Project Greenlight
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| Also known as | Project Greenlight: A New Generation (season 5) |
| Created by | Alex Keledjian |
| Developed by | Eli Holzman |
| Template:Pluralize from text of origin | United States |
| Original languageTemplate:Pluralize from text | English |
| No. of seasons | 5 |
| No. of episodes | 43 |
| Production | |
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| Camera setup | Single-camera |
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| Original release | |
| Network | HBO |
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| Network | Bravo |
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| Network | HBO |
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| Network | HBO Max |
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Project Greenlight is an American documentary television series focusing on first-time filmmakers being given the chance to direct a feature film. It was created by Alex Keledjian, developed by Eli Holzman and produced by Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Sean Bailey, and Chris Moore through their production company LivePlanet, along with Miramax Films. Project Greenlight first aired on HBO for two seasons (aired 2001–03) before moving to Bravo for season 3 in 2005. The series returned in 2015 for a fourth season airing on HBO. On July 26, 2016, the series was canceled.[1] In May 2021, HBO Max (later Max) picked up the series with an 8-episode order produced by Issa Rae through her production company Hoorae Media.[2] The revival titled Project Greenlight: A New Generation premiered on July 13, 2023.[3]
Episodes
| Season | Episodes | Originally aired | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season premiere | Season finale | Network | |||
| 1 | 12 | Script error: No such module "Date time". | Script error: No such module "Date time". | HBO | |
| 2 | 13 | Script error: No such module "Date time". | Script error: No such module "Date time". | ||
| 3 | 9 | Script error: No such module "Date time". | Script error: No such module "Date time". | Bravo | |
| 4 | 8 | Script error: No such module "Date time". | Script error: No such module "Date time". | HBO | |
| 5 | 10 | Script error: No such module "Date time". | Script error: No such module "Date time". | HBO Max | |
Season 1 (2001–02)
The script contest ran from September 2000 to March 2001. Over 7,000 screenplays were submitted, and Pete Jones was selected as the winner for Stolen Summer, which he then filmed on location in his hometown of Chicago during the summer of 2001. The first season of Project Greenlight, helmed by show runner and co-executive producer Liz Bronstein, chronicled the selection of Jones's script and the filming of the movie, aired on HBO from late 2001 through early 2002. Stolen Summer premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2002, then went on to a limited theatrical release which brought in just under $140,000.
Season 2 (2003)
For its second run, the contest was split into two categories: writing and directing. The winners were chosen on January 18, 2003. Erica Beeney won the writing contest for her script The Battle of Shaker Heights, and Kyle Rankin and Efram Potelle won the directing contest. The film stars Shia LaBeouf, Elden Henson, Amy Smart, and William Sadler. The series aired in the summer of 2003, detailing the production of the film in Los Angeles. The Battle of Shaker Heights opened in limited theatrical release on August 24, 2003, earning just under $280,000 during its box office run.
Season 3 (2005)
Script submission began and ended during February 2004. After two seasons on HBO, the series moved to Bravo and season 3 began airing on March 15, 2005.
The selected screenplay was a horror script titled Feast written by Marcus Dunstan and Patrick Melton. The director was John Gulager. The film stars Balthazar Getty, Krista Allen, Jason Mewes, and Eric Dane and was produced by Dimension Films and Neo Art & Logic.
The film ran for a special late night showing on September 22 and 23, 2006, almost a year after its premiere. Feast earned just under $690,000 during its box office run. The DVD was released on October 17, 2006, earning an additional $4,687,595.[4] The film spawned two sequels: Feast II: Sloppy Seconds and Feast III: The Happy Finish.
Season 4 (2015)
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On April 2, 2015, Project Greenlight announced the first annual Greenie award winners.[5]
- Best Comedy: Heist – Director: Brianna Lux and Tony Lazzeroni
- Best Drama: A Room for Aden – Director: Douglas Yablun
- Best Action: Stan Lee Parkour – Director: Tom Grey
- Most Unique: Listen – Director: Joshua Ortiz
- Best Horror: The Table – Director: Shane Free
- Most "WTF": Pink Shorts – Director: Jeff Huston
In September 2015, Project Greenlight became the subject of controversy when an episode aired of Matt Damon disagreeing with producer Effie Brown over the subject of diversity. A later controversy developed over the titling of the season's sixth episode as "Hot Ghetto Mess" involving Brown's attempt to make sure one of the films did not partake in racial stereotypes, which was to be corrected before airing and replaced with "The Pivot", but was never resolved before airtime.[6][7]
The Leisure Class debuted on HBO on November 2, 2015.
Season 5 (2023)
Season 5 is a revival of the original series, rebooted as Project Greenlight: A New Generation, premiered on July 13, 2023.[8] The show intentionally shifts the focus to emerging female filmmakers, addressing a long-standing lack of representation behind the camera. Instead of Damon and Affleck, the reboot is led by a new creative team Issa Rae (Executive Producer, mentor, on-camera guide, Kumail Nanjiani (mentor), Gina Prince-Bythewood (mentor/director).[9] The season follows the selection of filmmaker Meko Winbush who is given the opportunity to direct her first feature film. She is provided with a script for the sci-fi thriller Gray Matter and is tasked with developing and revising it with limited time, encountering all of the creative and logistical challenges of filmmaking.[10] Gray Matter premiered on HBO Max on July 13, 2023, the same day as the show.
