Everyone in America has heard of “The Apprentice.”
The quasi-real TV series featured eager businesspeople battling for a $250,000 contract. It made “you’re fired!” a national catchphrase, and catapulted Donald Trump onto the path to the presidency.
You may not have heard of the movie version of “The Apprentice.”
At least, not yet.
The film explores a young Trump’s rise to power, beginning in the 1970s with attorney/fixer Roy Cohn.
It debuted at the Cannes Film Festival in May, and earned an 8-minute standing ovation. Its North American premiere at Telluride last weekend was equally successful.
But because the film offers “an unfiltered look at Trump’s complicated and often unseemly journey,” his campaign issued a cease and desist order. They hoped to halt its release in the US — at least before the November election.
It was reported that Trump (who had not seen the film) was particularly incensed by scenes that depict him raping his first wife, Ivana; abusing amphetamines to lose weight, and undergoing liposuction and plastic surgery to remove a bald spot. (The rape scene was based on divorce records.)
Legal threats caused major media companies to shy away from distribution.
“The Apprentice” stars (from left) Sebastian Stan as Donald Trump, Jeremy Strong as Roy Cohn, and Maria Bakalova as Ivana Trump.
Filmmakers are now pursuing a grassroots, independent approach. It is scheduled for limited theatrical release on October 11.
That’s good news for the cast, crew and producers of “The Apprentice.”
Including the writer, Gabriel Sherman.
The 45-year-old attended Kings Highway Elementary, Bedford Middle and Staples High School (through 10th grade).
After graduating from Holderness School in New Hampshire and Middlebury College (2001), he wrote for New York magazine and Vanity Fair. He’s been a regular contributor to NBC News and MSNBC.
In 2014, Sherman wrote a biography of Fox News Channel president Roger Ailes called “The Loudest Voice in the Room: How the Brilliant, Bombastic Roger Ailes Built Fox News – and Divided a Country.”
He began work on “The Apprentice” in 2018.
Gabe Sherman
Hoping for widespread distribution before the election — and fearing possible retribution after, if Trump wins — the film’s backers have started a Kickstarter campaign.
The goal is to raise $100,000, to enable additional distribution beyond the first 17 cities where it is planned to be screened.
As with all Kickstarter projects, donors will be charged only if full funding is secured.
That seems likely. The deadline is September 29. In just 2 days, nearly the entire amount has already been raised.
Donors are offered streaming rights, tickets to a preview screening, on-screen memorabilia from the production, access to the filmmakers — and their name in the credits.
Not far from Gabriel Sherman’s.
(Click here for the Kickstarter link.)
(“06880” regularly highlights the careers of Westporters, past and present. To support our work, please click here. Thank you!)
“and fearing possible retribution after, if Trump wins…” Oh please… DonOLD Trump sells Bibles, so I doubt there’s anything to worry about!
A fictional, salacious account of a presidential candidate two months before the election seeking $. Shocking! Let’s not pretend this is a noble cause please regardless of your preferred candidate. It’s a well timed $-raise – full stop!!
the rape scene is based on trumps under oath divorece deposition Trump was under oath Mark ? His ex wife was under oath. Trunp was found liable for sexual assault inncourt. Trump was recorded on video mentoring Billy Bush to grab women by the P if you are rich and famous That was confirmed in another Trump deposition where Trump said that advice is true. if you heard a Staples gym teacher or coach say that 06880 rightfully would insist on immediate firing. Given Trumps history of lewd and despicable conduct I don’t think it’s fair in your judgement to call it fictional. No one is perfect. but given the track record of a Trump I don’t think it’s fair to call the account fictional. People and media always bring up strengths and weaknesses at election time. people are tuning in
Sadly, during the Koch NYC mayoral administration it was said about a then 35 year old DJT-
“Donald Trump is one of the least likable people I have met during the 12 years that I served as mayor,” Mr. Koch wrote in one essay. “It is incomprehensible to me that for some people he has become a folk hero.”
A former deputy mayor to Koch, Alair Townsend said: “I wouldn’t believe Donald Trump if his tongue were notarized.”
Mr. Koch wrote this undated and untitled essay around 1990, when Mr. Trump was divorcing his first wife, Ivana while having an affair with Marla Maples.”
It will be interesting to see if the context leading to these Koch era statements or the circumstances surrounding Trump’s affair was included in “The Apprentice” movie.
If ever a sequel to “The Apprentice- Movie” is made, it will be interesting to see how the NY Attorney General report on the Trump fraudulent schemes that got Trump convicted of multiple felonies is used. The report includes every building involved and exactly what he was accused of and convected of doing!
https://ag.ny.gov/sites/default/files/tto_release_properties_addendum_-_final.pdf
Very disappointed in the bias of 06880. Helping to solicit $ to take down a presidential candidate .