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San Francisco Chronicle
a day ago
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
Marlee Matlin tells her story in an intimate and groundbreaking documentary
When American Masters approached Marlee Matlin about doing a documentary, Matlin had one name in mind to direct: Shoshanna Stern. Like Matlin, Stern is deaf. She also hadn't directed before. But Matlin, who herself became the first deaf person in the Directors Guild of America just a few years ago, was certain she was up to the task. The resulting film, 'Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore' is an intimate look at her life: Growing up in a hearing family; winning the best actress Oscar at 21 for her first movie role in 'Children of a Lesser God,' which film critic Rex Reed at the time called a 'pity vote'; what she's described as an abusive romantic relationship with her co-star, the late William Hurt, which he denied; getting sober; and her experiences in an industry not equipped to accommodate deaf actors. It's also an evocative portal into the world of the deaf community that uses groundbreaking techniques and sound design to put American Sign Language (ASL) and visual communication first. The film opens in select theaters Friday. While Matlin told much of her story in the memoir 'I'll Scream Later,' on some level it wasn't a completely satisfactory experience. Before the #MeToo movement, its revelations were not treated entirely seriously in the media. But a documentary also provided an opportunity. 'We communicate visually,' she said. Matlin and Stern spoke though translators to The Associated Press about the 'CODA' effect, making the doc on their terms, and why they hope Reed sees this film. Remarks have been edited for clarity and brevity. AP: Shoshanna, what was your approach? STERN: I had never seen a deaf person direct an episode of TV or film. Never. I thought, what does that even look like? I didn't realize until I took the job that really the whole form of documentary as we know it is really rooted in sound, in the assumption that people will be speaking and they can speak. I thought, what are we going to do when we're using American Sign Language? I have to reframe a whole form of documentary. We have to be able to see what a visually-based documentary is going to look like. We wouldn't do justice to Marlee's life if I had forced this form that really wasn't rooted in the way that she experienced this life. And that was exciting to do. Scary for some people out there, but I never felt scared in making this documentary because she believed in me. MATLIN: If I had had a hearing director approach me to do this project, we could have done a very good job, but that person would not have seen me in the same way. They would not have the same lens as a deaf person. AP: What were some techniques you used to spotlight the deaf experience? STERN: I did want to film with captions in mind, so I made sure that we did have a wider frame. We figured out visual voiceover with a split screen that we added. We did this little surgery with words and syllables in one of the scenes where we mixed them all around to be able to bring people into how Marlee experiences conversations and the world. We wanted to make this documentary an immersive experience for the audience members, a sensory experience to help them understand. AP: 'CODA' felt like a big moment, but in the years since it won the Oscar, have you seen things change? MATLIN: 'CODA' certainly was a milestone and respected by so many people in the industry. It tackled a lot of things that both deaf and hearing people or audiences can identify with. I love the fact that they burnt in the captions. That you can't just turn it off. And I hoped that all the love we received and the three Academy Awards that we got would make a difference. It was honored on so many other levels too as well, whether we're talking about (director) Sian (Heder) or you're talking about Troy (Kotsur) or the SAG award which was just a dream come true, specifically of mine. I took that opportunity to specifically address that that we 'exist,' that we want to be actors just like you, we want to be directors, we want be producers, we want to be hair and wardrobe stylists. We want to work in all levels of production. So 'CODA' really elevated that conversation about how much we wanted to be part of the industry. But for some reason it didn't really break open the door as wide as I would have thought. Yet we just don't give up. We are persistent. Because it is what it is. We are working on our own levels to make changes. STERN: Marlee said something really brave when we were at Sundance. She said, 'It won't last.' The moment, yes, in the moment. But I don't know if we have movement. MATLIN: There's so many stories that we can tell, so many stories that you can put up on screen, so many stories that we can put on stage. I'd like to see action because I've been hearing that, 'Yes, we have to do this' or 'I will do this,' but it's been 40 years. I don't want to sound like I'm complaining. I just want to make sure that we put our money where our mouth is. I go back to that comment about Rex Reed. I wonder if he would ever see this film. I'd love to see if he has the balls to make a comment and say, "Oh look, I realize I might have said something wrong." That's just one example of the things I'd like to see happen. And maybe the people who interviewed me over the years. I don't want you to misunderstand me, I have a great deal of respect for them. But specifically, I am calling out Rex Reed. So, you know, sorry but not sorry.
