‘Little Richard: I Am Everything’s Lisa Cortés Strikes First-Look Development Deal With Museum Of The City Of New York
08.02.2023 - 22:33
/ deadline.com
EXCLUSIVE: Renowned documentarian Lisa Cortés has entered into a first-look development agreement with the Museum of the City of New York, the goal being to hone documentary IP based on the museum’s exhibitions.
News of the deal — initiated by producer Jon Sechrist — follows the Sundance world premiere of Cortés’ latest critically acclaimed feature doc, Little Richard: I Am Everything, which was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize in U.S. Documentary Competition and sold to Magnolia Pictures.
Cortés will now look to build a creative pipeline from MCNY’s 100 years of exhibitions to the screen, with plans for projects on food, social justice, music, and more. The first being made under the deal is a docuseries based on Gingerbread NYC: The Great Borough Bake-Off, an exhibition inviting bakers from every borough to design New York City-inspired gingerbread creations.
Cortés will develop and produce all projects through her New York-based production company Cortés Filmworks, in partnership with Blue Ant Studios, where the filmmaker has a preexisting deal.
“The Great Borough Bake-Off inspired our first collaboration with MCNY,” Cortés told Deadline. “Cortés Filmworks is so excited to launch a Borough Bake-Off series to celebrate the global food traditions of our five boroughs, and the singular personalities behind the bakers.”
Continued Cortés: “As a long-time New Yorker, I know this city generates the best stories in the world. MCNY, with its 100-year legacy of capturing the city’s most vibrant qualities – from its street life and liberation struggles to its vast artistic triumphs – is the ideal partner for developing content that will entertain and inspire.”
“The Museum of the City of New York has been NYC’s storyteller