or


[12/04/12 - 07:29 AM]
Sundance-Winning Documentary "Project Nim," Following One Chimp's Extraordinary and Revealing Journey, Debuts Dec. 20, Exclusively on HBO
James Marsh directed the film, which is based on the book "Nim Chimpsky: The Chimp Who Would Be Human" by Elizabeth Hess.

[via press release from HBO]

SUNDANCE-WINNING DOCUMENTARY "PROJECT NIM," FOLLOWING ONE CHIMP'S EXTRAORDINARY AND REVEALING JOURNEY, DEBUTS DEC. 20, EXCLUSIVELY ON HBO

Raised like a child, studied as an experiment and returned to captivity when his animal instincts surfaced, Nim Chimpsky lived a life that was as exceptional as it was heart-wrenching.

From the Oscar(R)-winning team behind "Man on Wire," PROJECT NIM tells the story of the chimpanzee who was the focus of a landmark experiment to show that an ape could learn to communicate with language if raised and nurtured like a human child. Combining recent testimony from key participants with dramatic imagery and newly discovered archival film from the 1970s, the feature documentary follows Nim's extraordinary journey through human society, chronicling his enduring impact on the people he meets.

Winner of the World Cinema Documentary Directing Award at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival, PROJECT NIM debuts THURSDAY, DEC. 20 (9:00-10:45 p.m. ET/PT), exclusively on HBO.

Other HBO playdates: Dec. 24 (4:30 p.m.) and 28 (2:45 p.m.), and Jan. 1 (11:55 p.m.), 6 (12:30 p.m.), 9 (10:30a.m.) and 14 (3:45 p.m.)

HBO2 playdates: Jan. 2 (8:00 p.m.). 22 (1:00 p.m.) and 28 (12:45 p.m., 12:35 a.m.)

Based on the book "Nim Chimpsky: The Chimp Who Would Be Human," by Elizabeth Hess, PROJECT NIM is an unflinching and unsentimental biography of an animal that sciencetried to make human. What it reveals about his true nature - and humanity's - is comic, revealing and profoundly unsettling.

In 1973, at the Institute for Primate Studies in Oklahoma, a baby chimp is born. A few dayslater, his mother is knocked down by a tranquilizer, and her screaming babyseized and placed into the arms of a new human "mother." Thus begins Project Nim, a university-funded experiment to show that a chimpanzee can learn to communicate with language if raised like a human. Under the auspices of Columbia psychology professor Herb Terrace, the chimp, Nim, is brought to NYC to live with Stephanie LaFarge, one of Terrace's former students.

Though LaFarge knows next to nothing about chimps, her bond with Nim is immediate, but the collateral damage on her home and family eventually becomes a problem. Displeased with Nim's unstructured upbringing, Terrace enlists psychology student Laura Petitto to ferry Nim back and forth to a Columbia classroom and teach him sign language. Eventually, he moves Nim and Petitto to the Delafield Estate, a Riverdale mansion owned by Columbia. As Nim learns to communicate using dozens of signs, the media latches on to Nim's story, resulting in a cover piece in New York magazine.

As time passes, Nim grows stronger and his animal nature emerges. Though affectionate and playful, he also becomes aggressive and unpredictable. Having been bitten once too often by Nim and after briefly becoming romantically involved with Terrace, Petitto leaves Delafield, ceding control of Nim to Bill Tynan and Joyce Butler, who counters a Nim attack with a warning bite of her own. Renee Falitz, trained as an interpreter for the deaf, also works with Nim, but leaves after Nim savagely bites her in the face.

Explaining, "Nobody keeps chimps more than five years," Terrace decides to end the experiment, and returns a tranquilized Nim to the Institute for Primate Studies in Oklahoma, where the disoriented animal encounters other chimps for the first time since birth. Although the other chimps don't understand sign language, Nim eventually adjusts to living with them under the supervision of IPS staffers Bob Ingersoll and Alyce Moore. When the center runs out of funds a few years later, Nim and other chimps are sold to LEMSIP, an NYU research facility, where they are subjected to a series of lab experiments while living in small cages. Though he later condemns such research as inhumane, Dr. James Mahony supervises these experiments, drawing the ire of Ingersoll and other Nim caregivers.

News of Nim's predicament inspires a movement to free him. After lawyer Henry Herrmann suggests that Nim be given a day in court to testify on his own behalf using sign language, NYU sells the chimp to Cleveland Amory, an animal-rights activist who runs Black Beauty Ranch, a Texas sanctuary for abused, mostly hooved, animals. But with no chimps or human friends, Nim is isolated and lonely; he smashes a TV and accidentally kills a poodle in a fit of rage. When Stephanie LaFarge, his first human mother, reunites with Nim after almost 20 years, Nim immediately recognizes her and attacks when she unwisely enters his cage. Though shaken by the experience, LaFarge is relieved and grateful when Nim spares her life.

When LEMSIP closes in 1995, Mahony moves a number of the facility's chimps to more humane locations. Two of them, Mitch and Lulu, join Nim at Black Beauty, and his life and attitude improve. With old friend Bob Ingersoll often dropping by for visits, Nim lives for five more years before dying of a heart attack in May 2000.

