Hbo Funding Porn Documentary

[Mike AI]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=stor...ilm_nm/throat_1

HBO digs "Deep" to fund porn documentary
Thu Jan 16, 5:09 AM ET Add Movies - Reuters to My Yahoo!


By Michael Fleming

NEW YORK (Variety) - HBO has stepped up to provide the majority of financing for the Imagine Entertainment-produced documentary on "Deep Throat," the 1972 porn classic that helped fuel a sexual revolution.



It's the first time the network has funded a documentary meant for theatrical distribution.


Imagine co-chairman Brian Grazer had several offers, but HBO has already worked with the filmmakers Grazer hired, Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato: They most recently directed the Monica Lewinsky documentary "Monica in Black and White."


Grazer, producer of last year's best picture Oscar-winner "A Beautiful Mind," "certainly didn't need to be doing a documentary, but we were so impressed by his passion," HBO executive veep of original programming Sheila Nevins said.


HBO usually gets into the feature financing game by accident, when a documentary like "Amandla!" or a TV movie like "Real Women Have Curves" gets exhibitors clamoring for a theatrical window.


The most unusual case came when HBO decided to put up half the $5 million budget of "My Big Fat Greek Wedding," an investment that will prove highly lucrative for the network from equity participation and also control of pay cable and other TV rights. The cabler did it because of a relationship with Tom Hanks (news), whose wife, Rita Wilson (news), championed the film.