Andy Kaufman Authorized Doc In Works From Director Clay Tweel
Award-winning documentarian Clay Tweel (Gleason) has been set to direct the first authorized feature doc on comedy legend Andy Kaufman for Campfire Studios, Seven Bucks Productions, Worldwide Pants Incorporated and Fifth Season.
Fully financed by Fifth Season (Being Mary Tyler Moore, Kiss the Future) – with EVP of non-scripted and documentary Mary Lisio overseeing – the film will be produced in partnership with The Andy Kaufman Estate. Boasting unprecedented and exclusive access to Kaufman’s family, as well as personal and never-before-seen archives and private recordings — provided by the Estate — and all Kaufman-related archival material from the estate of his longtime manager George Shapiro, it will track the creative process of a performance artist who operated at an undefinable frequency.
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A comedian uninterested in “telling jokes,” Kaufman was lauded for his live performances (including his iconic, sellout Carnegie Hall special), his role as Latka Gravas on ABC’s Taxi and his appearances on SNL (including the inaugural episode) and late-night talk shows – particularly, on Late Night with David Letterman. He was equally well-known for outlandish stunts, such as reading The Great Gatsby cover-to-cover onstage in front of a live audience, and offering $1,000 to any woman who could pin him in a wrestling match. Kaufman’s love for professional wrestling also sparked a public feud and multiple “run-ins” with wrestling icon Jerry Lawler.
The Kaufman documentary will investigate the origins of the artist’s unparalleled creative choices and his personal definition of “funny,” aiming to demystify the human being behind the act, with insight from his closest family, friends and collaborators. Producers include Seven Bucks’ Dwayne Johnson, Dany Garcia, Hiram Garcia and Brian Gewirtz, Campfire’s Ross M. Dinerstein, and Shannon Riggs. Letterman will exec produce for Worldwide Pants, along with Tom Keaney, Tyler Kaufman, Tweel, Tommy Avallone, Ross Girard and Rebecca Evans.
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