a day ago
- Entertainment
Marlee Matlin tells her story in an intimate and groundbreaking documentary
When American Masters approached Marlee Matlin about doing a documentary, Matlin had one name in mind to direct: Shoshanna Stern. Like Matlin, Stern is deaf. She also hadn't directed before. But Matlin, who herself became the first deaf person in the Directors Guild of America just a few years ago, was certain she was up to the task. The resulting film, 'Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore' is an intimate look at her life: Growing up in a hearing family; winning the best actress Oscar at 21 for her first movie role in 'Children of a Lesser God,' which film critic Rex Reed at the time called a 'pity vote'; what she's described as an abusive romantic relationship with her co-star, the late William Hurt, which he denied; getting sober; and her experiences in an industry not equipped to accommodate deaf actors. It's also an evocative portal into the world of the deaf community that uses groundbreaking techniques and sound design to put American Sign Language (ASL) and visual communication first. The film opens in select theaters Friday. While Matlin told much of her story in the memoir 'I'll Scream Later,' on some level it wasn't a completely satisfactory experience. Before the #MeToo movement, its revelations were not treated entirely seriously in the media. But a documentary also provided an opportunity. 'We communicate visually,' she said. Matlin and Stern spoke though translators to The Associated Press about the 'CODA' effect, making the doc on their terms, and why they hope Reed sees this film. Remarks have been edited for clarity and brevity. STERN: I had never seen a deaf person direct an episode of TV or film. Never. I thought, what does that even look like? I didn't realize until I took the job that really the whole form of documentary as we know it is really rooted in sound, in the assumption that people will be speaking and they can speak. I thought, what are we going to do when we're using American Sign Language? I have to reframe a whole form of documentary. We have to be able to see what a visually-based documentary is going to look like. We wouldn't do justice to Marlee's life if I had forced this form that really wasn't rooted in the way that she experienced this life. And that was exciting to do. Scary for some people out there, but I never felt scared in making this documentary because she believed in me. MATLIN: If I had had a hearing director approach me to do this project, we could have done a very good job, but that person would not have seen me in the same way. They would not have the same lens as a deaf person. STERN: I did want to film with captions in mind, so I made sure that we did have a wider frame. We figured out visual voiceover with a split screen that we added. We did this little surgery with words and syllables in one of the scenes where we mixed them all around to be able to bring people into how Marlee experiences conversations and the world. We wanted to make this documentary an immersive experience for the audience members, a sensory experience to help them understand. MATLIN: 'CODA' certainly was a milestone and respected by so many people in the industry. It tackled a lot of things that both deaf and hearing people or audiences can identify with. I love the fact that they burnt in the captions. That you can't just turn it off. And I hoped that all the love we received and the three Academy Awards that we got would make a difference. It was honored on so many other levels too as well, whether we're talking about (director) Sian (Heder) or you're talking about Troy (Kotsur) or the SAG award which was just a dream come true, specifically of mine. I took that opportunity to specifically address that that we 'exist,' that we want to be actors just like you, we want to be directors, we want be producers, we want to be hair and wardrobe stylists. We want to work in all levels of production. So 'CODA' really elevated that conversation about how much we wanted to be part of the industry. But for some reason it didn't really break open the door as wide as I would have thought. Yet we just don't give up. We are persistent. Because it is what it is. We are working on our own levels to make changes. STERN: Marlee said something really brave when we were at Sundance. She said, 'It won't last.' The moment, yes, in the moment. But I don't know if we have movement. MATLIN: There's so many stories that we can tell, so many stories that you can put up on screen, so many stories that we can put on stage. I'd like to see action because I've been hearing that, 'Yes, we have to do this' or 'I will do this,' but it's been 40 years. I don't want to sound like I'm complaining. I just want to make sure that we put our money where our mouth is. I go back to that comment about Rex Reed. I wonder if he would ever see this film. I'd love to see if he has the balls to make a comment and say, "Oh look, I realize I might have said something wrong." That's just one example of the things I'd like to see happen. And maybe the people who interviewed me over the years. I don't want you to misunderstand me, I have a great deal of respect for them. But specifically, I am calling out Rex Reed. So, you know, sorry but not sorry.
