Authorized Whitney Houston Doc on the Way From Oscar-Winning Director
An Oscar-winning filmmaker aims to keep Whitney Houston's legacy alive, planning the first documentary of the iconic late pop singer's life that's been authorized by her estate.
Director Kevin Macdonald, who won his Academy Award for 2000's One Day in September, will introduce a project previously called The Voice to buyers at the Cannes Film Festival in May, according to The Hollywood Reporter. And, he'll do it with the help of distribution company Altitude, which was behind the Oscar-winning Amy Winehouse documentary, Amy.
Houston died in 2012 at age 48 after mixing drugs and accidentally drowning in her bathtub.
The untitled film, which Macdonald said will explore the highs (Grammys, Billboard No. 1s) and lows (her descent into addiction) of Houston's career, will include contributions from industry giants like Sony Chief Creative Officer Clive Davis. It'll also air never-before-seen footage of everything from Houston's days in a church choir to exclusive demo recordings, which Macdonald has been working a long time to secure.
"The story that is never told about Whitney is just how brilliant she was as an artist; by many measures she had the greatest voice of the last 50 years," Macdonald said. "She changed the way pop music was sung — bringing it back full circle to its blues and gospel roots. She was also completely unique in being a black pop star who sold in countries where black artists don’t traditionally sell."
Are you interested to see a documentary on Houston's life? Share your thoughts in the comments.
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