Documentary
GRB Media Ranch acquires three compelling political documentaries for international distribution
Mumbai: Coinciding with the guilty verdict of the hush money/porn star payoff trial, GRB Media Ranch has announced its acquisition of #Untruth, a political documentary about the psychology of “TrumpISM” and the authoritarian strain that it seeded in the American political landscape.
This documentary by director Dan Partland, multiple Emmy Award winning and executive producer, and president of Doc Shop Productions, accompanies two other Partland productions available through GRB Media Ranch on the topic: #Unfit: The Psychology of Donald Trump and God + Country, a look into the growth of white, Christian nationalism in the U.S.
Released theatrically, God + Country (co-produced by Rob Reiner), opened to rave reviews in the New York Times, Christianity Today and the Hollywood Reporter and received an 88 per cent score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Benz stated: “We acquired these programs just at the time that Donald J. Trump was found guilty by a jury of his peers. GRB Media Ranch is proud to include them in its portfolio of timely documentaries on compelling subjects produced by an acclaimed filmmaker – Dan Partland. In a historic U.S. election year where the subjects of the films reflect the deep divisions within the nation, these riveting political documentaries are essential viewing! At GRB Media Ranch, we get stories – riveting, topical, compelling.”
Partland added: “Democracies around the world are under threat like we haven’t seen in 100 years. Hopefully, yesterday’s verdict in New York is the beginning of an American recommitment to the fundamental values of liberal democracy that have been so eroded by the global wave of intolerance and authoritarianism, which is drowning our body politic.”
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.
