Demi Lovato to Make Directorial Debut on Hulu Original Feature Documentary “Child Star,” About Former Child Stars

Demi Lovato is making her directorial debut…

The 30-year-old half-Mexican American singer/actress will direct the Hulu original feature documentary about former child stars.

Demi LovatoThe film, which currently has the working title Child Star, will “deconstruct the highs and lows of growing up in the spotlight through the lens of some of the world’s most famous former child stars, including Lovato,” and how “their rise to fame, fortune and power affects their futures.”

The other participants in the film have yet to be revealed. Their experience growing up in the limelight will be chronicled through intimate conversations led by Lovato, verité footage, and archival material.

“There is no better film or topic for my directorial debut than this story, which is close to home,” said Lovato. “Our project sheds light on important messages about growing up in the public eye, learning to protect our boundaries, and becoming active advocates of our own destinies. I’m humbled to be able to learn from the individuals who have lived the unique experience of child stardom and share their stories in our film.”

Lovato is co-directing alongside Nicola Marsh.

The documentary is being produced by Michael D. Ratner’s OBB Pictures, a division of OBB Media, whose company also has a multi-year non-exclusive development deal with Walt Disney Television Alternative.

The deal focuses on creating documentaries, docuseries, original specials and unscripted formats that cater to Gen Z and Millennial audiences across Disney platforms. Lovato’s production company, DLG, and Scooter Braun’s SB Projects are also producing.

“With this film we’re setting out to tell a story that is as timely as ever given our evermore connected world and lack of privacy. This story has a deeply rooted shared nostalgia, and is as thought-provoking as it is entertaining,” said Michael D. Ratner, OBB Media founder, president and CEO. “Demi and the talented individuals taking part in this documentary have decided to share their stories authentically, and I’m thrilled to work alongside Demi, Nicola, and the teams at SB Projects and Hulu, in bringing their stories to screen.”

“At the heart of our documentaries are storytellers with distinct backgrounds and perspectives who leave no page of their stories unturned. Demi’s first-hand experience and personal relationships are all on bold display in this poignant and exploratory film,” said Belisa Balaban, Senior Vice President, Documentaries and Unscripted Series, Hulu Originals. “Our audience has long been interested in delving into the nuances of pop culture, and Demi’s story – hard truths and all – uniquely suits her to the kind of stories we feel fortunate to tell at Hulu.”

Lovato, OBB Media, and SB Projects are frequent collaborators, having previously worked together on the documentary series Demi Lovato: Dancing with the Devil, which was the opening night headliner at SXSW in 2021. Lovato and Ratner also co-directed the music video for the single, Dancing with the Devil. Most recently they collaborated on the podcast series, 4D with Demi Lovato.

Lovato serves as executive producer for her DLG banner.

J Balvin Returns to Longtime Agency William Morris Endeavor

J Balvin is back with a familiar team…

The 37-year-old Colombian singer, known as the Prince of Reggaeton, has returned to his longtime agency William Morris Endeavor (WME).

J BalvinThe move follows a short stint with United Talent Agency (UTA) that started in May. No reason was given for his departure from or return to WME.

Balvin left WME for UTA in May after postponing his 25-date José tour. The move was surprising considering Balvin’s long and storied history with the agency. WME began booking Balvin when he still an emerging artist, and the agency played an integral role in his global touring and branding, securing early placements for him in major festivals. 

UTA never formally announced its deal with Balvin, but the agency has been growing its Latin roster and currently represents several high-profile Latin stars. Bad Bunny, Balvin’s Universal Music labelmate Karol G and Brazilian powerhouse Anitta are all currently on UTA’s roster.

Balvin has grossed more than $20 million and sold over 300,000 tickets, according to figures reported to Billboard Boxscore. All six of the Colombian star’s full-length studio albums — including the collaborative Oasis album with Bad Bunny — have reached the top 10 on Billboard’s Top Latin Albums chart, with four of them hitting No. 1. He’s charted 93 hits on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart, including 35 top 10s and nine No. 1s. In every year from 2014 through 2021, he’s finished as one of the year’s top 10 artists on Billboard’s annual year-end Top Latin Artists chart.

