Barry Avrich - #145
Barry Avrich (barryavrich.com) has produced and directed over 30 documentary films and television productions that have been broadcast in over 100 countries, and won awards and critical acclaim. Barry has made a name for himself focusing on powerful moguls and captivating personalities including Universal Studios titan Lew Wasserman, Miramax founder Harvey Weinstein and Rolling Stones promoter Michael Cohl. Barry has also produced several television specials for PBS, HBO, Showtime and Bravo including the concert special BOWFIRE, The Tempest starring Oscar-winner Christopher Plummer and a charity awards gala ( One X One) starring Richard Gere, Matt Damon and Shakira. His reputation as provocative filmmaker was defined when he set his sights on the Holy Grail. Producing a biography on Lew Wasserman, the founder and reclusive powerful chairman of MCA Universal for six decades, was considered career suicide. Wasserman had told everyone that he would never participate in any kind of biography and threatened anyone who dare try while he was alive (or dead). Barry waited until he died and commenced production. In spite of family legal threats and anonymous threats of physical harm, Barry’s film, The Last Mogul, was a massive success garnering rave reviews in Variety and The New York Times. He would go on to produce other highly acclaimed films like Unforgettable, Satisfaction, Guilty Pleasure, A Criminal Mind, and many television specials. Barry’s passionate profile on billionaire concert promoter Michael Cohl put him face to face with Bono and Mick Jagger. Barry went on to produce acclaimed feature films on Winston Churchill, Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein, and disgraced theatre mogul Garth Drabinsky. Barry has also produced two Stratford Festival film adaptations of Caesar and Cleopatra and The Tempest with Christopher Plummer. Barry has also produced and directed two biographical docs on legendary comedian David Steinberg and Penthouse founder Bob Guccione. His films on Guccione and Drabinsky both had their world premieres at The Toronto International Film Festival. Barry’s full filmography can be seen at imdb.com
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