FIGHT CANCER WITH BASEBALL and WILL FERRELL

Mr. Will Ferrell is more than just funny! The man is smart as a whip and what we gather from people that work for him and with him, he’s progressive, kind and happily non-sexist and non racist despite making anchorman Ron Burgundy of "Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy” fame a hodgepodge of all of the above and more! 

Mr. Ferrell’s funny is smart and his web based company — FUNNY OR DIE is just one small but excellent example of the sharp business mind that’s floating around inside his cranium.

HBO brass made this Will Ferrell match in a new HBO SPECIAL FROM FUNNY OR DIE, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL. 

Yes, I read that correctly. We typed it in all CAPS to make sure that you read it correctly. 

In a role filled with hopes and dreams, Will Ferrell will be at five different spring training ballparks in Arizona tomorrow as production begins on a new HBO special from Funny Or Die, in partnership with Major League Baseball. Dedicating the special to the fight against cancer, Ferrell is also honoring the historic feat of Bert Campaneris five decades ago by playing every position on the field, and maybe some off the field, for ten different teams in the same day.

Ferrell’s historic day, which will be covered on social media using #FerrellTakesTheField, will be chronicled in the exclusive HBO special, which will air later this year and also feature MLB players, managers, coaches, executives and fans. 

“We hope to always be in the Will Ferrell business,” says Michael Lombardo, president, HBO Programming. “This latest collaboration is one of those things only Will could pull off. I can’t wait to see him take the field.” 

Baseball Commissioner Robert D. Manfred, Jr. said, “Spring training affords an appropriate setting where our game can serve as the backdrop for an event that will benefit organizations that fight cancer. Will is a big fan of our game, and many of us in baseball – among our clubs, players and our millions of fans – are big fans of his. Major League Baseball is happy to take part in what will surely be a fun and memorable day for a great cause.”

Ferrell’s goal is to honor “Campy” Campaneris while also helping organizations dedicated to fighting cancer, including Cancer for College. Formed in 1993, Cancer for College is a charity that helps individuals adversely affected by cancer to realize their dream of a college education. 

Ferrell will be playing in the following games as part of the special:

March 12     (all times Pacific; subject to change)

12:05 p.m.  Seattle Mariners at Oakland Athletics (HoHoKam Stadium)

1:10 p.m.   Chicago Cubs at Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (Tempe Diablo Stadium)

2:10 p.m.   Cincinnati Reds at Arizona Diamondbacks (Salt River Fields at Talking Stick)

4:05 p.m.   San Francisco Giants at Chicago White Sox (Camelback Ranch)

6:15 p.m.     Los Angeles Dodgers at San Diego Padres (Peoria Stadium)

An important part of the fundraising efforts will be game-used memorabilia from Ferrell’s journey across the five ballparks, to be auctioned at MLB.com with proceeds being donated to Cancer for College, as well as Stand Up To Cancer, a ground-breaking initiative created to accelerate innovative cancer research. MLB is the founding donor to Stand Up To Cancer.

On Sept. 8, 1965, Bert “Campy” Campaneris, in only his second major league season, went 0-for-3 playing all nine positions for the Kansas City Athletics in a game against the California Angels. Campaneris is expected to be there with Ferrell as he begins his journey tomorrow.

Ferrell previously appeared on HBO in the 2009 comedy special “Will Ferrell: You’re Welcome America. A Final Night with George W Bush.” He was also an executive producer of and guest-starred in HBO’s “Eastbound & Down” and “Funny Or Die Presents.”

The new special is executive produced by Will Ferrell in association with Gary Sanchez Productions, Funny Or Die’s Mike Farah and Joe Farrell, and Stuart Miller, and directed by Brian McGinn.

Funny Or Die launched in April 2007 and has become an award-wining top destination for comedy on the web. The site has over 19 million unique users per month, over 60 million video views per month, and has grown into a vertically integrated digital studio that produces high quality content over numerous platforms, operating a social media and marketing division with over 9 million Twitter followers, approximately 11 million Facebook fans (#1 Comedy Brand on both Twitter and Facebook) and devoted followers on numerous social networking and sharing sites.

HBO took home two Gold men named Oscar this year!

One of HBO’s biggest reasons for their continued success is based, in large, by the type of executives that have shaped their growing legacy.

In the documentary division one of their greatest assets is Sheila Nevins, President of HBO Documentary Films. Her unique style has won her and her associates Emmys (45+), Oscars (21+), and 31 Peabody Awards along with A Personal Peabody Award for Excellence in Broadcasting.

