First Trailer for Alex Gibney's We Steal Secrets: The Story of WikiLeaks

New York Times Gives Musical Based on Robb (S.R.) Bindler's Hands On A Hardbody A Great Review

Image Courtesy of Sara Krulwich/The New York Times

The New York Times has given the musical Hands On A Hardbody based on Chelsea Director Robb (S.R.) Bindler's cult-classic documentary of the same name a stellar review.

"You can hear the sound of America singing in “Hands on a Hardbody,” the daring new musical that opened at the Brooks Atkinson Theater on Thursday night. With a bravado to match the gumption of its characters, a hard-pressed bunch of Texans hoping to beat the odds and win a truck in a grueling contest, this new show drives onto the Broadway lot without the high-gloss blandishments that adorn most big musicals: glittering sets and costumes, high-kicking chorines, megawatt star turns. Instead it concentrates its energies on giving voice to a story of average people fighting to hold onto hope in the face of fierce economic headwinds and bad breaks, not to mention buckling knees."

For the full review, head on over to the New York Times here. 

Chelsea Names Sean Sullivan As Midwest Sales Representative

New York, NY - March 11, 2013 - Chelsea is pleased to announce that we have signed Sean Sullivan of Sullivan Creative Management to represent us exclusively in the Midwest. Partner and Executive Producer Lisa Mehling says, "I was drawn to Sean's love of the business and his dedication to growing his directors, a natural fit with Chelsea. We are thrilled to have him on the team." Sullivan lives and works in Chicago. Partner and EP Allison Amon adds "Sean has an excellent reputation, and his energy and enthusiasm were a major draw - it feels like the start of a great partnership! We're glad to have him!"

Denise Blate Roederer continues to represent us on the East Coast, and Ezra Burke and Kerry Ko of Content Chemics will continue to handle the West Coast.

New Musical Hands On A Hardbody, Inspired by Robb (S.R.) Bindler's Classic Doc, Coming to Broadway March 21st

The new American musical Hands On A Hardbody, based on Chelsea Director Robb (S.R.) Bindler's cult-classic documentary of the same name, opens March 21st on Broadway.

Check out this behind-the-scenes look at the forthcoming Musical, with a bit of background on what exactly a "hardbody" is, as well as some background on Robb's documentary that inspired the tale.



And check out the trailer for Bindler's original documentary below, coming soon to DVD!

Tribeca Film Festival Announces Films Screening in Spotlight Section

Tribeca Film Festival has announced the 33 films screening in the Spotlight section of this year's festival. Among them is Director David Gordon Green's Prince Avalanche starring Paul Rudd and Emile Hirsch.

From www.tribecafilm.com

For a lineup of all of the films screening in the Spotlight section of this year's festival, head on over to TFF's website, here.

Robb (S.R.) Bindler's Musical, Hands on a Hardbody Cast Profiled in March Issue of Vogue

The new Broadway musical Hands on a Hardbody based on Director Robb (S.R.) Bindler's cult-classic documentary of the same name is now in previews in New York. The March issue of Vogue features a profile of two cast members, Hunter Foster and Allison Case, who are reprising the roles that they originated in the La Jolla Playhouse production last year.

AgencySpy Notices Kevin Durant's No More Mr. Nice Guy In David Gordon Green's New Nike Spot

AgencySpy reports that NBA Superstar Kevin Durant has been seduced by the villain's role in David Gordon Green's new Nike spot with Wieden + Kennedy. Their coverage waxes poetic on the consequences for the NBA nice guy.

"The Nike campaign has opened the door for Durant to emerge as a hungrier, angrier player on the court and a more intriguing personality off the court. Playing the good guy in the past made him a safe, yet unremarkable bet for endorsers."

Ultimately, the question AgencySpy asks is "What came first? The chicken or the egg?" What do you think? For the full article, head on over to AgencySpy here. 

Chelsea Named in Creativity's Annual Roundup of Top Production Companies

Creativity has named Chelsea as a standout in their annual roundup of top productions companies. They shared these kind words about us:

Chelsea's standout lineup of directorial talent steered some of the year's most exciting productions. David Gordon Green was a winner of the 2012 Super Bowl, directing Wieden + Kennedy Portland's stirring "Halftime in America" for Chrysler, starring Clint Eastwood. He followed with a series of poignant spots for the brand that captured touching slices of life of Americans and their cars. 

Other fine moments include photographer/director Nadav Kander's elegant, frightful explorations of celebrities like Benicio del Toro, Mark Strong, Malcolm Macdowell and Ron Perlman doing what appear to be very evil things--that turn out to be the most mundane of household chores, as well as Lena Dunham's charming expose of her first time, for Obama for America.

For Chelsea's complete entry, head on over to Creativity here.

And for full coverage of Creativity's roundup, click here.

We're in great company this year, congratulations to all of our peers recognized and many thanks to Creativity for such an awesome honor.

David Gordon Green Takes the Silver Bear for Best Director at Berlinale '13

Chelsea director David Gordon Green has been awarded the Silver Bear for Best Director at the Berlinale International Film Festival for his latest film Prince Avalanche. The film, starring Paul Rudd and Emile Hirsch, has been heralded as a tragicomic synthesis of David Gordon Green's big-budget Hollywood comedies and his critically acclaimed indie roots.

