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“Group Therapy,” an intimate exploration of mental health from some of the comedians who’ve shared their darkest — and funniest — life struggles on stage, is now streaming on Prime Video, TheWrap can reveal exclusively.

The feature-length documentary from Emmy-nominated filmmaker Neil Berkeley chronicles a group therapy session — led by actor Neil Patrick Harris — with Tig Notaro, Mike Birbiglia, Gary Gulman, Atsuko Osaka, Nicole Byer and British comic London Hughes, as they discuss the relationship between their professional and mental health journeys.

Notaro shares her devastating cancer diagnosis; Birbiglia jokes about his bizarre sleepwalking nightmares; Gulman shares his lifelong battle with depression; Japanese comic Atsuko Osaka talks about her mother’s schizophrenia; Nicole Byer jokes that she loses her keys a few times a day because of Adhd; and Hughes dealt with insecurity and lack of opportunity as a young Black comic in the UK.

Nicole Byer and Tig Notaro in...

From the moment Morgan Neville was approached about making a documentary tied to the 50th anniversary of “Saturday Night Live,” he knew that he didn’t want to capture this comedy staple in a traditional way.

“The idea of doing 50 years of ‘SNL’ in 90 minutes, it’s going to be a greatest hits clip show, which is not interesting to me,” Neville, the executive producer behind Peacock’s ‘SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night,” told TheWrap. “I always feel like the fool’s errand of a lot of storytelling is trying to be completist. Everything is reductive, but filmmaking is particularly reductive.”

Instead of the predictable, Neville opted for a format that was “more irreverent and risk-taking,” an ethos that has always defined NBC’s crown jewel. To do that, Neville recruited four of his favorite directors — Robert Alexander, Neil Berkeley, Marshall Curry and Jason Zeldes — to each direct their own distinct episode.

It’s time to get reacquainted with your innie.

It’s been nearly three years since Apple TV+ introduced fans to Lumon Industries, the mysterious tech company at the heart of Severance, the vibe-heavy, Emmy-winning sci-fi thriller about employees who’ve had their consciousness split in two: the innie version who exists only at work and the outie who lives an otherwise normal life outside its walls. If you don’t remember where we left off, here’s a handy refresher now that the Season 2 premiere is streaming. But it’s safe to say it was worth the wait.

The new episodes pick up in the aftermath of the shocking revelation that Helly (Britt Lower), the innie who joined Mark’s (Adam Scott) “macrodata refinement” team and spent the entire first season trying to escape Lumon’s clutches, is actually the daughter of the company’s CEO who willingly underwent...

To mark the 50th season of “Saturday Night Live,” putting together 90 minutes of live TV in six days — already a herculean feat — is not enough. In addition, the venerable variety show is flooding the zone with shows of its pop cultural might. On the heels of Jason Reitman’s hagiographic film “Saturday Night” and ahead of next month’s three-hour telecast from Studio 8H comes the four-part docuseries “SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night.” Executive produced by Oscar-winner Morgan Neville, the show is the latest prong in NBC’s full-court marketing press to celebrate the anarchic experiment turned established institution. But 50 years in, the legend of Lorne Michaels’ merry circus has already been celebrated, many times over. “SNL50” adds little to this half-century of anecdotes, oral histories and archival footage. Instead, it embellishes around the edges, making use of gimmicky formats and the access that comes with aiding a corporate PR push to dress up old chestnuts.

“Comedy slowly became rock ‘n’ roll,” says Joe Piscopo, a Saturday Night Live cast member between 1980 and 1984, in the opening episode of SNL 50: Beyond Saturday Night.

The Peacock docuseries, which is exec produced by Morgan Neville, the man behind Fred Rogers doc Won’t You Be My Neighbor?, 20 Feet From Stardom and the Pharrell Williams Lego doc Piece By Piece, tells the story of the venerable NBC sketch comedy show ahead of its 50th anniversary next month.

It features a slew of cast members including Amy Poehler, Andy Samberg, Bill Hader, Bobby Moynihan, Bowen Yang, Cheri Oteri, David Spade, Tina Fey, Ego Nwodim, Fred Armisen, Heidi Gardner, Jason Sudeikis, Jay Pharaoh, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Jon Lovitz, Kenan Thompson, Molly Shannon, Pete Davidson, Tracy Morgan, Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers, Rachel Dratch, Will Ferrell, Billy Crystal and Damon Wayans as well as writers and producers such as Alan Zweibel, Al Franken, Harper Steele,...

In the very first minutes of Peacock’s new docuseries about NBC’s Saturday Night Live, former cast member Joe Piscopo describes it as “the biggest show ever, the biggest thing to happen to television.” And while reasonable minds could quibble over whether that’s a bit of an overstatement, it is indeed difficult to deny the series’ lasting cultural impact. And not just because it’d be churlish to nitpick a compliment on the occasion of someone’s 50th birthday, even if that “someone” is a TV program.

That attitude, self-aggrandizing and self-congratulatory but perhaps justifiably so, prevails throughout SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night. Despite the “unprecedented access” promised in marketing materials, the documentary is the exact opposite of a warts-and-all portrait; it is, instead, a glossy love letter to a hallowed institution. But it’s at least a pleasantly watchable one, thanks to its genuine enthusiasm for its subject matter,...