Winnipeg Free Press
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Winnipeg Free Press
Marlee Matlin tells her story in an intimate and groundbreaking documentary
When American Masters approached Marlee Matlin about doing a documentary, Matlin had one name in mind to direct: Shoshanna Stern. Like Matlin, Stern is deaf. She also hadn't directed before. But Matlin, who herself became the first deaf person in the Directors Guild of America just a few years ago, was certain she was up to the task. The resulting film, 'Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore' is an intimate look at her life: Growing up in a hearing family; winning the best actress Oscar at 21 for her first movie role in 'Children of a Lesser God,' which film critic Rex Reed at the time called a 'pity vote'; what she's described as an abusive romantic relationship with her co-star, the late William Hurt, which he denied; getting sober; and her experiences in an industry not equipped to accommodate deaf actors. It's also an evocative portal into the world of the deaf community that uses groundbreaking techniques and sound design to put American Sign Language (ASL) and visual communication first. The film opens in select theaters Friday. While Matlin told much of her story in the memoir 'I'll Scream Later,' on some level it wasn't a completely satisfactory experience. Before the #MeToo movement, its revelations were not treated entirely seriously in the media. But a documentary also provided an opportunity. 'We communicate visually,' she said. Matlin and Stern spoke though translators to The Associated Press about the 'CODA' effect, making the doc on their terms, and why they hope Reed sees this film. Remarks have been edited for clarity and brevity. AP: Shoshanna, what was your approach? STERN: I had never seen a deaf person direct an episode of TV or film. Never. I thought, what does that even look like? I didn't realize until I took the job that really the whole form of documentary as we know it is really rooted in sound, in the assumption that people will be speaking and they can speak. I thought, what are we going to do when we're using American Sign Language? I have to reframe a whole form of documentary. We have to be able to see what a visually-based documentary is going to look like. We wouldn't do justice to Marlee's life if I had forced this form that really wasn't rooted in the way that she experienced this life. And that was exciting to do. Scary for some people out there, but I never felt scared in making this documentary because she believed in me. MATLIN: If I had had a hearing director approach me to do this project, we could have done a very good job, but that person would not have seen me in the same way. They would not have the same lens as a deaf person. AP: What were some techniques you used to spotlight the deaf experience? STERN: I did want to film with captions in mind, so I made sure that we did have a wider frame. We figured out visual voiceover with a split screen that we added. We did this little surgery with words and syllables in one of the scenes where we mixed them all around to be able to bring people into how Marlee experiences conversations and the world. We wanted to make this documentary an immersive experience for the audience members, a sensory experience to help them understand. AP: 'CODA' felt like a big moment, but in the years since it won the Oscar, have you seen things change? MATLIN: 'CODA' certainly was a milestone and respected by so many people in the industry. It tackled a lot of things that both deaf and hearing people or audiences can identify with. I love the fact that they burnt in the captions. That you can't just turn it off. And I hoped that all the love we received and the three Academy Awards that we got would make a difference. It was honored on so many other levels too as well, whether we're talking about (director) Sian (Heder) or you're talking about Troy (Kotsur) or the SAG award which was just a dream come true, specifically of mine. I took that opportunity to specifically address that that we 'exist,' that we want to be actors just like you, we want to be directors, we want be producers, we want to be hair and wardrobe stylists. We want to work in all levels of production. So 'CODA' really elevated that conversation about how much we wanted to be part of the industry. But for some reason it didn't really break open the door as wide as I would have thought. Yet we just don't give up. We are persistent. Because it is what it is. We are working on our own levels to make changes. Weekly A weekly look at what's happening in Winnipeg's arts and entertainment scene. STERN: Marlee said something really brave when we were at Sundance. She said, 'It won't last.' The moment, yes, in the moment. But I don't know if we have movement. MATLIN: There's so many stories that we can tell, so many stories that you can put up on screen, so many stories that we can put on stage. I'd like to see action because I've been hearing that, 'Yes, we have to do this' or 'I will do this,' but it's been 40 years. I don't want to sound like I'm complaining. I just want to make sure that we put our money where our mouth is. I go back to that comment about Rex Reed. I wonder if he would ever see this film. I'd love to see if he has the balls to make a comment and say, 'Oh look, I realize I might have said something wrong.' That's just one example of the things I'd like to see happen. And maybe the people who interviewed me over the years. I don't want you to misunderstand me, I have a great deal of respect for them. But specifically, I am calling out Rex Reed. So, you know, sorry but not sorry.
