RADiUS-TWC Acquires Rights to Documentary KEEP ON KEEPIN' ON

By: Apr. 28, 2014
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Radius-TWC proudly announced today that it has acquired worldwide rights as well as remake rights for the documentary KEEP ON KEEPIN' ON which celebrated its world premiere at the 2014 Tribeca Film Festival. KEEP ON KEEPIN' ON is produced by seven time Academy Award® nominee Quincy Jones and Paula DuPre' Pesmen (producer of the Oscar Winning THE COVE). The film's director, Al Hicks, was just awarded the prize for Best New Documentary Director at the Tribeca Film Festival.

In his melodic debut, Australian director Hicks spent four years following the charming and sometimes poignant mentorship between jazz-legend Clark Terry and blind piano prodigy, Justin Kaulflin, during a pivotal moment in each of their lives. At eighty-nine years old, 'CT' has played alongside Duke Ellington and Count Basie; his pupils include Miles Davis and Quincy Jones, but his most unlikely friendship is with Justin, a 23-year-old with uncanny talent but debilitating nerves. As Justin prepares for a competition that could jumpstart his budding career, CT's failing health threatens his own. Beautifully nostalgic with a reverence for the importance of finding your own sound, KEEP ON KEEPIN' ON celebrates an iconic musician while introducing one of equal vibrancy. It is a mentoring tale as inspirational as its subjects.

The deal for KEEP ON KEEPIN' ON was negotiated by Dan Guando, EVP of Acquisitions and RADiUS Co-Presidents Tom Quinn and Jason Janego for TWC with Josh Braun, Dan Braun, and David Koh of Submarine on behalf of the filmmakers. Legal services on behalf of the film makers were provided by Erik Hyman of Loeb and Loeb.

Said RADiUS Co-Presidents Tom Quinn and Jason Janego: "As was the case with 20 FEET FROM STARDOM, we've been incredibly fortunate to collaborate with gifted and talented musicians whose lives have been the inspiration for so many. Through Al's deft hand, audiences will be given a bird's eye view into the dynamic mentor/pupil relationship between Clark and Justin - two exceptional individuals who have persevered through adversity and overcome the hardest of obstacles. What a privilege we've been given to work alongside them, Quincy Jones and Paula DuPre' Pesmen on Al's completely gratifying film."

Commented TWC Co-Chairman Harvey Weinstein: "The Tribeca Film Festival has always been an amazing source of upcoming talent. From TRANSAMERICA to BULLY, we have been proud to be a part of the success that Bob, Jane, and MSG have created. I think this has been the festival's best year yet, and KEEP ON KEEPIN' ON is one of the best movies TWC will be a part of. Crafted by the brilliant talents of Alan Hicks, my friend Quincy Jones and Paula DuPre' Pesmen, this is a rare and inspiring story that will strike a special chord with audiences everywhere, just as it did with us. We're so thrilled to have the opportunity to share it with the world."

"In my wildest dreams, I never would have imagined working on my first film with Harvey Weinstein, Paula DuPre' Pesmen and Quincy Jones," noted director Hicks. "I'm so grateful that Mr. Weinstein believes in this story and has chosen to take us under his wing. It's an honor to have this team help bring Clark and his story to the world."

Said producer Jones: "I could not be more excited to be working with Radius-TWC on such a special film. Harvey and I have been friends for many years and we have been waiting for the right opportunity to join forces. Harvey has always been a champion of the arts and the fact that he recognized the importance of Clark Terry's contributions to American culture warms my heart. There's nothing better than the right people coming together at the right time - something I should thank my longtime family Jane Rosenthal, Robert DeNiro, and the Tribeca team for. To know that a film about my first teacher Clark Terry - the man who put me on his shoulders more than seventy years ago - will get the chance to be seen by a wider audience makes my soul smile."

"We're thrilled to partner with The Weinstein Company and RADiUS to distribute the film," commented producer DuPre' Pesmen. "This movie has been a labor of love by the director Al Hicks, fellow producer Quincy Jones and our whole team and at the core of this Passion is the desire to share the beauty of Clark Terry with the world"

ABOUT RADiUS-TWC

RADiUS-TWC is the boutique label from the Weinstein Company (TWC) and the first studio division dedicated to both multi-platform VOD and theatrical distribution. Utilizing both traditional and digital media, Radius-TWC brings the highest quality films and other specialty entertainment to a wider audience than ever before. Founded and led by Tom Quinn and Jason Janego, the label continues to develop innovative distribution strategies to make marquee content available to consumers where, when and how they want it. The label's inaugural slate included such films as Bachelorette (the first multi-platform film to hit #1 on iTunes and the only multi-platform release to ever reach #4 for top Cable VOD performers) and Cannes competition entry Only God Forgives directed by Nicolas Winding Refn and starring Ryan Gosling and Kristen Scott Thomas. Recent releases include: Morgan Neville's Oscar winner 20 FEET FROM STARDOM; Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman's LOVELACE; Zachary Heinzerling's Oscar nominated Cutie And The Boxer (Sundance 2013 U.S. Documentary Directing Award), Jacob Kornbluth's Inequality For All (Sundance 2013 U.S. Documentary Special Jury Award); Jonathan Levine's long awaited horror debut All the Boys Love Mandy Lane and Keanu Reeves' directorial debut - Man of Tai Chi in which he also stars. In 2014, RADiUS' slate features (among others): Blue Ruin (winner of the FIPRESCI International Critics Prize at the Cannes Film Festival), Errol Morris' THE Unknown KNOWN, Mike Myers' directorial debut - SUPERMENSCH: THE LEGEND OF SHEP GORDON, Alexandre Aja's HORNS starring Daniel Radcliffe (the latter two which premiered at the 2013 Toronto Film Festival), Fed Up from Laurie David and Katie Couric, THE ONE I LOVE starring Elisabeth Moss and Mark Duplass (the latter two which premiered at this year's Sundance Film Festival) and recently announced Berlin titles: EVERLY (Salma Hayek), WHEN ANIMALS DREAM, and PARADISE LOST (Benicio del Toro). Additionally, the company is embarking on a CREEP trilogy alongside the Duplass brothers and Blumhouse Productions after the film's highly praised SXSW premiere.



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