Films | Mitch Albom

Kevin Smith Updates on ‘Hit Somebody’

mitchalbom_webmaster — Fri, 08 Jun 2018 19:44:14 +0000

During a recent live recording of his Fatman on Batman podcast, Kevin explained:

“I did two episodes of SModcast where I read two of the scripts based on that, somebody heard it and said, ‘Ooh, can we do that here, why don’t you bring it here and we’ll do it here and we’ll do it up?’ So it’s gonna become this other thing and at the same time, Jeremy Simser, who’s the storyboard artist on Flash and Supergirl and Game of Thrones, some episodes of Game of Thrones, has started doing it as a graphic novel. So either way you’re seeing it and you’re gonna hear it as well. And I’m kinda hoping between those two that somebody goes, ‘Oh, this should be a film thing,’ and then it’ll eventually wind up as a mini-series. That’s my hope.”

Watch the Q&A »

Damon Keith Doc at Royal Oak Film Festival and More

mitchalbom_webmaster — Thu, 13 Oct 2016 17:05:37 +0000

Fall screenings for Walk with Me: The Trials of Damon J. Keith begin at home at the Royal Oak Film Festival with a post-film question-and-answer session with Keith, producer Mitch Albom and director Jesse Nesser.

Oct 13 – 15: Wichita, KS – Tallgrass Film Festival | Get Tickets

Oct 15: Louisville, KY – The Louisville Festival of Film | Get Tickets

Oct 15: Royal Oak, MI – The Royal Starr Film Festival | Get Tickets

Oct 25: Cambridge, United Kingdom – The Cambridge Film Festival | Get Tickets

Nov 3: Lansing, MI – The East Lansing Film Festival | Get Tickets

Nov 4 -6: Denver, CO -The Denver Film Festival | Get Tickets

Nov 12: Dallas, TX – The Lone Star Film Festival | Get Tickets

Nov 12 & 14: Cedar City, UT – The Red Rock of Zion Film Festival | Get Tickets

‘Walk With Me’ Premieres at Traverse City Film Festival

mitchalbom_webmaster — Wed, 13 Jul 2016 01:19:28 +0000

Mark your calendars, Walk With Me: The Trials of Damon J. Keith is premiering at the Traverse City Film Festival on July 30th at 3:00pm, which a second showing Sunday July 31 at 3:30pm. Directed by Jesse Nesser, Walk With Me is a stirring documentary about the legendary federal judge and civil rights icon Damon J. Keith, 93. Tracking his often controversial career from Detroit-born janitor to the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals, the film focuses on four groundbreaking rulings from his bench in the U.S. District Court that set precedents for the civil rights movement, and for change across the nation. Invited by festival founder Michael Moore to show in the “Michiganders Make Movies” category, executive producers Mitch Albom, Edsel Ford II and Faye Nelson and producer Sally Davis, along with the film’s director and subject, will all be in attendance for post-screening Q&As.

Now in its twelfth year, the Traverse City Film Festival is committed to screening “just great” films, and is known for highlighting independent films and documentaries by both noted and new filmmakers, and that do not receive mainstream distribution. This year is particularly memorable as more than half the films are created or directed by women, while two of the more prominent categories, “U.S. Documentaries” and “U.S. narrative films” are filled entirely with films directed or co-directed by women. The festival intentionally sought out recommendations for women-created films, but did not intend to leave men out of these categories. As Moore told the Detroit Free Press, “The search turned up so many great movies that it was clear it was going to be more than half. These are the best films I saw. … It’s not like there were, ‘Oh, here’s 10 more films by men that are better.’ That was the real comeuppance truth.”

Tickets for festival patrons are currently available, while general admission goes on sale July 16th. Get yours here.

Mitch Albom to Write John Scott Movie

mitchalbom_webmaster — Thu, 25 Feb 2016 23:53:46 +0000

Mitch Albom will write the feature film about John Scott, the career “enforcer” who was voted into the NHL All-Star Game through an Internet write-in campaign, only to be traded down to the minor league when he refused to bow out. Scott would go on to captain his All-Star team, score two goals, and be named MVP of the game. Said Albom, “This is the stuff of Meet John Doe, Mr Smith Goes to Washington, Rocky or any number of films where people find themselves thrust into a situation with an historic outcome.

“When John was traded from Arizona to the Canadiens and promptly sent down, it seemed like he was being punished for an arbitrary thing that wasn’t about sports, after he dug in when the league pushed down on him to withdraw. At first, he said the same thing Rocky did when asked to fight the champ. He said, ‘No, I don’t belong there’ — this after fans started voting for him. But then, they pushed down on him and he said, ‘I know I don’t belong with these guys from a talent level, but I do know how to skate, and I’m not going to fall on my face. I may not be the greatest, but I’ve put my time in.’ And he was the best player on the ice that day.

“It’s never happened in the NHL nor any All-Star Game I can think of, where a player in the minor leagues did this,” Albom continued. “There is a universal story here, and also says something about this world we live in. By dint of somebody catching you on a video and putting it on the Internet, you can become famous or infamous without ever meaning to. There is also this irony of him having to leave Arizona to go to Newfoundland so, it would seem, he wouldn’t be able to participate in that game. He had friends in Arizona, it was home and it was the diametric opposite of the place he’s in now, because he wouldn’t back down.”