Other WME Latin acts include Nicky JamJuanesOzuna and Shakira.

Balvin continues to be managed by longtime manager Fabio Acosta along with Scooter Braun’s SB Projects.

Demi Lovato to Chase UFOs on Peacock Four-Part Series

Demi Lovato is on the hunt for intelligent life…

The 28-year-old half-Mexican American actress/singer, who recently opened up about her struggles with drugs and sexual abuse in a YouTube docuseries, will be chasing UFOs for her next television project.

Demi Lovato,

Peacock has ordered the four-part series Unidentified with Demi Lovato (w/t), which will see the singer, her skeptical best friend Matthew and her sister Dallas attempt to help uncover the truth about the UFO phenomena.

While consulting with leading experts, the trio will investigate recent eyewitness encounters, uncover secret government reports and conduct tests at known UFO hot spots.

This comes after Lovato revealed on her Instagram page in October that she spent a few days in Joshua Tree with Dr. Steven Greer, who claims to be one of the “world’s foremost authorities on the subject of UFOs, ET intelligence and initiating peaceful contact with ET civilization” and witnessed “the most incredibly profound sightings both in the sky as well as feet away from me.”

“If we were to get 1% of the population to meditate and make contact, we would force our governments to acknowledge the truth about extraterrestrial life among us and change our destructive habits destroying our planet,” she wrote.

It’s Lovato’s latest project with the NBCUniversal family; she’s starring in and executive-producing Hungry, a food-issues comedy that was given a pilot order by NBC.

Unidentified With Demi Lovato is produced by GoodStory Entertainment in association with SB Projects. Lovato will executive produce with Scooter Braun, Scott Manson and Allison Kaye for SB Projects and JD Roth, Adam Greener and Sara Hansemann for GoodStory as well as Andrew Nock also executive produces and is showrunner.

NBC Gives Pilot Order to Demi Lovato’s Comedy Series “Hungry”

Demi Lovato is officially hungry

NBC has handed a pilot order to the 28-year-old half-Mexican American actress/singer’s Hungry.

Demi Lovato

Lovato is starring in and executive producing Hungry, a single-camera comedy that follows a group of friends who belong to a food issues group who help each other as they look for love, success and the perfect thing in the fridge that’s going to make it all better.

It’s written and executive produced by Will & Grace writer and Hot In Cleveland creator Suzanne Martin. It comes from Hazy Mills and SB Projects in association with Universal Television. Sean Hayes, Todd Milliner & Scooter BraunScott Manson and James Shin executive produce.

Hungry’s pilot order comes as Lovato’s recent documentary series Dancing with the Devil recently aired on YouTube. The four-parter documented Lovato her eating disorder as well as use of heroin and crack cocaine.

Demi Lovato to Star in the NBC Scripted Food Issues Comedy “Hungry”

Demi Lovato is hungry for new projects…

The 28-year-old part-Mexican American singer/actress will return to scripted television in a food issues comedy in the works at NBC.

Demi Lovato

Lovato, who got her break in the Disney Channel’s Camp Rock franchise and starred in Sonny with a Chance, is to star in and executive produce Hungry, which has received a put pilot commitment from NBC.

The single-camera comedy is being written and exec produced by Will & Grace writer and Hot In Cleveland creator Suzanne Martin. It comes from Hazy Mills and SB Projects in association with Universal Television.

Hungry follows a group of friends who belong to a food issues group help each other as they look for love, success and the perfect thing in the fridge that’s going to make it all better.

Lovato, herself, appeared in a guest role in the final season of Will & Grace, her first role since guest starring on Glee in 2013. The singer, who has battled bipolar disorder and addiction, is the subject of a YouTube Originals doc series Demi Lovato: Dancing with the Devil, which will premiere at SXSW.

Lovato and Martin will exec produce with Hazy Mills’ Sean Hayes and Todd Milliner and SB Projects’ Scooter Braun, James Shin and Scott Manson.

