Latest news with #documentaries
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
What's next for PBS and NPR after Republicans strip funding?
Ken Burns has made more than 30 documentaries and won multiple Emmys. But without funding from public television, his educational programming such as "The Civil War" and "Baseball" might never have existed, he told "PBS News Hour" in an interview Thursday. Even today, the acclaimed filmmaker whose works — including his upcoming project "The American Revolution" — are broadcast on PBS, said his films get around 20% of their budgets from the Corp. for Public Broadcasting, the body Congress recently voted to defund. Projects that receive a higher percentage of their funding through public media "just won't be able to be made," Burns said. "And so there'll be less representation by all the different kinds of filmmakers. People coming up will have an impossible time getting started." The U.S. Senate this week passed the Trump administration's proposal to cancel $9 billion in federal funding previously allocated for foreign aid and public broadcasting, and the House of Representatives approved the package after midnight Friday, sending it to President Trump's desk. The Corp. for Public Broadcasting, which administers the funds for NPR radio stations and PBS TV affiliates, is on track to lose $1.1 billion that had previously been budgeted for the next two years. The impact of those cuts will be deeply felt across both NPR and PBS, leaders of both organizations told The Times. Layoffs and reduced programming are expected, and the blows will disproportionately strike smaller markets that rely more heavily on federal funding. "This is going to hit hardest in the places that need it the most," said Gabriel Kahn, a professor at the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism. Read more: The Senate voted to defund NPR and PBS. How will local stations cope? Stations in smaller markets are staffed significantly less than stations in larger cities, often because of the disparity in funding. The Corp. for Public Broadcasting acted as "the great equalizer," Kahn said, padding the budgets of smaller stations so they could continue operating. "It's just going to be increasingly lonely out there as these voices, who were of the community and generally very well trusted, are going to disappear," Kahn said. "Because within a year, you're not going to be able to hear these things on the radio anymore in a lot of places." Media leaders react The cuts fulfill a longtime dream of conservatives and libertarians, who bristle at the notion of public funds supporting media organizations, especially ones they view as left-leaning. Republicans have for decades called for cuts to public broadcasting because of their perceived liberal slant of its programming. Trump has called NPR and PBS government-funded 'left-wing propaganda.' But several prominent voices in media and politics were quick to call attention to the harm the cuts will have, especially on communities where the local stations rely heavily on federal funding. "A PBS station is really like the public library. It's one of those important institutions that may be the only place where people have access to local news," Burns said. "There's a kind of sense of local accountability, and as news becomes nationalized and even internationalized, there's a loss there." PBS President Paula Kerger expressed similar concerns. 'Many of our stations which provide access to free unique local programming and emergency alerts will now be forced to make hard decisions in the weeks and months ahead,' Kerger said in a statement Thursday. Read more: NPR stations targeted for cuts by Trump have provided lifelines to listeners during disasters Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski, one of two Senate Republicans to vote against the package, said she strongly opposes the cuts to public media in a statement after the vote. She referenced a 7.3 magnitude earthquake in Alaska this week that triggered a tsunami warning as an example of the public service stations provide. "My colleagues are targeting NPR but will wind up hurting — and, over time, closing down — local radio stations that provide essential news, alerts and educational programming in Alaska and across the country." A devastating blow to SoCal stations Public media outlets in Southern California's urban areas, which can turn to wealthy locals for donations, are less dependent on federal funding than stations in smaller markets. But they will still feel an immediate loss. Washington, D.C.-based NPR has two major affiliates serving the Los Angeles area: LAist, or KPCC-FM (89.3), and KCRW-FM (89.9). LAist, based in Pasadena, was set to receive $1.7 million, about 4% of its annual budget. Alejandra Santamaria, president and chief executive of LAist, said the money is equivalent to 13 journalist positions at the local news operation. KCRW in Santa Monica was expecting $264,000 from the Corp. for Public Broadcasting. PBS SoCal, which operates member stations KOCE and KCET in Orange and Los Angeles counties, respectively, is facing a loss of $4.3 million in federal funding, according to Andy Russell, president and chief executive of the stations. Connie Leyva, executive director of KVCR Public Media in San Bernardino, which operates PBS and NPR affiliates, said earlier this week that the Senate action will mean losing $540,000, about 6% of its operating budget. Thus, she has to consider cutting five positions on an already lean staff. Kahn, the USC professor who is also the publisher and editor of Crosstown L.A., a nonprofit newsroom focused on local reporting and data journalism, said the cuts could have unintended consequences for Trump's own voters. "The irony, of course, is that these are areas that generally support Trump with high margins, and they're are also areas that have the greatest allegiance to their local public radio station," he said. Sign up for our Wide Shot newsletter to get the latest entertainment business news, analysis and insights. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Solve the daily Crossword