Anxiety, depression, addiction, suicidal ideations, cancer diagnoses — we’re not exactly in “take my wife, please” territory with some of today’s more adventurous comedians, who mine their occasionally harrowing personal experience for material. “Group Therapy” gathers half a dozen of them for a free-ranging discussion in front of cameras and a live audience, “hosted” by Neil Patrick Harris. This is not exactly the most profound forum for probing mental health, or comedy’s relationship to it for that matter. Still, Neil Berkeley’s slick feature offers considerable entertainment value in mixing ingratiating personalities, stand-up excerpts and serious issues … even if the result ultimately plays more like a high-concept TV special than a “documentary.”

While their personas run a gamut from Tig Notaro’s lower-than-low-key deadpan to London Hughes’ boisterous style, the comics here share a penchant for using potentially discomfiting autobiographical truths in their act. For some, like Nicole Byer or Atsuko Okatsuka,...

Peacock is celebrating the 50th anniversary of Saturday Night Live with a brand-new documentary, and the streaming service has released the first photos and a trailer for the four-part series – SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night.

Peacock shared the following about the upcoming special series:

Offering a behind-the-scenes look at some of the American late-night comedy institution's most iconic elements and rich history, SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night streams exclusively on Peacock beginning January 16.

The docuseries is executive produced by Academy(R) and Emmy(R) Award winner Morgan Neville, with each episode taking a different creative approach to the tapestry of SNL and embracing the unique vision of their award-winning directors: Emmy(R) Award winner Robert Alexander (Ep 101), Academy(R) Award winner Marshall Curry (Ep 102), Emmy(R) nominee Neil Berkeley (Ep 103) and Emmy(R) nominee Jason Zeldes (Ep...

The 50th anniversary of “SNL” is about to kick off.

Acclaimed Academy and Emmy award-winning documentarian Morgan Neville is honoring the 50th anniversary of “Saturday Night Live” with docuseries “SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night,” which he executive produces. The four-part series offers a behind-the-scenes look at the history of the beloved sketch series, with each episode taking a different perspective on how the show began.

More than 60 SNL alums are interviewed onscreen, including Amy Poehler, Andy Samberg, Bill Hader, Jason Sudeikis, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Molly Shannon, Pete Davidson, Stephen Colbert, Tracy Morgan, Bob Odenkirk, Tina Fey, Seth Meyers, John Mulaney, Larry David, Will Ferrell, Rachel Dratch, and Fred Armisen.

The first installment, “Five Minutes,” is about the audition process. Emmy Award winner Robert Alexander directs the first episode, which includes never-before-seen audition footage and firsthand accounts from alums as they reflect on their preparation and journey to the “SNL” stage.

The second episode,...

Wild and crazy guys, the van down by the river, and, of course, more cowbell – just some of the classic sketches shown in the new trailer released today for Peacock‘s four-part docuseries SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night.

“Anybody can do comedy,” former cast member Tracy Morgan says at the start of the trailer before delivering the punchline – “But are you funny?”

The upcoming docuseries promises lots of funny moments from the history of Saturday Night Live. In the trailer, Tina Fey, Jimmy Fallon, Will Ferrell, Dana Carvey and Amy Poehler are among the famous faces speaking about the venerable NBC late-night series. Andy Samberg reveals he threw up after auditioning.

The docuseries, Peacock says, will offer a behind-the-scenes look “at some of the American late-night comedy institution’s most iconic elements and rich history.”

The docuseries, executive produced by Morgan Neville, includes four episodes, each taking “a different creative approach...

Peacock has released a first look at SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night, a new documentary series that offers a behind-the-scenes look at some of the American late-night comedy institution’s most iconic elements and rich history.

Executive produced by Academy and Emmy Award winner Morgan Neville, SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night streams exclusively on Peacock beginning January 16.

SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night is a four-part docuseries honoring the legacy of SNL, with over 60 contributors, including SNL alumni, and covering decades of SNL history. Spotlighting some of the show’s most iconic elements, each episode delves into the rich history of SNL and pulls back the curtain on the audition process, the writers’ room, the fan favorite “More Cowbell” sketch and the pivotal Season 11.

Each episode of the docuseries takes a different creative approach to the tapestry of Saturday Night Live and embraces the unique vision of their award-winning directors: Emmy Award winner Robert Alexander...

Peacock has released the trailer for “SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night,” a new docuseries delving into the history of the prolific late-night sketch show and the comedians that made it possible.

According to an official logline, “‘SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night’ is a four-part docuseries honoring the legacy of ‘SNL,’ with over 60 contributors, including ‘SNL’ alumni, and covering decades of ‘SNL’ history. Spotlighting some of the show’s most iconic elements, each episode delves into the rich history of ‘SNL’ and pulls back the curtain on the audition process, the writers’ room, the fan favorite ‘More Cowbell’ sketch and the pivotal Season 11.”

The trailer, which features clips of ‘SNL’s’ most famous sketches, including “More Cowbell,” “Two Wild & Crazy Guys” and Chris Farley’s “Matt Foley/Van Down by the River,” teases the behind-the-scenes interviews with former and current “SNL” cast members like Amy Poehler, Will Ferrell, Tina Fey, Seth Meyers and Bowen Yang.

A new four-part docuseries will delve into the history and behind-the-scenes make-up of Saturday Night Live as the sketch show celebrates its 50th anniversary.

SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night will premiere on Jan. 16 on Peacock, and it’ll feature over 60 contributors, including many SNL alumni. The four episodes will each center around a different topic as a way of examining the show’s legacy and how it comes together each week.

