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“The Python Hunt” is that rare case where an indie film easily raises financing, grabs upbeat response from audiences and critics at a film festival, wins a prize, and launches multiple sales bids. After a rousing response at the big Alamo Drafthouse Lamar screening at SXSW, this colorful, populist portrait of a swath of python hunters — and by extension, America — could hit a commercial nerve.

Here’s how the filmmakers did it.

Work with your friends.

Filmmaker Lance Oppenheim brought an idea to his old Florida buddy Xander Robin (“Are We Not Cats”). They had been trying to make a movie together for years, and Robin had labored on his own film about the pet trade in the Florida Everglades that never got off the ground. The concept: cover the annual Python Challenge, a competition that pays $10,000 to the one hunter in 1,000 who brings in the most Burmese snakes, which...

In the criminally underrated Peacock comedy Killing It, the desperate protagonist (Craig Robinson) decides that the only way to make seed money for his start-up business is by participating in a python-hunting competition in the Florida Everglades. Over two seasons, herpetological misadventures and a scathing critique of the state of the American Dream ensue.

The audience for Killing It was sufficiently small — I’m not sure Peacock exactly canceled the show so much as the streamer simply forgot it existed — that the reaction to Xander Robin’s new documentary The Python Hunt won’t simply be, “Oh! It’s a real-life Killing It!”

Like an invasive Burmese python, the storylines in The Python Hunt prove a little bit too squirmy and erratic for the documentary to come into a focus in a wholly satisfying way. But it’s still a wild and generally empathetic journey into the swamp of the American soul.

The independent-focused Los Angeles Festival of Movies is preparing for its second edition, unveiling its coming line-up for April 3 to 6. The fest, co-presented by Mubi and Mezzanine, will kick-off with an opening night screening of Amalia Ulman’s south-of-the-border satire “Magic Farm,” starring Chloë Sevigny, Simon Rex and Alex Wolff as an inept documentary crew that ends up in the wrong country after embarking to profile an Argentinian musician. The feature premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January; this Lafm selection will mark its West Coast premiere.

The fest also features a screening of “Friendship,” the A24 comedy starring Tim Robinson and Paul Rudd. Neo Sora’s Gen-z apocalypse ensemble drama “Happyend” will play as the closing night selection.

Other feature inclusions are the world premiere of Dennis Cooper and Zac Farley’s “Room Temperature,” about an annual family-operated haunted house that dramatically ups the stakes; the U.S.

The 40th annual Independent Spirit Awards took place in Santa Monica on Feb. 22, with Aidy Bryant as host for the second year in a row.

“Anora” was the biggest winner of the day, being named best feature while Sean Baker and Mikey Madison took home individual trophies for best director and lead performance. “Baby Reindeer” also won big, with Richard Gadd, Nava Mau and Jessica Gunning clinching the awards for lead, supporting and breakthrough performance, though “Shogun” won best new scripted series. And Sean Wang’s “Dìdi” clinched both awards in the debut film category: best first feature as well as best first first screenplay.

See the full list of winners below.

Best Feature

“Anora” (Winner)

“I Saw the TV Glow”

“Nickel Boys”

“Sing Sing”

“The Substance”

Best First Feature

“Dìdi” (Winner)

“In the Summers”

“Janet Planet”

“The Piano Lesson”

“Problemista”

John Cassavetes Award – Given to the best feature made...

Even as it continues to seek U.S. distribution, “No Other Land” is continuing its remarkable awards season run. The latest win for the documentary, made by a Palestinian/Israeli collective that includes directors and activists Hamdan Ballal, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, and Basel Adra: a trio of awards at this year’s Cinema Eye Honors.

At the 18th annual Cinema Eye Honors, which took place Thursday, January 9 at the New York Academy of Medicine in East Harlem, the film walked away with three awards, including Cinema Eye’s top prize, Outstanding Nonfiction Filmmaking. Directors Yuval Abraham, Basel Adra, Hamdan Ballal, and Rachel Szor also received the award for Debut Feature, with Abraham and Adra also Honored as Unforgettables for their appearance on screen in the film.

This year’s nominees for the Cinema Eye Honors, which honors the best in documentary fiction and TV, included a healthy crop...

Every year there is a deluge of quality television viewers are blessed to watch, but even the most time-conscious person is going to let a few great series slip through the cracks unwatched.

Everyone and their dog checked into shows like “House of the Dragon,” “Yellowstone,” Baby Reindeer,” and “Shōgun” but with so much on offer a lot of greats were left underviewed. The holidays are the perfect time to look back and catch up on a new binge before starting fresh in the new year.

These are 12 underrated shows from 2024 that you might have missed and want to check out.

Shoresy

It almost doesn’t feel real how good “Shoresy” is considering the premise. A foul-mouthed, slightly burned out hockey player in the NoSho convinces the owner that they’ll never lose again after being considered one of the worst teams in the league. The show heralds from the...

