Glitch: The Rise & Fall of HQ Trivia (dir. Salima Koroma).

CNN's documentary on the viral game show's spectacular downfall chronicles all the usual beats about the absurdity of startup life. Framed mostly through comedian and former HQ Trivia host Scott Rogowsky's rollercoaster experiences witnessing the meteoric success and subsequent turmoil, we learn more of the lurid details behind the mobile app's flawed management through its dysfunctional work culture and problematic co-ounders who also created Vine.

Glitch: The Rise and Fall of HQ Trivia Review- A By the Numbers Documentary Film

In the early 2000s, there was a boom in websites and startup companies that popped up. Just as many failures as well. People had all kinds of ideas for apps and so forth. Two young men, Colin Kroll, and Rus Yusupov, at the time, created an app called Vine where anybody could do six-second videos. It was very popular and the people who owned Twitter bought it for thirty million dollars. After a…

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in 2023 I watched some movies

I was gonna catch up on all those best picture nominees from the last 5 years, but watched crap like Caligula 2 instead

The 1989 World Tour - Live (2015, dir. Jonas Åkerlund) Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022, dir. Rian Johnson) Flight 666 (2008, dir. Scot McFayden and Sam Dunn) Dracula (1931, dir. Todd Browning) Moonraker (1979, dir. Lewis Gilbert) The Pez Outlaw (2022, dir. Bryan Storkel and Amy Bandlien Storkel) Encino Man (1992, dir. Les Mayfield) Star Trek: Insurrection (1998, dir. Jonathan Frakes) Once Upon a Time in… Hollywood (2019, dir. Quentin Tarantino) Cleopatra (1963, dir. Joseph L. Mankiewicz) The Alligator People (1959, dir. Roy Del Ruth) The Silence of the Lambs (1991, dir. Thomas Demme) Godzilla vs. Megalon (“ゴジラ対メガロ” 1973, dir. Jun Fukuda) Invasion of Astro-Monster (“怪獣大戦争” 1965, dir. Ishirō Honda) Breaking a Monster (2015, dir. Luke Meyer) Terror at Orgy Castle (1971, dir. Zoltan G. Spencer) Wake in Fright ("Outback" 1971, dir. Ted Kotcheff) m.A.A.d. (2014, dir. Khalil Joseph) Reservoir Dogs (1992, dir. Quentin Tarantino) Kung Pow! Enter the Fist (2002, dir. Steve Oedekerk) House (1977, dir. Nobuhiko Obayashi) Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981, dir. Steven Spielberg) Dunkirk (2017, dir. Christopher Nolan) Final Destination (2000, dir. James Wong) Glitch: The Rise & Fall of HQ Trivia (2023, dir. Salima Koroma) Basic Instinct (1992, dir. Paul Verhoeven) Pee Wee’s Big Adventure (1985, dir. Tim Burton) Caligula 2: The Untold Story (“Caligola: La storia mai raccontata” 1982, dir. Joe D’Amato) La noche del terror ciego (1972, dir. Amando de Ossorio) Rocky IV (1985, dir. Sylvester Stallone) Saw IV (2007, dir. Darren Lynn Bousman) House of Wax (1953, dir. Andre DeToth) Thir13en Ghosts (2001, dir. Steve Beck) Kashchey the Immortal (“Кащей Бессмертный” 1944, dir. Aleksandr Rou) Ghost Ship (2002, dir. Steve Beck) The Blood on Satan’s Claw (1971, dir. Piers Haggard) The Face of Fu Manchu (1965, dir. Don Sharp) The Brides of Fu Manchu (1966, dir. Don Sharp) The Vengeance of Fu Manchu (1967, dir. Jeremy Summers) The Blood of Fu Manchu (1968, dir. Jesús Franco) April Fool's Day (1986, dir. Fred Walton) It's Pat 1994, dir. Adam Bernstein) The Castle of Fu Manchu (1969, dir. Jesús Franco) Adam and Eve Meet the Cannibals ("Adam ed Eve, la prima storia d'amore" 1983, dir. Enzo Doria & Luigi Rosso) The Mountain of the Cannibal God (“La montagna del dio cannibale” 1978, dir. Sergio Martino) When Harry Met Sally… (1989, dir. Rob Reiner) Beetlejuice (1988, dir. Tim Burton) Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring (2001, dir. Peter Jackson, Long as Shit Version) The Hobbit (1977, dir. Arthur Rankin Jr. & Jules Bass) The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920, dir. Robert Wiene) The Wicker Man (1973, dir. Robin Hardy) The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974, dir. Tobe Hooper) House of 1000 Corpses (2003, dir. Rob Zombie) Chopping Mall (1986, dir. Jim Wynorski) Basket Case (1982, dir. Frank Henenlotter) Cube (1997, dir. Vincenzo Natali) Cube 2: Hypercube (2002, dir. Andrzej Sekula) Practical Magic (1998, dir. Griffin Dunne) Tropic Thunder (2008, dir. Ben Stiller) Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015, dir. J.J. Abrams) Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017, dir. Rian Johnson) Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019, dir. J.J. Abrams) Eyes Wide Shut (1999, dir. Stanley Kubrick) Superbad (2007, dir. Greg Mottola) Bruce Almighty (2003, dir. Tom Shadyac) House of Flying Daggers (“十面埋伏” 2004, dir. Zhang Yimou) Saltburn (2023, dir. Emerald Fennell) Grandma’s Boy (2006, dir. Nicholaus Goossen) Five Nights at Freddy's (2023, dir. Emma Tammi) Caligula and Messalina (“Caligula et Messaline” 1981, dir. Bruno Mattei) The Wizard of Oz (1939, dir. Victor Fleming, King Vidor, George Cukor, and Norman Taurog) A Christmas Prince (2017, dir. Alex Zamm) A Christmas Prince: The Royal Wedding (2018, dir. John Schulz) The Knight Before Christmas (2019, dir. Monika Mitchell) Goldfinger (1964, dir. Guy Hamilton) Total Recall (1990, dir. Paul Verhoeven)

