The annual dolphin slaughter in Taiji was suspended due to publicity from the film, The Cove. But, sadly, it was only temporary. (via Eco Worldly)
First Run Features has acquired Michael Tucker and Petra Epperlein's feature documentary Bulletproof Salesman, a look at war profiteer Fidelis Cloer. An early 2010 theatrical release is planned, with home video and broadcast releases to follow. (via The Hollywood Reporter)
1997 doc Hands on a Hardbody is about to have an exclamation point added to it's name. According to Variety, the film about a Texas endurance contest is going to be turned into a Broadway musical with the assistance of High Fidelity lyricist Amanda Green and Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Doug Wright. If lucky, it'll follow in the footsteps of Wright's previous doc-turned-musical effort, Grey Gardens, (read our Documentary Magazine article about that right here) which proved a hit with both audiences and critics. No matter how it fares, hopefully at the very least we'll get a catchy car tune out of it like Greased Lightin'... (Variety via A.V. Club)
The Paley Center for Media announced a diverse lineup of documentaries to be screened at its tenth annual documentary festival, PaleyDocFest09, in New York throughout the month of October. Is starts Oct. 8 with The Way We Get By, which explores how different generations of war veterans come to terms with what one's service to country means. The Festival then continues with the world premiere of the American Masters Joan Baez: How Sweet the Sound on October 9; Rise and Fall of the Berlin Wall on October 20;The Glass House, which is about empowering abused young women in Tehran on October 21 and more. Get all info at the Paley Center's website.
Discovery Communications has unveiled a landmark 60-episode, five-year documentary series exploring life's big questions, to be overseen by the company's founder and chairman, John Hendricks, for launch in 2011. Curiosity: The Questions of Our Life will tackle "fundamental questions and underlying mysteries of our time," the company said. (via WorldScreen.com)