As we wind down the year with holiday cheer and comfort viewing, IndieWire’s craft team picks the best TV cinematography of 2024. We weren’t seeking the slickest-looking eye candy, nor even the most elegantly shot series (although many of these projects are striking), but instead sought titles in which the cinematography was integral to the vision of its creator and elevated the storytelling of some of the year’s best shows.

While the long and repeated grind of television production can make the art of cinematography more of a team sport working under the umbrella of a series’ visual bible, in the age of limited series, there were a number cinematographers on this list who shot a vast majority, if not the entire series, and this list features a number of director/cinematographer combinations whose collaboration is more commonly associated with feature film production. Which also might explain the...

As Timothee Chalamet likely wheezes at some point in “A Complete Unknown,” the times they are a-changin’. While decidedly not a documentary (even the songs are recorded anew), the Bob Dylan biopic and its oft-leaned-upon lyric do speak to the modern moment as well (and as widely) as they ever have. Here, they reference a doc world in disruption. In Hollywood, the streamers are tightening their once-elastic belts. Theatrical releases are too few and far between. The demand for documentaries remains, but the distribution paths aren’t as robust or reliable as they were even a few years ago.

Unique obstacles surfaced in 2024. Despite the year being dominated by debate over the November election, political documentaries faced a wary marketplace and thus struggled to reach audiences in a timely fashion. Cold feet proved to be an unfortunate trend. The year’s best-reviewed documentary film, “No Other Land,” has yet to secure distribution,...

Gravitas Ventures has announced the acquisition of U.S. and Canadian rights for the science fiction feature “Roswell Delirium,” which is scheduled to release in January on both cable and digital video on demand.

“During the 1980s the US is hit by a wave of nuclear attacks, and after the fallout those who remain pretend like everything is normal even though they are all experiencing radiation poisoning. A young girl named Mayday tries to make contact on a series of ham radios with her father who is in space on a shuttle mission. Instead of making contact she receives an intergalactic distress call from space that leads her on a journey to Space Rock, the land where Area 51 once was. She is exposed to severe levels of radiation and within days all of her organs start to fail. Knowing that medical treatment won’t help her mother, Wendy brings her...

Apple TV+’s Girls State and HBO’s Ren Faire scored three nominations apiece to lead all broadcast nominees announced Thursday for the 18th Cinema Eye Honors. The group, which recognizes the year’s outstanding nonfiction and documentary films and TV series, also revealed the 16-film longlist for its annual Audience Choice Prize, won last year by National Geographic’s Bobi Wine: The People’s President, which went on to get nominated for the Documentary Feature Oscar.

The past six winners of the Best Documentary Feature Oscar — this year’s winner 20 Days in Mariupol, Navalny, Summer of Soul, My Octopus Teacher, American Factory and Free Solo — were all Audience Choice Prize nominees. Fans voting will whittle the list to 10 beginning next week, with winners in that and all categories to be announced at an awards ceremony January 9 at the New York Academy of Medicine in East Harlem.

The full list...

Cinema Eye Honors today shared a string of announcements, including the 16 films on its Audience Choice Prize Longlist, the unveiling of this year’s Unforgettables Honorees, nominees in its five Broadcast categories, and its annual Shorts List — spotlighting 11 of the year’s top documentary short films — at its 7th annual Cinema Eye Fall Lunch in Downtown Los Angeles on October 24, 2024.

Spotlighted on the film side are several major Best Documentary Feature contenders including “Will & Harper,” “Black Box Diaries,” and “No Other Land,” which all also factored into the organization’s list of Unforgettables — standout on-camera collaborators from eight feature documentaries. This next ceremony will be the first time those honorees, like Harper Steele, Shiori Ito, and Basel Adra and Yuval Abraham for those respective films, receive a special medallion honoring their contribution to their Cinema Eye-winning films.

Highlights among the Broadcast nominees include filmmaker Lance Oppenheim, nominated for both...

The Apple TV+ documentary “Girls State” and the HBO doc series “Ren Faire” led all projects in nominations in the Cinema Eye Honors broadcast categories, which were announced on Thursday in Los Angeles.

“Girls State” was nominated in the Broadcast Film category and also for its editing and cinematography. “Ren Faire” was also nominated in those last two categories, as well as for Nonfiction Series.

Other broadcast films and series with multiple nominations included Netflix’s “America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders,” Apple’s “The Enfield Poltergeist,” HBO’s “Telemarketers” and National Geographic’s “Photographer.”

At its annual Cinema Eye Fall Lunch at Redbird in downtown Los Angeles, the New York-based organization also announced the Audience Choice Award Long List, 16 films that will compete for the audience-voted award; 11 semi-finalists in the short doc category; and “The Unforgettables,” its annual list of the year’s most interesting documentary subjects.