Episode one, for instance, is called “Five Minutes” and will center around the SNL audition process (prospective cast members,...

Ahead of Saturday Night Live’s 50th anniversary celebration in February, Peacock will take a deeper dive into the show’s five decades of history.

The NBCUniversal-owned platform will stream SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night, a four-part series delving into the behind-the-scenes life of NBC’s long-running sketch comedy show, on Jan. 16. Morgan Neville (20 Feet From Stardom, Won’t You Be My Neighbor?) is among the executive producers of the project, which will feature a number of SNL alumni and a trove of previously unseen footage, as the filmmakers were given unfettered access to the show’s archives.

Robert Alexander (The Shop), Marshall Curry (The Neighbors’ Window), Neil Berkeley (Harmontown) and Jason Zeldes (Ugly Delicious) directed the episodes, which will each focus on a different aspect of the show. The episodes are as follows:

“Five Minutes”: A look at the SNL audition process, featuring never-before-seen footage from past...

Ahead of the “Saturday Night Live” 50th anniversary special, Peacock is launching a four-part docuseries about the legendary sketch-comedy show titled “SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night.”

Streaming on Jan. 16, the docuseries will feature more than 60 contributors and “SNL” alumni, diving into various aspects of the show. The first episode, “Five Minutes,” will focus on the “SNL” audition process and feature never-before-seen footage and interviews with some of the show’s top talent. Episode 2, “Written By: A Week Inside the SNL Writers Room,” is a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the uniquely chaotic process of bringing sketches from script to screen.

The third episode of the series, “More Cowbell,” goes deep on one particular sketch from 2000 that has stood the test of time, as Blue Öyster Cult producer Bruce Dickinson (Christopher Walken) insists Gene Frenkle (Will Ferrell) play “more cowbell” during the recording of “(Don’t Fear) the Reaper.” And the final episode of the docuseries,...

Peacock will premiere the four-part docuseries “SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night” on Jan 16, 2025, a month before the big 50th anniversary primetime special for the legendary late night show. The “SNL” documentary series will feature over 60 contributors, including “SNL” alumni, who will extensively cover decades of the show’s history.

According to a press release, “SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night” will give viewers “a behind-the-scenes look at some of the most iconic hallmarks of the American late night comedy institution.” Each episode will provide brand-new insights into what was going on behind the scenes in the writer’s room and will also include footage from the show’s audition process.

“I’ve been obsessed with ‘Saturday Night Live’ as long as I can remember,” said the series executive producer Morgan Neville. “For ‘SNL50,’ I’ve been lucky to collaborate with some of my favorite independent filmmakers to tell some deeper stories of ‘SNL.

Acclaimed documentarian Morgan Neville is honoring the 50th anniversary of “Saturday Night Live” will docuseries “SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night.”

The four-part documentary, which will be premiering on Peacock, revisits the legacy of “SNL” with more than 60 SNL alumni interviewed onscreen. The show’s most iconic moments from fan favorite sketches like “More Cowbell” to the pivotal Season 11 that catapulted the series to fame will be captured in the docuseries.

Academy and Emmy Award winner Neville executive produces the series, which is directed by a slew of award-winning helmers.

“I’ve been obsessed with ‘Saturday Night Live’ as long as I can remember,” Neville, who recently directed the Steve Martin documentary and Pharrell Williams’ Lego feature “Piece By Piece,” said in a press statement. “For ‘SNL50,’ I’ve been lucky to collaborate with some of my favorite independent filmmakers to tell some deeper stories of ‘SNL.’ Taken together, these standalone...

AFI Fest is primed and ready to roll out.

The American Film Institute revealed the full lineup for this month’s festival, scheduled to take place in Los Angeles from Oct. 23-27. Joining the previously announced roster of films will be Tim Fehlbaum’s September 5, Payal Kapadia’s All We Imagine as Light, Samir Oliveros’ The Luckiest Man in America, Maisie Crow and Abbie Perrault’s abortion rights documentary Zurawski v Texas (executive produced by Hillary Clinton, Chelsea Clinton and Jennifer Lawrence), and Paul Schrader’s Oh, Canada, among many others.

The lineup includes six red carpet premieres, 12 special screenings, 13 luminaries picks, 15 discovery films, 12 world cinema films, 14 documentaries, four after-dark titles, 54 films in the short film competition and 28 films from the AFI Conservatory Showcase presented by AMC Networks. Other notable titles include Durga Chew-Bose’s Bonjour Tristesse with Chloë Sevigny; Mike Leigh’s Hard Truths, starring Marianne Jean-Baptiste; Paolo Sorrentino...

A documentary from the producers of Robot Chicken about building a Rose Parade float using Nft money will air on X, the social media site formerly known as Twitter.

Shark, Pickle, Cone will launch on Elon Musk’s site on Tuesday September 17 at 9am Et.

The doc follows the team at Stoopid Buddy Stoodios, which also worked on shows such as M.O.D.O.K. and The Masked Singer, as they designed and built a float for the 134th Rose Parade in partnership with Nouns, a blockchain business that auctions off NFTs and uses the money to fund art projects

The film, which is produced in association with Decential Media, premiered earlier this year at crypto event Consensus 2024. It marks Stoopid Buddy’s first-ever documentary film.

It was directed by Neil Berkeley, who has directed docs including Gilbert and Harmontown.

“Nouns is a grand experiment, the Rose Parade was a grand experiment,...

