For many, Harriet Tubman’s journey is one we’re taught about in school. We know she’s a heroine, an abolitionist who led slaves to their freedom via the underground railroad. Unless you’ve read the books by Kate Clifford Larson or Beverly Lowry, “We didn’t receive the whole story,” says costume designer Paul Tazewell.
Until now. Kasi Lemmon’s film “Harriet” takes us on Tubman’s journey — the emotion, the faith and the willpower Tubman had, to free not just herself but others from slavery. In the film, Tazewell created the look based on historic daguerreotype photos he found. From there, he built the costumes around the narrative arc as Harriet Tubman goes from slave to Union Army officer.
In this Framing the Scene, Tazewell breaks down key looks of Harriet’s journey.
Harriet Tubman’s first look:
:
With the original look, it’s how I always begin a design,...
Until now. Kasi Lemmon’s film “Harriet” takes us on Tubman’s journey — the emotion, the faith and the willpower Tubman had, to free not just herself but others from slavery. In the film, Tazewell created the look based on historic daguerreotype photos he found. From there, he built the costumes around the narrative arc as Harriet Tubman goes from slave to Union Army officer.
In this Framing the Scene, Tazewell breaks down key looks of Harriet’s journey.
Harriet Tubman’s first look:
:
With the original look, it’s how I always begin a design,...
- 11/18/2019
- by Jazz Tangcay
- Variety Film + TV
Focus Features’ Harriet landed one of the prized slots of award season — a screening on Capitol Hill.
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD), House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) and the Congressional Black Caucus co-hosted a showing of the movie, a biopic of Harriet Tubman, at the theater in the Capitol Visitors Center.
The cast was not at the screening, which was private and open to members of Congress and their staffs.
Naturally, the screening was followed by a Q&a, with part of the focus on the status of efforts to put Tubman on the $20 bill.
After the Obama administration announced plans to put Tubman on the front of the currency, replacing Andrew Jackson, the Trump administration has delayed those plans. In May, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said that the redesign will be delayed — perhaps until 2028.
The next month, Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-Oh) introduced legislation to...
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD), House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) and the Congressional Black Caucus co-hosted a showing of the movie, a biopic of Harriet Tubman, at the theater in the Capitol Visitors Center.
The cast was not at the screening, which was private and open to members of Congress and their staffs.
Naturally, the screening was followed by a Q&a, with part of the focus on the status of efforts to put Tubman on the $20 bill.
After the Obama administration announced plans to put Tubman on the front of the currency, replacing Andrew Jackson, the Trump administration has delayed those plans. In May, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said that the redesign will be delayed — perhaps until 2028.
The next month, Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-Oh) introduced legislation to...
- 11/15/2019
- by Ted Johnson
- Deadline Film + TV
You know a biopic is gaining traction in the awards race when it’s hounded by claims of historical inaccuracies. Last year, films like “BlacKkKlansman,” “Bohemian Rhapsody,” and “Green Book” came under fire for presenting distorted or incomplete depictions; this year, Focus Features’ “Harriet” runs the gauntlet. However, writer-director Kasi Lemmons isn’t having it: She firmly believes that it’s impossible to operate as both a first-rate screenwriter and a first-rate historian.
“Of course I embellished, I’m a screenwriter,” said Lemmons, who wrote the script with Gregory Allen Howard. “I added to the story because anybody that’s a writer that approaches a real story has to embellish.”
Since Tubman never learned to read or write, details about her life come largely from first- and second-hand accounts. Lemmons’ primary sources were Tubman biographies, including “Scenes in the Life of Harriet Tubman,” written in 1869 by Tubman’s abolitionist friend Sarah Bradford.
“Of course I embellished, I’m a screenwriter,” said Lemmons, who wrote the script with Gregory Allen Howard. “I added to the story because anybody that’s a writer that approaches a real story has to embellish.”
Since Tubman never learned to read or write, details about her life come largely from first- and second-hand accounts. Lemmons’ primary sources were Tubman biographies, including “Scenes in the Life of Harriet Tubman,” written in 1869 by Tubman’s abolitionist friend Sarah Bradford.
- 11/6/2019
- by Tambay Obenson
- Indiewire
When Kasi Lemmons got the chance to direct the first feature-length biopic about Harriet Tubman, she faced a delicate challenge. “I really wanted to create a film that a sophisticated 10-year-old could see with his grandmother, which isn’t easy for a film that takes place during slavery,” she said. “And then I wanted to really be able to represent Harriet as accurately as I could, while still making an entertaining movie that would reach a broad audience.”