Congratulations to David Gordon Green on the well-deserved recognition, who brought home the only win for the U.S!

For full coverage of the Berlin International Film Festival and a full list of winners, check out Variety, here or the Hollywood Reporter here. 

World Press Photo Awards Nadav Kander 1st Prize for Staged Portrait

The 2013 World Press Photo Awards have just been announced, and we are proud to share that Chelsea's own Photographer / Director Nadav Kander has taken first prize in the Staged Portraits - Singles category. The winning portrait was of English actor Daniel Kaluuya from Nadav's "Titans of the Stage" portfolio published in the New York Times Magazine last year.

Nadav discussed the award winning portrait in an interview with the British Journal of Photography last week:

“It’s more fantastical than the others [in "Titans of the Stage"]... They are more quiet, more surreal. But that one seems to almost go towards a fashion photograph in a way; there’s more intervention.”

For the full article in the British Journal of Photography, click here.

For the complete portfolio "Titans of the Stage", click here.

British actor Daniel Kaluuya, January 2012. Copyright Nadav Kander / New York Times

Alex Gibney Q&A with THR on We Steal Secrets: The Story of WikiLeaks, the Eagles, and Lance Armstrong Live From Sundance.

The Hollywood Reporter's Google Hangout with Alex Gibney at Sundance to talk WikiLeaks, the Eagles Lance Armstrong and more!

David Gordon Green Talks Prince Avalanche with Emile Hirsch and Paul Rudd at Sundance

UPDATE: Variety reports that Magnolia Pictures has acquired North American rights to David Gordon Green's Sundance Hit Prince Avalanche, aiming for a summer theatrical release.

From Variety:

"All of us at Magnolia are huge fans of David Gordon Green, and it's been a dream for a long time to work with him," said Magnolia prexy Eamonn Bowles. "'Prince Avalanche' is incredibly smart, funny, warm and engaging film, with indelible, iconic performances from both Paul Rudd and Emile Hirsch."

"Prince Avalanche was a strange joy to make and the reaction by audiences has been beautiful. The pleasure continues as we join with Magnolia to distribute the movie. I couldn't be more proud," added Green."

Congratulations to David and his whole team. Read Variety's full article, here.

Catch up with David Gordon Green, Emile Hirsch and Paul Rudd as they talk Prince Avalanche with The Hollywood Reporter below. Sounds like they had a blast making the film!

Lauren Greenfield Nominated for 65th DGA's "Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Documentary" Awards

The 65th Annual Directors Guild of America Awards' Documentary Nominations have been announced today, and we are honored and proud that Chelsea Pictures director Lauren Greenfieldhas been nominated for the DGA's "Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Documentary" Award for her film The Queen of Versailles!

For more info on the other fantastic directors nominated in this category, check out the Hollywood Reporter, here.

Two Chelsea Directors to Premiere Features at Sundance 2013

Chelsea Directors David Gordon Green and Alex Gibney are both set to premiere new feature films next week at Sundance 2013.

Prince Avalanche

David's Prince Avalanche starring Paul Rudd and Emile Hirsch will premiere out of competition at Sundance on Sunday, January 20th.

We Steal Secrets: The Story of WikiLeaks

And Alex Gibney's newest feature documentary We Steal Secrets: The Story of WikiLeaks will follow with an out of competition premiere the following day, Monday, January 21st.

If you're at Sundance this year, we think neither are to be missed. 

For more information on David's Prince Avalanche, click here to head on over to Sundance's film page: http://bit.ly/princeavalanche

And for more info on Alex Gibney's We Steal Secrets: The Story of WikiLeaks, head on over to its Sundance page: http://bit.ly/westealsecrets

Nadav Kander's "Bodies. 6 Women. 1 Man" Opens at London's Flowers Gallery

Nadav Kander's stunning Exhibition "Bodies. 6 Women. 1 Man." has opened Friday at London's Flowers Gallery. Open from Jan. 11 - Feb. 9.

Audrey with toes and wrist bent, 2011. Image provided courtesy of Nadav Kander

From the Press Release:

"'Revealed yet concealed. Shameless yet shameful. Ease with unease. Beauty and destruction. These paradoxes are displayed in all my work; an inquiry into what it feels like to be human.' Nadav Kander

"Coated in white marble dust and set against the void of the photographer's studio, the subjects of Nadav Kander's BODIES. 6 Women, 1 Man serve as monumental studies of the human condition.

"Far from the airbrushed perfection that permeates images of nudity in popular culture, Nadav Kander presents us with honest photographs of the human form. The 'bodies' featured reference the forms of the classical and renaissance past, whilst modernising the genre of the nude to act as a tool for philosophical investigation. Faces turned from the viewer, but bodies offered completely, the forms invite the meditation and self-reflection customarily associated with religious iconography and tomb sculpture."

Michael curled away, 2012. Image provided courtesy of Nadav Kander.

You can see much more of the exhibition here and featured in the Guardian here:  http://gu.com/p/3dv8g