Glitch: The Rise and Fall of HQ Trivia

HQ Trivia debuted as I was entering retirement. With a mortgage to pay and a lot of charge debt, I fell into playing it to see if I could get rich quick. It was the same reason I bought a weekly lottery ticket. And I’ll have to admit, I thought host Scott Rogowsky was hot. But then I learned how hard it was to collect on winnings, which I never had anyway. I usually crapped out as soon as they got to questions about sports or pop music. And Rogowsky wasn’t turning up as often as I’d have liked (he left in April 2019). So, I fell out of the habit. Salima Koroma’s new CNN documentary GLITCH: THE RISE AND FALL OF HQ TRIVIA (2023, Max) traces the app’s history. Although it’s been accused of being one-sided (it was produced by former executives and basically tells Rogowsky’s version of the story), it still provides some fascinating tidbits about the problems that existed even before the launch. Rogowsky and the other interview subjects — former employees, media experts and one investor who was close to co-founder Colin Kroll — are all good story tellers. If there’s a flaw as entertainment, it’s that some of the visuals are repeated too much. It feels like a made-for-TV documentary, designed to be viewed in chunks between commercials. But there are clever touches, like HQ Trivia-style questions to introduce segments and clips from classic radio and TV quiz shows. It even takes time for some sentiment, as when Kroll’s friend starts to tear up while discussing the co-founder’s sudden death from a drug overdose. It would have helped had the surviving co-founder, Rus Yusopov, participated, as Rogowsky and some of the other employees slam him badly. There’s simply a slide stating he declined to be interviewed, though he told other sources he had declined because of conflicts of interest. I guess sifting through those different perspectives could be the topic for another documentary.

‘Glitch: The Rise & Fall of HQ Trivia’ Review

“Glitch: The Rise & Fall of HQ Trivia,” by the director Salima Koroma, seems at first glance like many other recent rise-and-fall narratives, which usually describe, in sensational terms, the hubristic ascent and Icarian plunge of Silicon Valley start-ups, social media platforms, cellphone manufacturers and even video game developers. The story of HQ Trivia, the short-lived smartphone quiz game…

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Tues, June 7, Screening "DREAMLAND: The Burning of Black Wall Street" + talk w/ filmmaker Salima Koroma

Tues, June 7, Screening “DREAMLAND: The Burning of Black Wall Street” + talk w/ filmmaker Salima Koroma

Article Submission Tuesday, June 7, 7:00pm In-person Screening of DREAMLAND: The Burning of Black Wall Street followed by a discussion with filmmaker SALIMA KOROMA [Vaccination proof & masks required] May 31, 2022, is the 101st anniversary of the 1921 destruction of the thriving Black community of Greenwood in Tulsa, Oklahoma by a racist white mob.