‘Walk With Me’ Docu Premiere Raises Funds for SAY Detroit

mitchalbom_webmaster — Fri, 19 Jun 2015 00:30:06 +0000

More than 1,500 people attended a world premiere event celebrating the life of civil rights icon Judge Damon J. Keith on Wednesday night at the Max Fisher Music Center in Detroit.

The soon-to-be 93-year-old Keith, a prominent federal judge, was the subject of a documentary called “Walk with Me: The Trials of Damon J. Keith” directed by filmmaker Jesse Nesser.

All ticket proceeds from the event benefited S.A.Y. Detroit, founded in 2006 by author Mitch Albom, who served as one of the film’s executive producers…for more about the event and photos, please continue reading on saydetroit.org.

Jude Damon Keith Docu Premieres June in Detroit

mitchalbom_webmaster — Fri, 08 May 2015 16:23:58 +0000

Max Fisher Music Center
June 17, 2015 at 7:00pm

Followed by a talkback with Judge Keith Jesse Nesser and Mitch Albom

All Proceeds Benefit S.A.Y. Detroit

$25, TICKETS ON SALE NOW
www.dso.org | 313-576-5111

From director Jesse Nesser and executive producers Mitch Albom, Cynthia & Edsel Ford, Faye Nelson, and Frank Fountain

Walk With Me tells the story of ten extraordinary years, four unprecedented cases, and one unconventional federal Judge, who forever changed civil rights in the U.S. In the wake of the 1967 Detroit race riots, rookie African American Judge Damon J. Keith caused controversy by rooting out hidden discriminatory practices that had been woven into our housing, school, work, and police institutions. Believing that the law could and should be used to pursue social change and racial equality, Keith shook the nation as he challenged the status quo and faced off against angry crowds, the KKK, and even a sitting U.S. President. Visit www.thedkdoc.com for more info.

Presenting Sponsors: Ford, DTE Energy Foundation

Charity Partner: SAY Detroit

Media Partners: Detroit Free Press, WJR, B.L.A.C, The Detroit News, The Michigan Chronicle, Local 4 Click on Detroit

Warner Bros Options ‘First Phone Call’

mitchalbom_webmaster — Wed, 26 Mar 2014 00:10:48 +0000

Warner Bros has acquired film rights to the Mitch Albom’s bestselling novel, The First Phone Call From Heaven. Denise DiNovi and Alison Greenspan will produce as Chantal Nong and Cate Adams will oversee for Warner Bros. This marks his first feature deal. It was brokered by CAA and The David Black Agency.

More at Deadline.com

More on The First Phone Call from Heaven

More on the films based on Mitch’s books, including Tuesdays with Morrie, The Five People You Meet in Heaven, For One More Day, and Have a Little Faith.

Watch the Trailer for “Leslie”

mitchalbom_webmaster — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 21:43:22 +0000

Subscribe to WIGS now and don’t miss the premiere of LESLIE, Monday August 20!

Catch Mitch’s Directorial Debut

mitchalbom_webmaster — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 03:30:44 +0000

LESLIE, the two-episode short film series written and directed by Mitch Albom will air on the WIGS YouTube Channel on Monday, August 20.

Starring Catherine O’Hara as “Leslie” and Anthony “Cass” Castelow (of Have a Little Faith), LESLIE is a comedy about an unlikely friendship between an actress and a homeless man she discovers. While she would normally ignore him, Leslie has a change of heart because she is up for the part of Mother Theresa, and doesn’t want to jinx her chances. They wait together for the call about whether she’s landed the role.

Anthony “Cass” Castelow is no stranger to the demands of the role–a former homeless man whose life was turned around by the late Pastor Henry Covington, Cass played himself in the Hallmark Hall of Fame adaptation of Have a Little Faith, which aired in November 2011 on ABC.

Filmed earlier this year, it marks Mitch’s directorial debut. LESLIE will conclude with a second episode to air Wednesday, August 22.

Created by filmmakers, Jon Avnet (Black Swan, Fried Green Tomatoes, Risky Business) and Rodrigo Garcia (Albert Nobbs, In Treatment, Mother and Child), WIGS is an innovative new YouTube channel producing high-end, original, scripted series, short films, and documentaries, all starring female leads. WIGS will take you on an unpredictable, often outrageous journey into the lives, loves, and lies of our characters. WIGS. Where It Gets Interesting.

Watch below!

Have a Little Faith Film Receives a Christopher Award

mitchalbom_webmaster — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 21:31:34 +0000

First presented in 1949, the Christopher Awards were established by Christopher founder Father James Keller to salute media that “affirm the highest values of the human spirit.” Their goal is to encourage men, women and children to pursue excellence in creative arenas that have the potential to influence a mass audience positively. Award winners encourage audiences to see the better side of human nature and motivate artists and the general public to use their best instincts on behalf of others.