The Go-Gos (Photo credit: Chris Cuffaro)
The Go-Gos (Photo credit: Chris Cuffaro)

#IrishFilm: Fine Point Films’ The Go-Go’s documentary sells to Sky Arts and SHOWTIME

Belfast-based Fine Point Films’ latest feature documentary, The Go-Go’s, based on legendary band The Go-Go’s, has been acquired by Sky Arts and SHOWTIME for the U.K. and U.S. respectively.

As the first multi-platinum-selling, all-female band to play their own instruments, write their own songs and have a #1 album, The Go-Go’s are the most successful female rock band of all time. With their roots in the LA punk scene, the band included Charlotte Caffey (lead guitar & keyboards), Belinda Carlisle (lead vocals), Gina Schock (drums), Kathy Valentine (bass) and Jane Wiedlin (guitar & vocals).<

The Go-Go’s rose to fame following the release of their 1981 debut album, “Beauty and the Beat,” a collection of infectious tracks with huge hooks. Locked at #1 on the Billboard charts for six consecutive weeks, “Beauty and the Beat” was one of the most successful debut albums of all time, featured the hits “Our Lips Are Sealed” (one of Rolling Stone’s “Top 100 Pop Singles’) and “We Got the Beat” and resulted in a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist.

Underpinned by full access to The Go-Go’s, both past and present, this candid archive-rich biography assesses the group’s place in pop history and examines the feisty personalities and dynamics behind their rise, fall and numerous reincarnations. Until this film, there has never been a serious appraisal of The Go-Go’s talents or achievements – as musicians, groundbreakers, but even more so, as survivors.

Alison Ellwood (History of The Eagles, American Jihad) directs the film and Corey Russell and Trevor Birney produce. Polygram Entertainment’s David Blackman and Daniel Inkeles will serve as executive producers; the creative team also includes editor Brett Banks and co-producer Eimhear O’Neill.

SHOWTIME has acquired the US rights and plans to release the film later this year, while Sky Arts is the UK broadcast partner – both deals were brokered by leading global distributor Kew Media Distribution, which has worldwide sales rights to The Go-Go’s.

The Go-Go’s is fully financed by Polygram Entertainment and presented and produced by Polygram, Universal Music Publishing Group, Fine Point Films and Fadoo Productions.

We lived it and survived it. Now looking back on our history through this film, we can appreciate our journey, laughter, triumphs and struggles as a band. We hope this documentary will show the world what pioneers we were and how our experiences paved the way for other musicians.
The Go-Gos

The Go-Go’s story is one that will shock and inspire. People might think it will be a light-hearted look at a band, but it is much more than that. The film showcases a rich catalogue of music, but also the darker side of The Go-Go’s and the struggles they encountered as one of the first ever all-female bands faced with fame, fortune and everything that it brought with it. It’s been an exciting film for our team to work on and we are thrilled that it’s been picked up by Showtime and Sky Arts so that viewers around the world can see it too. Trevor Birney, Producer – Fine Point Films

The team behind new documentary on The Go-Gos. From left to right: Corey Russell, Fadoo Productions, Eimhear O’Neill, Fine Point Films, Director Alison Ellwood, Belinda Carlisle and Trevor Birney, Fine Point Films.
The team behind new documentary on The Go-Gos. From left to right: Corey Russell, Fadoo Productions, Eimhear O’Neill, Fine Point Films, Director Alison Ellwood, Belinda Carlisle and Trevor Birney, Fine Point Films.