Digital Trends
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Digital Trends
NFL fans must watch Quarterback, one of Netflix's most underrated shows this month
It was only a matter of time before Netflix jumped into sports. In 2025, every streamer needs live sports, even the prolific Netflix. NFL on Christmas, boxing with Jake Paul, and WWE's Monday Night Raw have set streaming records because of Netflix's reach. Live sports are entertaining, but it's the documentaries that are truly great. For example, Quarterback is an eye-opening look into the life of an NFL QB. It's one of three underrated shows to watch this July. Find out the rest below. Recommended Videos We also have guides to the best new shows to stream, the best movies on Netflix, the best movies on Hulu, the best movies on Amazon Prime Video, the best movies on HBO Max, and the best movies on Disney+. Quarterback (2023-) Go under center with some of the NFL's top signal callers this summer in Quarterback season 2. After a two-year hiatus, Quarterback returns with three new QBs: Cincinnati's Joe Burrow, Atlanta's Kirk Cousins, and Detroit's Jared Goff. Netflix's cameras documented the 2024 seasons for all three quarterbacks. Burrow set records, Cousins got benched, and Goff resurrected his career. Think of Quarterback like Hard Knocks for the game's most important position. I don't know how Netflix records so much in-depth footage and sound bites, but I'm glad they do. Quarterback is the perfect appetizer for the upcoming NFL season. Stream Quarterback on Netflix. Court of Gold (2025) Last summer, the United States men's national basketball team won the gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The team included basketball's version of the Avengers: LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Stephen Curry. The trio each had a signature moment in Paris, with all three coming up clutch in the semifinals and the gold medal game. Thankfully, Netflix cameras chronicled the entire journey in Court of Gold. While the U.S. became the focal point of the documentary, the series also followed France, Serbia, and Canada. Like Quarterback, Court of Gold is tailor-made for the basketball junkie. Watching Durant talk about Olympic basketball will give you chills. Stream Court of Gold on Netflix. America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders (2024-) The Dallas Cowboys are America's team for a reason. From the spaceship-like stadium and Hall of Fame players to the iconic uniforms and recognizable brand, owner Jerry Jones transformed the Cowboys into an American staple. Part of that brand includes the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders. With their white shorts and blue crop tops, 'America's Sweethearts' have been dancing since the 1960s. America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders brings fans into the chaos, starting with the competitive tryouts at the beginning of each season. You're going to gain a greater appreciation for these women after seeing how much blood, sweat, and tears they put into being a Cowboy cheerleader. Stream America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders on Netflix.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Snubbed by Oscars, redeemed by Emmys: How eligibility rules revived ‘Super/Man,' ‘I Am: Celine Dion,' and ‘Will & Harper'
Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story, I Am: Celine Dion, The Remarkable Life of Ibelin, and Will & Harper share something in common: all four documentaries were snubbed at the 2025 Oscars but have now earned nominations at the 77th Emmys. It's an unusual rule that makes this possible. Even after launching a full Oscar campaign — as these documentaries did — they can still compete at the Emmys if they fail to secure an Oscar nomination. The rule is a bit murky, though, as simply earning an Oscar nomination (in any category) makes a film ineligible for the Emmys. While this has become a common practice, there's still confusion about how documentaries are submitted for the Emmys, which categories they qualify for, and why some films can compete at both the Oscars and Emmys while others cannot. More from Gold Derby 'Squid Game' and Diego Luna are the year's biggest Emmy snubs: Poll Instant Emmy prediction data shows 'The Studio' and 'Severance' out to early leads, with 'Hacks' and 'The Pitt' lurking Adding to the complexity is the fact that documentaries that campaign for an Emmy first — even if they win — are still eligible to campaign for an Oscar. Such was the case just two years ago when Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie won the Emmy for Best Documentary or Nonfiction Special and subsequently launched an Oscar campaign. While the film made the shortlist, it ultimately failed to secure an Academy Award nomination. "Eligibility is only affected if the documentary has been nominated for an Oscar prior to being submitted to the Emmys," a rep for the TV Academy explains to Gold Derby. "No rule exists in the Emmy competition that would disallow a program from submitting to the Oscars after it has been awarded the Emmy." In short, it's possible for a documentary to win both the Emmy and the Oscar — as long as the Emmy comes first. Adding to the confusion is the distinction between two Emmy categories to which these films are