Wikipedia

Rugged Entertainment

Rugged Entertainment LLC is a full service film and media production company, founded in 2007 by Academy Award Nominated Director[1] Peter Spirer after his tenures at QD3 Entertainment Aslan Productions and Metropolis Films. Rugged Entertainment secured a multi-picture documentary and narrative deal with distributor Image Entertainment/RLJ and recently joined forces with Barry Gordon and XLrator Media, together the two companies have partnered up to create feature length content, distributed worldwide.

Rugged Entertainment
Company typeLimited Liability Company
IndustryMotion Picture
Founded2007
Headquarters
Los Angeles, California
,
United States
Websitehttp://www.ruggedentertainment.com

Rugged has successfully worked with noteworthy filmmakers, guiding them through the process of production and distribution  Current releases featured on Netflix,  have received critical and viewer accolades: Queen Mimi, Who the F**k is that Guy?, Glitter Tribe, and Smash.[2][3]

Rugged Films & Projects

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In 1993 the short documentary Blood Ties: The Life and Work of Sally Mann was nominated for an Academy Award.[1]

Spirer's documentary Rhyme and Reason (1997) made Rolling Stone's 40 Greatest Rock Documentary list.[4]

In 2003, Spirer was the winner of the Jury Award for the Ojai Film Festival for his debut narrative feature film Dunsmore.[5]

Spirer has produced a number of musician focused documentary films, including Rhyme and Reason, Another Reason to Rhyme, Beef I-III, Tupac: Thug Angel, and Notorious B.I.G.: Bigger Than Life. Many of his films play regularly on cable television networks.

Ghostride The Whip (2008) that takes the viewer into the world of this phenomenon that started in San Francisco's bay area several years ago. At times, through a historical perspective, the film brings to light the elements and trends that may have been responsible for the origins of ghostriding. The documentary also explores the demographic that most appeals to this art form and the lifestyles of those that regularly participate in it.

In 2009, the feature film Just Another Day, starring Wood Harris and Jamie Hector (both from HBO's The Wire), was released and distributed by Image Entertainment.

Smash (2009 and rereleased in 2020) gives a look inside a biannual school bus race in Florida, a harrowing event where carnage and collisions are most definitely encouraged.[6]

Kiss and Tail: The Hollywood Jump off (2009) Goes deep into the underworld of hip-hop groupies and video vixens where sex is the backstage pass and young ladies use their bodies as a way to promote themselves and further their own careers.[7]

Rhyme and Punishment (2011) takes an in-depth look at the role of prison in hip hop culture, and reveals the side of the story that is not being covered by the news and popular media.  Featuring intimate and compelling interviews with convicted rappers Beanie Sigel, Prodigy, Cassidy, Project Pat, Immortal Technique, Slick Rick and many more. These artists who were at the top of their game when they got locked up explain the details of the crimes that led to their arrests, and document their struggles to deal with the shocking brutality of incarcerated life.[8]

Soulja Boy: The Movie (2011) follows the young and charismatic yet polarizing entrepreneur offers an all access glimpse into his life, his music, and his fascinating career.[9]

In 2016, Rugged helped produce a film titled Queen Mimi. The documentary looks into the life of Mimi, an unhoused woman who went from living in a laundromat to walking down the red carpet with Zach Galifianakis.[10]

Who The Fuck Is That Guy? The Fabulous Journey of Michael Alago (2017) examines the life and career of Michael Alago, a gay Puerto Rican kid from Brooklyn who went on to shape and reinvent the world's musical landscape—first as a 19-year-old talent booker at the legendary Ritz nightclub in New York City and then as a 24-year-old A&R executive who signed Metallica, White Zombie and worked with other notable artists including Nina Simone, John Lydon and Cyndi Lauper.[11]

First premiering on STARZ, Spirit Game: Pride of the Nation (2017)  offers an insider's look into the Iroquois Nationals lacrosse team; the first-ever international lacrosse championship held on sovereign land. Spirer produced the film which won Best Documentary at the Red Nation Film Festival.[12]