Atsuko Okatsuka is joining the likes of Jim Gaffigan, Bill Burr, Roy Wood Jr. and Ilana Glazer in the Hularious comedy brand lineup, with her second stand-up special set to premiere on the streamer and Disney+ internationally.

The special, whose title, launch date and other information will be revealed at a later date, will be filmed during Okatsuka’s newly added Los Angeles date on her 2024 Full Grown Tour produced by Live Nation, which will take place on Nov. 9 at Hollywood’s El Capitan Theatre.

The tour, which includes 20 stops across the U.S. and Canada, kicks off on Sept. 13, with presale tickets for the L.A. shows available starting Sept. 4 at 10 a.m. local time and general on-sale available Sept. 6 at 10 a.m. local time. Full Grown has sold out theaters worldwide with over 200 shows in more than 100 cities in 20 countries and over 100,000 tickets sold.

“As a company that pioneered cartoons,...

Within Group Therapy’s opening moments, clips from top comedians reveal the struggles often beneath humor’s surface. Statistics on isolation and anguish roll as George Carlin matter-of-factly states society’s failures supporting mental wellness.

We then meet the film’s subjects: Tig Notaro opens up after battling cancer and grief. Gary Gulman discusses depression leading to suicidal thoughts and institutionalization, though medication now helps. Mike Birbiglia speaks of nearly three decades of therapy and loss impacting his craft. Nicole Byer and London Hughes face industry racism and body insecurity.

Director Neil Berkeley brilliantly pairs frank interviews with these risk-takers and others with Neil Patrick Harris’s group therapy, moderated with empathy. Laughter remains, but now shines light on shadows many brave souls face, creating joy for others.

We watch personal discovery and authenticity battles, themes resonating as performers showcase how life influences acts. Through it all, we glimpse challenges...

The 2024 Tribeca Festival kicked off June 5 with the world premiere of the documentary Diane Furstenberg: Woman In Charge, launching the 12-day New York-set fest that features narrative and documentary competitions as well as a slew of A-list panels that always seem to make news.

Among the 108 feature films in this year’s lineup includes world premieres of movies starring Kristen Stewart, Lily Gladstone, Elizabeth Banks, Naomie Harris and Jenna Ortega to name a few. In addition to Furstenberg, high profile documentaries include Brats, Andrew McCarthy’s look back at the Brat Pack, and ¡Casa Bonita Mi Amor!, about South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone restoring an iconic Colorado restaurant.

Check out Deadline’s reviews from the festival, and keep checking back as new titles are added. Click on the film’s title to read our full review.

Brats ‘Brats’

Section: Spotlight

Directors: Andrew McCarthy

With: Emilio Estevez, Ally Sheedy,...

Neil Berkley’s Group Therapy is a poignant, hilarious and moving exploration of the intersections between comedy, grief and mental illness. Starring a stellar cast of comedians including Neil Patrick Harris, Gary Gulman, Nicole Byer, Mike Birbiglia, London Hughes, Tig Notaro and Atsuko Okatsuka, the film delves into the ways these performers use humor as a coping mechanism and a form of catharsis.

The film kicks off with a darkly comedic clip of George Carlin, setting the tone by discussing suicide and mental health statistics in America. This seamlessly transitions into clips of various comedians opening up about their struggles with mental illness, the medications they take, and the traumas they’ve endured. It’s a stark yet effective way to frame the narrative, immediately drawing viewers into the raw and unfiltered realities these comedians face. Each comedian in the film shares their journey of developing their unique sense of humor,...

To many, the term “Nft” now evokes little more than a neon haze of pandemic-era memories about easily duped online speculators who lost millions buying drawings of apes and stick figures. But a new documentary implores cryptocurrency novices to give the much-lampooned technology a second chance.

“Shark, Pickle, Cone” follows the team at Stoopid Buddy, the animation studio and production company best known for “Robot Chicken,” as it designed and built a float for the 134th Rose Parade in partnership with Nouns, a decentralized autonomous organization (commonly referred to as a Dao) that auctions off NFTs and uses the proceeds to fund art projects.

Translated into layperson terms, Nouns works as a form of crowdfunding with a few extra steps. The decentralized company uses an automated system to produce a new piece of AI-generated artwork and auction it off each day. The pictures, which all feature a character wearing pixelated glasses,...

An array of successful comedians share experiences from their mental health journeys in the trailer for the documentary feature Group Therapy.

Director Neil Berkeley’s film hails from Kevin Hart’s company Hartbeat and is set to premiere June 6 at the Tribeca Festival. Group Therapy features stand-up comedy stars sitting down for a group therapy session hosted by Neil Patrick Harris to discuss memories from childhood and how mental health relates to their professional journeys. The movie includes group dialogue, personal revelations and archival stand-up moments.

The cast includes Tig Notaro, Nicole Byer, Mike Birbiglia, London Hughes, Gary Gulman and Atsuko Okatsuka.

“To be clear, I am not a therapist,” Harris quips in the trailer. The star adds, “I think stand-up seems wrought with so much insecurity.”

In explaining how her mental health helped inform her career, Notaro shares, “I found myself making jokes about these different things that I...

Gilbert Gottfried, the controversial and one-of-a-kind comedian and actor with a voice as unique as his comedy, died today after a lengthy illness, his family announced. He was 67.

A statement posted on Gottfried’s Twitter page reads: “We are heartbroken to announce the passing of our beloved Gilbert Gottfried after a long illness. In addition to being the most iconic voice in comedy, Gilbert was a wonderful husband, brother, friend and father to his two young children. Although today is a sad day for all of us, please keep laughing as loud as possible in Gilbert’s honor. Love, the Gottfried family.”

