Reverse Angle:
Stanford alum’s film is nominated for a PGA documentary award.
Writer-director Taylor Sheridan’s “Wind River” has altered course due to the Harvey Weinstein scandal. The film, in which sexual assault is a key plot element, is no longer connected to distributor the Weinstein Co.
Sheridan and producers Matthew George and Basil Iwanyk have “taken back control of their film,” according to a press release from George’s Acacia Entertainment: “The Weinstein Company name and logo have been removed entirely and the film will no longer accept any funding from TWC, nor will TWC benefit from future revenues the film generates.”
Stars Elizabeth Olsen and Jeremy Renner reportedly took part in the effort to reclaim the film that opened this year.
The release specifies that “all future income from the film will be donated to the National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center, a charity for battered Native American Women.”
Olsen’s preparation for her role involved time at a rape crisis center in Santa Monica; she ended up undergoing training there and says she volunteers when available.
If you’re curious about the “funding” proviso in the release, that’s significant because of the film’s awards push. TWC and especially Harvey Weinstein are famous for their extremely successful campaigning, though the sexual-misconduct charges that have riven the company have apparently poisoned its films’ hopes.
The company has apparently declined to campaign for either “Tulip Fever” or “The Current War,” which stars Benedict Cumberbatch and Michael Shannon. The limited critical response for “Current” has been poor, promotional panels have been canceled, and it has moved out of its awardsseason slot (Nov. 24) to next year.
By dumping Weinstein, “Wind River’s” creators may improve its Oscar prospects; its campaign will now be funded by the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana.
In a statement that also repeated his condemnation of U.S. treatment of native peoples, Sheridan — who received a best director prize at Cannes — said, “At its best, film allows an audience to learn from an experience without the burden of having to endure it. ‘Wind River’ holds a mirror to an ignored epidemic raging through this nation — the exploitation of women.” Sheridan cited the “great trust given me by the Tunica-Biloxi tribe — a trust they have extended to wrest control of this film from a perpetrator of the very violence this film highlights.”
The $40 million-grossing “Wind River” is now on home video.
PGA doc nominees
The Producers Guild of America has announced its nominees for best nonfiction film of 2017, and Stanford alum Jeff Orlowski’s hot streak continues as his “Chasing Coral” earned a nod.
Joining “Coral” among the seven nominees are: “City of Ghosts,” “Cries from Syria,” “Earth: One Amazing Day,” “Jane,” “Joshua: Teenager vs. Superpower” and “The Newspaperman: The Life and Times of Ben Bradlee.”
The PGA doc winner has aligned with the Oscar winner three of the last five years.
The Producers Guild Awards will be presented Jan. 20 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.
Trivia question
If Samuel L. Jackson played John Shaft in the 2000 “Shaft,” who did Richard Roundtree, who portrayed John Shaft in the ’70s films, play in that Jackson movie?
More ‘Shaft’
There’s a “Shaft” reboot/sequel coming; and yes, it seems to be called “Son of Shaft.”
The Netflix-New Line co-production finds Samuel L. Jackson back in the role he played in the lukewarmly received 2000 hit ($107 million gross). Jessie T. Usher (“Independence Day: Resurgence”) also stars.
The new film may have a lighter bent, as Tim Story (“Barbershop”; a long association with Kevin Hart) is directing and Kenya Barris of “Girls Trip” and “Black-ish” is co-scripting. Alex Barnow of “The Goldbergs” also co-scripts.
Trivia answer
Roundtree was still John Shaft, but he turned out to be Jackson’s character’s uncle. Jackson’s character was actually John Shaft II, though not Roundtree’s character’s son. Roundtree is in the cast of “Son of Shaft.”
Michael Ordoña is a Los Angeles freelance writer. Twitter: @michaelordona