Ventureland

When Paul Hunter started shopping around his script for an autobiographical movie called “Government Cheese,” about a Black family living a surreal life in the San Fernando Valley during the late 1960s, he kept getting variations on the same rejection: We don’t know any Black people like this. These aren’t Black characters that we’ve ever seen. “I was like, ‘Dude, this is my family,” Hunter recalled recently. “There’s a whole ‘nother side of the culture that you don’t know about.’”

Even if you’re not familiar with the name, you’ll be hard-pressed not to recognize Eric Wareheim from his Tim & Eric skits (plus mind-blowing meme) and various TV and film appearances. But who knew he was a foodie too? Fronting this entertaining new content series for Square, Running a Restaurant is No Joke, the PRETTYBIRD director leans into both his knowledge of tastiness and predilection for the funnies to create a fascinating exploration of what it takes to run a food joint.

SQUARE PRESENTS: Running A Restaurant Is No Joke with Eric Wareheim. We’re taking you under the hood of restaurant kitchens, and into the messy back offices and walk-in fridges — not just to see how food is made, but how profits are made. Follow along as comedian and entrepreneur Eric Wareheim learns about those laughably thin margins, staff training snafus and cash-flow crises that are all a part of making a go of it in the food industry today. If you’re a business owner who’s thinking of getting into the restaurant game, if you’re a foodie who thinks starting a restaurant is your calling, or if you’re a long-time restaurant operator who wants insight from some of the best in the business, this one’s for you.

EXCLUSIVE: Barry Cooper can safely be called a renegade. He served in law enforcement – as a police officer in Texas, but some might say he then switched sides. The documentary Never Get Busted, premiering at the Sundance Film Festival, gets deep into Cooper’s story, one that has seen him “relocate” from Texas to Brazil, with authorities in pursuit. David Anthony Ngo and Erin Williams-Weir directed the documentary, which bows in the festival’s Episodics section (the project was initially conceived as a docuseries, but it eventually morphed into a feature doc). We have your first look at Never Get Busted in the clip below.

“Government Cheese” is a surrealist family comedy set in 1969 San Fernando Valley that tells the story of the Chambers, a quirky family pursuing lofty and seemingly impossible dreams, beautifully unfettered by the realities of the world. When Hampton Chambers is released from prison, his long-awaited family reunion doesn’t go quite as he’d planned. During his absence, Hampton’s wife, Astoria, and sons, Einstein, and Harrison, have formed an unconventional family unit, and Hampton’s return spins their world into chaos.

Thirty years after a Los Angeles jury found O.J. Simpson not guilty of murdering Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman, the case is still being poked and prodded under the microscope of curious filmmakers. The latest is Floyd Russ, whose documentary series American Manhunt: O.J. Simpson premieres Jan. 29 on Netflix.

EXCLUSIVE: 011films and Ventureland are partnering on what promises to be the definitive documentary on undisputed world heavyweight boxing champion Oleksandr Usyk.

We’re told post-production is underway in Rome on the film directed and produced by Pablo Benedetti, who gained access to the Ukrainian powerhouse across a span of five years, following the star athlete inside and outside the ring. Usyk, gold medalist at the 2012 London Olympics, became the first boxer to simultaneously hold titles from boxing’s four top sanctioning bodies — the World Boxing Association, World Boxing Council, International Boxing Federation, and World Boxing Organization.

Apple TV+ has dropped some of the first images for Government Cheese, its upcoming comedy series starring and executive produced by David Oyelowo. You can see them above and below. The streamer also announced the 10-episode series will premiere globally on Apple TV+ on Wednesday, April 16 with the first four episodes, followed by one episode weekly every Wednesday through May 28.

Government Cheese is produced by Apple Studios and Macro Television Studios. The series is written, executive produced and co-showrun by Hunter, who also directs, and Aeysha Carr. Oyelowo executive produces under his Yoruba Saxon banner. Charles D. King and Marta Fernandez executive produce for Macro Television Studios. Ali Brown executive produces for Ventureland.

Academy Award-winning producer Dan Janvey (Nomadland) has joined Ventureland, the studio behind the Emmy and PGA Award-winning docuseries Beckham and the Oscar and BAFTA-nominated Bobi Wine: The People’s President, as Head of Film. 

Based in New York City, Janvey joins from the Brooklyn-based Present Company, where he was a producer. His appointment follows news over the summer that Jesse Uram joined as vice president of strategic partnerships, where he is focused on expanding the company’s relationships with partners across the financial, creative, brand, and distribution communities. Kerstin Emhoff, John Battsek, Ali Brown launched the studio, specializing in the development of original entertainment across all media platforms, alongside Paul Hunter in 2018.

On Saturday night, ‘Beckham’ won the Creative Arts Emmy for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series. The four-part docuseries, directed by Fisher Stevens and produced by Ventureland and Studio 99, was nominated for five Emmys in total, including Outstanding Directing For A Documentary/Nonfiction Program.

‘Beckham’ is streaming on Netflix.

Jesse Uram has joined Ventureland, the creative studio behind “Bobi Wine: The People’s President” and “Beckham,” as vice president of strategic partnerships. He will be based in the company’s Los Angeles office, where he will work closely with CEO Kerstin Emhoff and managing director John Battsek on expanding the company’s relationships with partners across the financial, creative, and distribution communities.

The Peabody Award nominees for Documentary, News, Public Service, and Radio/Podcast, listed by category and in alphabetical order (network/platform in parentheses) include: Bobi Wine: The People’s President.

One incredibly discerning guest. Ten conversation starters. An endlessly fascinating look into the world of hotels. This is Perfect 10 by Hotels.com NBA center Nikola Jokić has strong feelings about hotels from the best beach getaway to how every minibar should be stocked.