I've been waiting for this to get off the ground for ages now. They don't say what exactly Eddie's doing for the documentary but his name is in the headline so I hope it means his involvement is substantial...

http://www.variety.com/article/VR111797 ... id=14&cs=1

Howard Zinn's 'History' comes to TV
Documentary miniseries to feature Damon, Vedder
By MICHAEL SCHNEIDER


Production is finally set to begin on a long-delayed TV version of Howard Zinn's landmark 1980 tome "A People's History of the United States."
The four-hour documentary miniseries -- titled "The People Speak" -- will include performances by Matt Damon, Marisa Tomei, Viggo Mortensen, Danny Glover, Josh Brolin, David Strathairn, Kerry Washington, Eddie Vedder and John Legend.

Zinn will host the longform project, which begins shooting next month in Boston. Project, to be exec produced by Zinn, Anthony Arnove and First Tuesday Media's Chris Moore, has not yet been sold to a network.

Damon and Moore have been looking to adapt "A People's History of the United States" on television for nearly a decade.

Damon, who lived next door to Zinn as a child, and Ben Affleck included a reference to Zinn and "A People's History" in their Academy Award-winning "Good Will Hunting." Soon thereafter, the scribes and Moore (also a "Good Will Hunting" producer) sold a 10- to 12-hour miniseries to Fox based on the book.

"A People's History" was slated to run on Fox in 1999, but that didn't happen; later, HBO developed a three-part version but eventually passed as well.

The new adaptation will draw from both "A People's History," and sequel tome "Voices of A People's History of the United States," which Zinn wrote with Arnove. Miniseries will center on the actors and musicians as they read from the books or perform music related to their themes: the struggles of women, war, class and race.

The longform will mix the performances with photos, interviews and archival footage.

"This project is about Howard Zinn, his books and using that body of work to remind and inspire us all that this is a country built on dissidence," Moore said. "Howard's work deserves to be on film, and it is time that we paid tribute and captured the struggles of the people."

Zinn, whose books chronicle the struggles of Native Americans, women, workers and other Americans, said he'd like to continue to inspire activists.

"Our hope is that these words from the past will speak passionately and clearly to the needs of the present," he said.

Cinetic Media is handling domestic sales for "The People Speak," which is also being readied for a DVD release after its initial TV run. Artfire Films' Art Spigel, Ara Katz and Dan Fireman are on board as producers; David Baerwald will provide the music score.

HR article

Moore docu, miniseries on 'History'Damon, Tomei, Mortensen set to appear
By Carly Mayberry

Dec 11, 2007

Project Greenlight's Chris Moore will executive produce a miniseries and feature-length documentary based on historian-author Howard Zinn's 1980 book "A People's History of the United States."

Titled "The People Speak," the project will feature music and readings based on America's struggles with war, class, race and the rights of women. Matt Damon, Marisa Tomei, Viggo Mortensen and Josh Brolin will provide performances for the project that will interweave archival footage, photographs and interviews, with Eddie Vedder and John Legend lending their musical talents. Danny Glover, David Strathairn and Kerry Washington also are set to appear.

"It's going to be a great piece of entertainment but more importantly something people can watch and learn and remember how great this country has been and how individual people have changed the course of history," Moore said. "It's going to make them think, laugh and cry and be proud to be American."

The project, also based on Zinn's companion book "Voices of a People's History of the United States" which he co-wrote with Anthony Arnove, will begin production in January in Boston.

Zinn, who will provide introductions and the historical context through oncamera appearances, also is executive producing with Arnove. Art Spigel, Ara Katz and Dan Fireman of Artfire Films are producing. Cinetic Media will handle domestic sales.


"Our hope is that these words from the past will speak passionately and clearly to the needs of the present," Zinn said.

Moore, whose producing credits also include the "American Pie" movies and "Good Will Hunting," is repped by Endeavor.

Viggo Mortensen is probably the most underrated activist artist out there. his records are pretty fantastic too.

having said that, this should be very interesting. looking forward to it.

that's a neat project. The voices section has some poems, songs, etc in it if I remember correctly--maybe people like eddie will give readings/performances

his photography, collages, mixed media, paintings and poetry is amazing as well.