Tubman’s extraordinary tale has been iconic for generations: Her escape from slavery and ability to free hundreds of slaves forever changed the course of history. But Lemmons’ situation helps to explain why it took so long for Hollywood to finally recognize the life and accomplishments of a legendary American freedom fighter.
Since the 1978 Cicely Tyson miniseries “A Woman Called Moses,” film and TV projects on Tubman have been floating around. The...
Tubman’s extraordinary tale has been iconic for generations: Her escape from slavery and ability to free hundreds of slaves forever changed the course of history. But Lemmons’ situation helps to explain why it took so long for Hollywood to finally recognize the life and accomplishments of a legendary American freedom fighter.
Since the 1978 Cicely Tyson miniseries “A Woman Called Moses,” film and TV projects on Tubman have been floating around. The...
- 10/28/2019
- by Tambay Obenson
- Indiewire
When Underground returns to Wgn America for season two on Wednesday, March 8, it’ll make history by presenting Harriet Tubman’s narrative onscreen for the first time since 1978, when Cicely Tyson played the abolitionist on the TV miniseries A Woman Called Moses. In the 39 years since, there’s been little of Tubman’s vast story -- from her escape from slavery to the Underground Railroad to her role as spy and military leader during the Civil War and, later, a suffragette -- presented, unless one counts her brief appearance on an episode of NBC's 1982 time-traveling series Voyagers! or in 2012’s Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, which even the film’s screenwriter, Seth Grahame-Smith, admitted was “sad.”
In fact, several versions of Abraham Lincoln’s story have appeared on TV and in theaters since 1978, with Steven Spielberg’s Lincoln earning Daniel Day-Lewis the 2013 Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of the president. Even [link=nm...
In fact, several versions of Abraham Lincoln’s story have appeared on TV and in theaters since 1978, with Steven Spielberg’s Lincoln earning Daniel Day-Lewis the 2013 Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of the president. Even [link=nm...
- 3/8/2017
- Entertainment Tonight
Remember New Coke? If you do, the ’80s called and they want their jokes back. But as a reminder, in April of 1985, just over 30 years ago this week, Coca-Cola, one of the longest surviving American companies who had successfully dominated the market with a time-tested product, had decided that to stave off the rise of Pepsi in the Cola wars, they would rebrand their classic fizzy drink to New Coke. New Coke hit the shelves April 23, and though the sweeter flavor won out in blind taste tests, human psychology practically dictates that it’s not the product that’s inside the can but the label that’s outside the can that most determines a person’s liking. The product rollout was a huge blunder, and Coca-Cola eventually reverted to Coke Classic.
If you thought that sounds like it could make a fascinating documentary, or perhaps an interesting comedy, then you’re in luck.
If you thought that sounds like it could make a fascinating documentary, or perhaps an interesting comedy, then you’re in luck.
- 4/30/2015
- by Brian Welk
- SoundOnSight
Viola Davis has already been nominated for an Academy Award and a Golden Globe, along with winning multiple SAG Awards as well, and an Emmy Award nomination is most likely in her future for her performance this season on How to Get Away With Murder. Now, Davis will be following her first run as Murder‘s Annalise Keating by playing one of the most famous figures in American history: abolitionist and former slave Harriet Tubman. Davis will be taking on the role of Tubman in an upcoming HBO film that will be based on Kate Clifford Larson’s Tubman biography Bound for the Promised Land, according to Deadline. The movie will focus on how Tubman helped hundreds of slaves travel to freedom in the North. Kirk Ellis, who wrote HBO’s John Adams miniseries, is the screenwriter for the project, and Entourage creator Doug Ellin (Entourage) and his Halyard Park...
- 4/28/2015
- by Chris King
- TVovermind.com
The Real Coke
"Zombieland" and "Deadpool" scribes Paul Wernick and Rhett Reese are reportedly penning a feature about the disastrous launch of New Coke thirty years ago. The drink attempted to adjust classic Coke's secret formula for a younger generation - it performed so badly it threatened the original soft drink's market leadership.
The scribes have optioned the Thomas Oliver book "The Real Coke, The Real Story" and will pen this 1980s period piece which will also deal with how No. 2 rival Pepsi launched the 'Pepsi Challenge' that led to corporate panic at Coke. [Source: Deadline]
The Dukes Of Oxy
Angel Elgort is being lined up to star in a film version about the Rolling Stone article "Dukes Of Oxy" at New Line. The article deals with a pair of teen high school wrestlers from Florida who built a multimillion-dollar business smuggling OxyContin and other painkillers.
Elgort would play Dodd, the more...