The Legend of 420 (2017) Explores the controversial use of marijuana and the evolution of mainstream society, from a dangerous narcotic listed as a Schedule 1 Drug substance since the 1970s, to the rush to decriminalize it today. What has changed and why? What will the cannabis industry look like in five years? Will it retain its integrity as a homegrown industry or be co-opted by Big Business? Experts, growers, celebrities and politicians weigh in on the future of Canna-business.[13]

The Giant Killer (2017) The true story of the smallest Green Beret soldier who became a war hero-only to be killed homeless and alone, whose life and death are shrouded in mystery.[14]

Michael Des Barres: Who do you want me to be? (2020) focuses on the son of a junkie aristocrat and a schizophrenic showgirl becomes the master of reinvention on a 50+ year journey through rock and roll, TV, and film.[15]

Disarm Hate (2020) follows nine members of the LGBTQ community as they come together after the Pulse nightclub massacre to join one man, a hairdresser and activist from New Jersey without political experience; as he builds a national rally to demand LGBTQIA equal rights, fight the NRA and challenge America's obsession with gun violence.[16]

First released in 1979 (rereleased in 2021), The War at Home was nominated for an Academy Award. for Best Feature Documentary and went on to win top awards at the U.S. Film Festival (Sundance) and the Chicago International Film Festival, just a few years after the war in Vietnam came to an end.[17]

Bobcats on Three (2021) is a powerful documentary following the Paradise High School girls’ basketball team after the most devastating fire in California history destroys their entire town.

Now the whole country can share in this story of overcoming adversity and devastation. A true testament to a caring coach, and the will of the girls who love the game.[18]

The documentary Sacheen (2021) is a short documentary film that focused on Sacheen Littlefeather, an activist for Native American civil rights, and her telling of her life's story, including her speech on behalf of Marlon Brando at the 45th Academy Awards and later embrace of traditional Native American medicine.[19] While the then-71-year-old presented herself as a "White Mountain Apache and Yaqui elder", she was in fact a pretendian, of Spanish-Mexican descent and with no tribal ties.[20][21]

Bob and the Monster (2011–2021) follows outspoken indie-rock hero Bob Forrest, through his life-threatening struggle with addiction, to his transformation into of the most influential and controversial drug counselors in the US today. The film crafts contemporary footage and compelling interviews with archival performances to reveal the complex layers of this troubled, but hopeful soul. Features Thelonius Monster, Anthony Kiedis, Flea, John Frusciante & Courtney Love.

Photowalks (2021) Follows Jefferson Graham and his cameras as they explore exotic locales like Portugal (Porto and Lisbon), the big island of Hawaii and all 363 miles of the Oregon Coast, as well as urban Los Angeles, from LAX to DTLA, the islands of Catalina and Balboa and the Central California Coast beach towns of Morro Bay and Cayucos.[22]

Drew Stone’s Hardcore Chronicles (2021) address the community, culture, straight edge and DIY ethic of the hardcore scene that is still vibrant, relevant and going strong to this day.[23]