The Audience...

Robert Pattinson is now set to produce an upcoming A24 crime movie. Pattinson got his big break when he played the male lead Edward Cullen in the Twilight series. Since then, Pattinson has become a major star both in the indie and mainstream scene, acting in wide-ranging projects including Good Time, Tenet, and The Batman. Pattinson's past couple of years have been slow, but he did appear in a voice acting role in the English language dub of The Boy and the Heron last year. In early 2025, Pattinson will star in Bong Joon-ho's Mickey17.

As per Deadline, Pattinson has now set his next project with A24. The movie in question is titled Primetime, and will feature Pattinson as a producer. Primetime will be directed by documentarian Lance Oppenheim. A vague initial synopsis for the film says that it will "follow a journalist who takes on an underworld of crime and changes television forever.

Robert Pattinson is rumored to star in a new film from A24 titled Primetime, said to take influence from NBC's To Catch a Predator. The 2004 real crime series was part of NBC's Dateline television news program and followed the host Chris Hansen as he caught pedophiles red-handed. Hansen would lure adult predators and capture their creepiness on camera, which would usually result in an arrest. While most of the plot of the upcoming A24 film is under wraps, per Deadline, it is said to be a fictional story of a journalist taking on a world of crime to change the television industry forever.

A few details about the production have been revealed. Still, Pattinson is confirmed to be part of the large production team under his production company, Icki Eneo Arlo, with Brighton McCloskey. Documentary filmmaker Lance Oppenheim is set to direct and executive produce Primetime alongside screenwriter and fellow executive producer Ajon Singh.

A24 is set to finance and produce “Primetime,” according to an insider with knowledge of the project. Robert Pattinson is set to produce through his production banner Icki Eneo Arlo alongside Brighton McCloskey, Range’s Brian Kavanaugh Jones and Fred Berger, Square Peg’s Lars Knudsen, Ari Aster and Tyler Campellone will also produce.

This project will be directed by acclaimed filmmaker Lance Oppenheim. The screenplay is written by Ajon Singh.

Project details are under wraps, but said to follow a journalist who takes on an underworld of crime and changes television forever.

Lance Oppenheim and Ajon Singh will executive produce, as well William Iannaccone and A.J. Bourscheid for Range and Emily Hildner for Square Peg.

Oppenheim most recently directed and produced the critically-acclaimed HBO Original hit series “Ren Faire,” and his sophomore feature documentary, “Spermworld,” for FX. Oppenheim’s first documentary feature, “Some Kind of Heaven,” produced by Darren Aronofsky & The New York Times,...

Lance Oppenheim, who recently directed the buzzy HBO documentary series “Ren Faire,” is working with A24 and Robert Pattinson to develop his first narrative feature film.

A24 is set to finance and produce “Primetime,” which follows a journalist who takes on an underworld of crime and ends up changing television forever. Additional details are under wraps but the project is said to be inspired by “To Catch a Predator,” the 2000s-era reality show in which host Chris Hansen aimed to expose alleged sexual predators. Hansen would use hidden cameras while orchestrating sting operations that lured culprits to homes under the pretense of having sex with a minor, only to have the suspect arrested.

Oppenheim, whose documentary credits also include “Some Kind of Heaven,” a look at the world’s largest retirement community, and “Spermworld,” following the story of sperm donors, recipients, and all that connects them, is directing from a screenplay by Ajon Singh.

Ren Faire director Lance Oppenheim is lining up his first scripted feature film, teaming up with producer Robert Pattinson and A24 for Primetime.

The project, which has a script by Ajon Singh, is said to center on a journalist who takes on the underbelly of crime in a unique way and changes television forever. At this stage, Pattinson does not have a deal to star, only produce.

Sources say that the film draws inspiration from To Catch a Predator, the popular and zeitgeist-buzzing 2000s reality TV show in which host Chris Hansen partook in sting operations luring adult men to homes under the pretense of sexual encounters with minors. A24 is not confirming any connection to the show.

Oppenheim will direct and exec produce with screenwriter Singh.

Sources say A24 is moving swiftly and could be in production in the early part of next year.

Pattinson produces via his Icki...

Exclusive: Veteran documentary filmmaker Lance Oppenheim (Ren Faire) is pivoting to fiction with his next project, Primetime, which will be financed and produced by A24, with Robert Pattinson among the producers.

While not much is known about the film’s genre or plot, it’s said to follow a journalist who takes on an underworld of crime and changes television forever. We’ve heard from multiple sources that the project takes inspiration from To Catch a Predator, the NBC program put on as part of Dateline, as well as its host Chris Hansen, though the studio wouldn’t confirm. Sources also had Pattinson attached to star, though others clarified that there’s no deal in that respect for the moment. Stay tuned.

Oppenheim will direct from a script by Ajon Singh. Pattinson produces through his production banner Icki Eneo Arlo alongside Brighton McCloskey, Range’s Brian Kavanaugh Jones and Fred Berger,...

