Dan Lindsay and TJ Martin, the filmmakers behind the Emmy® Award-winning LA 92 and Academy® award-winning Undefeated, are reuniting with Lightbox, co-founded by Academy Award®-winning producer Simon Chinn (Man on Wire, Searching for Sugar Man, Whitney) and Emmy® award-winning producer Jonathan Chinn (LA 92, Fantastic Lies, Whitney) to tell the full story – for the first time - of global icon and undisputed Queen of Rock and Roll, Tina Turner. Tina Turner Musical.
Altitude Film Sales is introducing the feature documentary TINA TURNER (working title) to buyers at Cannes with Altitude Film Distribution acquiring distribution rights for the UK and Ireland. The film goes into production this summer. Altitude has previously partnered with Lightbox on WHITNEY, directed by Academy Award® winner Kevin Macdonald, which was pre-sold worldwide at Cannes 2016 and is receiving its World Premiere at Cannes 2018.
Erwin Bach, record producer and Tina Turner’s partner and husband will executive produce alongside Tali Pelman of Stage Entertainment which launched the hit stage show, Tina Turner The Musical in London’s West End last month. Will Clarke, Andy Mayson and Mike Runagall will serve as executive producers for Altitude.
TINA TURNER (working title) – the first feature documentary to be made about the singer – will feature candid interviews with friends, family members, musical collaborators, and Tina herself, together with a wealth of incredible footage - some of it unseen - showcasing the raw power and energy of her performances. Delving beyond the public narrative of her iconic life story, it will uncover who Tina really is as a private person; the deep emotional and spiritual resources she has been able to draw on to transcend these hurdles and rise to these heights. TINA TURNER will get behind the legend to reveal Tina in a way she’s never been seen before, providing the most complete picture of an inspirational life and career which has real resonance for our times.
Born Anna Mae Bullock in Nutbush, Tennessee, the superstar’s journey had humble beginnings, singing in local church choirs before landing her big break performing with Ike Turner, whom she eventually married. Despite great international success, theirs was a turbulent and violent marriage, until Tina finally found a way to escape. The couple divorced in 1978, leaving her with nothing but the stage name he had given her. Despite the knock-backs, Tina defied them all – from the mother who abandoned her to the predominately white male music executives who dismissed her. She carried with her the scars of the past, but nevertheless beat the odds and forged her own extraordinary solo career, to become one of the biggest stars on the planet.
Tina Turner says, “This is the first time I’ve agreed to a be part of a major documentary about my life and it’s certainly a leap of faith! But I’m excited about the process we’re about to embark on and hope my story, presented in an honest and authentic way and made by award winning documentary filmmakers, will give audiences a true sense of what life has been from my point of view. And if my story inspires people and gives them hope it will have been worth it.”
Filmmakers Dan Lindsay and TJ Martin say, “Tina Turner is an indisputable icon of modern music and we are humbled to have the opportunity to explore her life and career in a documentary form. While people may be aware of the broad strokes of Tina’s life, we are eager to explore the details and nuance that helped shape and influence her extraordinary story. We are thrilled to be teaming up with Simon and Jonathan again and are grateful to them and Altitude for the opportunity to helm this film. Our goal is to create something as indelible in its form and emphatic in its energy as Tina is in life. Knowing what a force of nature Tina is, we have our work cut out for us!”
Producers Simon Chinn and Jonathan Chinn say, “Tina Turner’s life is one of the great, universal stories about hope and survival; one which has real urgency and potency for our times and for the millions of people who want to hear an incredible and inspirational story of triumph by a woman over adversity. We are hugely grateful to Tina and Erwin for trusting us with their story. And we are delighted to be re-teaming with directors Dan Lindsay and TJ Martin who we worked with on our feature documentary about the LA Riots, LA 92. They bring a commitment and perfectionism to their craft which puts them in the very top tier of feature documentary directors working today. We know they will bring something totally unique and unexpected to this project and we couldn’t be more excited to embark on it with them.”
Will Clarke, Chairman and Co-CEO of Altitude Film Entertainment says, “Tina Turner is a cultural icon who speaks for generations and Dan Lindsay and TJ Martin’s film will be a cinematic event for audiences around the world. It is also great to be continuing our partnership with producers Simon and Jonathan.”
