Documentary
GRB Media Ranch acquires four new documentaries
Mumbai: GRB Media Ranch CEO, Gary R Benz announced the acquisition of four hot topical new documentaries covering a range of headline grabbing events.
The content includes the murder investigation of Tupak Shakur: Tupac: 187 (working title), an art theft in Ottawa in Stealing Churchill, and sensational political topics: God & Country and Unfit. The company will present all four docs at MIPDoc and MIPTV next week where GRB Media Ranch president, Sophie Ferron and GRB sales & acquisitions’ executive Liz Levenson will be in attendance.
Tupac: 187 (working title) after 30 years, the case of murdered Rap superstar Tupac Shakur may finally get resolved when an accused Las Vegas man stands trial. Discover the criminal negligence and its impact on the night of the shooting and see the development of the false narrative that was devised to cover it up; and track the “big lie” all the way from its inception five minutes after the shooting until this moment – the current case in Nevada. Was the right guy caught? (5×60’)
Stealing Churchill is an investigative documentary taking audiences to the heart of the unlikely heist that shocked the international arts community: the theft of the famous Winston Churchill portrait by Yousuf Karsh. This masterwork painting was stolen from the Reading Lounge in Ottawa’s Château Laurier and replaced by a fake which was only discovered eight months later. Has the portrait of the Roaring Lion, a work of art that launched Yousuf Karsh’s international career, disappeared forever? (1 x 60’)
Unfit: The Psychology of Donald Trump: This documentary explores if Donald Trump is psychologically fit to hold the office of President of the United States. This is an eye-opening analysis of Trump by leading U.S. mental health professionals and political observers and those who had intimate personal contact with him and his behavior. (1 x 90’)
God & Country: From award-winning director Dan Partland (Intervention) and mega-producer Rob Reiner, this vital documentary reveals the dangerous implications of Christian Nationalism which distorts the U.S. Constitution and Christianity itself. What happens when a faith built on love, sacrifice, and forgiveness grows political tentacles, conflating power, money, and belief into hyper-nationalism? (1 X 90’)
Gary R Benz stated: “GRB Media Ranch is thrilled to debut four exciting new documentaries to add to its expanding non-fiction portfolio. The new content is both topical and unnerving and complements our library of over 5,000 hours of premium finished programs and formats. We are delighted to introduce them to the market at this time when the subject matter continues to attract headlines in the media. As we say at GRB Media Ranch – we’ve got stories!”
Documentary
Netflix and Warner Music ink landmark documentary deal
The streaming giant has just unlocked one of the richest vaults in music history. Its rivals should be worried
CALIFORNIA AND NEW YORK: Netflix and Warner Music Group have signed an exclusive multi-year deal to produce documentary series and films drawn from the label’s storied artist roster, the companies announced on Friday — a move that hands the streaming platform access to one of the most formidable catalogues in music history.
Warner Music Group represents legends including David Bowie, Cher, Fleetwood Mac, Aretha Franklin and Joni Mitchell, alongside contemporary superstars such as Charli XCX, Coldplay and Bruno Mars. That is a staggering breadth of material for a platform hungry for prestige content and subscriber growth to match.
Under the agreement, Warner Music will work with Unigram, the production company aligned with the label, which will serve as the studio for its long-form projects. Each title will be developed in collaboration with the artists themselves or their estates, ensuring the kind of intimate access that turns a documentary into an event.
The deal reflects an intensifying race between music-rights owners and streaming platforms eager to turn deep catalogues into premium visual content. Music documentaries have become a vehicle for fan-driven, culturally resonant programming — a trend underscored by Taylor Swift’s “Eras Tour” film, which grossed over $260 million globally and reminded every platform chief just how lucrative the genre can be.
Netflix already boasts formidable credentials in music storytelling, with “Homecoming: A Film by Beyoncé” and “Quincy” among its highest-profile releases. The Warner deal sharpens that edge considerably. Rival platforms have not been idle: Disney+ has released “The Beach Boys”, while Max has drawn attention with “Stax: Soulsville U.S.A.” Apple Music, meanwhile, has pushed into original content through its Apple Music Live series, producing documentaries and livestreamed concerts featuring Harry Styles and Billie Eilish.
The battle for music’s visual soul, then, is well and truly on. Netflix has just made its boldest move yet.
