Tim Wardle's film tells extraordinary story of triplets separated at birth, reunited accidentally as adults The breakout documentary Three Identical Strangers will be adapted into a feature film, in a deal announced Thursday. Film4 and Sidney Kimmel Entertainment will partner with Raw -- producer of the documentary -- on the fictionalized version of the story, according to a press release obtained by Nonfictionfilm.com. Three Identical Strangers premiered at Sundance, captivating audiences with its tale of 19-year-old New Yorkers Bobby Shafran, David Kellman and Eddy Galland, who randomly discovered they were identical triplets separated at birth. Growing up with adoptive parents the brothers were completely unaware they had siblings. We trust that they will treat our story with respect and create an amazing dramatic version of our lives. The deal came about "after widespread interest and fierce, multi-studio competitive bidding in the life rights," according to the statement. Brothers Bobby and David added, "We trust that they will treat our story with respect and create an amazing dramatic version of our lives" (for reasons that will be clear to anyone who sees the documentary, Eddy Galland was not included in the brothers' joint statement). Tim Wardle directed the documentary, using recreations, archive material and present-day interviews to capture how the young men finally met and the public sensation their reunion triggered. The documentary takes a darker turn as details emerge about the sinister reasons the babies were separated as infants. Three Identical Strangers has surged to $2.5 mil. at the domestic box office in just three weeks of release, recording impressive per-screen averages. Ribald exchange happens during Outfest Q&A for documentary on playwright Terrence McNally Outfest typically arranges Q&A's to follow festival screenings -- an opportunity to hear from key talent involved in the films. Depending on the subject matter of the movies in question, the conversations can range from the serious to the moving to -- in the case of Every Act of Life -- the uproarious. Actors Rita Moreno and Justin Kirk were among those who took part in the Q&A for the documentary about playwright Terrence McNally. Moreno worked with McNally on The Ritz in the 1970s; Kirk worked with him more recently on Love! Valour! Compassion! The latter play focused on eight gay men who reunite over several summers on the east coast. The production called at one point for almost the entire cast to strip naked. An audience member asked Kirk about the audition process for the show, which prompted an exchange between the actor and Moreno. Watch it here. Actress starred Off-Broadway in a McNally play: 'He can write... sometimes cutting, stinging, vicious [characters], but very human' Filmmaker Jeff Kaufman assembled an impressive cast for his documentary Every Act of Life about playwright Terrence McNally. Among the people he interviewed for the film are McNally collaborators Nathan Lane, F. Murray Abraham, Christine Baranski, Rita Moreno, Edie Falco, Angela Lansbury and Swoosie Kurtz, among others. Kurtz, who starred in the original Off-Broadway production of McNally's play Lips Together, Teeth Apart, appeared at Outfest in Los Angeles in support of the documentary. Nonfictionfilm.com spoke with her on the red carpet about McNally and her love of the stage. Opening Friday: 'McQueen' explores life, career of extraordinary fashion designer Alexander McQueen7/17/2018 Ian Bonhôte and Peter Ettedgui directed doc on one of the most controversial and supremely talented artists of his time The world of fashion design does not lack for gifted artists: Chanel, Dior, Saint Laurent in earlier times, Ford, Prada, Galliano more recently. But to see the new documentary McQueen is to wonder if the British designer did not surpass all his contemporaries in sheer genius. The film, directed by Ian Bonhôte and co-directed and written by Peter Ettedgui, opens in Los Angeles and New York this Friday (July 20), with San Francisco set to follow a week later. It explores the rise of McQueen (1969-2010) from his beginnings in the unlikeliest of environments -- working class London -- to his apprenticeship on Savile Row and later his startlingly original collections under his own name and, for a time, with Givenchy. A private screening at the London Hotel in West Hollywood Monday night attracted an array of actors, reality TV stars and filmmakers, including Ondi Timoner (Mapplethorpe). Director, writer and producer Kinvara Balfour, who executive produced McQueen, stopped by our camera to discuss the documentary and what it's like to wear the late designer's exceptional creations. Actress worked with the playwright/screenwriter on The Ritz: 'Terrence was never ashamed of being gay' The remarkable Rita Moreno, who at 86 remains a force of nature, graced the Outfest red carpet for the festival premiere of Every Act of Life, a new documentary about playwright Terrence McNally. The pair worked together on the Broadway production of The Ritz, which won Moreno a Tony Award in 1975 for her role as an outlandish Puerto Rican entertainer. She went on to star in the movie version of the show, directed by Richard Lester. He always looked like this little boy, sweet little Irish lad, with a poison tongue. Moreno appears in the documentary directed by Jeff Kaufman, recalling her experience collaborating with McNally, one of the most successful playwrights of his time and a man who never felt compelled to deny his gay identity. Nonfictionfilm.com spoke with the EGOT winner (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony) about her Ritz-y role, and her thoughts on McNally. |
AuthorMatthew Carey is a documentary filmmaker and journalist. His work has appeared on Deadline.com, CNN, CNN.com, TheWrap.com, NBCNews.com and in Documentary magazine. |