Sony Pix acquires Ed Norton's 'Obama'

[babylonsister]

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118002220.html?categoryId=1064&cs=1

Sony Pix acquires Norton's 'Obama'
International, domestic rights secured
By TATIANA SIEGEL

The Obamas

The docu traces the campaign and election of Barack Obama.


Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions Group has acquired all media rights internationally (excluding U.K. TV) and domestic home entertainment rights to the documentary "By the People: The Election of Barack Obama."

Produced by Edward Norton's Class 5 Films and directed by Amy Rice and Alicia Sams, the previously untitled pic will see U.S. theatrical distribution via HBO Documentary Films.

Film follows the former Illinois senator from the announcement of his candidacy to his historic election and inauguration. Told through exclusive footage of Obama and his staff, "By the People" is touted as an all-access pass to campaign life on the road to the White House.

"From the start, it was very important to us to share this film with as broad an international audience as possible, and we're really thrilled to be partnered with Sony in trying to achieve this," Norton said.

Sony Pictures Television is handling sales for TV outside the U.S. and U.K., mobile and new media.

Film was financed by Good, Green Film Co., Citi Prods. and Class 5 Films.

[villager]

1. "'08: A Graphic Diary of the Campaign Trail"

...came out a month or so ago, and tells the story of the last Presidential race - primaries and beyond -- in documentary/graphic novel form. It's reviewed here:

http://www.sfsite.com/columns/graphica290.htm

[Spazito]

2. This will certainly be one documentary I will be watching....

it is wonderful it will now be available to a wider audience!

[ClarkUSA]

3. I predict it will be the most widely watched documentary in history across the world.

[Bjorn Against]

12. Here is the competition

1 Fahrenheit 9/11 Lions $119,194,771
2 March of the Penguins WIP $77,437,223
3 Sicko LGF $24,540,079
4 An Inconvenient Truth ParC $24,146,161
5 Bowling for Columbine UA $21,576,018
6 Madonna: Truth or Dare Mira. $15,012,935
7 Religulous LGF $13,011,160
8 Winged Migration SPC $11,689,053
9 Super Size Me IDP $11,536,423
10 Mad Hot Ballroom ParC $8,117,961

http://www.boxofficemojo.com/genres/chart/?id=documentary.htm

Personally I think it is going to do well but it will have a very difficult time beating Farenheit 9/11. Documentaries usually don't bring in big money at the box office, and considering the non-stop election coverage I think many people will feel like they've already seen this one. I still think it will easily get into the top 10 though, my prediction is that it will take the number three spot.

[graywarrior]

4. I forgot he was doing this

Cannot wait to see it.

[DrToast]

5. Anyone know how long it's going to be?

Is it going to be a movie? Is it a mini-series? They must have tons of footage and I doubt you can (or should!) cover the whole election in 2 hours.

[Lars39]

6. I'd read that they actually started filming him well before the campaign started.

Should be really neat. :)

[HopeOverFear]

13. They did, they started following him around with cameras

Even before the 2004 DNC

[Arugula Latte]

7. Ed Norton is fabulously talented.

I can't wait to see this.

[Phx_Dem]

8. I love Ed Norton. He is so talented. n/t

[QueenOfCalifornia]

9. I have an

autographed picture of Edward Norton in my office. He is one of my favorite actors.

:)

[Cha]

10. Thank you, Ed Norton and Sony~ And,

you, too, babylonsister. This will be going into my DVD Library:patriot::fistbump:

[Phx_Dem]

11. I head about this on MSNBC this morning. They've been filming

Obama since his address at the 2004 Democratic Convention on the "off-chance" he might run for President! They have 4+ years of O-footage! Ed Norton is a genius. I'd like to call him and ask him what stocks I should buy.

[HopeOverFear]

14. can u imagine all the footage they have?

wow