ROADSIDE ATTRACTIONS AND LIDDELL ENTERTAINMENT
SET TO ROCK
ACQUIRING CHRIS ROCK’S AND HBO FILMS GOOD HAIR
Chris Rock’s crowd-pleasing look into the subject of African-American hair culture to hit theatres this fall
LOS ANGELES (May 12, 2009) – Roadside Attractions and Liddell Entertainment have acquired worldwide rights to
Chris Rock’s GOOD HAIR, a wonderfully insightful and entertaining, yet remarkably serious, look at the African
American hair culture, produced by HBO Films. The film had its world premiere at the 2009 Sundance Film
Festival where it won the Special Jury Prize: U.S. Documentary. The deal was announced jointly by Howard
Cohen, Co-President of Roadside Attractions, Mickey Liddell of Liddell Entertainment and Michael Lombardo,
President, Programming Group and West Coast Operations, HBO. Roadside plans to release the film domestically
this fall. Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF) will handle home video and other domestic ancillary rights and HBO will retain pay
cable rights and will broadcast the film in their traditional pay TV window.
An exposé of comic proportions that only Chris Rock could pull off, GOOD HAIR visits hair salons and styling
battles, scientific laboratories, and Indian temples to explore the way black hairstyles impact the activities,
pocketbooks, sexual relationships, and self-esteem of black people. Director Jeff Stilson follows Chris Rock on
this raucous adventure after Rock’s daughter, Lola, came up to him crying and asked, “Daddy, how come I don’t
have good hair?” Celebrities such as Ice-T, Nia Long, Paul Mooney, Raven Symoné, Maya Angelou, and Reverend
Al Sharpton all candidly offer their stories and observations to Rock while he struggles with the task of figuring
out how to respond to his daughter’s question.
“I’m very happy to be working with the good people at Roadside Attractions. I loved the job they did with SUPER
SIZE ME and hope we can have similar success.” says Chris Rock.
“Chris has been part of the HBO family for more than 15 years. We were thrilled to support his vision in making
GOOD HAIR and we hope it reaches the widest audience,” says Michael Lombardo, President, Programming
Group and West Coast Operations, HBO.
“Chris Rock has always been able to come at everyday topics from a completely fresh perspective. His ability to
mix incisive social commentary with huge laughs, I believe, makes him this generation’s answer to Mark Twain,”
adds Howard Cohen, Co-President, Roadside Attractions. “GOOD HAIR is revelatory, provocative, thoroughly-
researched and, most importantly, just funny as hell.”
The film was represented by ICM and the deal negotiated by ICM, Michael Lombardo, President, Programming and
West Coast Operations, and Glenn Whitehead, Executive Vice President, Business and Legal Affairs on behalf of
HBO, Howard Cohen on behalf of Roadside Attractions and Robb Klein of Sheppard Mullin on behalf of Liddell
Entertainment. GOOD HAIR is an HBO Films presentation of a Zahrlo production, an Urban Romances production.
Produced by Chris Rock, Nelson George, Kevin O’Donnell and Jenny Hunter. Directed by Jeff Stilson. Written by
Chris Rock, Jeff Stilson, Lance Crouther, and Chuck Sklar.
ABOUT ROADSIDE ATTRACTIONS
Roadside Attractions is a film distribution company committed to championing independent films with a
willingness to entertain. The company works with filmmakers to devise innovative marketing strategies that
encourage audiences to see films that are not typical studio fare. Roadside Attractions’ current releases include
the critically acclaimed GOODBYE SOLO by Ramin Bahrani, winner of the 2008 Venice Film Festival's FIPRESCI
International Critics' prize, and upcoming releases include the 3D animated family action adventure BATTLE FOR
TERRA, RJ Cutler’s much anticipated documentary THE SEPTEMBER ISSUE, and the Sundance Audience award
winning documentary THE COVE.
Previous theatrical releases include Patrick Creadon’s Sundance sensation I.O.U.S.A; Toronto Film Festival
People's Choice winner, BELLA; Andrew Wagner's Spirit Award-nominated STARTING OUT IN THE EVENING;
Tarsem’s groundbreaking visual marvel THE FALL; the outrageous comedy SARAH SILVERMAN: JESUS IS MAGIC;
Cannes Directors Fortnight hit CARAMEL; Academy Award® nominee SUPER SIZE ME; Spirit Award winner THE
ROAD TO GUANTANAMO, as well as box office hits such as AMAZING GRACE, LADIES IN LAVENDER and WHAT THE
BLEEP DO WE KNOW?
ABOUT LIDDELL ENTERTAIMENT
Liddell produced and fully financed numerous feature films including TRAVELLER, TELLING LIES IN AMERICA,
DELIVERED, and UNDER HEAVEN. He also produced two movies for Sony entitled GO and THE BROKEN HEARTS
CLUB.
In 2001, Liddell teamed up with Greg Berlanti and together they produced the highly acclaimed WB TV shows:
"Everwood" and "Jack and Bobby.” In 2006 he formed his own production company, Liddell Entertainment where
he made his directorial debut with the feature film THE HAUNTING OF MOLLY HARTLEY.
ABOUT HBO FILMS
HBO Films, a division of Home Box Office, has a reputation for making some of the most prestigious movies and
miniseries in the entertainment industry. The division’s acclaimed movies and miniseries have garnered 152
Emmy® Awards since 1989 and 59 Golden Globe Awards since 1985. Projects include “Grey Gardens,” “Taking
Chance,” “Recount,” “John Adams,” “Generation Kill,” “Bernard and Doris,” “Longford,” “Bury My Heart At
Wounded Knee,” “Empire Falls,” “Elizabeth I,” “Lackawanna Blues,” “The Life and Death of Peter Sellers,”
“Something the Lord Made,” “Angels in America” and “Wit.” HBO Films that have had theatrical releases and
received Oscar® nominations include “Maria Full Of Grace,” “Yesterday” and “American Splendor.”
© 2003 St. Louis Movie Review Weekly. All rights reserved, except where indicated.
All movie titles, pictures, etc...are the property of their respective studios.
All movie titles, pictures, etc...are the property of their respective studios.
| ST. LOUIS MOVIE REVIEW WEEKLY |