submitted: Exceptional Merit in Documentary Filmmaking and Best Documentary or Nonfiction Special. Once again, Gold Derby asked the Television Academy to clarify: "The producers or network/platform decide which category they wish to submit to, but all entries that are submitted to Exceptional Merit are reviewed to confirm the program meets the eligibility criteria. Additionally, if a documentary had an extended theatrical run (an aggregate of more than 70 days), it's not eligible to compete as a Documentary Special, but is eligible in Exceptional Merit if it was produced by a media company that produces programs primarily for television and there was always the intent for the program to have a national distribution on television." One key "eligibility criterion" states that a documentary's television broadcast or streaming debut must occur within one year of its initial public exhibition — excluding film festival screenings, which are not considered theatrical releases. The Exceptional Merit in Documentary Filmmaking category was designed to honor documentaries that enjoyed a robust theatrical run before airing on television. With the rules clarified, let's dive into the nominees. Prime Video's I Am: Celine Dion and Netflix's The Remarkable Life of Ibelin are both contenders in the Exceptional Merit in Documentary Filmmaking category, alongside Disney's Patrice: The Movie. However, Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story, despite earning four other Emmy nominations for directing, editing, writing, and musical score, was excluded from this top category. Gold Derby's early Emmy predictions now show The Remarkable Life of Ibelin as the early front-runner over I Am: Celine Dion. Documentary Filmmaking Contender Odds 1. The Remarkable Life of Ibelin 60.2% 2. I Am: Celine Dion 37.5% 3. Patrice: The Movie 2.3% Meanwhile, Netflix's Will & Harper is competing in the Documentary or Nonfiction Special category against Deaf Presidents Now! (Apple TV+), Martha (Netflix), Pee-wee as Himself (HBO Max), and Sly Lives! (aka the Burden of Black Genius) (Hulu). Our data has Pee-wee as Himself is the current favorite, with Will & Harper coming in a close second. Documentary Special Contender Odds 1. Pee-wee as Himself 62.5% 2. Will and Harper 31.8% 3. Sly Lives! -- 4. Deaf President Now! 3.4% 5. Martha 2.3% Winners will be announced at the 2025 Creative Arts Emmys taking place Sept. 6 and Sept. 7 in Los Angeles. Best of Gold Derby Everything to know about 'The Pitt' Season 2, including the departure of Tracy Ifeachor's Dr. Collins Everything to know about 'Too Much,' Lena Dunham's Netflix TV show starring Megan Stalter that's kinda, sorta 'based on a true story' Cristin Milioti, Amanda Seyfried, Michelle Williams, and the best of our Emmy Limited Series/Movie Actress interviews Click here to read the full article. Solve the daily Crossword
New York Times
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Times
NBA Summer League brings hoops, and Kevin Garnett assists with film festival
LAS VEGAS — If he had an unlimited budget — a Steven Spielberg-esque budget — Kevin Garnett would go in any number of directions cinematically. 'My friend, his nickname is Waterhead,' Garnett began on the phone before beginning again, perhaps contemplating what kind of project could best explain Waterhead's life. 'I would like to have a 'Narcos,' kind of — well, I watch a lot of documentaries. One of my favorite documentaries is 'The Men Who Built America.' It's five to six different people: Carnegie, Vanderbilt, names that we would know, Rockefeller. A bunch of names from yesteryear that made the jump, have made the way. … 'The second thing I would probably do is a Black 'Entourage.' I'd do a LeBron [James] comes to the league out of high school, and he has three or four friends with him, and they enter the league, like, boom. Nobody to better know that story than myself, which I find comical. You can tell some interesting tales and watch the growth of a player, a young man to a man, a player turning into the face of the league, having children himself, being a father. I just think that story is so dope to tell. Advertisement 'And, I'd also like to do something like 'Billions.' 'Billions' was one of my favorites. Like a 'Godfather,' one of the classics. I would love to do a Black 'Godfather,' showing the origins of a Black man and his rise. Almost like if you did like a Robert Smith, kind of dissecting his whole life, and the challenges he had to go upon, going all the way back to his parents. … and you can't forget about the low-life stories, too.' The Hall of Famer is determined to be as great in the storytelling space through his Content Kings Studios production company as he was during his 21-year NBA career — highlighted by a 2008 title with the Boston Celtics, as well as being one of only five players in league history to win both the league's Most Valuable Player and Defensive Player of the Year awards. (The others were Michael Jordan, David Robinson, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Hakeem Olajuwon — the only player to win both in the same season.) Garnett is now looking to give current players a chance to branch out into telling their own stories – through movies, podcasts, streaming and other entertainment options. And he'll do that this week at NBA Summer League, as part of the second annual Summer League Film Festival. Garnett is listed as a co-host for the event, which runs Thursday through Saturday at the Thomas and Mack Center, the annual co-home for Summer League games, along with the connected Cox Pavilion. 'I've lived a dope life,' Garnett said. 