Hollywood & Media Deaths In 2022: Photo Gallery

NBC News reported that Gottfried died at 2:35 p.m. Et of recurrent ventricular tachycardia — an abnormal heart rhythm — due to myotonic dystrophy type II. The cause was attributed to Glenn Schwartz, Gottfried’s longtime friend and publicist.

Gottfried was known for trademark shrill,...

Gilbert Gottfried, the comedian, “Aladdin” star and owner of the most recognizable voice in Hollywood, has died after battling a long illness, his family announced Tuesday. He was 67.

His publicist told the Washington Post that he died of myotonic dystrophy type 2, a form of muscular dystrophy.

“We are heartbroken to announce the passing of our beloved Gilbert Gottfried after a long illness. In addition to being the most iconic voice in comedy, Gilbert was a wonderful husband, brother, friend and father to his two young children. Although today is a sad day for all of us, please keep laughing as loud as possible in Gilbert’s honor,” his family wrote on Twitter.

Many people in Hollywood, including comedians Jason Alexander, Dane Cook and more, paid tribute to Gottfried after the shocking news of his death. “Gilbert Gottfried was never not funny,” wrote Cook. “He was a lovely guy, always friendly and made many people happy.

Gilbert Gottfried, the beloved comedian known for his outsize onstage talents as a stand-up comic and as an iconic voice actor on television and film, has died. The actor was 67 and died after battling a long illness.

The news was first shared via Twitter by fellow comedian Jason Alexander, who wrote, “Gilbert Gottfried made me laugh at times when laughter did not come easily. What a gift. I did not know him well but I loved what he shared with me. My best wishes and sympathy to his family.”

Gottfried’s family shared a message on social media as well confirming his death. “We are heartbroken to announce the passing of our beloved Gilbert Gottfried after a long illness,” the message from the Gottfried family said. “In addition to being the most iconic voice in comedy, Gilbert was a wonderful husband, brother, friend and father to his two young children.

Like any other job in entertainment, there’s no “right” way to crack the upper tier of standup. But for comics on the rise, a slot in New Faces at the Just for Laughs Festival in Montreal certainly helps.

“Inside Jokes,” the upcoming six-episode docuseries from director Neil Berkeley debuting this month on Amazon, takes a look at not just the end result of some of the most coveted slots at the annual comedy gathering, but the long and unpredictable road it takes for so many people to get there.

“The exciting thing about this show is that some of these people are going to be household names. In fact, it’s already happening. But in this show we get to meet them before they’ve had huge success,” Berkeley told IndieWire. “They’re still struggling, trying to make it and doing stand up all night, every night. Imagine seeing...

Amazon Studios and the Montreal Just for Laughs Festival are teaming on a docuseries that follows up-and-coming comedians in New York and Los Angeles as they compete to be selected for the New Faces showcase.

Set to stream on Amazon Prime Video, the six-episode untitled series will head to comedy clubs and into the aspiring comics’ lives, showing the highs, lows, frustrations and successes they face as they juggle day jobs, relationships and hecklers in the quest for their biggest break. The comics go through the annual process to get into the coveted New Faces showcase — whose alumni include Kevin Hart, Amy Schumer, Kumail Nanjiani and Jimmy Fallon — beginning with the auditions and callbacks, through selection and into the preparation of their comedy sets. Cameras follow as they write and hone the jokes that they hope will impress the talent scouts, producers and managers who attend Just for Laughs in...

Just for Laughs is about to get the documentary treatment, The Hollywood Reporter has exclusively learned.

The Montreal festival will be the subject of a six-part docuseries for Amazon from producer Jimmy Fox and director Neil Berkeley (Harmontown). Described as a "Hard Knocks for standup comedy," the untitled series will follow up-and-coming comedians in New York and Los Angeles as they compete for the New Faces showcase, the segment of the fest that has given way to major comedic talent, including Kevin Hart, Amy Schumer, Kumail Nanjiani and Jimmy Fallon.

“New Faces was genuinely the biggest break in ...

You don’t know Gilbert Gottfried. You think you do, but you don’t. He’s been called the ‘comic’s comic,” and has been a staple of TV and film for years. His signature voice and crinked eyes have been imitated by thousands. But the new documentary “Gilbert, A Gilbert Gottfried Story” shows an entirely different side of the comedian who’s been entertaining audiences for four decades.

“It was uncomfortable from beginning to end,” cracked Gottfried, who spoke to IndieWire’s Turn It On podcast (along with filmmaker Neil Berkeley) about making the documentary, fame, and the state of comedy. Listen below!

Berkeley’s “Gilbert,” which premieres Dec. 29 on Hulu, came out of a desire by Gilbert’s wife Dara to showcase an unexpected side to the iconic comedian. The film peeks behind the larger-than-life persona at a more personal story about growing up in Brooklyn and becoming...

In his two very fine previous documentaries, Neil Berkeley has focused on cult artists (painter Wayne White, TV creator Dan Harmon) who typically work behind the scenes. With Gilbert, a portrait of polarizing comedian Gilbert Gottfried, he looks at the surprisingly tender real human behind the grating personality America has known for over three decades. A laugh-packed and unexpectedly moving picture, it is now moving from a warmly received fest run to art houses; it should do even better once it hits video.