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#123: Bad Rap (2016, dir. by Salima Koroma)

Bad Rap dir. Salima Koroma (2016)

CNN Films has come aboard Dreamland: The Rise and Fall of Black Wall Street, the documentary about the 1921 Tulsa race riot from LeBron James and Maverick Carter’s SpringHill Entertainment. The project, announced earlier this summer, is now in production, the companies said Monday, with Salima Koroma directing and producing. The film is expected to be completed early next year, which will mark the horrific event’s 100th anniversary.

Lebron James will be partnering with CNN Films to produce his latest documentary on the 1921 Tulsa massacre. Directed by Salima Koroma, "Dreamland: The Rise and Fall of Black Wall Street" will depict the heartbreaking story of one of America's worst race riots.

“CNN Films could not be more proud to partner with The SpringHill Company for this long-overdue recognition of the tragedy of what happened in Greenwood, and to contribute to the reconciliation that comes with the acknowledgment of history,” said Amy Entelis, executive vice president for talent and content development for CNN Worldwide, in a company blog post. “Salima Koroma’s vision will yield a truly thoughtful film.”

“We cannot move forward until we acknowledge our past and this is about honoring a prosperous, booming Black community, one of many, that was brought to an end because of hate,” said Jamal Henderson, SpringHill’s chief content officer, in a blog post.

With the lack of historic journalism around ‘Black Wall Street’ and the Tulsa Massacre of 1921, we are honored to be partnered with CNN, which has a long-standing record of credible and groundbreaking journalism. We are bringing this documentary together with a diverse crew, including local Tulsans, and making it our mission to uplift voices and people while creating impactful content.”

Bad Rap [2017]

The Best Music Documentaries On Netflix Right Now

Netflix

Last Updated: January 30th

For music fans, Netflix is a boon, hosting a wide range of different documentaries and concert films about a truly staggering array of different subjects from just about every single genre you can imagine. Classic rock, country, soul, R&B, EDM, jazz: you name it, and there’s probably something for you to find on the streaming service. To help ease the selection process, here are 20 of the best and most compelling music documentaries currently available to watch on Netflix right now.

Related: The Best Music Documentaries Of All Time

Fyre: The Greatest Festival That Never Happened

Incidentally, one of two documentaries on the subject, the Netflix version is produced by Jerry Studios and Vice Media, which gives it a behind-the-scenes edge that the Hulu version lacks but also does its best to mitigate the culpability of Jerry Studios’ parent brand, the F*ck Jerry marketing agency. It’s a fascinating look behind the curtain of just how the Fyre Festival went so disastrously wrong, from logistical issues to the unrelenting excess of Fyre founder Billy McFarland.

20 Feet From Stardom

You never notice them but they’re always there. This documentary chronicles the stories of your favorite stars’ backup singers, the folks who touch some of the biggest stages in the world but remain just outside the spotlight. They’re often just as talented, but build careers out of anonymity and some of their stories are just as fascinating as the stars they support.

Anvil: The Story Of Anvil

Not every band “makes it.” That’s a simple yet brutal fact. For every Led Zeppelin and Rolling Stones, there are thousands, even millions of other groups that never get past the club stage. Anvil was just one of those groups. Directed by screenwriter Sacha Gervasi, Anvil: The Story Of Anvil tells the tale of an obscure Canadian heavy metal band who reached for the brass ring but never got a hold of it. It’s a tale rarely told, but one common to an untold number of artists over the last several decades.

Bad Rap

This 2016 documentary directed by Salima Koroma follows four Korean-American rappers as they maneuver through the complexities of being minorities both in America and in hip-hop culture. Before Awkwafina was flying high with Crazy Rich Asians she was battling for rap clout alongside Dumbfoundead, Rekstizzy, and Lyricks, chasing a dream and trying to defy expectations as they searched for, and proudly displayed, their identity through hip-hop.

Chasing Trane

For many, John Coltrane remains an enigma. Having died at the all-too-early age of 40 back in 1967, he made a massive imprint in his lifetime through a genre-defining series of albums like Giant Steps and A Love Supreme, while working with the luminaries such as Miles Davis, Thelonious Monk, and Dizzy Gillespie. Chasing Trane peels back some of the layers of mystery that surround the sax player and serves as a prime introduction for those unfamiliar with his music.

Danny Says

It’s very possible to tell the entire history of the rise of punk rock through the view of Danny Fields. The documentarians behind Danny Says intended to do just that. The legendary publicist was there during the heady days of the Velvet Underground at Andy Warhol’s Factory in New York City. He was eventually hired by Elektra Records where he worked with The Doors, The MC5, and the Stooges, before discovering the Ramones and helping them get a record deal of their own. It’s a fascinating tale of an incredible, musical life.

