The Case Against 8

The Case Against 8
Directed by
Produced by
  • Ben Cotner
  • Ryan White
Music byBlake Neely (themes)
Release date
  • January 18, 2014 (2014-01-18) (Sundance)
Running time
112 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

The Case Against 8 is an American documentary film, which premiered at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival on January 18, 2014. Directed and produced by Ben Cotner and Ryan White, the film documents the legal battle to overturn California's Proposition 8,[1] focusing in particular on behind-the-scenes footage of David Boies and Theodore Olson during the Perry v. Schwarzenegger case.[1]

Cast

  • Theodore Olson - Himself (billed as Ted Olson)
  • Christopher D. Dusseault - Himself (billed as Chris Dusseault)
  • Jeffrey J. Zarrillo - Himself (billed as Jeff Zarrillo)
  • Paul T. Katami - Himself (billed as Paul Katami)
  • Kristin M. Perry - Herself (billed as Kris Perry)
  • Sandra B. Stier - Herself (billed as Sandy Stier)
  • David Boies - Himself
  • Ted Uno - Himself
  • Chad Griffin - Himself, American Foundation for Equal Rights
  • Kristina Schake - Herself, American Foundation for Equal Rights co-founder
  • Adam Umhoefer - Himself - Executive director, American Foundation for Equal Rights
  • Elliott Perry - Himself (billed as Elliot Perry)
  • Frank Stier - Himself
  • Tom Stier - Himself
  • Spencer Perry - Himself

Release

Cotner and White won the Directing Award: U.S. Documentary at the Sundance Film Festival.[2][3] The film was also subsequently screened at the 2014 SXSW festival, where it won an Audience Award.[4]

The film screened at the 2014 Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival in Toronto, Ontario[5] and went on to screen within such festivals as SXSW and Maryland Film Festival. The film also received a limited theatrical release in June 2014,[1] screening in New York City, Los Angeles and other major US cities before airing on HBO on June 23.[6]

In Australia, it screened in conjunction with Queer Screen and Australian Marriage Equality on the 20th of August.[7] Independent MP and Chair of AME Alex Greenwich introduced the film to the audience where he mentioned Australia's conservative government pollster Crosby Textor Group and the research that has polled the biggest support for same-sex marriage in Australia where 72% of Australians support legalising same-sex marriage.[8]

Proposed film adaptation

On April 21, 2016, Marielle Heller was set to direct the feature film adaptation for Peter Chernin's Chernin Entertainment and 20th Century Fox.[9] However, its fate is unknown after Disney's acquisition of 21st Century Fox was completed.[10]

References

  1. ^ a b c Siegel, Tatiana (March 21, 2014). "HBO Films to Release 'The Case Against 8' Doc in Theaters Before TV Bow". The Hollywood Reporter.
  2. ^ "'Whiplash' Owns the 2014 Sundance Film Festival Awards Netting Two Top Prizes". Indiewire. January 25, 2014. Retrieved January 26, 2014.
  3. ^ Ellwood, Gregory (January 25, 2014). "2014 Sundance Film Festival jury and audience award winners". HitFix. Archived from the original on January 26, 2014.
  4. ^ "SXSW Film 2014: 'Case Against 8' honored at festival". The Mercury News. March 17, 2014.
  5. ^ "Hot Docs 2014 lineup includes films about Alice Cooper, George Takei". Toronto Star, March 18, 2014.
  6. ^ "'Case Against 8,' about overturn of Proposition 8, headed to theaters". Los Angeles Times. March 22, 2014.
  7. ^ "Queer Screen - The Case Against 8 Screening". queerscreen.org.au. July 9, 2014. Archived from the original on November 12, 2022. Retrieved March 23, 2018.
  8. ^ "72% of Australians support marriage equality - News". the C|T Group. Archived from the original on August 6, 2014. Retrieved August 21, 2014.
  9. ^ Kit, Borys (April 21, 2016). "'Diary of a Teenage Girl' Director Tackling Gay Rights With 'Case Against 8' Movie (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  10. ^ Georg Szalai; Paul Bond (March 19, 2019). "Disney Closes $71.3 Billion Fox Deal, Creating Global Content Powerhouse". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 20, 2023.


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