The doc's big revelation comes early, as the audience realizes just how quiet and loving this professionally...

"He doesn't really filter himself, and I think that's why people are drawn to him." Submarine has debuted an official trailer for a documentary titled Gilbert, telling the story of the legendary "comedian's comedian" Gilbert Gottfried. Most will recognize Gottfried's voice first and foremost, along with his famous roles in big films like Aladdin and Beverly Hills Cop II, but he's so much more than just a funny voice. This new documentary takes a peek "behind the larger-than-life persona at a more personal story about growing up in Brooklyn and becoming a husband and father late in life." Surprisingly it also "strips the comedic character away to reveal the man behind it." There's some great footage in this trailer, and tons of other comedians talking about him, which is wonderful to see. I'm looking forward to watching this doc at some point soon. Here's the official trailer (+ poster) for Neil Berkeley's documentary Gilbert,...

Comedian Gilbert Gottfried unveils his understated off-stage persona, and his real voice, in the revealing new trailer for Neil Berkeley's upcoming documentary Gilbert.

The clip showcases Gottfried's well-known, outrageous comedy, and fittingly opens with a shot of two attendees walking out of one of his sets. "Usually I lose the crowd quicker than that," he cracks. "I must be slipping."

Amidst an array of praise from fellow comedians such as Whoopi Goldberg, Jay Leno and Bill Burr, the trailer touches on Gottfried's peculiar habits – from taking the bus when...

Gravitas Ventures has acquired North American rights to Gilbert, the Neil Berkeley-directed documentary about zany comedian Gilbert Gottfried. The film, which had its premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival, will have its theatrical release with Submarine Deluxe in September followed by a digital and DVD rollout. Gilbert, who came into fame in the 1980s, is known for his brash personality, unique vocal tone, and off-kilter comic timing. Now, foul-mouthed and unapologetic…...

We know him from Aflac. We know him from Aladdin. And we know him from his terribly hilarious jokes. But most of all, we know his voice, and it’s not until you’ve seen Gilbert that you get to find out what he actually sounds like. Gilbert Gottfried is of course we’re talking about – the comedy legend who went from small boy in Brooklyn to unconventional Disney character to podcast host. With his controversial jokes in check, Gottfried wows audiences… well, by being himself in the new documentary, Gilbert.“I didn’t gain it immediately. I lived in La but I moved to Tribeca and I would just go to his house everyday with my camera and hit record and tell him to talk to me.” Berkeley continued, “And eventually, he started to open up and trusted me. And I think he knows my name. I’m not sure.

Gilbert Gottfried might not be a human being. He might actually be a cat in a human being costume. About forty minutes into “Gilbert,” Neil Berkeley’s incongruously warm and fuzzy doc about the comic legend’s life and times, Gilbert packs a couple suitcases for a cross-country tour. He readies to leave the apartment he and his wife Dara Gottfried, live in, and as he makes for the door she makes a request.

Continue reading ‘Gilbert’ Gottfried Doc Does Justice To A Comedy Legend [Tribeca Review] at The Playlist.

“I just wanted to be in Tribeca so that I can legally refer to Robert De Niro as 'Bob,'” Gilbert Gottfried joked, sitting down with director Neil Berkeley (Harmontown, Beauty Is Embarrassing) at Deadline’s 2017 Tribeca Studio to discuss their documentary, Gilbert. A legendary stand-up comedian and actor with a voice recognizable to many who was propelled to fame in the 1980s, Gottfried was candid about his total reluctance to participate in the project, which peeks…...

Features: Gilbert Gottfried, Whoopi Goldberg, Artie Lange, Arsenio Hall, Bill Burr, Richard Kind, Howie Mandel, Jay Leno, Penn Jillette | Written by Neil Berkeley, James Leche | Directed by Neil Berkeley

If you don’t know his face, you’ll definitely know his voice. But what about his personality?

Gilbert Gottfried has seen the typical comedian’s rise to fame, from his small start working clubs as a teen to making big breaks like voicing Disney characters, and the grand kahuna of all, lending your voice to commercials. But there’s one question we all have about the mysterious man: is that really his voice?

Turns out that isn’t the only question we should have for him. Gilbert, a film directed, written, and produced by Neil Berkeley, follows the side of Gottfried that no one sees: his personal, non-decibel-provoking one. A personal life? Gilbert’s? Does he even have one? It...

You probably recognize Gilbert Gottfried’s name (after all, he’s the most famous Gilbert who’s ever lived), and you definitely recognize his voice, but other than his career-defining performance as Iago in “Aladdin,” how much of his work can you remember off the top of your head?

Mileage will vary, of course, but even Gottfried devotees could agree that the guy’s persona has outsized his resumé. That’s not to knock his stand-up comedy or his appearances in the likes of “Beverly Hills Cop II” and “Saved By the Bell: Wedding in Las Vegas,” but rather to say that he’s become an ambient part of our culture, less of a celebrity than the human embodiment of a modern court jester. He’s not a man, but a squint and an aggressive whine; he’s the joke you shouldn’t tell in public, the furniture at a Friar’s Club roast.

Neil Berkeley scored a big subject for his second documentary, but it was pure luck that made it happen. Shortly after completing his second documentary, 2014’s “Harmontown,” Berkeley casually mentioned to a friend that he was interested in making a film about legendary comedian and actor Gilbert Gottfried. Unbeknownst to Berkeley, his friend happened to be close with Gottfried’s wife.

