Upcoming documentary “Hollywood Trailblazer: The Debra Hill Story” from Causeway Pictures has started production. It will look at the life of legendary producer and writer Debra Hill, who worked on films like John Carpenter’s “Halloween” and “The Fog.”
The documentary seeks to shine a light on the prolific filmmaker, who earned the nickname “the godmother of indie filmmaking.” Hill was responsible for giving many in Hollywood their first break, most notably Jamie Lee Curtis. “Hollywood Trailblazer: The Debra Hill Story” will feature interviews from Carpenter, Curtis , Stacey Sher, David Gordon Green, Terry Gilliam, Lynda Obst, Kim Gottlieb-Walker, Andrea Berloff, Alan Jones, Kim Newman, and more.
Jim McMorrow and Margaret McGoldrick co-direct.
“The story of Debra Hill is a multi-faceted one. She was, and still is, an inspiration to filmmakers across the globe, and her legacy as a formidable, creative producer, mentor, trailblazer, and pioneer in cinema and environmental activism is an eternally relevant story,” McMorrow said. It is a privilege to bring this to the screen for all of us that she shaped through her life and work.”
“Jim and I have been blown away by the response to telling Debra’s story,” McGoldrick added. “Debra was an incredible filmmaker and storyteller who not only excelled at her job but did it with the love and respect of everyone around her. Her passion was infectious and when women weren’t getting the chance to lead the charge, Debra was paving paths. She’s an incredibly inspirational figure for anyone wanting to forge a career in the film industry and I’m very honored to be a part of the team getting to tell her story.”
.Hill passed away in 2005. She is probably best known for her work co-writing/producing “Halloween” and “The Fog,” but also worked on “Clue,” “Adventures In Babysitting,” “The Dead Zone,” “The Fisher King,” and “World Trade Center.” She was recently honored by the Producers Guild of America with the presentation of the 2023 Debra Hill Fellowship Award. This award was established in 2005 in her honor and has provided an annual grant award to a graduating producer of that year.
There is no set release date for “Hollywood Trailblazer: The Debra Hill Story,” just yet. We will keep you posted about updates on this project and others as they become available.
