As autumn draws near and awards season looms, movie mogul Harvey Weinstein says he has one thing on his mind: that the Knicks go all the way.
“I’m a die-hard Knicks fan and hoping Jim will let me into the garden,” Weinstein said, referring to James Dolan, who was sitting next to him at the Weinstein Company offices in Toronto on Monday. Dolan is the head of Cablevision and New York’s Madison Square Garden, where the Knicks play.
“Thanks. No pressure,” Dolan jokes.
While basketball was a hot topic, Weinstein had more pressing business at the Toronto International Film Festival. His company’s newest film, “August: Osage County,” based on the Tony- and Pulitzer Prize-winning play, was having its world premiere in a few hours. Before that, Weinstein sat down for an exclusive interview.
He was more interested in talking about the Sunday premiere of the Superstorm Sandy benefit film, “12-12-12,” than anything else.
The storm devastated the Northeast last fall, and Weinstein, along with Dolan and Clear Channel president John Sykes, decided to put on a benefit concert at Madison Square Garden. They gathered a superstar lineup that included the Rolling Stones, The Who, Bruce Springsteen, Kanye West, Billy Joel and others for a nearly six-hour show. The event raised $65 million dollars for the Robin Hood Foundation to benefit victims of the storm.
Weinstein says they’re proud of their effort, but he also feels they made a powerful documentary that shows a perspective that fans didn’t get to see.
“That’s the only reason to make it,” he said.
Back in December, Weinstein dressed in street clothes to work behind the scenes of the concert. He speaks of the special moments that he saw and remembers “the coolest one.”
“Having Paul McCartney walk out of his dressing room and singing ‘Hey, Hey we’re the Monkees,’ and doing it for a minute and half,” he said.
Dolan and Sykes agree that the documentary captures something special.
“There was a sense a sense of sarcasm that only New Yorkers can have looking straight in the eye of a tragedy that this movie really reflects,” Sykes says.
He cites Adam Sandler’s poignant parody of the Leonard Cohen song, “Hallelujah,” and Billy Joel rehearsing his own take of “We Are the World,” as “We Are New York,” sung in a whiny, New York accent.
One of the criticisms of the benefit concert was the disparity between music genres. Kanye West was the only hip-hop artist in a primarily classic rock-based lineup.
But Sykes defends that point.
“It was about making money for the victims. We were less concerned making a perfectly balanced show, and more focused on what artists could bring in people with the most money,” Sykes said.
As for a release date of the documentary, Weinstein said they will probably memorialize the day of the storm, Oct. 29, and have a New York premiere.
Weinstein said he relies on Dolan and Sykes for other advice, citing their help with his highly regarded film, “Lee Daniel’s The Butler.”
It’s been mentioned as an Oscar favorite, but after Monday, so was his other film, “August: Osage County,” making it an interesting awards season.
Directors Amy+Pilar and Jose Antonio Prat Join Reform School
Boutique content production company Reform has added comedy directing duo Amy+Pilar (Amy York Rubin and Pilar Boehm) and award-winning multicultural director Jose Antonio Prat to its roster for U.S. representation spanning commercials and branded entertainment.
Partners in both life and art, Amy+Pilar are know for their sharp wit and comedic timing. Their synchronicity is evident in a body of work across TV, film and commercials. Prior to joining Reform School, Amy+Pilar had been repped in the ad market by production company Knucklehead.
Amy has directed high-profile comedy sketches featuring stars like Amy Schumer, Kate McKinnon, and Sarah Silverman. On the episodic front, Amy has helmed for series such as Fresh Off the Boat, Casual, Superstore and Angie Tribeca--as well as the pilot for the hit Netflix comedy Dead to Me.
Before joining forces with Amy behind the camera, Pilar was a psychotherapist, a background that informs her ability to create fascinating characters and stage irresistible, nuanced performances. Amy and Pilar’s shared passion for comedy brought them together. Their collaboration began with a Synchrony Bank campaign, starring cult-comedy favorite Maribeth Monroe (Workaholics), and they went on to direct the pilot of the Hulu series Love, Victor. Amy+Pilar’s ad fare also includes spots for Uber’s “Go-Get” campaign and “Shift,” starring Martin Starr.
“We have been fans of Amy and Pilar for a long time,” said Ryan Ennis, executive director at Reform School. “They excel at capturing comedic performances and dialogue. Coming from the TV and L.A. comedy scenes, they’ve built a strong following and collaborated with some of our favorite funny people.... Read More