During more than three decades with HBO, Sheila Nevins has produced almost 500 documentaries and counting.   

This year, HBO took home two more ACADEMY AWARDS® under the Documentary Film section with CITIZENFOUR in the category of Best Documentary Feature and HBO Documentary Films presentation CRISIS HOTLINE: VETERANS PRESS 1 under the Documentary Short Subject category. 

CITIZENFOUR is a real-life international thriller that unfolds by the minute, following director Laura Poitras and journalist Glenn Greenwald’s remarkable encounters with Edward Snowden in a Hong Kong hotel room as he hands over classified documents that provide evidence of mass indiscriminate and illegal invasions of privacy by the National Security Agency (NSA). Directed by Laura Poitras, Mathilde Bonnefoy and Dirk Wilutzky.

CRISIS HOTLINE: VETERANS PRESS 1 spotlights the traumas endured by America’s veterans, as seen through the work of the VA’s Veterans Crisis Line trained responders as they provide immediate intervention and support in hopes of saving the lives of service members who are struggling or contemplating suicide.

It was presented in association with Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America; directed by Ellen Goosenberg Kent; produced by Dana Perry; edited by Geof Bartz, A.C.E.; supervising producer, Jacqueline Glover; and executive produced by Sheila Nevins.

While covering the 2015 Academy Award this is what Ellen Goosenberg Kent and Dana Perry had this to share after winning under the Documentary Short Subject for "CRISIS HOTLINE: VETERANS PRESS 1."

myNewYorkeye: What does this mean to you in terms of exposure and your very important subject that you're dealing with in your documentary and making what matters of success of AMERICAN SNIPER as well?

Ellen Goosenberg Kent: You know, when this film was made a couple of years ago, and this topic is as important today if not more than it was then.  So we are really hoping that people will be able to see this all over the world.  We're sure that HBO will make an effort to put it out there in every way possible on DVD, and, you know, we just we'll take it around.  We'll take it anywhere that people want to hear about how to help veterans. 

myNewYorkeye: Can you talk a little bit about why ‑‑ what ‑‑ what was going through your head when you made it and the effect it's had on the audience?

Ellen Goosenberg Kent: Both of us? Dana, you start. 

Dana Perry: I have no idea what the effect on the audience was.  I don't know really what I said even though I wrote something down.  My main objective was to honor the responders and the staff of the Veterans Crisis Line and also the ‑‑ the souls out there who are reaching out for help and ‑‑ and that help was available.  Of course, I do have a personal connection to the subject.  I lost my son.  He was 15 when he killed himself; and since that happened, what I said, I think I said something like, "We need to talk about suicide out loud to try to work against the stigma and silence around suicide," because the best prevention for suicide is awareness, and discussion, and not trying to sweep it under the rug.  We've got a crisis with our veterans who are killing themselves.  More veterans have killed themselves than have died in these wars of the last, you know, decade or so.  So, again, I have no idea what we said, but I hope that the message was received.  Thank you.

myNewYorkeye: There ‑‑ there is a lot of talk on the Internet right now about Neil Patrick Harris's comments about your dress.  I'm wondering if you heard the comment ‑- 

Dana Perry: No.

myNewYorkeye: ‑‑ and what you thought.

Dana Perry: No. What comment?

Ellen Goosenberg Kent: About your dress?

myNewYorkeye: He said you have to have a lot of balls to wear that. 

Ellen Goosenberg Kent: That's adorable.

Dana Perry: Well, that is adorable; and I invite anyone to feel my furry balls.

Ellen Goosenberg Kent: I have nothing to say to add to that.

myNewYorkeye: I was also going to ask about your dress and just where you got it and how you chose to wear it.

Dana Perry: I went shopping in my mother‑in‑law's attic. She had great style.  She's not with us anymore, but she had great style in the '60s and '70s, and this is one of her excellent signature pieces. And I just love to wear it, because I can make ridiculous dirty jokes about it, and it also keeps me warm. You know, I just got the gown to sort of support the balls, you know what I mean?  So I can make the jokes if I want.

Ellen Goosenberg Kent: This is a very serious film here.

HBO RE-MAKES THE RULES--AGAIN

In any dictionary, as an example of “smart business practices” that marry "innovative storytelling" there should be three spots for HBO. 

