Time Inc. To Produce Documentaries Based On SI Articles

Tuesday, August 05, 2008


Seems like an interesting idea right? You have an in-depth article on a subject in Sports Illustrated that garners national praise and you turn it into a short documentary. Via Variety....

Time Inc. Studios, together with management-production company the Collective and XYZ Films, will produce features and documentaries based on articles published in Time Inc. publications such as Time, Sports Illustrated, Fortune and Life.

The company has identified its first project, optioning the April 14 Sports Illustrated article "Breaking the Bank." Written by L. Jon Wertheim, the feature covers the alleged criminal exploits of Ultimate Fighting Championship competitor "Lightning" Lee Murray, who is suspected of masterminding the largest cash heist in history in 2006.

XYZ Films said it will contribute a seven-figure development fund that will option articles, hire screenwriters and tie talent to packages that can then be shopped to studios. It doesn’t cover TV projects.
I've made no secret of my love for documentaries, so this is obviously a great idea to me. I'm personally hoping that the process of how Peter King picked his Top 500 players in the NFL (and more specifically how Reggie Bush was #19) is a topic in the near future. Is there anywhere I can vote for these things?

As far as Murray, anyone who comes to the ring wheeled in like Hannibal Lecter, NEEDS to have a documentary made about him.

Time Inc. to produce in-house films (Variety)

2 Comments:

First up: a documentary on how and why the Red Sox traded for Jon Heyman.

GMoney said...
Aug 5, 2008, 4:05:00 PM  

The company has identified its first project, optioning the April 14 Sports Illustrated article "Breaking the Bank." Written by L. Jon Wertheim, the feature covers the alleged criminal exploits of Ultimate Fighting Championship competitor "Lightning" Lee Murray, who is suspected of masterminding the largest cash heist in history in 2006.

So much for E:60's in-depth expose for its return next Tuesday. Maybe they can get the "first interview" with Mike Nadel while they're at it.

Aug 5, 2008, 11:41:00 PM  

Post a Comment