The Los Angeles Festival of Movies has announced dates for the festival’s second edition, set to take place April 3-6.

The first festival, co-presented by Mubi and the Mezzanine film non-profit, drew a young and enthusiastic crowd to L.A. venues on the eastern side of town for events including the West Coast premiere of “I Saw the TV Glow” and “Good One,” as well as the first episode of HBO’s documentary series “Ren Faire,” and 4K restorations including Chantal Akerman’s “Toute Une Nuit.”

Mezzanine and the festival will also present fall and winter screening events, to be announced.

“Independent cinema is alive and well in Los Angeles,” said Lafm director of programming Micah Gottlieb. “We were overwhelmed by the response to our inaugural festival, and we’re launching this second edition feeling energized and inspired by the local film community.”

Screening venues will again include 2220 Arts...

In HBO’s terrific documentary Ren Faire, a surly 86-year-old Texas Renaissance Festival owner who calls himself King George refuses to surrender control of his empire to a new generation of leadership. As a result, everyone around him is engulfed in anxiety and chaos. This week, we have a televised debate between two King Georges who are likewise determined to maintain power, except they’re vying for control of nukes and domestic policy instead of turkey legs and kettle corn.

We’ve heard it before: The polls have repeatedly shown this is a rematch most Americans don’t want. Biden and Trump are the two oldest major party candidates ever to get on the ballot. And with their first clash of 2024 airing Thursday, the bar has never been lower for both debate performances. Democrats simply hope Biden can hold it together without sounding like he’s mentally slipping. Republicans are...

Apparently, the succession plot twists at the Renaissance Fair in Todd Mission, Texas did not end with the conclusion of the three-part HBO docuseries “Ren Faire.” In fact, according to director Lance Oppenheim, it was the airing of the last two episodes on June 9 that actually led to the latest chapter in the saga.

“George [Coulam] watched Episodes 2 and 3, and he loved the series so much that he actually cleaned the office out again and he gave Jeff [Baldwin] his old job back, so now Jeff is the new general manager,” said Oppenheim on an upcoming episode of IndieWire’s Toolkit podcast. “Jeff is back in charge.”

This is the position Baldwin was in at the start of Episode 1 of “Ren Faire.” The loyal, dedicated employee of 43 years, had risen from being the festival’s long-serving entertainment director to its new general manager, in charge of running the day-to-day operations of the...

"All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players." Words spoken by the laureate William Shakespeare could not be more true, as a lively, out-of-this-world Renaissance Fair in Texas thrives in the sweltering heat. Playing the strings of every player, from popcorn makers to court jesters, George Coulam is the puppet master, and there's nothing he loves more than playing with people's hopes and dreams. For those who miss the rush of Succession, and crave to know whether real-life Logan Roys are slithering through the grass, you'll get the royal treatment with the new hit Max docuseries, Ren Faire.

Quick Links What Is Ren Faire About? Flights of Fancy The Filmmakers' Approach to Ren Faire What Happens at the End of Ren Faire? Ren Faire is a wild, absurd, and cutthroat docuseries depicting the succession battle at the Texas Renaissance Festival. Blending fact and fiction, the series follows the retirement of King George at the Trf with exaggerated drama and truth. Despite the seemingly unbelievable events, the story ends with King George retaining control of the Trf after all the chaos.

Making its Max debut on June 2, 2024, Ren Faire is a wildly entertaining three-part docuseries that is so absurd and outlandish that it's hard to tell how truthful it is. Directed with stylish flair and heightened dramatic reenactments by Lance Oppenheim, the story concerns The Texas Renaissance Festival's succession plan following the retirement of its long-term leader, King George Coulam, when he becomes too ill to continue his leadership.

[Editor’s note: The following article contains spoilers for the ending of “Ren Faire.”]

It didn’t take director Lance Oppenheim long to realize his three-part docuseries about the Texas Renaissance Fair would become a succession drama. He was drawn to the project by the story of King George Coulam, a man who built this empire of make believe, which he ruled like an emperor: playing corporate overlord, elected mayor, and cosplay king of the festival and town he built from scratch. With Coulam being 86-years old and experiencing some health issues, Oppenheim knew there was at least the potential of a Game of Thrones-like storyline when he started making “Ren Faire.”

“I knew that the succession idea was existentially in the air,” said Oppenheim. “And by the end of our first shoot, like seven days into this, I had met everybody already, and knew fairly quickly, especially compare to previous projects, what this would be about.”

Oppenheim said that while...

Ren Faire showcases the power struggle and drama behind the Texas Renaissance Festival. Contenders Louie Migliaccio and Jeff Baldwin vie to succeed the "king" of Trf, George Coulam, exploring who will lead the festival. Struggles for succession are rife at Trf, showcasing betrayals, heartbreaks, and Coulam's decision to stay in control.

