Rodman Flender’s comic documentary CONAN O’BRIEN CAN’T STOP, which had its world premiere last weekend at SXSW, will soon be released across the U.S. in a unique mutli-platform acquisition and distribution deal.
In 2010, after a much–publicized departure from hosting NBC’s Tonight Show – and the severing of a 22-year relationship with the network – O’Brien hit the road with a 32-city music-and-comedy show to exercise his performing chops and exorcise a few demons. The “Legally Prohibited From Being Funny on Television Tour” was O’Brien’s answer to a contractual stipulation that banned his appearance on television, radio and the Internet for six months following his last show. Flender’s resulting documentary, CONAN O’BRIEN CAN’T STOP, is an intimate portrait of an artist trained in improvisation, captured at the most improvisational time of his career. HeyUGuys calls the film “kind of like ‘This is It‘ the documentary on Michael Jackson before his untimely passing, only difference is Conan didn’t die. His exhaustive routine however, captured on film over the course of the 42 shows is intense, and it’s easy to see how close O’Brien may been to burning out.”
It offers a window into the private writers room and rehearsal halls as O’Brien’s “half-assed show” (his words not mine) is almost instantly assembled and mounted to an adoring fan base. At times angry, mostly hilarious, O’Brien works out his feelings about the very-public separation with comedy and rockabilly music, engaging in bits with on-stage guests such as Stephen Colbert, Jon Stewart and Jim Carrey, duetting with Jack White and sweating out manic Elvis Presley covers with his band and back-up singers. The film is about a comic who doesn’t stop…..doesn’t want to stop — performing, singing, pushing his staff and himself.
The start of the film shows O’Brien in an interview while simultaneously driving through Los Angeles, then suddenly shouts, screams and waves to a bus load of tourists. Laughter followed and the audience was game for more.
Abramorama, headed by Richard Abramowitz (who steered theatrical campaigns for films that include ANVIL! THE STORY OF ANVIL and the Oscar-nominated EXIT THROUGH THE GIFT SHOP), will shepherd the film theatrically nationwide with special theatrical “event” screenings.
Renee Blodgett is the founder of We Blog the World. The site combines the magic of an online culture and travel magazine with a global blog network and has contributors from every continent in the world. Having lived in 10 countries and explored nearly 80, she is an avid traveler, and a lover, observer and participant in cultural diversity.
She is also the CEO and founder of Magic Sauce Media, a new media services consultancy focused on viral marketing, social media, branding, events and PR. For over 20 years, she has helped companies from 12 countries get traction in the market. Known for her global and organic approach to product and corporate launches, Renee practices what she pitches and as an active user of social media, she helps clients navigate digital waters from around the world. Renee has been blogging for over 16 years and regularly writes on her personal blog Down the Avenue, Huffington Post, BlogHer, We Blog the World and other sites. She was ranked #12 Social Media Influencer by Forbes Magazine and is listed as a new media influencer and game changer on various sites and books on the new media revolution. In 2013, she was listed as the 6th most influential woman in social media by Forbes Magazine on a Top 20 List.
Her passion for art, storytelling and photography led to the launch of Magic Sauce Photography, which is a visual extension of her writing, the result of which has led to producing six photo books: Galapagos Islands, London, South Africa, Rome, Urbanization and Ecuador.
Renee is also the co-founder of Traveling Geeks, an initiative that brings entrepreneurs, thought leaders, bloggers, creators, curators and influencers to other countries to share and learn from peers, governments, corporations, and the general public in order to educate, share, evaluate, and promote innovative technologies.
