Barbra Streisand opens private archives for multi-part documentary

Barbra Streisand opens private archives for multi-part documentary

Barbra Streisand will delve into her private archives to provide material for a multi-part documentary she has approved about her life, Sony Music Vision and associates announced Thursday.

The series, already in production but without a release date, is directed by filmmaker Frank Marshall, a fellow EGOT winner, and produced by Oscar-winner Alex Gibney.

It promises “an intimate and comprehensive exploration of every facet of the iconic multi-hyphenate, who, in a career spanning six decades, has excelled in every area of entertainment,” Sony Music said in a statement. “The production has been granted unprecedented access to Streisand’s personal archives, including hundreds of hours of personal, never-before-seen video, photographs, audio recordings, and personal keepsakes from throughout her acclaimed career. Utilizing this treasure trove of archival materials alongside contemporary verité, the documentary will provide an in depth look of Streisand’s star studded past and her current artistic endeavors.”

The announcement comes a year after publication of Streisand’s 1,000-page memoir, “My Name Is Barbra,” which was preceded by the release of two new albums.

“For years I’ve been thinking about the best way to share the vast amount of content I’ve been safely storing in my vault,” the trailblazing singer, actress, producer and director said in Sony’s statement. “These films, photos and music masters — many never seen or heard by the public — hold some of my most cherished memories. I’m so pleased that producer Alex Gibney and director Frank Marshall have agreed to take this journey with me.”

Marshall has directed documentaries about the Beach Boys and the Bee Gees, as well as brought to the screen “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” “The Sixth Sense” and other movie classics. Gibney is known for films about Paul Simon, Steve Jobs and Frank Sinatra, among many other credits.

“People have been talking about the need for the definitive documentary on Barbra Streisand for years,” Gibney said. “I am delighted to produce this film on Barbra, a legendary singer, extraordinary actor, director, and political activist who inspires us all. Did I forget to mention that she’s a great storyteller who is funny as hell?”

With News Wire Services