In three episodes, HBO Max's documentary Ren Faire recounts the drama and power struggles behind the Texas Renaissance Festival (Trf), the largest theme park of its kind in the United States. Max's new documentary has been compared to Succession due to the conflict revolving around who will inherit control of Trf and holds 100% on Rotten Tomatoes. For those who were previously unfamiliar with the festival, Ren Faire is an introduction to George Coulam, the owner and "king" of Trf, who is considering retirement. This sparks a debate over who will succeed him as the chief executive of the festival.

Spoiler Alert: This article discusses the “Ren Faire” finale, now streaming on Max.

Long live the king. In his search for a worthy heir to buy out his stake in the Texas Renaissance Festival, theme park founder George Coulam has put his subordinates through some dark ages. But, after weighing his options, he’s finally figured out the right person to be in charge: himself.

“None of us ever really thought that there would be someone that would take over,” says Lance Oppenheim, director and executive producer of “Ren Faire.” “There’s no world in which George could ever give it up.”

The finale of the HBO docuseries sees the octogenarian rejecting yet another multi-million-dollar offer to purchase his festival, instead electing to maintain status quo as ruler of his kingdom. In fact, everyone seems to end up close to where they were at the start of the story: a...

[The following story includes spoilers from HBO’s Ren Faire.]

HBO’s Ren Faire was three episodes of — as one critic helpfully dubbed it — “Succession with turkey legs.” Or perhaps the documentary was better depicted — as director Lance Oppenheim has himself described it — as Vanderpump Rules meets There Will Be Blood. Either way, Oppenheim’s chronicle of a behind-the-scenes power struggle at the Texas Renaissance Festival was compulsively watchable and clearly demonstrated Oppenheim’s three-year immersion into his subject matter (along with his co-creator, journalist David Gauvey Herbert, and their producing team).

Still, some questions remain: Was “King” George Coulam ever going to retire? Is he still going on “Sugar Daddy” dates? How are Jeff and Bradi Baldwin doing now? Will there be more episodes? And how do you subsist for three years on a diet of kettle corn and empanadas? Below Oppenheim (whose previous films include Spermworld and Some Kind of Heaven) opens up about all of...

On Sunday June 9 2024, HBO broadcasts an episode of the series Ren Faire!

Make Big Choices Season 1 Episode 2 Episode Summary

In this episode of “Ren Faire” titled “Make Big Choices,” viewers are in for a rollercoaster of emotions. King George finds himself in an unexpected situation as he goes on what seems to be an unsuccessful date. Will love bloom amidst the chaos of the faire, or is this just another royal mishap waiting to happen?

Meanwhile, Jeff faces a daunting challenge as he tries to thwart Louie’s ambitious bid for the crown. With power dynamics shifting and tensions running high, the stakes have never been greater for these two rivals. Will Jeff emerge victorious, or will Louie’s cunning ways outsmart him once again?

Adding to the intrigue is the arrival of Darla Smith, a former elephant trainer, who enters the fray with her own mysterious agenda. How will...

On Sunday June 9 2024, HBO broadcasts an episode of the series Ren Faire!

We’re Done! Season 1 Episode 3 Episode Summary

In this episode of “Ren Faire” titled “We’re Done!”, viewers will witness Jeff gaining the upper hand over Louie in a surprising turn of events. The tension between these characters has been building up, and now the tables seem to have turned. How will this power shift impact the dynamic within the faire?

Darla’s promotion to co-general manager promises to shake things up even more. However, the consequences turn out to be disastrous for both Jeff and herself. As the plot thickens, viewers will be on the edge of their seats to see how Darla’s new role unfolds and the ripple effects it has on the characters they have come to know and love.

Meanwhile, George’s struggle to find a trustworthy successor comes to a head in this episode.

This weekly feature is in addition to TVLine’s daily What to Watch listings and our monthly breakdown of What’s on Streaming.

With over 500 scripted shows now airing across broadcast, cable and streaming, it’s easy to forget that a favorite comedy is returning, or that the new “prestige drama” you anticipated is about to debut. So consider this our reminder to set your DVR, order a Season Pass, pop a fresh Memorex into the Vcr… however it is you roll.

More from TVLineWhat’s New on Netflix in June — Plus: Disney+, Max, Amazon and OthersChristmas Comes Early! Your...

Max's Ren Faire documentary mirrors Succession with a dramatic portrayal of power, ambition, and legacy in a unique setting. Critics praise Ren Faire for its nuanced characters and compelling storyline, comparing it to the beloved series Succession. Viewers find Ren Faire perceptive, thrilling, and engaging, with unpredictability and intense courtly intrigue.

