Halcyon Studios is set to produce a biopic based on the life of Amy Winehouse, as detailed in Daphne Barak's 2010 book Saving Amy. It seems like everyone is happy about this news, that is, except for Winehouse's father, Mitch.
As per TMZ, the elder Winehouse has spoken out against the biopic, stating that it is "100 percent not allowed." Mitch, who serves as the administrator of Amy's estate, said the estate owns all the rights to Amy's image and music and has its own plans to make a biopic.
He also claims Barak didn't reach out to him or Universal, Amy's record label, to use any of her music. "They can't be that stupid. Everyone knows proper licenses must be granted," he said.
Barak responded saying the project is not a biopic, but rather her story with her footage featuring herself with Amy and film and TV producer, Bill Gunasti. She explained: "I have all of the releases and legal agreements needed. Just like the NFTs being marketed on OG2D, this material is also all legally my property to sell." Take that, Mitch.
Barak's book is based on "40 hours of footage [and] exclusive photos and notes," taken over six months of filming. Barak completed her work with Winehouse and her family throughout the last three years of Winehouse's life. The author will serve as the biopic's executive producer, while a director has yet to be announced.
In a statement, Halcyon Studio CEO David Ellender said: "Our team is honoured to be working on this project. Although her career was cut far too short, Amy was the voice of a generation and we look forward to telling her story in the most poignant way possible."
Since her death in 2011, a handful of biopics chronicling Winehouse's life have been released. Most notably, the A24 documentary, Amy, directed by Asif Kapadia, which won an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature.
As per TMZ, the elder Winehouse has spoken out against the biopic, stating that it is "100 percent not allowed." Mitch, who serves as the administrator of Amy's estate, said the estate owns all the rights to Amy's image and music and has its own plans to make a biopic.
He also claims Barak didn't reach out to him or Universal, Amy's record label, to use any of her music. "They can't be that stupid. Everyone knows proper licenses must be granted," he said.
Barak responded saying the project is not a biopic, but rather her story with her footage featuring herself with Amy and film and TV producer, Bill Gunasti. She explained: "I have all of the releases and legal agreements needed. Just like the NFTs being marketed on OG2D, this material is also all legally my property to sell." Take that, Mitch.
Barak's book is based on "40 hours of footage [and] exclusive photos and notes," taken over six months of filming. Barak completed her work with Winehouse and her family throughout the last three years of Winehouse's life. The author will serve as the biopic's executive producer, while a director has yet to be announced.
In a statement, Halcyon Studio CEO David Ellender said: "Our team is honoured to be working on this project. Although her career was cut far too short, Amy was the voice of a generation and we look forward to telling her story in the most poignant way possible."
Since her death in 2011, a handful of biopics chronicling Winehouse's life have been released. Most notably, the A24 documentary, Amy, directed by Asif Kapadia, which won an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature.
