Playboy Founder Hefner Has Granted Full Access

Playboy Founder Hefner Has Granted Full Access

Playboy Founder Hefner Has Granted Full Access
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 27TH, 2010 
Berry Meyerowitz, Phase 4 Films’ President and CEO, announced today that the company has acquired all U.S. rights, and DVD, Video-on-Demand, Pay Per View and Digital Rights in Canada, to the theatrical version of Oscar-winning™ Director/Producer Brigitte Berman’s feature documentary titled HUGH HEFNER: PLAYBOY, ACTIVIST AND REBEL. The longer festival version of the film, which, played to critical acclaim at the recent Toronto Film Festival, portrays the flamboyant, outspoken founder of the Playboy Empire and his many fierce battles with nearly all levels of the U.S. government, the religious right, and militant feminists. Phase 4 Films will launch the film theatrically in late Spring 2010. When Hefner launched Playboy in December 1953 the magazine achieved instant notoriety and astounding success. Its magnet was a nude centerfold of Marilyn Monroe. Hefner became an outspoken champion of the sexual revolution, and immediately the outraged forces of Church and State initiated a war against Hefner and Playboy that raged over the decades. Berman explores the paradox of the man - on the one hand, the hedonistic Playboy, pursuing his own sexual odyssey and living a highly controversial lifestyle, and on the other hand, the humanitarian who has been a catalyst for progressive change on a whole array of social and political issues: racial equality, First Amendment rights, abortion rights, sexual freedom, censorship and social justice. Berman won an Academy Award for her feature documentary “Artie Shaw: Time is all you’ve got.” Her friendship with Hugh Hefner began when Hef contacted her after discovering that she had made a feature documentary about one of his favorite musicians – Bix Beiderbecke. Hef, being an avid film collector, wanted to add her documentary about Bix to his collection. He also released Berman’s “Bix” film on his Jazz Video label. “What fascinates me about Hef is that while many know him only as a hedonistic, sensual Playboy and a legendary lover of countless beautiful women, there is a whole other and far more interesting, far sexier side to him as well. He is a driven, talented publisher of a groundbreaking magazine who is also a social activist at the forefront of countless progressive causes. Hef took great risks in breaking the color line in his Playboy clubs and TV shows, who defied the blacklist in the McCarthy Fifties decade, fought antiquated and absurd sex laws that regulated private conduct in the nation’s bedrooms, provided legal teams to fight anti-abortion laws that eventually led to Roe vs Wade, and campaigned against censorship and for the individual’s right to freedom of expression on all fronts. For me, this film has it all – sex, glamour, politics, romance, tragedy, and conflicts – and many great surprises about a man people think they know, but don’t really know,” said Berman. Notes Meyerowitz, Phase 4 Films’ President & CEO, “Most people think they know who Hugh Hefner is from what they see in the media, however this film shows what an unbelievable, forward thinking revolutionary he was, and is an absolute must-see for audiences of every age, race, religion or sexual orientation. This film is a perfect follow up for us after our release of VALENTINO. There is a real market out there for docs that are as provocative and well made as this one.” When Hefner agreed to participate in the film, he granted Berman unprecedented access to his vast, personal archives and agreed that she would maintain creative and editorial freedom – something he’d never done before. The film highlights how in fighting his battles, Hefner was arrested for obscenity, branded a pornographer by Reagan’s Meese Commission, endured a boycott of his magazine, was under FBI surveillance and was set up on a fabricated drug charge. He has won every legal battle he has ever fought. And of course his legendary lifestyle has continued unabated throughout. The list of participants in the film is extraordinary. Those featured by Berman are essentially a “Who’s Who” of the decades and controversies surrounding Hefner and Playboy, including George Lucas, Tony Bennett, Joan Baez, Jim Brown, James Caan, Reverend Jesse Jackson, Jenny McCarthy, Bill Maher, and more. The theatrical version of Hugh Hefner: Playboy, Activist and Rebel is a 124 minute documentary produced by Metaphor Films and its award-winning producers are Victor Solnicki, Brigitte Berman, Peter Raymont. Phase 4 Films acquired the Canadian DVD, Video-on-Demand, Pay-Per-View and Digital rights to the film from Robin Smith’s KinoSmith Inc. The deal to acquire the film was negotiated by the Cinetic Media’s Debra Fisher and Phase 4’s Larry Greenberg. The film is produced in association with Telefilm Canada and The Rogers Group of Funds through the Theatrical Documentary Program; produced in association with The Movie Network (executive in charge of production Michelle Marion) and produced in association with Movie Central (executive in charge of production Erica Benson); produced with the participation of the Ontario Media Development Corporation and with the assistance of the Ontario Film and Television Tax Credits, produced with the participation of The Canadian Television Fund, produced in association with Rogers Broadcasting Limited, and developed with the assistance of Super Channel. Tags: Berry Meyerowitz Chicago Video Chicago Media Brigitte Berman Hugh Hefner: Playboy Activist And Rebel Phase 4 Films Playboy. Hugh Hefner Marilyn Monroe Bix Beiderbecke Roe vs Wade George Lucas Tony Bennett Joan Baez Jim Brown James Caan Reverend Jesse Jackson Jenny McCarthy Bill Maher Victor Solnicki Brigitte Berman Peter Raymont KinoSmith Inc. Robin Smith Larry Greenberg Debra Fisher Cinetic Media Telefilm Canada The Rogers Group of Funds The Movie Network Michelle Marion Movie Central Erica Benson Ontario Media Development Corporation Ontario Film and Television Tax Credits The Canadian Television Fund Rogers Broadcasting Limited Super Channel