I read an article with this line: Pearl Jam frontman Vedder and R&B singer John Legend will handle the music.

This might be nothing, or just a few songs, or something rather big. I hope it's big. There's a lot of material for him to work with story wise. WOW

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Here' s a slightly different take on the same info from the same reporter

Damon and Vedder to teach "People's History"

By Carly Mayberry

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Matt Damon, Marisa Tomei and Eddie Vedder will contribute their talents to a documentary miniseries based on historian-author Howard Zinn's 1980 book "A People's History of the United States".

Titled "The People Speak", the project will feature music and readings based on America's struggles with war, class, race and the rights of women. No network is attached yet.

Damon and Tomei, along with Viggo Mortensen, Josh Brolin, Danny Glover, David Strathairn and Kerry Washington, will provide performances for the project, which will interweave archival footage, photographs and interviews. Pearl Jam frontman Vedder and R&B singer John Legend will handle the music.

"It's going to be a great piece of entertainment but more importantly something people can watch and learn and remember how great this country has been and how individual people have changed the course of history," said executive producer Chris Moore. "It's going to make them think, laugh and cry and be proud to be American."

The project, also based on Zinn's companion book "Voices of a People's History of the United States" which he co-wrote with Anthony Arnove, will begin production in January in Boston.

Zinn, who will provide introductions and the historical context through on-camera appearances, also is executive producing.

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Thanks for sharing this invaluable bit of information! I recall hearing about the abandoned notions in the past ~ got turned on to Zinn after watching Good Will Hunting and after about the 37th viewing, finally picked up the book. Should be stellar work...

Here's an interview w/EV & Zinn ~

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m ... i_54133680

I'd bet good money that Down makes an appearance somewhere in this project.

Just like You Can't Be Neutral on a Moving Train.

You know it, sexy pants.

I was one of like 20 people to see that documentary in theaters. Probably because I want to marry Howard Zinn

Spin magazine refers to Eddie & John Legend teaming together for the soundtrack. Wonder if there's any truth to that phrasing.

Wanna go see the movie together??

I'll buy the tix, you spring for snacks

Wait...that won't work. It's going to be on TV

this was on my local radio station today.

Got this from my local radio station.....

PEARL JAM

Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder is working with R&B singer John Legend on the soundtrack to the television mini-series "The People Speak". The mini-series is based on the 1980 Howard Zimm book "A People's History of the United States". Production for the project begins next month in Boston, however there's no network affiliation as of yet.

now does working on the soundtrack mean original music, or just choosing the music to score it? My guess is the later, maybe with 1 or 2 new songs

These are cool projects to be involved with, but each one pushes back a new album

I hope you are wrong about the latter being the deal. I'm hoping for original music with maybe a couple covers but hopefully no covers at all. It's interesting to imagine these men writing songs for each other. Legend is a hell of a singer. I'd love to hear him sing something Eddie wrote for him.

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I just found out about this today. John Legend is one of my favorite artist, so this is unbelievable news to me. If we get a Vedder/Legend duet, I might shit myself. Two of the greatest voices in the industry today.

God, some threads are hard to open.

anyway

http://howardzinn.org/video/thepeoplespeak.mov

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http://www.contactmusic.com/news.nsf/ar ... lm_1067664

PEARL JAM frontman EDDIE VEDDER, JACKSON BROWNE and SEAN PENN are to star in a new documentary that highlights celebrity activism.
Vedder and Penn performed as part of a song and spoken word concert in Malibu, California on Thursday night (01May08), and their efforts were filmed for new movie The People Speak.
Vedder performed Phil Ochs' folk anthem Here's To The State of Mississippi, changing lyrics to take aim at President George W. Bush, while Browne sang Lives in The Balance.
The performers, which also included Chris and Rich Robinson of the Black Crowes, Taj Mahal and Don Cheadle, brought out the stars to the Malibu Performing Arts Center.
The celebrities in the audience included Diane Lane and Barbra Streisand - Lane is married to the event's host Josh Brolin, who is Streisand's stepson.