Their ability to make new rules and then break them and create something stronger and better is noting short of remarkable.

Home Box Office announced today the name of its standalone premium streaming service – HBO NOW – and that the service will launch this April, bringing the highly anticipated new product to audiences in time for the fifth season of "Game of Thrones.”

HBO and Apple also announced that for the first time an HBO subscription will be made available directly to Apple customers through HBO NOW.

HBO NOW provides instant access to HBO’s acclaimed programming.  Watch every episode of every season of the best series programming, more of the biggest and latest Hollywood hit movies, original HBO Films, ground-breaking documentaries, sports and comedy and music specials. To subscribe to the streaming service HBO NOW, consumers only need the internet.

Apple will give viewers the ability to enjoy HBO programming via HBO NOW. Upon launch, customers can subscribe using the HBO NOW app on their iPhone, iPad or iPod touch, or directly on Apple TV for instant access. Users can purchase HBO NOW directly in-app for $14.99 a month. Upon registering, subscribers will also be able to watch at HBONOW.com. 

HBO will offer a 30 day introductory free trial period to new HBO NOW customers who sign up through Apple in April.

HBO continues to be in discussions with its existing network of distributors and new digital partners to offer HBO NOW. At launch, HBO NOW will be available on iOS devices and on PCs. 

“HBO NOW is the next phase of innovation at HBO,” said Richard Plepler, chairman and CEO, HBO. “With this new partnership, a natural evolution for the network, we have access to millions of Apple customers who are used to getting their favorite apps immediately.  Now, they can do the same with an HBO subscription.”

“HBO NOW offers a new generation of HBO fans many of the best TV programs in the world without a cable or satellite subscription,” said Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of Internet Software and Services. “Now, with the same simplicity as buying an app, customers can subscribe to HBO NOW and instantly start viewing their favorite HBO programs as they air – this is huge.”

Similar to HBO GO, HBO NOW will offer more than 2,000 titles online. This includes current critically acclaimed series like "Game of Thrones®," "True Detective®,”" Silicon Valley®," "Girls®, Veep® and The Leftovers®, as well as classics like The Sopranos®, Sex and the City®, True Blood®, The Wire® and Deadwood®.

Highly-anticipated upcoming original programs like “Westworld," the drama series starring Anthony Hopkins, Ed Harris and Evan Rachel Wood; "The Brink," the dark comedy series starring Jack Black and Tim Robbins; the new season of the Emmy®-winning "True Detective" with Vince Vaughn, Colin Farrell and Rachel McAdams; and HBO Films’ Bessie, starring Queen Latifah, will become available on HBO NOW as they air on HBO.

In addition, HBO NOW will showcase Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, named “best of 2014” on many critics’ lists; VICE, the Emmy®-winning, cutting-edge news magazine series hosted by Shane Smith; HBO Sports documentaries, series and World Championship Boxing events; and ground-breaking documentary programming like Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief, The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst and the Oscar®-winning Citizenfour.

Its Free to enjoy & Share, GAME OF THRONES MIXTAPE Vol. 2

How can any lover of good story begin to thank the genius that started HBO (on November 8, 1972) and the adventurous group that helped take an “idea” and mold it into “The HBO.” "The HBO" that is a brilliant business model. "The HBO" that is a safe and nurturing home for many creative story tellers. "The HBO” that respects their audience and embraced diversity without being brow-beat into doing so. "The HBO" that made watching and admitting to watching documentaries cool.

"The HBO" that set new standards of excellence in original programming has now added music to the GAME OF THRONES mix and HBO made something marvellous out of something well marvellous.

Catch the Throne: The Mixtape, available on March 17, is produced by Launch Point Records, the 15-track mix-tape features diverse artists representing "Game of Thrones" families, leveraging themes and highlights from season 4.

“Lord of the Light” by Talib Kweli is on Complex. The mixtape will be released in anticipation of the season 5 debut of "Game of Thrones" on HBO, April 12 at 9pm. 

Showcasing the importance of music in "Game of Thrones," each song on the mix-tape samples music from the show’s season 4 soundtrack. This year’s mix-tape also weaves in the overarching theme of fire and ice, providing listeners with an exciting line-up of heavy metal and hip-hop artists. Building on the success of Volume 1, with over 2.5MM streams to date, Volume 2 will feature artists from the R&B, electronic, Latin, heavy metal and rap worlds.

