Home Art Barbra Streisand Directs Her First New Film

Barbra Streisand is directing her first movie in what seems like ages. No, it’s not “The Normal Heart.”  It seems she may have lost the chance to make that since now Ryan Murphy of “Eat Pray Love” is said to be working on it.

No, Barbra is making a film of her great passion–her homes, art, and design. The DVD will be included in her book, “My Passion for Design,” which will be published in November by Viking. (Note to Barbra: hire your own publicist for this blockbuster. Book flacks are too overwhelmed to do this kind of project.)

How do we know all this? Why, our pal Leah Sydney talked to James Brolin at the Los Angeles premiere of “The Tillman Story” last week–this is the documentary you must see, about the cover up of NFL star Pat Tillman’s death in Afghanistan.

Streisand was absent from the premiere. Brolin said, “She has a deadline on a book. She’s making a film that’s included in the volume of the book. She’s doing color correction and cutting because Viking is saying we need it tomorrow.  175,000 first printing for a table top book-so it’s a big deal.”

What’s it about?

“It’s about all her expertise on architecture and precious museum pieces. She used to buy things when she was 14 and not know why-because they were pretty. Twenty years later when they would tell her that that thing that you bought for $200  is worth $25,000 or $200,000 she began to become a museum expert herself and learn why everything was valuable.   We all know she all has good taste.”

Streisand presented the Best Director award last spring to Kathryn Bigelow for “The Hurt Locker.” It was a nice touch, but the irony couldn’t have been lost on her. The famed singer and actress was a trailblazer for female directors. Hopefully, once the book project is concluded, she’ll get back behind the camera. Barbra, “The White Hotel” is still waiting for you.

In the meantime, I can’t wait to see how Babs has directed the furniture. Some directors (not BS) treat their actors like furniture anyway!

PS Brolin Senior is very proud of son Josh, one of our favorite actors, for narrating and promoting “The Tillman Story.”

“I’m a very proud Dad,” said Brolin.  “I’m so proud of Josh.  This is a big one=but he’s been doing this kind of thing a long, long time.  He’s so civic minded.”

Share and Enjoy !

Author
Roger Friedman began his Showbiz411 column in April 2009 after 10 years with Fox News, where he created the Fox411 column. His movie reviews are carried by Rotten Tomatoes, and he is a member of both the movie and TV branches of the Critics Choice Awards. His articles have appeared in dozens of publications over the years including New York Magazine, where he wrote the Intelligencer column in the mid 90s and covered the OJ Simpson trial, and Fox News (when it wasn't so crazy) where he covered Michael Jackson. He is also the writer and co-producer of "Only the Strong Survive," a selection of the Cannes, Sundance, and Telluride Film festivals, directed by DA Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus.
5 replies to this post
  1. Barbra,
    You look so fabulous. Everything about you is beautiful.
    I only hope to look half as good as you do when I am your age
    in 4 more years. You and Jim are so blessed to have each other.
    By the way, no one and I mean no one sings like you. The only
    singer who comes close is Celine.

  2. I love Barbra Streisand!!!
    I am 22 years old and I have admired her as a woman/entertainer since I was a little child… She has the best voice in the world and is perhaps one of the most accomplished directors. I loved all of her directorial efforts – Stunning!!!
    And her book “My Passion For Design” I hear will be absolutely gorgeous!!!
    ANd yes… please continue to make stunning music – And most of all, it will be wonderful if Barbra could get back to the big screen… maybe with “Mother’s Curse” which sounds great! Or any other movie project!!!
    Thanks for the great article!!! ^^

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.