Scoop: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in talks to do Green New Deal doc
Photo: Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call via Getty Images
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) is in talks with documentary filmmaker Rachel Lears about a new project that would chronicle the freshman Democrat's Green New Deal policy movement, according to two sources familiar with the project.
Between the lines: Lears is same filmmaker behind the new Netflix documentary called "Knock Down the House," which chronicles the campaigns of four women running in the 2018 midterms, including Ocasio-Cortez.
Yes, but: Sources say Lears is making the film independently, and it may or may not end up in Netflix's hands.
- Netflix bought the rights to distribute Lears' "Knock Down the House" for $10 million earlier this year after the film debuted at the Sundance Film Festival in January.
- Deadline Hollywood Co-Editor-in-Chief Mike Fleming writes that it may be the biggest documentary sale ever brokered at a film festival.
The big picture: Netflix and other streamers have been instrumental in driving forward a resurgence of news documentaries.
- For example, Barack Obama and Michelle Obama's production company, Higher Ground Productions, unveiled an initial slate of programming last week in partnership with Netflix.
Our thought bubble: Audience demand for more documentary news programming on streaming services makes sense, given the fact that younger generations are tuning out traditional TV and thus long-form linear news programs like "Dateline" or "60 Minutes."
Go deeper: Wisconsin swing voters know AOC better than most 2020 Democrats