Each artist was aligned with one of the "Game of Thrones" families, helping to determine the themes that are illustrated in their track. The full list of artists includes: Anthrax, Estelle, Kap G, Killswitch Engage, Mastodon, Melanie Fiona, Method Man, MNDR, Mushroomhead    , Raquel Sofia, Snoop Dogg, Stalley, Talib Kweli, Ty Dolla $ign, and Yandel.                            

All artists involved in the mixtape are fans of the show and were eager to reinterpret key moments. "I am a big fan of the books and the series,” said Talib Kweli. “As an MC, I’m not adverse to the concept of battles and ability to tell compelling stories and the Game of Thrones series does just that. It is the reason I wanted to be a part of this mixtape.”

Catch the Throne: The Mixtape Vol. 2 will be released March 17th via SoundCloud, free of charge. Catch The Throne: The Mixtape Vol. 1 is still available on Soundcloud. Listeners are encouraged to share using the hashtag #CatchTheThrone.

Viewers can access previous seasons of "Game of Thrones" on HBO GO, HBO On Demand or by checking their local listings. For more on the series, visit: facebook.com/GameOfThrones and twitter.com@GameOfThrones.

GIRLS are marching in March!

GIRLS was created by Lena Dunham with executive producers, Lena Dunham, Judd Apatow, Jenni Konner, Ilene S. Landress, Murray Miller, Paul Simms and Bruce Eric Kaplan along with producer, Jesse Peretz and co-producer Sarah Heyward.

March 8th will unveil the best of the new episodes of the wildly successful and controversial series.

In Episode #40 titled “Tad & Loreen & Avi & Shanaz”— Hannah spends an afternoon with a new young friend; Marnie (Allison Williams) and Desi (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) fight over money; Jessa (Jemima Kirke) gives Shoshanna advice on the art of seduction; Loreen (Becky Ann Baker) and Tad (Peter Scolari) have a tense dinner party with their friends Avi (Fred Melamed) and Shanaz (Jackie Hoffman).

This episode is written by Lena Dunham & Jenni Konner and directed by Jamie Babbit. 

(Debut: SUNDAY, MARCH 8 (9:00-9:30 p.m.) Other HBO playdates: March 8 (10:30 p.m., 1:45 a.m.), 9 (12:40 a.m.), 10 (10:30 p.m.), 11 (8:30 p.m.), 12 (midnight), 13 (3:00 a.m.) and 14 (12:30 a.m.) HBO2 playdates: March 9 (10:00 p.m.), 12 (8:00 p.m.) and 14 (2:00 p.m., 8:00 p.m.)       

In Episode #41 the series explores daddy issues in  “Daddy Issues” — Hannah’s maturity is called into question after she is confronted with a family dilemma; Jessa, Ace, Mimi-Rose and Adam have an awkward encounter; Marnie makes an announcement at Ray’s campaign party.

This episode is written by Paul Simms and directed by Jesse Peretz.

(Debut: SUNDAY, MARCH 15 (9:00-9:30 p.m.)  Other HBO playdates: March 15 (10:30 p.m., 12:45 a.m.), 16 (midnight), 17 (10:30 p.m.), 18 (8:30 p.m.), 19 (midnight), 20 (2:20 a.m.) and 21 (11:00 p.m.)

HBO2 playdates: March 16 (10:00 p.m.), 19 (8:00 p.m.) and 21 (1:00 p.m., 8:00 p.m.)

In Episode #42 it’s a “Home Birth”  with the season finale on Sunday, 

MARCH 22 (9:00-9:30 p.m.) — Hannah, Adam and Jessa each try to convince Caroline (Gaby Hoffman) and Laird (Jon Glaser) to forgo their planned home birth. Shoshanna faces a crucial decision when presented with a unique job opportunity. After Marnie and Desi’s meeting with a record label exec, Ray lets Desi know what he really thinks of him.

The season finale is written by Jenni Konner & Lena Dunham & Judd Apatow and directed by the show’s creator Lena Dunham.

(Other HBO playdates: March 22 (10:30 p.m., midnight), 23 (12:05 a.m.), 24 (11:00 p.m.), 25 (8:30 p.m.), 26 (midnight), 27 (1:30 a.m.) and 28 (9:30 p.m. HBO2 playdates: March 23 (10:00 p.m.), 26 (8:00 p.m.) and 28 (2:40 p.m., 8:00 p.m.)