Max's new documentary with 100% on Rotten Tomatoes is an outlandish real-life version of Succession. For four seasons, the HBO series explored the Roy family's prolonged succession battle over Waystar Royco, the business conglomerate founded and run by Logan Roy for several decades. With the patriarch's declining health, his children, traumatized by a childhood of neglect and abandonment, scheme their way to take over the reign from their father. The Succession season 4 cast steered the finale to a messy, complex, yet ultimately satisfying ending to what is considered one of the best HBO original series of all time.

Created by Jesse Armstrong,...

HBO docuseries Ren Faire featured a cast of the real people behind the Texas Renaissance Festival.

The three-part Max docuseries recounted the power struggle at the Texas Renaissance Festival after founder George Coulam announced his retirement, spurring a contest for leadership to reshape the event in their vision.

Every Main Cast Member of Max's Ren Faire Read full article on The Direct.

HBO Documentary’s new three-part series does not look, feel, or sound like any docuseries you’ve seen. Set against the backdrop of one of the world’s largest Renaissance fairs in Todd Mission, Texas, “Ren Faire” director Lance Oppenheim blends verite filmmaking with fantasy in capturing a cast of characters who are playing out a real-life succession drama.

At the center is King George Coulum, the 86-year-old visionary who built the festival and ruled his fiefdom with an iron fist as it exploded into a multi-million dollar business and (a la Disneyland) became its own town, for which Coulum is both the mayor and primary employer. In Episode 1, the King indicates he is finally ready to step aside, as he hits various online dating sites (including sugardaddy.com) looking for a pretty young woman to be his companion in his final years, which he envisions being filled with sex,...

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About halfway through the first episode of the new HBO docuseries Ren Faire, Jeff Baldwin likens his workplace to Shakespeare’s King Lear. Baldwin sees himself as Cordelia, the king’s loyal daughter who is nevertheless banished by her misguided father. Baldwin views his office rivals as Albany and Regan, the duplicitous daughters who turn on Lear once they get their inheritance.

And Lear is 86-year-old George Coulam,...

Lance Oppenheim, a 2019 25 New Face who is something of a non-fiction poet laureate of contemporary loneliness, oddball institutional rituals, and the ways in which fantasy and reality commingle in American life, premieres his latest documentary series, Ren Faire, tonight on HBO. Produced by Elara Pictures, with executive producers including Josh Safdie, Benny Safdie and Ronnie Bronstein, the three-part series tells a Succession-like drama involving an aging “king,” George Coulam, in the midst of deciding which of his employees will take over his sprawling and lucrative Texas-based Renaissance theme park. The series follows Oppenheim’s excellent Spermworld, for which the […]

The post Trailer Watch: Lance Oppenheim’s HBO Documentary Series, Ren Faire first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.

Lance Oppenheim, a 2019 25 New Face who is something of a non-fiction poet laureate of contemporary loneliness, oddball institutional rituals, and the ways in which fantasy and reality commingle in American life, premieres his latest documentary series, Ren Faire, tonight on HBO. Produced by Elara Pictures, with executive producers including Josh Safdie, Benny Safdie and Ronnie Bronstein, the three-part series tells a Succession-like drama involving an aging “king,” George Coulam, in the midst of deciding which of his employees will take over his sprawling and lucrative Texas-based Renaissance theme park. The series follows Oppenheim’s excellent Spermworld, for which the […]

The post Trailer Watch: Lance Oppenheim’s HBO Documentary Series, Ren Faire first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.

A new ruler will soon be taking over the Texas Renaissance Festival, which is the largest faire worldwide. Max’s “Ren Faire” documents the intense battle to determine who will succeed 86-year-old George Coulam when he eventually passes away. Throughout three episodes, the docuseries highlights George’s run as “king” and what lies ahead when he must step down. The first episode is available to stream on Max beginning Sunday, June 2. You can watch with a subscription to Max.

How to Watch ‘Ren Faire’ Premiere When: Sunday, June 2, 2024 Where: Max Stream: Watch with a subscription to Max. Sign Up$9.99+ / month Max.com About ‘Ren Faire’ Premiere

“Ren Faire” documents the incredible transfer of power at the Texas Renaissance Festival. For 50 years, founder George Coulam has been known as King George to Texas Renaissance Festival attendees. However, his reign will soon be coming to an end as his mind isn’t as sharp as it once was.

Get ready for a dramatic turn of events in Season 1 Episode 3 of “Ren Faire,” titled “We’re Done!” This thrilling episode, airing on HBO at 10:00 Pm on Sunday, June 9, 2024, promises to keep viewers on the edge of their seats.

As tensions rise between Jeff and Louie, Jeff finally gains the upper hand in their ongoing power struggle. Meanwhile, Darla’s promotion to co-general manager leads to unforeseen and disastrous consequences for both herself and Jeff, setting off a chain of events that will change the course of their lives.

Amidst the chaos, George finds himself faced with a critical decision regarding the future of the faire. With the pressure mounting and alliances shifting, George must make a choice that will determine the fate of the faire and the relationships within it.

