'THE RETURN OF THE WAR ROOM' PREMIERE TONIGHT

Pennebaker Hegedus Films' and McEttinger Films' newest release, The RETURN of THE WAR ROOM, premieres TONIGHT at the PALEY CENTER for MEDIA, at 7pm. Click here for directions, tickets, and more info.

Hope to see you there!

The RETURN of THE WAR ROOM will also be airing on the Sundance Channel on Monday, October 13th, at 9PM EST.


16 years after making THE WAR ROOM, Chris Hegedus and D A Pennebaker's 1992 Oscar-nominated documentary following Bill Clinton's first presidential campaign, the filmmakers reunite with James Carville, George Stephanopoulos, Mary Matalin, Paul Begala, Bob Boorstin, Dee Dee Myers, and others to reflect on the changes in American politics and political campaigns over the last 16 years, and to look back on the election that launched them all into the national political spotlight. The RETURN of THE WAR ROOM is a highly entertaining and in-depth look at the evolution of American politics, including commentary and insight on the current presidential campaigns.

TWO NEW FILMS

Last week, Chris Hegedus and D A Pennebaker presented their new film, THE RETURN OF THE WAR ROOM to students at Flashpoint Academy in Chicago. 16 years after they made THE WAR ROOM, Hegedus and Pennebaker's 1992 Oscar-nominated documentary following Bill Clinton's first presidential campaign, the filmmakers reunited with James Carville, George Stephanopoulos, Mary Matalin, Paul Begala, Bob Boorstin, Dee Dee Myers, and others to reflect on the changes in American politics and political campaigns over the last 16 years.

Chris Hegedus and D A Pennebaker presenting THE RETURN OF THE WAR ROOM

THE RETURN OF THE WAR ROOM will premiere on Sundance Channel on October 13th at 9PM, followed by THE WAR ROOM.

Read more about THE RETURN OF THE WAR ROOM here and here.



Pennebaker and Hegedus also premiered the trailer for their other new film, THE COLLAR. THE COLLAR follows some of France’s best pastry chefs as they prepare for the oldest and most prestigious pastry competition in France, the “Meilleurs Ouvriers de France” (Best Pastry Chefs in France). Pennebaker and Hegedus were the first people to ever be allowed to film the intense three-day competition, held only once every four years and resulting in a medal ceremony presented by the French president, Nicolas Sarkozy. Hegedus and Pennebaker followed French-born pastry chef Jacquy Pfeiffer of the French Pastry School in Chicago as he returned to France to train and compete for the MOF.


Chef Jacquy Pfeiffer building a sugar sculpture.

The completed sculpture.

DEPECHE MODE: 101 20TH ANNIVERSARY

Hard to believe that today marks the 20th anniversary of Depeche Mode's concert at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA. That show was the culmination of not one, but two wild bus tour across America - one convoy with the band, and one with a group of teenagers who'd won a dance contest to see their favorite band play their final show on the US tour. It was an amazing journey for everyone, and one of the greatest music experiences we've ever had both as fans and as filmmakers.


Watch some concert footage from the June 18, 1988 Pasadena show:

CONGRATULATIONS, AL FRANKEN

We would like to extend our congratulations to Al Franken on receiving the Democratic Party's endorsement. Franken is now the Democratic nominee for the US Senate race in Minnesota.

Click HERE to see an interview with Franken from NPR/Twin Cities Public Television.

NPR also has a cool, interactive map HERE that covers all of the 2008 US Elections. See how your candidate's doing in every state.

And, of course, check out the official AL FRANKEN FOR SENATE website.

REMEMBERING BO DIDDLEY

Like all of you, we were very sad to receive news of Bo Diddley's passing on Monday. Bo continually took the concept of being a "self-made man" one step further - as the New York Times put it, he "invented his own name, his own guitars, his own beat and, with a handful of other musical pioneers, rock ’n’ roll itself."

In 1969, D A Pennebaker went to Toronto to film the Sweet Toronto Peace Festival, which featured the 'fearsome four' of rock'n'roll: Bo Diddley, Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Little Richard - and a surprise performance by John Lennon's brand-new Plastic Ono Band. The resulting film became known as Sweet Toronto (Keep On Rockin'). Bo's electrified performance at the start of the film, getting the crowd moving and shaking. Getting them rocking. To us, that's what Bo was all about: spreading the pure joy of rock'n'roll.


Go here to read the full NY Times obituary for Bo Diddley.

1PM and 2 AMERICAN AUDIENCES @ HARVARD

1 PM


If you're in the Boston area this week, the Harvard Film Archive will screen two films made by D A Pennebaker, Richard Leacock, and Jean-Luc Godard: 1 PM and 2 AMERICAN AUDIENCES. These rare films capture a unique view of New York in 1968, a highly politicized time. We hope you'll take advantage of this great opportunity to see them at the Harvard Film Archive's new series, "Godard, Gorin, Garrel and the Grin Without a Cat."

MORE INFO, TICKETS, AND DIRECTIONS FOR: "Godard, Gorin, Garrel and the Grin Without a Cat."

PRESS RELEASE

May 2, 2008
We would like to respond to some erroneous statements made today about our film, THE WAR ROOM. These statements alleged certain remarks to Mickey Kantor that simply are not true. The transcript of the scene in question confirms this.
-Chris Hegedus & D A Pennebaker


"THE WAR ROOM" TRANSCRIPT:

GEORGE AND CARVILLE
Indiana, we're ahead.

JACQUELINE
Indiana!

GEORGE
Kentucky.

CARVILLE
Kentucky is five. Michigan is eleven, New York's done.

GEORGE
Holy shit, we're pulling away in Ohio.

CARVILLE
Oklahoma we're up.

GEORGE
Tied in Texas.

CARVILLE
Tied in Texas. It looks good. Now let's just say that. I like the text here.

GEORGE
Can you beep Wendy please? Looks pretty good. Looks pretty good.

MICKEY
Look at Indiana. Wait, wait. Look at Indiana. Forty-two, forty. It doesn't matter if we win. Those people are shitting (oh, excuse me) in the White House. How would you like to be... Look at Texas, go down to Texas.

CARVILLE
Even.

MICKEY
Yeah. Thirty-nine, thirty-nine.

CARVILLE
Perot's kind of holding, isn't he?

GEORGE
He held.

MICKEY
Yeah, he held. His numbers held. I'm sort of surprised, frankly.