Aug. 15 — After 25 years of the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival, the organization is getting a rebrand.
The festival will now fall under the umbrella organization ATL Jewish Film, which will not only encompass the annual flagship fest, but also year-round programming with an emphasis on education and supporting Jewish filmmakers and stories. Executive Director Kenny Blank announced the rebrand at a donor event earlier this week. From new partnerships to student filmmaking competitions, there’s a lot to look forward to. Click here for more.
The next Film Love series screening will take place on Aug. 28 at the Plaza Theater. This time around, Film Love will offer a rare screening of “The Bill Douglas Trilogy,” a tender look at the filmmaker’s upbringing in a Scottish mining town.
This week’s newsletter includes a conversation with Georgia-born producer Marc Provissiero, along with a review of the new Spike Lee film “Highest 2 Lowest.” Plus, what’s coming to movie theaters this weekend, a new episode of my podcast Crash Zoom, and some reading and listening recommendations for your lunch break.
Thanks for reading! Sammie
Food. Drinks. Stories. Improv. Community. L5P Alliance’s annual fundraiser People Make the Place returns Sun., Aug. 17! Experience the spirit of Little Five Points while supporting local arts, safety, and placemaking efforts. Together, we build a better L5P. Learn more here!SPONSOR MESSAGE
Photo by Allen Fraser/Universal Pictures
Producer Marc Provissiero talks ‘Nobody 2’ and Bob Odenkirk’s action star turn
Marc Provissiero’s first-ever job was serving ice cream at a shop in the Merchant’s Walk shopping mall in Marietta. He was 14 years old, and he lasted about one week.
“I just don’t think I was very good,” he said. “I don’t think my heart was in it.”
The Georgia native eventually found a career more suited to his talents than scooping ice cream. Marc runs Odenkirk Provissiero Entertainment alongside Naomi Odenkirk, the wife of actor Bob Odenkirk. He has produced TV series and films such as “PEN15,” “No Hard Feelings,” and more recently, “Nobody 2,” starring Bob Odenkirk as a former assassin turned family man.
Taste of Chamblee invites you to explore the heart of the city through food. From southern comfort food to decadent desserts, every dish tells a story. It’s a celebration of local talent, culture, and the joy of coming together.
3rd Spot in Chamblee is more than a space to play. It is where good times happen. From live music and friendly competition to crave-worthy food and signature drinks, it is the kind of spot that makes any night feel like the weekend.
With ‘Highest 2 Lowest,’ Spike Lee reinterprets a classic for the digital age
WEEKLY FILM REVIEW
Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 masterpiece “High and Low” – a gripping drama about class stratification, morality, and whether the choices we make really matter – is the last movie that warrants a remake.
But, for as much as Spike Lee’s new film “Highest 2 Lowest” follows almost the exact same structure as its inspiration, it’s amazing what a different voice, different context, and different intentions can do. The bare bones of the story are roughly the same: Toshiro Mifune’s shoe company executive Kingo Gondo becomes David King (Denzel Washington), a record company mogul who, when his friend and chauffeur’s son is kidnapped, must choose between financial ruination and a child’s life.
“High and Low” is one of Kurosawa’s bleakest films. And yet somehow, Lee has turned this hard-bitten procedural into an exciting romp of a film. “Highest 2 Lowest” is part melodrama, part a troll of a morality tale, part a treatise on the intersection between art, commerce, and technology, and part a feverish love letter to New York City. It’s not perfect, but it’s a hell of a ride with a buckwild Washington performance at the center.
Food. Drinks. Stories. Improv. Community. L5P Alliance’s annual fundraiser People Make the Place returns Sun., Aug. 17! Experience the spirit of Little Five Points while supporting local arts, safety, and placemaking efforts. Together, we build a better L5P. Learn more here!SPONSOR MESSAGE
Photo by Lola Scott/design by Aaron Strand
Crash Zoom: Disney and AI, Seth MacFarlane on ‘The Town’
Welcome to Crash Zoom, a podcast where we take a deep dive into film and entertainment industry news!
Each week, join my cohost, indie filmmaker Aaron Strand, and me as we explore how things happening at the highest level trickle down and affect the independent artist. This week, we’re back to our one podcast a week structure, discussing Disney’s approach to AI, Paramount’s new leadership, and more.
I recommended gearing up for the new season of the TCM podcast “The Plot Thickens” a few weeks ago, but now we’re in the thick of things, and I really couldn’t recommend this pod more. This season of “The Plot Thickens” details the storied and chaotic production behind 1963’s “Cleopatra,” the most expensive film ever made (up until that point) and the start of Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton’s torrid affair. If you love Hollywood history, this one is for you.
It’s Emmy season, which means trades and publications of all stripes are talking with nominees about their work. IndieWire has this awesome rundown of what it takes to be a cinematographer for an Emmy-nominated show, talking to DPs from “Survivor” to “Severance.”
“Weapons” is quickly turning into one of my favorite movies of the year, so forgive me if I keep on talking about it. On this episode of “The Big Picture,” host Sean Fennessey talks about the film and gives a syllabus of other movies in a similar vein to check out. Listen to the end for a wonderful interview with filmmaker Zach Cregger.