MAKE YOUR DREAMS COME TRUE WITH HBO

Angry Street (Photo Credit - Lapacazo Sandoval)

In March, our team will embark on a 12 month series on Diversity in Hollywood, an issue that’s both a social justice point and a monetary point that, in the past, the “expensive suits of Hollywood” have been able to skirt.

One click of your finger and your are transported anywhere in the world with a WiFi signal. That same digit can make you the “ruler” of your own distribution pattern and coupled with the accessible of quality recording devices, editing software and sharing platforms — the world of entertainment has become visibly “Gobal” for the powerful money men and women that have ruled the industry with an iron hand and a blind eye to anything that wasn't majority white.

Our team was blown over excited when, in our invite, we discovered that the innovative, ground breaking minds at HBO are making an effort to find new voices from the rich diverse pool. 

The press release literally began with "HBO SEEKS DIVERSE, EMERGING WRITERS FOR  HBOACCESS™ WRITING FELLOWSHIP”

Excellent. It's our pleasure to bring this opportunity to your readers and we sincerely hope that you give us #myNewYorkeye and @myNewYorkeye the love for bringing the good news. 

The HBOAccess™ Writers Fellowship Application Process Begins March 4, and this is to give emerging writers an opportunity to hone their craft with HBO Programming Execs.

The program will give emerging writers from diverse backgrounds an opportunity to attend a week of master classes held at the HBO campus in Santa Monica, California focusing on character and story development, pitching ideas and projects, securing an agent, and networking. 

Each participant will then enter into an eight month writing phase where he/she will be paired with an HBO development executive and guided through the script development process. At the conclusion of the program, HBO will hold a reception and staged reading for industry professionals where the writers will be introduced to the entertainment industry.

“With the success of our first year of the HBOAccess Directing fellowship, we wanted to expand our focus to other areas of the creative process,” said Kelly Edwards, Vice President, HBO Talent Development. “We are looking for emerging writers with a deep passion for storytelling and a unique voice who will want to bring that talent to HBO and Cinemax.  In turn, they will be nurtured by some of the best creative executives and show runners in the business. HBO has a long legacy of supporting writers and we are excited we can begin those relationships at this early stage.”

Last year’s inaugural HBOAccess Directing Fellowship proved to be a tremendous success. Four directors were selected to go through a series of lectures with HBO executives, mentors, and industry professionals. The program concluded with the production of four short films which are set to air in March on HBO On Demand and HBO GO. 

The HBOAccess Writing Fellowship is open to diverse and female writers 21 and older who must be able to work in the US. Prior to the application, the writer must not have been staffed on a network or cable series in excess of 13 episodes and/or had more than one feature film or more than two plays produced.

All submissions must be made through the online portal, Without A Box, and will require a resume,  a writing sample, a completed release form and a personal essay in 500 words or less explaining how his/her background has influenced his/her storytelling. 

For more information on eligibility, 

Visit https://www.withoutabox.com/03film/03t_fin/03t_fin_fest_01over.php?festival_id=13830. 

Please copy the bottom and paste in a place of importance: 

  • Timeline and Important Dates:

March 4, 2015 – Application process opens at https://www.withoutabox.com/. The application portal will close when 1,000 submissions have been reached. No mail or email submissions will be accepted. 

May, 2015 – 20 candidates advance to first round interviews with HBOAccess™ program directors via in person or Skype.

June 2015 – Final interviews with HBO development and production executives. All applicants selected to the final round must provide a second writing sample. They must also be prepared to pitch up to three ideas, one of which will be developed during the eight month long mentor-ship.

July 1, 2015 – Eight participants are notified.

August 17-21, 2015 – Master classes will take place over a one week period at the HBO offices in Santa Monica, CA from 10am to 5pm. Any finalist not local to the Los Angeles area must be prepared to cover his/her own travel and lodging for the duration of the program, however a small stipend will be available to defray those costs.

Home Box Office, Inc. is the premium television programming subsidiary of Time Warner Inc. and the world’s most successful pay TV service, providing the two television services – HBO®and Cinemax® – to approximately 127 million subscribers worldwide. The services offer the most popular subscription video-on-demand products, HBO On Demand® and Cinemax On Demand® as well as HBO GO® and MAX GO®, HD feeds and multiplex channels. Internationally, HBO branded television networks, along with the subscription video-on-demand products HBO On Demand and HBO GO, bring HBO services to over 70 countries. HBO and Cinemax programming is sold into over 150 countries worldwide.