Don’t miss out on the thrilling twists and turns of “Ren Faire” as the drama unfolds in Season 1 Episode 3, “We’re Done!

Prepare to step back in time and immerse yourself in the whimsical world of “Ren Faire” with the second episode of its inaugural season, airing at 9:00 Pm on Sunday, June 9, 2024, on HBO. In “Make Big Choices,” viewers will witness the hilarious antics and dramatic twists that unfold within the medieval-themed festival.

The episode promises plenty of entertainment as King George finds himself navigating the treacherous waters of romance during an ill-fated date. Meanwhile, Jeff faces the challenge of thwarting Louie’s ambitious bid for the crown, leading to a clash of egos and wits. As tensions rise, the fate of the kingdom hangs in the balance, setting the stage for a showdown of epic proportions.

Adding to the intrigue is the arrival of Darla Smith, a former elephant trainer with her own agenda. With secrets to uncover and alliances to forge, Darla’s entrance injects a new layer of...

“Ren Faire” is a new documentary TV series following power struggles in the country’s largest ‘renaissance festival’, with Jeffrey Baldwin , George Coulam , Darla Smith , Lauren Croft , Brandi Baldwin and Louie Migliaccio, streaming June 2, 2024 on Max:

“…when the ailing king of America’s largest renaissance festival declares his retirement…

“…an epic power struggle ensues between an actor, a former elephant trainer and a kettle-corn kingpin, to claim his throne…”

Click the images to enlarge…...

With its list of new releases for June 2024, HBO streamer Max is finally headed back to Westeros.

The highlight of this month is undoubtedly the premiere of House of the Dragon season 2 on June 16. Episode 1 will drop on both HBO and Max that Sunday night at 9 p.m. Et. With the infamous Targaryen civil war known as the Dance of the Dragons now underway, the next batch of episodes for this Game of Thrones prequel should be truly epic.

Arriving before House of the Dragon season 2 is another story of a fraught succession. Ren Faire, a documentary series about an ailing king retiring from the country’s largest renaissance festival, premieres on June 2. Other TV options this month include Julio Torres comedy Fantasmas on June 7 and docuseries One South: Portrait of a Psych Unit on June 25.

Max plays host to a couple of major movies in June as well. The...

Succession meets Game of Thrones in the documentary series Ren Faire, which premieres Sunday on HBO.

Lance Oppenheim directed the three-parter about the battle to take the reins of the Texas Renaissance Festival, the largest ren faire in the world. At outdoor festivals of this ilk — in case you’re unaware — performers suit up in medieval attire, musicians tootle on flutes and strum lyres, fire eaters consume flames, and fans devour massive turkey drumsticks and fistfuls of kettle corn.

The Logan Roy – or, if you prefer, King Aerys II – in this scenario is aging potentate George Coulam, founder and ruler of the Texas ren faire. He’s a colorful character, to say the least, and if you doubt that, consider how he describes himself on his website: “George Coulam is a healthy 6’2”, 173 lbs., 86-year-old sexually active Caucasian male entrepreneur.”

George Coulam in ‘Ren Faire’

“He has power, as the elected...

Documentarian Lance Oppenheim is like a maximalist Errol Morris.

He makes films that focus on eccentrics and oddballs and the communities they call home, documentaries that invite viewers to gawk at their subjects but do not, themselves, gawk.

In a documentary landscape that too frequently hues to the intentionally bland aesthetic conventions of “realism” — gritty, washed-out photography and hand-held framing masquerading as “objective” — Oppenheim’s films can be assaultive. They’re full of oversaturated colors, hallucinatory shifts in perspective, hyper-intimate close-ups and reenactments that blur lines between reality and subjective fiction.

I was legitimately shocked to look up the running times on Oppenheim’s 2020 Some Kind of Heaven and 2024’s Spermworld and see that both documentaries were under 85 minutes. It’s not exactly a criticism to say that I thought they were both longer. Lance Oppenheim documentaries feel like a lot.

At a solid three hours stretched over three episodes,...

Bran Stark took the Iron Throne. GoJo acquired Waystar Royco. But who will rule the Texas Renaissance Festival? That’s the battle at the center of “Ren Faire,” HBO’s new docuseries set to air in the network’s coveted Sunday-evening slot during the two weeks ahead of “House of the Dragon” Season 2.

“It sounds like that’s what their calculus was, to put it as close to that show as possible,” series director Lance Oppenheim says, laughing.

“Ren Faire” may have the knights and knaves of “Thrones,” but the power dynamics running through it more closely resemble “Succession.” Produced by Josh and Benny Safdie’s Elara Pictures, the three-episode doc centers on George Coulam, the iconoclastic octogenarian founder of the “nation’s largest Renaissance theme park,” which welcomes about half a million guests annually to carouse among costumed entertainers while munching turkey legs and cheering on jousters.

