009
- Comingsoon.net
Forty years ago this morning, Jimi Hendrix brought down the house to close the Woodstock Music and Art Fair in Bethel, New York. Decades later, amid a new era of change, things look suspiciously similar: America is embroiled in unpopular foreign wars, domestic economic worries, and talk about going to the moon. Noticeably absent from the 1969 reprise: another Woodstock to inject some peace and love into our current situation. Rumors surfaced that Woodstock creator Michael Lang might throw a 40th anniversary show on the original grounds in upstate New York, but economic woes crushed that dream. A commemorative concert may still materialize in Brooklyn’s Prospect Park later this year, but something about hipsters lamenting their trust fund losses rather than hippies lamenting their innocence lost makes us want to tune out.
August 18 The End of Woodstock Music and Art Fair, 1969 Bethel, NY
Have an event to share? Email calendar...
August 18 The End of Woodstock Music and Art Fair, 1969 Bethel, NY
Have an event to share? Email calendar...
- 8/18/2009
- by Clay Dillow
- Fast Company
Woodstock was a business. A very poorly run business. The four organizers, John Roberts (who died in 2001), Joel Rosenman, Michael Lang, and Artie Kornfeld were all in their 20s when they formed a company called "Woodstock Ventures" with the original intention of building a recording studio and retreat in the upstate New York town where Bob Dylan lived. They were in it to make money, but it didn't quite work out that way. It wasn't for lack of trying, though, and two things were definitely in their favor early on: they had a great idea and they knew their audience.The festival's early "Aquarian Exposition" catch phrase was a calculated reference to the musical "Hair," which was popular with Woodstock Ventures' target audience. The final slogan of "3 Days of Peace & Music" was meant to link the concert to...
- 8/14/2009
- by Shawn Amos
- Huffington Post
Academy Award-winning director Ang Lee is back with a dramedy film about the infamous Woodstock Festival in 1969. "Taking Woodstock" features a notable ensemble cast and an impressive music score.
Based on the memoirs of the same name, the film follows the real life experiences of Elliot Tiber, an aspiring interior designer who inadvertently played a role in making the Woodstock Music and Arts Festival into the famed happening that it was.
Tiber is played by comedian Demetri Martin. Also in the film are Imelda Staunton and Henry Goodman, who will play his overbearing parents; Jonathan Groff as producer Michael Lang; Eugene Levy; Emile Hirsch, a Vietnam veteran; and Liev Schreiber, as a cross-dressing ex-Marine. Jeffrey Dean Morgan also stars.
The film will feature songs from a score of '60s musical icons, including The Grateful Dead, The Doors, Jefferson Airplane, and Country Joe and the Fish.
Based on the memoirs of the same name, the film follows the real life experiences of Elliot Tiber, an aspiring interior designer who inadvertently played a role in making the Woodstock Music and Arts Festival into the famed happening that it was.
Tiber is played by comedian Demetri Martin. Also in the film are Imelda Staunton and Henry Goodman, who will play his overbearing parents; Jonathan Groff as producer Michael Lang; Eugene Levy; Emile Hirsch, a Vietnam veteran; and Liev Schreiber, as a cross-dressing ex-Marine. Jeffrey Dean Morgan also stars.
The film will feature songs from a score of '60s musical icons, including The Grateful Dead, The Doors, Jefferson Airplane, and Country Joe and the Fish.
- 8/11/2009
- icelebz.com
Michael Lang has announced that plans to stage a concert to mark the 40th anniversary of Woodstock have been cancelled. The promoter of the original festival had originally intended to hold a free event in mid-August. The concert was then put back to late September to mark Climate Week as it struggled to attract financial backing, but it has now been called off entirely. When asked about the cancellation, (more)...
- 8/5/2009
- by By Mayer Nissim
- Digital Spy
In the book Back to the Garden: The Story of Woodstock (Touchstone), author and legendary New York radio personality Pete Fornatale collected first-hand accounts to tell the tale of the world's most famous concert. In the below essay, the author looks at a significant moment at Woodstock where Abbie Hoffman took the stage during a set by Saturday headliners, The Who. It was well after midnight when the Who took the stage. Townshend was already a bit grumpy. Meanwhile, festival organizer Michael Lang invited Abbie Hoffman to sit on the stage next to him to watch the set. Hoffman had been working as a volunteer in one of the medical tents, consuming large amounts of Lsd to keep himself awake. Lang thought it would be beneficial for him to take a break, chill, and enjoy some great music. Hoffman was still very involved...
- 8/4/2009
- by Pete Fornatale
- Huffington Post
I feel so blessed to have seen "Taking Woodstock," another knockout film from director Ang Lee. By the way, Lee is one of the greatest living directors around. He can go from action ("Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon") to Brit Lit ("Sense and Sensibility") to comic book genre ("Hulk") to searing drama ("Brokeback Mountain") without missing a beat!
And I haven't even added "Eat Drink Man Woman," "Lust, Caution," and "The Ice Storm." I cannot think of a director who has worked in such a wide canvass.
In "Taking Woodstock," Lee, working from James Schamus' screenplay, creates a film so richly layered and textured centering on the making of a monumental event that changed the landscape of pop culture forever -- Woodstock.
Based on the book by Elliot Tiber called "Taking Woodstock: A True Story of a Riot, a Concert, and a Life," comedian Demetri Martin is refreshingly complex...