Gaga: 5 Foot 2

Documentaries about pop stars that go beyond fan service propaganda are exceedingly rare. It’s one of the reasons that Gaga 5 Foot 2 is so compelling. Rarely do we ever really get to see the physical and mental toll it takes to roll out a new album and prepare to perform in front of more than 100 million people at the halftime show at the Super Bowl. Lady Gaga allowed the cameras to film her every move as she did just that, for an unflinching and uncompromising look at what it’s really like to be an artist of the highest level in the 21st century.

George Harrison: Living In The Material World

What’s a list of music documentaries without at least one entry from Martin Scorsese? The legendary filmmaker has put together some of the greatest music docs and concert films of all-time — The Last Waltz anyone? — yet only one of his works is currently streaming on Netflix. It’s a doozie however, a three-hour long tale about the “Quiet Beatle” George Harrison. Come to learn more about Harrison’s days in the Fab Four, stay for Tom Petty’s hilarious ukuleles in the car trunk story.

I Called Him Morgan

Part-music documentary, part-true crime film, I Called Him Morgan recounts the life and murder of jazz trumpeter Lee Morgan, as told by the woman who shot him, his common-law wife Helen. Along with a who’s who of American jazz talent that includes Wayne Shorter, Jymie Merritt, and Billy Harper, the filmmakers also spoke at length with Helen Morgan, to give as complete a portrait possible of the couple’s tumultuous and ultimately deadly relationship.

Keith Richards: Under The Influence

Keith Richards is basically synonymous with the phrase “rock star.” The man has led a singular life, filled with enough drugs, women, and acts of violence to kill any normal human being. The fact that he’s still around, blasting stadiums around the world with his signature, blues-derived riffs is simply incredible. Under The Influence goes deep beyond the legend of Keef, showing you the man himself at his most unguarded as he crafts his first solo album in decades.

Metallica: Some Kind Of Monster

What was intended to be a simple behind-the-scenes chronicle of Metallica putting together their most recent album, the critically maligned St. Anger, turned instead into a fascinating glimpse into the inner workings of the biggest band in metal history as it was coming apart at the seams. Emotions run high as bassist Jason Newstead leaves the group, making way for the introduction of Robert Trujillo. Singer James Hetfield checks into rehab during recording, and the entire band signs up for group therapy when he comes back. It’s easily one of the most enthralling docs on this entire list.

Miss Sharon Jones!

A year in the life of Sharon Jones, and what a year it was, finding the soul singer working on her new album with the help of the Dap-Kings, while also battling against a grim pancreatic cancer diagnosis. It’s an inspiring film about persevering in the face of the longest odds imaginable and the power of music itself. Sadly, Jones succumbed in her battle with cancer just last year.

Mr. Dynamite: The Rise Of James Brown

Every modern frontman in the worlds of rock, soul, pop, and R&B owes a debt of gratitude to James Brown. The Georgia-born singer set the mold for what a leading man should do to capture a crowds attention while onstage. In this documentary directed by Alex Gibney and produced by the guy that James Brown blew off the stage at the famous T.A.M.I. Show concert in the 1960s, Mick Jagger, you’ll learn exactly how a young boy went from a forgotten child living in a brothel to becoming the greatest showman in the history of modern music.

Rapture

More than just a single film, Rapture is a Netflix original documentary series, that profiles the lives, careers, and artistry of some of the biggest rap stars to ever pick up a microphone. Those profiled in the eight installments include Nas, Dave East, Logic, T.I., G-Eazy, 2 Chainz, Just Blaze, Rapsody, and Boogie Wit Da Hoodie. If you’re a fan of hip-hop from ’94 on, this is a can’t-miss.

Rush: Beyond The Lighted Stage

Beyond The Lighted Stage is the story, well-told, of what many consider to be the greatest prog rock band of all-time: Rush. You’ll learn about their rise from cold confines of Ontario, Canada to the biggest stages on the planet, told by the band members themselves as well as some of their most famous fans, including Trent Reznor, Billy Corgan, Jack, Black Tool’s drummer Danny Carey — as big a Neil Pert disciple as anyone — and Kirk Hammett to name just a few.

Springsteen & I

So many music documentaries and book-length biographies try to center themselves around the view from the performer’s side of the railing. Springsteen & I flips that script entirely. Having spent decades fostering one of the most pathologically devoted fanbases in all of music, the filmmakers behind this documentary decided to cultivate the Boss’s tale from the view of the people. You’ll get a sense as you watch of what makes Springsteen such a compelling figure in American musical history, but you’ll also come away with an interesting take on what it means to be a fan as well.