'I've lived a crazy life, both up and down. And I'm very humbled and very blessed to be sitting here, speaking on a lot of things, to be able to have survived a lot of things to speak on. I think a lot of young people are going to scripts. When you hear me go into storytelling or talking about something, it's because I'm trying to give some type of path to some lost m—f— or a little, young, lost m—f— that don't know their way. 'We need that. We forget that we need a script, or we need an example sometimes. It helps.' A post shared by NBA Summer League (@nbasummerleague) The SLFF is the latest innovation from Las Vegas Summer League co-founders Warren LeGarie and Albert Hall to make the 11-day event — already a haven for hardcore basketball fans — about more than just the games. Actor/producer Mark Wahlberg is lending his name to the festival, as well, with multiple screenings through the final day of summer league. Advertisement More than 30 projects will be part of this year's festival, including documentary shorts that detail, among other subjects, the circumstances and communities that raised the likes of Nikola Jokić in Serbia, Luguentz Dort in Montreal and Udonis Haslem in Miami. Having an extra 3,000 to 5,000 people who might not come through during the second week of summer league — as most teams shut down their top prospects after the first few games — is a modest goal. 'It's also to expand the experience here,' LeGarie said. 'In order to keep it fresh, you can't just keep doing the same thing and hope that people think Febrese is enough. It isn't. You still have to bring some fresh excitement. More importantly, summer league is about storytelling. What better way to tell your story than with film? And also, it's a social media marketplace.' Among the films that will be screened at the festival: Garnett was one of the producers of the well-received Showtime documentary 'Goliath,' which focuses on the life of Hall of Famer Wilt Chamberlain. Content Kings, co-founded by Garnett, Brian Bennett and Mike Marangu, is involved with multiple productions, specializing in IP development, production and post-production services. 'Being able to connect the OGs from the past and the kids today, Kevin's that ultimate bridge,' Marangu said. 'As he always says, you're looking at it through a new lens. His OGs were Hakeem, Jordan, (Charles) Barkley. These young kids now, they can't see past the Kobe years. Just being that bridge, being that ambassador, that's not just sports, entertainment, business … it's a new wave, and he's the ultimate person who lived that and still appreciates what happened back then, and also appreciates these young kids now. 'As we were looking at the film festival opportunity, there's just so much that these kids want to do in the media space and don't know how. … There's a career path. You can be a pro at something else.' Advertisement Garnett had a well-received turn in front of the camera in Adam Sandler's 'Uncut Gems' in 2019, playing himself as an unwitting witness to Sandler's degenerate gambler's spiral. He estimates followers got only about '60 percent' of his actual personality during his post-playing stint hosting 'Area 21,' and his segments on TNT's 'Inside the NBA' that ran for a few seasons. A post shared by Marcadorrd (@marcadorrd) Garnett's not looking to become a movie star in this next stage of life. He wants to become a collaborator and conduit for other athletes looking to define themselves to the world through film and video. Putting his name with the film festival is a way of giving back to the next generation. 'Anybody and everybody that knows me knows I'm a bet on myself. I'm gonna bet on my team,' Garnett said. 'I'm not afraid to step outside of my box and do something that other people haven't tried. Just because somebody else tried it and failed doesn't mean you're going to fail. The first thing I want everybody to know is that seeing is believing. … When it's in your heart, it's in your heart. If you're in production, if you've got a vision and you want to do something for yourself, you can go out here and do it. Garnett considers what he does 'a real business for me.' He wants to be a resource for those looking to do streaming and production. He is 'putting a flag in the ground' for those wanting to develop. The film festival is the perfect place to showcase that talent. 'Anybody, any players that come to our festival, they can say, 'Ah, s—, Big Fella did this; I can do my version of this. I can get my story out here, that I can own and build content while I'm a rookie,'' he said. 'When I was young, I didn't really say a lot. I don't think the league and the world gave me any credit for the knowledge that I had. … There's a lot of s—- that I don't even look to take credit (for). It's part of the craft; it's part of the wave.'
Vogue
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Vogue
These 11 True-Crime Documentaries Will Send Shivers Down Your Spine
Looking for something to make your pulse race and your hair stand on end? The best true-crime documentaries and docu-series crawl with dark secrets and shocking twists, whether their subject is a missing child, a dead roommate, or a criminal cover-up. Here, 11 sinister, real-life stories sure to catch you in their grip and make your heart pound at every turn. The Thin Blue Line (1988), dir. Errol Morris This eerie 1988 film examines the shooting death of Dallas police officer Robert W. Wood and the wrongful conviction of Randall Dale Adams for his murder. In its creeping, slow build, The Thin Blue Line exposes the dark contortions of the justice system and the ways it can reroute the course of a life. Set to a cascading musical score by Phillip Glass, the film was released to critical acclaim for its lurid noir style. Capturing the Friedmans (2003), dir. Andrew Jarecki