Amazon Studios Acquires Global Rights to J Balvin Documentary “The Boy From Medellin”

J Balvin’s colorful life story will be told around the world…

Amazon Studios has picked up the worldwide rights to director Matthew Heineman‘s The Boy From Medellín, a portrait of the 35-year-old Colombian reggaeton singer and Latin music star.

J Balvin

The Endeavor Content-backed feature-length documentary follows Balvin, the “Prince of Reggaeton” and a Latin Grammy-winning performer, in the lead-up to a sold-out 2019 homecoming concert performance in Medellín, Colombia.

The acquisition deal comes ahead of the documentary’s world premiere at the Toronto Film Festival on September 11 via the Bell Digital Cinema platform.

“Representing my country, my city and Latin culture globally is a lifelong pursuit and I’m so proud to be a son of Medellín. I’m honored to be able to tell my story in this beautiful way and working with Matthew on this project was an incredible experience. Thank you to Amazon for making sure this story can be seen around the world,” Balvin said in a statement.

The Boy From Medellin  — from Heineman, the director behind the biopic Private War  is produced by Our Time Projects and SB Projects.

“Filmmaker Matthew Heineman is a master of his craft, and beautifully depicts the perspective of an international music icon. We are thrilled to welcome Matthew back to the Amazon family and to share J Balvin’s story with our global customers,” Javiera Balmaceda, head of international originals in Argentina, Chile and Colombia for Amazon Studios, said in a statement.

J Balvin is one of today’s best-selling Latin music artists with sales of more than 35 million records (albums and singles) worldwide. His breakthrough came in 2014 with “Ginza” and the single “6 AM” featuring Puerto Rican singer Farruko, which peaked at number 2 on theBillboard Hot Latin Songs chart.

Demi Lovato to Host Talk Show on Quibi

Demi Lovatois ready to talkthings up a notch…

The 27-year-old half-Mexican American singer/actress, who performed the National Anthem at the Super Bowl last weekend, will lead a talk show for the upcoming shortform digital service Quibi.

Demi Lovato

The platform has greenlighted Pillow Talk with Demi Lovato(working title), a 10-episode series fronted by the Grammywinner that will feature candid, unfiltered conversations between Lovato and guests — both experts and celebrities — exploring topics such as: activism, body positivity, gender identity, sex, relationships, social media and wellness.

“I’ve always considered myself someone that speaks honestly about issues that face my generation,” Lovato said. “We’re excited to bring those frank conversations to a public forum, where people can have the opportunity to relate to the topics and guests, while finding room for laughter and learning.”

Produced by Goodstory Entertainmentand SB ProjectsPillow Talk with Demi Lovato is executive produced by Lovato, Scooter BraunAllison Kayeand Scott MansonJD Rothand Adam Greener.

Founded by Jeffrey Katzenbergand led by CEO Meg Whitman, Quibi launches on April 6.

J Balvin Signs Management Deal with Scooter Braun’s SB Projects

It’s a Braun new day for J Balvin

The 34-year-old Colombian reggaeton singer has signed a management deal with Scooter Braun’s SB Projects, according to Billboard.

J Balvin will be the latest addition to a superstar SB roster that includes Justin Bieber and Ariana Grande, and in May added Demi Lovato and Idina Menzel.

“We are very excited to be working with my long-time friend J Balvin,” Braun said in a statement provided to Billboard. “He is not only an incredible talent, but his work ethic and creativity are what has allowed him to be one of the top global acts in any language. He loves his culture and his energy is contagious. We are excited for this new adventure together.”

“It was meant to be, not before not after, the time is now!!” J Balvin said in a statement. “And we are READY TO MAKE HISTORY. Life is perfect and I’m grateful with life for all the blessings and this makes part of my new beginning, because honestly we haven’t started yet; it’s time to show that we are more global than ever and that we can conquer the planet in Spanish, and make a new statement. Latino Gang, it’s global gang!! Let’s go patineta,” he added, using the Spanish word for “scooter.”