For more on the film, please visit facebook.com/HBODocs and twitter.com @HBODocs #ProjectNim.

PROJECT NIM is directed by James Marsh; produced by Simon Chinn; editor, Jinx Godfrey; executive producers, John Battsek, Andrew Ruhemann, Jamie Laurenson, Nick Fraser and Hugo Grumbar; director of photography, Michael Simmonds; original music by Dickon Hinchliffe. For HBO Documentary Films: senior producer, Nancy Abraham; executive producer, Sheila Nevins.





  [december 2012]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
      


· SHOWATCH
(series past and present)
· DEVWATCH
(series in development)
· MOVIEWATCH
(tv movies and mini-series)





[07/10/25 - 05:03 PM]
Meagan Good Returns to Lifetime to Executive Produce and Star in the Alluring New Thriller "I'll Never Let You Go" Alongside Antonio Cupo and Thomas Cadrot, Premiering August 16 on Lifetime
Good stars as Emily Westover, a poised and successful art gallery director whose life takes a dark turn after a brief, impulsive affair with a magnetic Italian artist, Carlo (Cupo).

[07/10/25 - 12:01 PM]
"Virgin River" Is Returning for Season 8
"On behalf of myself and the whole 'Virgin River' family, we're eternally grateful to Netflix and to the fans for allowing us to continue on this journey with these beloved characters," said showrunner Patrick Sean Smith.

[07/10/25 - 12:00 PM]
ESPN "Sunday Night Baseball Presented by Capital One" Schedule Update: New York Mets to Visit San Francisco Giants on July 27
Karl Ravech will call the action with analyst Eduardo Pérez, analyst and five-time World Series Champion David Cone and reporter Buster Olney.

[07/10/25 - 11:04 AM]
Paris Berelc to Co-Star and Executive Produce Upcoming Tubi Original YA Romantic Comedy Film "Kissing Is the Easy Part"
Fawzia Mirza (The Queen of my Dreams) is set to direct the film, which is based on the popular Wattpad webnovel (currently at 31.9 million reads) of the same name by Christine Duann adapted by Rebecca Webb.

[07/10/25 - 10:30 AM]
HBO Orders Untitled American History Sketch Comedy Starring and Executive Produced by Larry David and Higher Ground
President and Mrs. Obama wanted to honor America's 250th anniversary and celebrate the unique history of our nation on this special occasion. ...But then Larry David called.

[07/10/25 - 10:10 AM]
Apple's Acclaimed Sci-Fi Series "Murderbot" Lands Season Two Renewal
The season one finale of "Murderbot" premieres globally this Friday, July 11.

[07/10/25 - 10:06 AM]
AMC Networks Returns to Comic-Con International with Dynamic Lineup of Fan-Favorite Series Panels, Screenings, A Shudder Fan Activation & More
Panels include a return to Hall H for The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon, featuring an exclusive first-look at the official trailer from the third season, premiering Sunday, September 7 on AMC and AMC+.

[07/10/25 - 10:01 AM]
Video: "Marc Maron: Panicked" - Official Trailer - HBO Max
He's mining for gold in a river of panic.

[07/10/25 - 09:55 AM]
"The Great Food Truck Race" Hosted by Tyler Florence Returns with New Roster of Competitors and Epic Culinary Challenges
The new season premieres Sunday, August 3 at 9pm ET/PT and streams next day on HBO Max.

[07/10/25 - 09:39 AM]
Peacock Announces September 4 Premiere Date for "The Paper"
The series premieres on Peacock with four episodes on September 4, followed by two new episodes every Thursday through September 25.

[07/10/25 - 09:34 AM]
MGM+ Unveils "Let The Devil In" Premiere Date
Premiering August 31, the four-episode documentary series is about a decades-old tragedy that destroyed one family and ignited the darkest fears of a small New Jersey town.

[07/10/25 - 09:01 AM]
Prime Video Adds Broadcast Veterans to NBA on Prime Game Coverage Lineup
The broadcast team includes award-winning play-by-play announcers Ian Eagle, Kevin Harlan, Michael Grady and Eric Collins.

[07/10/25 - 09:00 AM]
Video: Starz Releases Key Art and Trailer for Timeless Romantic Drama "Outlander: Blood of My Blood," Premiering Friday, August 8
From the battlefields of World War I to the rugged Highlands of 18th century Scotland, two fated couples must defy the forces that seek to tear them apart, intersecting in surprising and unforeseen ways.

[07/10/25 - 09:00 AM]
Video: Prime Video Releases Trailer and Key Art for Season Two of "Sausage Party: Foodtopia"
All eight episodes of the animated comedy will be served all at once in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide on Prime Video August 13.

[07/10/25 - 08:13 AM]
Star Designer Bobby Berk to Host Newly Greenlit HGTV Series "Junk or Jackpot?" (wt) Produced by John Cena
Executive produced by actor, wrestler and entrepreneur John Cena, the six-episode season follows collectors as they discover the true monetary value of their massive and unusual collections.