Roadie: My Documentary (2021) spans the 20-year career of roadie turned filmmaker, TJ Hoffmann as he takes you behind the scenes and on the run with rock-n-roll road crews. Filmed in a handful of countries over the course of 10 years, Roadie begins as a quest to find out why anyone would want to become one but over time another narrative is discovered as TJ, the man behind the camera is forced to confront his inner demons.[24]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Blood Ties: The Life and Work of Sally Mann (1993)". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. 2012. Archived from the original on October 16, 2012. Retrieved November 2, 2011.
  2. ^ Scheck, Frank (2016-05-12). "'Queen Mimi': Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2021-10-19.
  3. ^ Pfeiffer, John. "Who The Fuck Is That Guy? The Fabulous Journey Of Michael Alago | The Aquarian". www.theaquarian.com. Retrieved 2021-10-19.
  4. ^ Grow, Tim Grierson,Sam Adams,Eric Hynes,David Fear,Jason Newman,Kory; Grierson, Tim; Adams, Sam; Hynes, Eric; Fear, David; Newman, Jason; Grow, Kory (2014-08-15). "40 Greatest Rock Documentaries". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2021-10-19.{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  5. ^ Koehler, Robert (2003-04-30). "Dunsmore". Variety. Retrieved 2021-10-19.
  6. ^ "'Smash: Motorized Mayhem' Preview Goes Inside the World of School Bus Racing | EXCLUSIVE". Movieweb. 2017-03-14. Retrieved 2021-10-19.
  7. ^ "EXCLUSIVE: Karrine Steffans On Her Unauthorized Kiss & Tail Documentary". www.vladtv.com. Retrieved 2021-10-19.
  8. ^ Melucci, Matt (1997-03-05). "Rhyme & Reason': Hip-hop history". SFGATE. Retrieved 2021-10-19.
  9. ^ "Soulja Boy's Absurd, Self-Produced Documentary Taught Me Everything I Needed to Know About Life". www.vice.com. Retrieved 2021-10-19.
  10. ^ "90 year old 'Queen Mimi' heads from the Laundromat to the big screen". Santa Monica Daily Press. 2016-05-17. Retrieved 2021-10-19.
  11. ^ "FILM REVIEW: "Who the F**k is that Guy? The Fabulous Journey of Michael Alago"". 27 July 2017.
  12. ^ "Spirit Game". One Bowl Productions. Retrieved 2021-10-19.
  13. ^ "Review: 'Legend of 420' documents marijuana's rise to legitimacy and may leave you with the munchies". Los Angeles Times. 2017-10-05. Retrieved 2021-10-19.
  14. ^ "Campus Circle - New doc The Giant Killer falls short of it's [sic] interesting subject". Campus Circle. Retrieved 2021-10-19.
  15. ^ Reports (2020-07-08). "'Michael Des Barres: Who Do You Want Me to Be?' looks at a lesser-known actor and musician". Charleston City Paper. Retrieved 2021-10-19.
  16. ^ Moyer, Matthew. "Pulse-inspired documentary 'Disarm Hate' to screen for free virtually as part of OnePulse's Conversation Starters series". Orlando Weekly. Retrieved 2021-10-19.
  17. ^ "The War at Home". The War at Home. Retrieved 2021-10-19.
  18. ^ ""Bobcats On Three" Premiering on Demand". Gridley Herald. Retrieved 2021-10-19.
  19. ^ "'I promised Brando I would not touch his Oscar': the secret life of Sacheen Littlefeather". The Guardian. 2021-06-03. Retrieved 2021-10-19.
  20. ^ Keeler, Jacqueline (2022-10-22). "Sacheen Littlefeather was a Native icon. Her sisters say she was an ethnic fraud". San Francisco Chronicle. Archived from the original on October 22, 2022. Retrieved 2022-10-23.
  21. ^ Kreps, Daniel (October 22, 2022). "Sacheen Littlefeather Lied About Native American Ancestry, Sisters Claim". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on October 23, 2022. Retrieved October 23, 2022.
  22. ^ "Photowalks & Exercising Photo Skills w/ Jefferson Graham | The Grid Ep. 469 - Scott Kelby's Photoshop Insider". scottkelby.com. Retrieved 2021-10-19.
  23. ^ Life, Away from (2016-01-24). "The New York Hardcore Chronicles - Interview with the film director Drew Stone » AWAY FROM LIFE". AWAY FROM LIFE (in German). Retrieved 2021-10-19.
  24. ^ ""Roadie: My Documentary" Dives into the Life of Touring Professionals". PLA Media. 2020-01-22. Retrieved 2021-10-19.

3. https://www.screendaily.com/news/distribution/xlrator-media-adds-four-docs-to-lifeframe-label/5111135.article?referrer=RSS 4. https://www.tmz.com/2011/10/18/soulja-boy-arrest-movie-release-dvd/ 5. https://pro.imdb.com/news/article/ni1422848/nm0819033?ref_=news_nm

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