Taylor Swift Reputation Stadium Tour

Following Taylor’s Reputation tour stop in Dallas, this film features backstage footage and show-stopping performances from one of pop music’s biggest acts.

What Happened, Miss Simone?

Nina Simone is one of the most mysterious, ethereal singers of all-time. Her music has an almost spiritual quality, especially some of the early ’60s recordings like “Sinnerman” and “Strange Fruit.” As talented as she was, Simone was also beset by demons, that left her alienated from friends and family as she moved from America to Europe, while also battling an abusive spouse and the crackdown against African-Americans in America in the face of the civil rights movement. What Happened, Miss Simone? is a film that captures a full portrait of this one-of-a-kind human being.

When You’re Strange: A Film About The Doors

The goal of the film When You’re Strange was simple: To counteract many of the myths surrounding The Doors that had cropped up in the wake of the release of Oliver Stone’s dramatic film about the band starring Val Kilmer. As noble as that pursuit is, I’m not quite sure it succeeds, however, the use of footage taken from lead singer Jim Morrison’s short film HWY: An American Pastoral, which was seen here publicly for the first time is certainly pretty cool.

source https://uproxx.com/music/best-music-documentaries-on-netflix-right-now/

Film Journal

“Bad Rap“ by Salima Koroma

Check out this documentary about the role that TikTok has played during the COVID-19 pandemic. The documentary follows comedian Jesse Appell as he studies the digital media produced by people quarantined in China. TikTok is examined as a tool for creating levity, unity, and productivity in the face of quarantine-induced boredom and fear. The documentary features many examples of popular TikToks that have come out of China’s quarantine, as well as an insightful interview with Violet Wang, a journalist from Wenzhou, China. After discussing her experiences with the pandemic and TikTok, Wang explains that “The way people on the Internet are sharing the fun, silly things they do at home, maybe opened up a tiny little bit of insight of what we’re experiencing and going through” (3:50-4:05). The documentary also provides a glimpse at a charity show that Appell hosted for COVID-19 relief efforts, which focused entirely on showcasing the TikToks created by China’s quaruntined population.

Koroma, Salima, and Vishakha Darbha. “The Art of Comedy in Quarantine.” The Atlantic, 20 Mar. 2020, www.theatlantic.com/video/index/608485/tik-tok-quarantine/.

Blog #2: Bad Rap(ping) at CAAMFest 2017

I had the honor of volunteering for this year’s CAAMFest and in doing so I was able to see the film “Bad Rap” at the Jewish Community Center, which was also followed a panel from the cast and crew and concert. “Bad Rap” is a documentary by Salima Koroma that followed four different Asian American rappers and documented their art and lives as an Asian American rapper. The film followed Dumbfoundead, Lyricks, Rekstizzy, and Awkwafina. Before watching the film, I had only known of Awkwafina and Dumbfoundead so I was excited in broadening my knowledge of Asian American performers. I also had a few thoughts about Asian Americans getting involved in a genre of music with a black culture and history and primarily how Asians (both American and non-American) appropriate black culture while simultaneously being anti-black and racist. The film was kind of split up into parts with the first part focusing on Dumbfounded and his origins in battle rap. Next was Rekstizzy and some problematic af issues with a music video shooting and his ‘style’ of ‘art’ for his song “God Bless America.” Following that was Awkwafina and being an Asian American AND female AND a rapper and the intersection of the three or if the the three can ever work (spoilers: it works). The four act follows Lyricks battle with trying to be a rapper while also being a devote Christian and dedicated son to his parents. The film had many different themes such as individualism, race, gender, family, and pushing boundaries. After the screening and panel, I felt as if my concerns regarding appropriating were kind of  answered. But I also felt as if “Bad Rap” ignored the presence of brown Asians Americans (South East and Pacific Islander) in rap and hip hop culture. East Asian privilege exists and the film showed this. I also felt as if the issue of gender wasn’t completely addressed. During the third act with Awkwafina, her fame over the other three (male) rappers were put onto her gender. They claimed she was signed and with an agent because of how she was a “cute little Asian girl” and that was on that was covered in regard to gender. But in the end, the purpose of the film was to erase the prefix of “Asian American” and just have the four of them be rappers and I believe it did the job. Overall, the film and screening experience I had was dope, to be honest, but I just still feel as if there is so much more to talk about and cover. Nonetheless, all four of them are talented af Asian American rappers.

Amy Lu