Rock, Chris: Documentary GOOD HAIR

May 17, 2009 by

May 15, 2009 – Roadside Attractions and Liddell Entertainment have acquired worldwide rights to Chris Rock’s GOOD HAIR, a hilariously insightful and entertaining, yet remarkably serious, look at the African American hair culture, produced by HBO Films.  The film had its world premiere at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival where it won the Special Jury Prize: U.S. Documentary.  The deal was announced jointly by Howard Cohen, Co-President of Roadside Attractions, Mickey Liddell of Liddell Entertainment and Michael Lombardo, President, Programming Group and West Coast Operations, HBO.  Roadside plans to release the film domestically this fall.  Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF) will handle home video and other domestic ancillary rights and HBO will retain pay cable rights and will broadcast the film in their traditional pay TV window.

 

 

 

An exposé of comic proportions that only Chris Rock could pull off, GOOD HAIR visits hair salons and styling battles, scientific laboratories, and Indian temples to explore the way black hairstyles impact the activities, pocketbooks, sexual relationships, and self-esteem of black people. Director Jeff Stilson follows Chris Rock on this raucous adventure after Rock’s daughter, Lola, came up to him crying and asked, “Daddy, how come I don’t have good hair?” Celebrities such as Ice-T, Nia Long, Paul Mooney, Raven Symoné, Maya Angelou, and Reverend Al Sharpton all candidly offer their stories and observations to Rock while he struggles with the task of figuring out how to respond to his daughter’s question.

 

 

 

“I’m very happy to be working with the good people at Roadside Attractions.  I loved the job they did with SUPER SIZE ME and hope we can have similar success.” says Chris Rock.

 

 

 

“Chris has been part of the HBO family for more than 15 years.  We were thrilled to support his vision in making GOOD HAIR and we hope it reaches20the widest audience,” says Michael Lombardo, President, Programming Group and West Coast Operations, HBO.

 

 

 

“Chris Rock has always been able to come at everyday topics from a completely fresh perspective. His ability to mix incisive social commentary with huge laughs, I believe, makes him this generation’s answer to Mark Twain,” adds Howard Cohen, Co-President, Roadside Attractions. “GOOD HAIR is revelatory, provocative, thoroughly-researched and, most importantly, just funny as hell.”

 

 

 

The film was represented by ICM and the deal negotiated by ICM, Michael Lombardo, President, Programming and West Coast Operations, and Glenn Whitehead, Executive Vice President, Business and Legal Affairs on behalf of HBO, Howard Cohen on behalf of Roadside Attractions and Robb Klein of Sheppard Mullin on behalf of Liddell Entertainment.  GOOD HAIR is an HBO Films presentation of a Zahrlo production, an Urban Romances production. Produced by Chris Rock, Nelson George, Kevin O’Donnell and Jenny Hunter.  Directed by Jeff Stilson.  Written by Chris Rock, Jeff Stilson , Lance Crouther, and Chuck Sklar.

 

 

Filed Under: POP CULTURE