Debra Hill is best known for producing and co-writing the 1978 classic Halloween, but she went on to produce more than thirty more films after that one, including the first two Halloween sequels, The Fog, Escape from New York and Escape from L.A., The Dead Zone, Clue, Adventures in Babysitting, Big Top Pee-wee, The Fisher King, Crazy in Alabama, World Trade Center, and the films that made up the Rebel Highway series, among others. Now Hill’s career is being celebrated with the documentary Hollywood Trailblazer: The Debra Hill Story – and it’s being executive produced by Halloween (and Halloween II and The Fog) star Jamie Lee Curtis!
Deadline reports that Hollywood Trailblazer is coming our way from Causeway Pictures and is currently in production. Directed by Jim McMorrow and Margaret McGoldrick, the documentary is being produced by McGoldrick and Chris Patterson of Causeway Pictures. In addition to Curtis, the executive producers are Mike Chapman of Blue Finch Films and Kerry Deignan Roy. The project was developed by Northern Ireland Screen and Blue Finch Film Releasing, who are handling world sales.
Hollywood Trailblazer aims to shine a light on the prolific filmmaker, often dubbed “the godmother of indie filmmaking,” who was responsible for giving many in Hollywood today their first break. Featured interviews include Jamie Lee Curtis, John Carpenter, Stacey Sher, David Gordon Green, Terry Gilliam, Lynda Obst, Kim Gottlieb-Walker, Andrea Berloff, Alan Jones, Kim Newman, and more, with the team also working with Debra’s brother, Bob Hill.
Sadly, Debra Hill passed away after a battle with cancer in 2005, at the age of just 54.
McMorrow provided the following statement: “The story of Debra Hill is a multi-faceted one. She was, and still is, an inspiration to filmmakers across the globe, and her legacy as a formidable, creative producer, mentor, trailblazer, and pioneer in cinema and environmental activism is an eternally relevant story. It is a privilege to bring this to the screen for all of us that she shaped through her life and work.“
McGoldrick added: “Jim and I have been blown away by the response to telling Debra’s story. Debra was an incredible filmmaker and storyteller who not only excelled at her job but did it with the love and respect of everyone around her. Her passion was infectious and when women weren’t getting the chance to lead the charge, Debra was paving paths. She’s an incredibly inspirational figure for anyone wanting to forge a career in the film industry and I’m very honored to be a part of the team getting to tell her story.“
Are you glad to hear Jamie Lee Curtis is helping honor Debra Hill by contributing to the Hollywood Trailblazer documentary? Share your thoughts on this one by leaving a comment below.
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