Read More: Tribeca Film Festival Isn’t Really a Film Festival: How the New York Event Has Sought a 21st Century Identity

“Gilbert” will have its world premiere Thursday at the 2017 Tribeca Film Festival, but the surprisingly poignant documentary could very well have never been made. Berkeley never asked Gottfried’s agent or manager for permission to shoot the documentary, and was only invited to the 62-year-old comedian’s home by his wife Dara.

“She said, ‘Why don’t you just come out here by yourself and keep it...

You could call it the “Netflix effect.” With the rise of the global VOD giant and its increasingly voracious appetite for nonfiction films, the documentary industry is anticipating a busy spring season at the Tribeca Film Festival and Hot Docs, North America’s largest documentary festival and marketplace.

But it’s not just Netflix, say industry insiders. The number of active buyers for documentary films suggests there’s an enthusiasm for independent nonfiction cinema that goes beyond the VOD giant.

On the eve of Tribeca, three high-profile documentaries have already found buyers: National Geographic acquired the coal-mining expose “From the Ashes,” and Gravitas Ventures bought theatrical and streaming rights to two films already partnering with CNN Films: “Elian,” the story of Cuban child émigré Elian Gonzalez, and Impact Partners’ “The Reagan Show,” a freshly relevant archival-driven doc about the staging of the former President.

Read More: Netflix’s Big New...

New documentaries on Whitney Houston, targeted Iranian rapper Shahin Najafi, notorious Republican operative Roger Stone and a deceased alt-right filmmaker will premiere at the 2017 Tribeca Film Festival, taking place April 19th through 30th.

Whitney: Can I Be Me marks the latest effort from controversial and acclaimed documentarian Nick Broomfield, whose previous music films include Kurt and Courtney and Biggie and Tupac. The film will explore Houston's remarkable rise and fall and features largely never-before-seen footage. While a spokesperson for Houston's family told Rolling Stone they are not involved in Broomfield's documentary,...

Much larger in sponsorships, this year's Napa Valley Film Festival (November 11-15) has become so popular that the main road between Napa, Yountville, St. Helena and Calistoga is jammed and the smaller theaters are playing to Sro crowds. The St.Helena Cameo Cinema is the longest running single screen theater in the United States, going back to 1913 and “featuring 400 seats, 150 opera chairs, a modern stage and two standing sets".

Culinary, wine and film mix well here. This year we were invited to dine with second-generation vintner Ron Nicholsen, at his estate, Kelham Vineyards, where chief Tyler Rodde from Oenotri, the southern Italian restauranteur from the town of Napa served us his finest food. And at every screening, the best of wines are tasted, In the morning we could (and I did once) practice yoga on the vineyard banks of the river running through the valley. Afternoon and evenings wine pours freely and people mix as they go to movies or to the parties and receptions. My big discovery was White Stone Wine grown on the shores of the mighty Lake Roosevelt in the shadows of Whitestone Rock. I award it for its white chalky stone accent on its bold red wines.

Jury and audience awards were given to the winners at the Uptown Theatre on Sunday, November 15, 2015. The Festival had screened 120 new independent films in 12 unique screening venues in the four postcard-perfect towns of Napa, Yountville, St. Helena and Calistoga.

David Glasser, COO and President of The Weinstein Company presented awards on behalf of the third annual Lexus Short Film Series. Lexus’ Media Director Teri Hill and TWC announced the four winners, Alexis Michalik, Byoung-Gon Moon, Damian Walshe-Howling and Pippa Bianco. Look for my blog about this event.

The Jury Award for Best Narrative Feature went to “The King of New Orleans”.

The Special Jury Award for Authenticity in Narrative Feature Storytelling went to “ Life in Color”.

The Full List of Juried Awards is Below: Jury Award for Best Narrative Feature presented by Taken Wine Company, and with a $10,000 cash prize courtesy ofMeadowood Napa Valley, went to “ The King of New Orleans”. Jury Award for Best Screenplay presented by Italics Winegrowers went to “ Tumbledown”. Jury Award for Best Ensemble Cast presented by Ma(i)sonry Napa Valley went to “ Jane Wants a Boyfriend”. Member of the ensemble, Louisa Krause, also won the Audience Award for Favorite Actress. Audience Award for Favorite Actress presented by Eleven Eleven Wines went to for her work in the film "Jane Wants a Boyfriend." Jury Award for Best Documentary Feature presented by Trinchero Napa Valley, and with a $10,000 cash prize courtesy ofMeadowood Napa Valley, went to "Romeo is Bleeding." Jury Award for Best Narrative Short presented by Wolf Family Vineyards went to "It’s Perfect Here." Honorable Mention went to "Birthday." Jury Award for Best Documentary Short presented by Priest Ranch went to "Elder." Honorable Mentions go to: "Code Oakland, Une Passion d’or et de feu" (A Passion of Gold and Fire) , and "Riding the Highline."