"Zombieland" and "Deadpool" scribes Paul Wernick and Rhett Reese are reportedly penning a feature about the disastrous launch of New Coke thirty years ago. The drink attempted to adjust classic Coke's secret formula for a younger generation - it performed so badly it threatened the original soft drink's market leadership.
The scribes have optioned the Thomas Oliver book "The Real Coke, The Real Story" and will pen this 1980s period piece which will also deal with how No. 2 rival Pepsi launched the 'Pepsi Challenge' that led to corporate panic at Coke. [Source: Deadline]
The Dukes Of Oxy
Angel Elgort is being lined up to star in a film version about the Rolling Stone article "Dukes Of Oxy" at New Line. The article deals with a pair of teen high school wrestlers from Florida who built a multimillion-dollar business smuggling OxyContin and other painkillers.
Elgort would play Dodd, the more...
- 4/28/2015
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
Viola Davis is setting the groundwork to take a star turn as the abolitionist Harriet Tubman, Variety reports. Davis is developing the TV movie for HBO, with Entourage executive producer Doug Ellin, scribe Kirk Ellis, and Amblin TV. The project will reportedly be based on Kate Clifford Larson's Bound for the Promised Land: Harriet Tubman: Portrait of an American Hero, which gives a detailed look at how Tubman took the reins as one of the most fearless conductors of the Underground Railroad. The biopic hasn't received a green light yet, but its proponents are jockeying for it to film next year. Fingers crossed — start crossing your fingers, what are you doing?...
- 4/28/2015
- by Sean Fitz-Gerald
- Vulture
How to Get Away With Murder star Viola Davis will play famous abolitionist and former slave Harriet Tubman in an upcoming HBO movie.
The project will be based on Kate Clifford Larson’s Tubman biography Bound for the Promised Land, our sister site Deadline reports, and will detail how Tubman helped hundreds of slaves travel to freedom in the North.
Related Sarah Jessica Parker Comedy Divorce Lands Series Order at HBO
Tubman later fought for the Union in the American Civil War.
Kirk Ellis, who penned HBO’s John Adams miniseries, wrote the script; Doug Ellin (Entourage) and his Halyard...
The project will be based on Kate Clifford Larson’s Tubman biography Bound for the Promised Land, our sister site Deadline reports, and will detail how Tubman helped hundreds of slaves travel to freedom in the North.
Related Sarah Jessica Parker Comedy Divorce Lands Series Order at HBO
Tubman later fought for the Union in the American Civil War.
Kirk Ellis, who penned HBO’s John Adams miniseries, wrote the script; Doug Ellin (Entourage) and his Halyard...
- 4/28/2015
- TVLine.com
The life of Harriet Tubman has been screaming for the feature film treatment for ages. Outside of — what, "Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter?" — there's never really been a movie depiction of the famed abolitionist. Well, thanks to HBO and Amblin, that's all about to change. And Viola Davis is going to knock this out of the park. The Oscar-nominated star of "Doubt" and "The Help" will star in the TV film, based on the Kate Clifford Larson biography "Bound for the Promised Land. Writer Kirk Ellis ("John Adams," also at HBO) will pen the script and Doug Ellin ("Entourage") will produce. Two other projects about the Underground Railroad have also been in the works: Wgn's miniseries "Undeground" (produced by Akiva Goldsman) and NBC's "Freedom Run" miniseries (produced by Stevie Wonder). So obviously something is in the water. I take from all of this a fantastic role for Davis, who has popped...
- 4/28/2015
- by Kristopher Tapley
- Hitfix
Viola Davis will portray Harriet Tubman in a new HBO biopic from John Adams scribe Kirk Ellis and Steven Spielberg's Amblin TV, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed. Based on Kate Clifford Larson's book Bound for the Promise Land, the film will highlight Tubman's courageous acts leading slaves to freedom through the Underground Railroad and later fighting with the Union during the Civil War. Read More Kerry Washington to Star as Anita Hill in HBO Movie 'Confirmation' (Exclusive) Ellis is behind several of the channel's historical projects, including John Adams and the upcoming All the Way, about President Lyndon B. Johnson. Davis
read more...
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- 4/28/2015
- by Kate Stanhope
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
HBO Films has teamed with writer Kirk Ellis, producer Doug Ellin and Steven Spielberg’s Amblin TV for a project about Harriet Tubman, with Oscar nominee Viola Davis set to portray the famous abolitionist. Based on the biography Bound For The Promised Land by historian Kate Clifford Larson, the film, now in development, tells the story of American hero Tubman. Born a slave, she escaped and, via an intricate escape network of secret routes and safe houses known as the…...
- 4/28/2015
- Deadline TV
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