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Primetime Emmy Award | Outstanding Non-Fiction Program (Reality) | Ben Affleck, Sean Bailey, Liz Bronstein, Billy Campbell, Matt Damon, Tina Gazzerro, Eli Holzman, Chris Moore, Harvey Weinstein, Bob Weinstein, Tony Yates | Nominated | |
| 2004 | Primetime Emmy Award | Outstanding Reality Program | Ben Affleck, Sean Bailey, Dan Cutforth, Matt Damon, Eli Holzman, Jane Lipsitz, Chris Moore, Bob Osher, Randy Sacks, Harvey Weinstein, Bob Weinstein, Tony Yates | Nominated | |
| 2005 | Primetime Emmy Award | Outstanding Reality Program | Ben Affleck, Sean Bailey, Jennifer Berman, Frances Berwick, Rich Buhrman, Andrew Cohen, Dan Cutforth, Matt Damon, Gayle Gawlowski, Eli Holzman, Marc Joubert, Casey Kriley, Jane Lipsitz, Alexandra Lipsitz, Chris Moore, Kevin Morra, Bob Osher, Barbara Schneeweiss, David Serwatka, Larry Tanz, Harvey Weinstein, Bob Weinstein | Nominated | |
| 2016 | Primetime Emmy Award | Outstanding Unstructured Reality Program | Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Jane Lipsitz, Dan Cutforth, TJ Barrack, Perrin Chiles, Marc Joubert, Marshall Lewy, Alexandra Lipsitz and Gaylen Gawlowski | Nominated |
Australia
Series 1
In 2005, Project Greenlight Australia was launched with Pay-TV Movie Network in partnership with Screentime producing the show and offering the A$1,000,000 financing to the winning film.[12] The entries were received online with last entries being accepted on February 14. The screenplay selected from the 1200 submissions was Solo by Morgan O'Neill.[13]
Series 2
In 2006, comedian and filmmaker Paul McDermott hosted the series. The screenplay selected from the 700 submissions was The View from Greenhaven by The MacRae Brothers.[14]
Notes
Page Template:Citation/styles.css has no content.^[a] The episode "The Pivot" was originally titled "Hot Ghetto Mess." However, the scene contextualizing the title was removed in last-minute editing. The original title was not corrected for television listings before air due to what was described as a "production error" by HBO. Future airings, along with HBO Go/HBO Now use "The Pivot" as the episode's title.[15]
References
Page Template:Reflist/styles.css has no content.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Schwindt, Oriana (July 26, 2016). "HBO Cancels 'Project Greenlight'". Variety. Retrieved July 27, 2016.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.White, Peter (May 18, 2021). "'Project Greenlight' Revival From Issa Rae Gets Series Order At HBO Max". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 18, 2021.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Gelman, Vlada (June 21, 2023). "TVLine Items: Lisa Rinna on Horror Stories, Love Island USA Returns and More". TVLine.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Feast (2006)". The-Numbers.com. Retrieved September 7, 2015.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Congratulations to the winners of the 1st annual GREENIE AWARDS!". Facebook. April 2, 2015. Archived from the original on February 26, 2022. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Harris, Aisha (September 14, 2015). "Project Greenlight Revealed Exactly Why Hollywood Still Has a Diversity Problem". Slate. Retrieved September 26, 2015.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Saul, Heather (September 15, 2015). "Matt Damon criticised for interrupting black producer Effie Brown and explaining diversity". The Independent. Retrieved September 26, 2015.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Project Greenlight - Official Site - Miramax". www.miramax.com. Retrieved May 20, 2026.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Fienberg, Daniel (July 12, 2023). "'Project Greenlight' Review: Issa Rae Leads a Max Season That Starts Slow but Eventually Hits Its Stride". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 20, 2026.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Hailu, Selome (July 17, 2023). "'Project Greenlight' Star Meko Winbush Pushes Back on the Show's 'Questionable Editing': 'Suggesting I'm Not Dedicated' to My Movie Is 'Inaccurate'". Variety. Retrieved May 20, 2026.
- ^ a b c d Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Project Greenlight". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved July 28, 2015.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Project Greenlight Australia launched". Screen Australia. 2005. Archived from the original on June 8, 2010. Retrieved September 27, 2015.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.George, Sandy (May 26, 2005). "Oz winner of Project Greenlight flies Solo". ScreenDaily. Retrieved September 27, 2015.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Winning Project Greenlight film gets theatrical release - IF Magazine". IF Magazine. October 13, 2008. Archived from the original on March 25, 2025. Retrieved April 30, 2026.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Escobedo Shepherd, Julianne (October 19, 2015). "HBO: Naming Project Greenlight's Latest Episode 'Hot Ghetto Mess' Was a 'Production Mistake'". Jezebel. Gawker Media. Retrieved October 20, 2015.
External links
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