BBC Orders Harvey Weinstein Doc

Lightbox has been commissioned by BBC Two to produce a feature-length documentary on Harvey Weinstein.

The 90-minute movie, directed by Ursula MacFarlane, promises to bring fresh insights and revelations to the story of Weinstein’s rise and fall, providing the “definitive account” of the scandal—which is still developing. The project is currently under the working title Weinstein.

Lightbox was founded by Academy Award-winning producer Simon Chinn (Man on Wire, Searching for Sugar Man) and Emmy Award-winning Jonathan Chinn (LA 92, Fantastic Lies). LA 92, Lightbox’s feature documentary marking the 25th anniversary of the Los Angeles riots, was shortlisted in the feature documentary category for the 2018 Academy Awards.

Simon Chinn and Jonathan Chinn said: “Through telling the story of Weinstein’s extraordinary rise and fall, this film will really get to the heart of the big questions that lie at the center of the scandal: how did Weinstein get away with his behavior for so long, what does his story reveal about how powerful men have operated in Hollywood and beyond and will this be a watershed moment in terms of the way women are treated in the workplace?”

Patrick Holland, controller of BBC Two, added: “The breaking of silence over Harvey Weinstein is a watershed moment for the creative industries and for wider society. Ursula is a brilliant filmmaker and is perfectly placed to make the definitive documentary, piecing together the story of just how he abused his power and position.”

Tom McDonald, the head of commissioning for natural history and specialist factual at the BBC, said: “This film promises to be the definitive take on the Weinstein scandal. As well as revealing the inside story of the past few months in minute detail, it will also look to the past to tell the story of abuses of power within Hollywood since its very origins and chart the rise of Harvey Weinstein himself over many decades. This is a film which will ask difficult and challenging questions about complicity, the price of silence and the corrosive effects of power, and I’m certain that Lightbox will bring their signature approach to this important subject.”