And I haven't even added "Eat Drink Man Woman," "Lust, Caution," and "The Ice Storm." I cannot think of a director who has worked in such a wide canvass.
In "Taking Woodstock," Lee, working from James Schamus' screenplay, creates a film so richly layered and textured centering on the making of a monumental event that changed the landscape of pop culture forever -- Woodstock.
Based on the book by Elliot Tiber called "Taking Woodstock: A True Story of a Riot, a Concert, and a Life," comedian Demetri Martin is refreshingly complex...
- 8/1/2009
- by Manny
- Manny the Movie Guy
Woodstock remains the most important rock festival in history, for one simple reason: It sold the counterculture to the mainstream, and for one weekend in mid-August 1969, it breached a generation gap that at that point had never been wider. Max Yasgur, whose farm in Bethel, New York, hosted the audience of roughly half a million people, spoke for many when he said “The kids were polite, shared everything with everyone, and they forced me to open my eyes. I think America has to take notice.” The man who made the sale happen was Michael Lang, who’d promoted only ...
- 7/2/2009
- avclub.com
Forty years after it took place, VH1 and the History channel are joining forces to premiere an all-new documentary on Woodstock, the three day music festival which drew more than 500,000 people and became one of the most defining moments in pop culture.
"Woodstock: Now & Then," a new two-hour documentary, takes a look at the performers, the fans, and the frenzy which made Woodstock so memorable, including first hand accounts as well as archival footage. It also includes interviews with musicians working today on the relevance of the festival.
The film was executive produced by original festival organizer Michael Lang and directed and produced by Barbara Kopple, Academy Award-winning filmmaker who recently helmed the Dixie Chicks doc "Shut Up & Sing."
"Woodstock: Now & Then" is also the first collaboration between VH1 and the History channel. It will premiere Friday, August 14th at 9pm on VH1 and Monday, August 17th at 8pm on History.
"Woodstock: Now & Then," a new two-hour documentary, takes a look at the performers, the fans, and the frenzy which made Woodstock so memorable, including first hand accounts as well as archival footage. It also includes interviews with musicians working today on the relevance of the festival.
The film was executive produced by original festival organizer Michael Lang and directed and produced by Barbara Kopple, Academy Award-winning filmmaker who recently helmed the Dixie Chicks doc "Shut Up & Sing."
"Woodstock: Now & Then" is also the first collaboration between VH1 and the History channel. It will premiere Friday, August 14th at 9pm on VH1 and Monday, August 17th at 8pm on History.
- 6/25/2009
- icelebz.com
Forty years after it took place, VH1 and the History channel are joining forces to premiere an all-new documentary on Woodstock, the three day music festival which drew more than 500,000 people and became one of the most defining moments in pop culture.
"Woodstock: Now & Then," a new two-hour documentary, takes a look at the performers, the fans, and the frenzy which made Woodstock so memorable, including first hand accounts as well as archival footage. It also includes interviews with musicians working today on the relevance of the festival.
The film was executive produced by original festival organizer Michael Lang and directed and produced by Barbara Kopple, Academy Award-winning filmmaker who recently helmed the Dixie Chicks doc "Shut Up & Sing."
"Woodstock: Now & Then" is also the first collaboration between VH1 and the History channel. It will premiere Friday, August 14th at 9pm on VH1 and Monday, August 17th at 8pm on History.
"Woodstock: Now & Then," a new two-hour documentary, takes a look at the performers, the fans, and the frenzy which made Woodstock so memorable, including first hand accounts as well as archival footage. It also includes interviews with musicians working today on the relevance of the festival.
The film was executive produced by original festival organizer Michael Lang and directed and produced by Barbara Kopple, Academy Award-winning filmmaker who recently helmed the Dixie Chicks doc "Shut Up & Sing."
"Woodstock: Now & Then" is also the first collaboration between VH1 and the History channel. It will premiere Friday, August 14th at 9pm on VH1 and Monday, August 17th at 8pm on History.
- 6/25/2009
- icelebz.com
- Slim pickings this Tuesday (June 9th 2009) as there are only a trio of titles worth recommending. Woodstock: 3 Days of Peace & Music Director's Cut is a fully equipped edition (see details below) of the Michael Wadleigh documentary film, a great father's day present that curiously comes out before Ang Lee's Taking Woodstock and not sometime in August when Woodstock took place. Film Movement offers Wang Xiaoshuai's 10th film as a director with In Love We Trust - a contemporary drama set in Beijing, involving two mid-aged couples. Adapted from a true story, the story of Zuo You is about the relationship crisis and emotional unrest of two couples, when the son of the divorced couple is found to have leukemia. In need of a bone marrow transplant, the only way to save the teenage boy is for the divorced couple to give birth to another baby, which will jeopardize current relationships.
- 6/9/2009
- IONCINEMA.com
Organisers of the 40th anniversary of the Woodstock festival have said that they want to host a free and environmentally-friendly event. However, co-founder Michael Lang told Billboard that all ideas for the concerts are currently "speculative". Lang said: "It's free, but it costs a lot of money. That's kind of what we're in the middle of right now. "Depending on how successful we are in raising that sponsorship will determine when and how we do this event - or if we do this event, frankly. "We want to have as small a carbon imprint as (more)...
- 3/23/2009
- by By Mayer Nissim
- Digital Spy
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