The festival...

Get ready for a wild ride with the premiere episode of “Ren Faire” Season 1! In the episode titled “Daddy’s Dyin’, Who’s Got the Will?”, viewers are in for a treat as they witness the drama unfold at America’s largest renaissance festival. The ailing king’s decision to retire sparks a fierce power struggle among key characters vying for the throne.

The stage is set for an epic battle as an actor, a former elephant trainer, and a kettle-corn kingpin lock horns in a bid to claim the coveted title. The intricate web of alliances, betrayals, and ambitions promises to keep audiences on the edge of their seats as the characters navigate the treacherous waters of power dynamics within the festival.

Tune in at 9:00 Pm on Sunday, 2 June 2024, on HBO to witness the clash of egos, the unfolding of intricate plots, and the quest for dominance in...

Stream The Debuts Of Season Two Of HBO Original Drama Series “House of the Dragon”; HBO Original Comedy Series “Fantasmas”; Max Original Comedy Special “Hannah Einbinder: Everything Must Go”; HBO Original Documentaries “Ren Faire” And “Stevie Van Zandt: Disciple”; And Original Film “Am I Ok?” Check Out Behind-The-Scenes Content, Essential Episodes, And More From The “World Of Westeros” Collection Featured Programming Debuts June 2 Fixer Upper: The LAKEHOUSEMagnolia Network Rollout: Debuts with two episodes, followed by two episodes weekly through June 16. Logline: Chip and Joanna celebrate ten years of Fixer Upper with a brand-new challenge: the overhaul of a severely outdated 1960s lakehouse. ... Read more...

"Are you having a good time?!" HBO has revealed an official trailer for Ren Faire, a docu series streaming on Max starting in June this summer. Who doesn't love the Renaissance Faire?! This doc series goes even further and builds a narrative around the main characters at the Texas Renaissance Festival. Who will claim the king's throne? A fantastic and farcical succession battle of Shakespearean proportions. Blending verité with fantasy, Ren Faire — a three-part docu-fantasia arriving this summer — invites you behind the curtain of the famed Texas festival to reveal a tense and comical succession drama. Featuring individuals self-styled as Shakespearean characters, the series details an epic power struggle between an actor, a former elephant trainer, and a kettle-corn kingpin – all vying to claim George's throne. As King George's idiosyncrasies mount, the tension over who will be chosen ascends to increasingly operatic heights, against a backdrop where the employees...

Warner Bros. Discovery has announced the movies, TV shows, and live sports that will be available on the Max streaming service in June. The Max June 2024 lineup includes House of the Dragon Season 2, the HBO original comedy series Fantasmas, and HBO original documentaries Ren Faire and Stevie Van Zandt: Disciple.

The June schedule also includes the Max original comedy special Hannah Einbinder: Everything Must Go and the World of Westeros collection, which takes you behind the scenes and features essential episodes.

Featured Programming

Fixer Upper: The Lakehouse (Magnolia Network)

Debuts on June 2 with two episodes, followed by two episodes weekly through June 16.

Chip and Joanna celebrate ten years of Fixer Upper with a brand-new challenge: the overhaul of a severely outdated 1960s lakehouse. Surprising interior design choices and unique outdoor features highlight the property’s dramatic cliffside views. Produced by Chip and Joanna Gaines’s production company Blind Nil.

Ren Faire...

“Industry” Season 3 is set to premiere on August 11 on HBO, and will be available to stream on Max.

The official synopsis of Season 3 reads: “As Pierpoint looks to the future and takes a big bet on ethical investing, Yasmin (Marisa Abela), Robert (Harry Lawtey), and Eric (Ken Leung) find themselves front and center in the splashy IPO of Lumi, a green tech energy company led by Sir Henry Muck (Kit Harington), in a story that runs all the way to the very top of finance, media, and government. Since leaving Pierpoint, Harper (Myha’la) is eager to get back into the addictive thrill of finance and finds an unlikely partner in FutureDawn portfolio manager Petra Koenig (Sarah Goldberg).”

“Industry” is created, written and executive produced by Mickey Down and Konrad Kay. Jane Tranter, Kate Crowther, Ryan Rasmussen and Rebecca Ferguson also serve as executive producers.

New additions to the eight-episode third...

Have you ever watched “Game of Thrones” and thought, “Man, I’d love to see a version of this where there are no dragons and cosplayers take the place of kings and queens?” No? Well, HBO hopes you do, as it has a three-part documentary, titled “Ren Faire,” coming your way.

In all seriousness, “Ren Faire” is a docuseries about the largest Renaissance festival in the world and the one man who rules over it, an 86-year-old George Coulam.

Continue reading ‘Ren Faire’ Trailer: The Safdie Brothers Produce A Docuseries About The World’s Largest Renaissance Festival at The Playlist.