USA Today
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Logic explains how therapy and J.J. Abrams led to his directorial debut 'Paradise Records'
Logic explains how therapy and J.J. Abrams led to his directorial debut 'Paradise Records' Show Caption Hide Caption Logic makes directorial debut with 'Paradise Records' The Rapper Logic sat down with Ralphie Aversa to talk about his directorial debut in new semi-autobiographical film, 'Paradise Records.' NEW YORK – What do J.J. Abrams, Seth MacFarlane and Kevin Smith have in common? They all endorsed Logic, the multi-platinum hip hop star, in his application to join the Directors Guild of America. Now the artist, born Sir Robert Bryson Hall II, makes his directorial debut in the Tribeca Film Festival with "Paradise Records," a workplace comedy that pays homage to movies like Smith's 1994 cult classic "Clerks." It was a big undertaking for Logic: He wrote, directed and starred in the movie. But besides the literal co-signings from established names in film and television, Logic's journey from the stage to the silver screen wouldn't have been possible without a series of events that took place almost five years ago. In July 2020, at the height of his career and in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, the hip hop star decided to "retire" from music. Logic wanted to focus on his family. He also went to therapy. "It's been such an incredible internal and spiritual journey," Logic, 35, tells USA TODAY. "I've learned things like the power of no, literally just how to say 'no.' I used to not do that because I wanted to people-please." Through conversations with his therapist, Logic also came to the realization that he should stay off social media. The artist says he hasn't been on any network in "almost eight years." What started as a personal journey also turned into a professional revelation. Logic parted ways with Def Jam Records, the label on which he recorded seven albums with including the Grammy-nominated single, "1-800-273-8255." The artist now releases music independently and no, he wouldn't divulge a date for his tenth LP "Sidequest." After Smith cast Logic in his 2024 semi-autobiographical film "The 4:30 Movie," he urged Logic to pursue filmmaking. Smith also presented an offer: he would serve as executive producer, editor and reprise his role of Silent Bob alongside Jason Mewes' Jay. Logic stars in the film with his real life best friend, Tremayne Hudson. Other actors who make cameos include Ron Perlman, Rainn Wilson and Joseph Gordon-Levitt in addition to rapper Juicy J and comedian Donnell Rawlings. Logic's family, including his father, oldest son and wife Brittney also appear in the project. The artist credits his wife with supporting his latest endeavor. The advice he received from Abrams helped too. The "Star Wars" director reminded Logic that he's "literally making a movie," so the top priority should be to have fun. "(Abrams) said, 'The second thing is you're gonna have every (department) coming to you, all these people constantly asking you for stuff,'" Logic recalls. "'At times it's going to feel overwhelming. Never forget that you're a human being and you have the power to say, "Give me five minutes," walk around your set and figure it out.'" That's what Logic did whenever there was an issue, from an actor getting COVID to an equipment malfunction. He took a break, walked and figured it out. Turns out Abrams was right after all.
Time of India
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Hollywood's worst-kept secret?