Jury Award for Best Lounge Feature presented by Ca’ Momi Winery went to "Night Owls." Jury Award for Best Lounge Short presented by Modus Operandi Cellars went to "A Man Wakes Up." Honorable Mention went to "Ci: A Tedd Talkumentary." Special Jury Award – Courage in Documentary Feature Filmmaking presented by Rombauer Vineyards went to " Life Under Siege: Exploring Gaza’s Secret Tunnels." Special Jury Award – Authenticity in Narrative Feature Story-Telling presented by The Hess Collection Winery went to "Life in Color." Special Jury Award – Acting in a Lounge Feature Film went to sisters Aly Michalka and Aj Michalka for their work in the film "Weepah Way For Now." A Full List of a Audience Awards is Below: Audience Award for Favorite Actor presented by Caldwell Vineyard went to David Jensen for his work in the film "The King of New Orleans." Audience Award for Favorite Actress presented by Eleven Eleven Wines went to Louisa Krause for her work in the film "Jane Wants a Boyfriend." Audience Award for Favorite Documentary Feature presented by Grgich Hills Estate went to "Landfillharmonic." Audience Award for Favorite Documentary Short presented by Kelham Vineyards and Winery went to "Ron Taylor: Dr. Baseball." Audience Award for Favorite Narrative Feature presented by Error! Hyperlink reference not valid. went to "Friends and Romans." Audience Award for Favorite Narrative Short presented by Favia Erickson Winegrowers went to "Sin Frontera." The Runner-Ups for Narrative Shorts presented by Matthiasson Wines are "Playdate" and "Birthday." Audience Award for Favorite Short Feature presented by Beaulieu Vineyard went to "Sketch." Lexus Short Films winning filmmakers received their awards presented by Alpha Omega Winery, Merryvale Vineyards, Raymond Vineyards and Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars.

Juries Narrative Features Jury: Sydney Levine, Morrie Warshawski, Ralph Macchio

Documentary Features and Shorts Jury: Dierk Sindermann, Marcia Jarmel, Sheri Linden

Narrative Shorts Jury: Alonso Duralde, Neil Berkeley, Lissa Gibbs

Documentary Shorts Jury: Ken Schneider, Brandon Carroll, Jenni Olson

The Lounge Jury: Gren Wells, Evy Warshawski, Elvis Mitchell

Each of the festival winners received a large format wine bottle from one of the festival’s esteemed Vintner Circle winery partners. For the first time The Lounge Features and Shorts were up for the Juried and Audience Awards. The winners of the Best Narrative Feature and Best Documentary Feature jury were awarded $10,000, presented by Meadowood Napa Valley.

Tuesday’s post looked at Neil Berkeley and Judy Chaikin as two filmmakers who wanted to create a theatrical release for their films to boost visibility, increase ancillary value and learn for themselves how to operate in the new hybrid model of distribution and marketing. Today we will look at Paco de Onís from Skylight, the company he runs with creative director Pamela Yates and editorial director Peter Kinoy, and their film/media project Granito Paco de Onís, Skylight and Granito According to de Onís, Skylight is “as much a filmmaking organization as a human rights organization.” Hence their goals are not about monetary gain […]...

Tuesday’s post looked at Neil Berkeley and Judy Chaikin as two filmmakers who wanted to create a theatrical release for their films to boost visibility, increase ancillary value and learn for themselves how to operate in the new hybrid model of distribution and marketing. Today we will look at Paco de Onís from Skylight, the company he runs with creative director Pamela Yates and editorial director Peter Kinoy, and their film/media project Granito Paco de Onís, Skylight and Granito According to de Onís, Skylight is “as much a filmmaking organization as a human rights organization.” Hence their goals are not about monetary gain […]...

2014 has been a particularly good year for movies. It seems everyone found a group of movies they could hold onto in a very personal way. I like that. It created a very diverse set of top tens around the Internet. However, because opinions were so diverse, it makes a lot of us think, "Why did so many people like thatc" or "Why does no one talk about this moviec" Well, Rope of Silicon writer Jordan Benesh and I decided to choose five films each of us thought got far more praise than they deserved and five films we thought did not get enough love. Thus, we bring you the top ten overrated and underrated movies of 2014. The first five and five combination is mine, Mike Shutt's, and Jordan's start on page three. Enjoy! The lists are not numerically ranked. Just alphabetical. When our top tens come around, then you will get some rankings.

Chicago - Dan Harmon does not look very good in his documentary “Harmontown,” which is probably why he agreed to the project. The creator of NBC’s cult comedy “Community” is presented wantonly in this documentation of his tour across America to interact with his fans through live recordings of his podcast “Harmontown.”

Director Neil Berkeley (2012’s “Beauty is Embarrassing”) has created a different yet lacking type of tour film, as it whittles a revered showman to a representation of his polarizing elements; of the self-loathing narcissism that defines Harmon.

Rating: 2.0/5.0

The spectacle of Berkeley’s film is Harmon’s podcast, which aside from Harmon’s GoPro & mirror confessions, provides a physical representation of what being inside Harmon’s head is like. As Harmon comes to comedic life by sauntering onstage to be his unapologetic self for an enthused crowd, he interacts with co-host (and actor) Jeff B. Davis, who...

The Weinstein Company opened St. Vincent on a traditional platform and it appears to have reaped rewards from that old-school approach with a solid debut in a very crowded box office weekend for limited releases.

The film by Theodore Melfi grossed over $121K in four New York and L.A. theaters this weekend after opening the Hamptons International Film Festival Thursday. For the weekend, the Bill Murray comedy averaged more than $30K and boasts the weekend’s highest per-theater average. The film led a huge pack of new openers that included festival heavy-hitters such as Sundance winners Whiplash and documentary The Overnighters as well as the faith-centered Meet The Mormons and Christian Mingle The Movie.

TWC said that St. Vincent had a 67% jump from Friday to Saturday. TWC picked up the film in the script stage for a reported $13 million. Heading into the weekend, the company said it was capitalizing...