– the most prolific Hollywood director with over 150 movies listed on IMDB – has been trending on X and online forums such as Reddit in recent weeks. But what's so special about him? Who is Alan Smithee? No one. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now You read that right. Alan Smithee doesn't exist, never did. It's just a pseudonym Hollywood uses when someone isn't happy with how a project turns out and doesn't want a credit. The pseudonym was born in 1968 as a direct result of a Directors Guild of America (DGA) rule: No film can be released without a director credit. And the western, Death of a Gunfighter , posed just that problem. The original director, Robert Totten, had a fall out with lead actor Richard Widmark during the shoot, and was replaced by Don Siegel. But though Siegel finished the film, he refused to take credit as the director, as the film clearly bore Totten's signature. The DGCA recommended a solution – the use of a pseudonym. And the rest is history. Why is Smithee trending? In the age of internet detectives, pseudonyms in Hollywood have turned into Easter eggs. Communities on Reddit analyse end credits and copyright filings to reveal which top directors might be hiding behind unusual names. Current recommendations for such disputed projects include 'Thomas Lee', which was first used for Supernova . A recent article highlighted the extensive use of 'Alan Smithee' credit in various films, including alternate versions of Scent of a Woman and Heat . This has sparked discussions among film enthusiasts and social media users about the pseudonym's legacy and the circumstances under which it was employed. Handles like @AlanSmithee1987 and @Smithee_directs has contributed to the trend, often sharing content related to film culture, satire, and commentary, keeping the conversation about 'Alan Smithee' alive. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now What this means in the streaming era In today's content-saturated market, with the changing definitions of a 'big-budget studio', directors are frequently hired, and replaced, as 'service providers' rather than as auteurs. Studios and platforms often exert more editorial control, sidelining directors during post-production. This creates a possibility of directors wanting to distance themselves, especially if a show is recut or reshot by the platform. For fans, it is all about finding that Easter egg of pseudonyms through the deepest online dive possible. The end? The pseudonym was over-publicised, ruining its reputation. Films credited with it were automatically considered bad and that made it difficult for studio bosses to find successful distribution. The DGA drew the line. The union 'retired' its official pseudonym recommendation in 2000. But it seems like Hollywood isn't ready to retire it even now, with Alan getting umpteen credits in between, and has more in the offing. Fun fact: Alan Smithee has 415 credits listed on IMDB, including 149 director credits for past productions and four for upcoming ones, 61 credits as actors, 42 as writer, 36 as producer and 13 as composer. It's all over the place, spread across 24 categories Fun fact: Smithee even fooled well-known film critic Roger Ebert, who wrote a positive review of Death of a Gunfighter , saying, 'Director Allen Smithee, a name I'm not familiar with, allows his story to unfold naturally.' Fun fact: In the 1997 mockumentary An Alan Smithee Film: Burn Hollywood Burn , a filmmaker, Alan Smithee (Eric Idle) wants to have his name removed from the credits of the final product. This isn't easy, because his real name is the official pseudonym for such cases. That's the storyline, but then there's the twist. The film's actual director, Arthur Hiller, wasn't satisfied with its final cut, and so…. Fun fact: Among Hollywood A-listers, Steven Soderbergh has used pseudonyms most prolifically, maintaining distinct creative personas for different roles, especially within the same project. He's known to have used 'Peter Andrews' as a pseudonym for his role as a cinematographer and 'Mary Ann Bernard' for his work as an editor. The Coen Brothers have occasionally credited themselves under aliases like 'Roderick Jaynes' for editing work. The G.O.A.T Smithee: The pseudonym has been used since 1968 by several directors, including David Lynch, and has come to signify a bad film. In more recent years, Evil Dead and Spider-Man creator Sam Raimi and his elder brother wrote the screenplay for 1992 film The Nutt House as Alan Smithee Junior and Alan Smithee Senior. For the TV cut of Dune (1984), David Lynch disowned the extended television cut of his sci-fi epic, not the theatrical version. He used the credits 'Directed by Alan Smithee'/ Written by 'Judas Booth' (a jab at betrayal, like Judas and John Wilkes Booth). Famous Hollywood Pseudonyms Stephen Greene – Accidental Love (2015); disowned by David O. Russell Thomas Lee – Supernova (2000); disowned by Walter Hill and completed by other directors, including Francis Ford Coppola Ernie Fusco – Highball (1997); disowned by Noah Baumbach Jan Jensen – Showgirls (1995, TV Edit); disowned by Paul Verhoeven
