The Obama s Striking Deal With Netflix

 

Netflix is in talks with former President Barack Obama for a new series.

 The New York Times reports that the deal would have Obama and his wife, Michelle Obama, provide content that would only be available on Netflix. Sources close to the deal indicate that the series might focus on inspirational stories or feature moderated discussions of the topics that were highlights of the Obamas’ time in the White House.

The report indicates that some episodes could feature conversations on health care or voting rights moderated by Barack Obama, while Michelle Obama might moderate a show focusing on nutrition, for example. Other potential show ideas rumored for the deal include documentaries or other projects endorsed by and possibly introduced by the Obamas.

Executives from Apple and Amazon have also reportedly been in talks with the former president and first lady.

Terms of the Netflix deal are unknown at this point.

The Portraits Of Brack & Michelle Obama

Kehinde Wiley, Barack Obama, 2018. © 2018 Kehinde Wiley. Courtesy of the National Portrait Gallery, Washington D.C.

Amy Sherald, Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama, 2018. Courtesy of the National Portrait Gallery, Washington D.C

© 2018 Pete Souza. Courtesy of the National Portrait Gallery, Washington D.C.

 

The unveiling of the portraits of President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama has created an unprecedented surge of interest in both portraitists, especially Amy Sherald, whose work was relatively new to the market before her commission.

For Sherald, a 44-year-old Baltimore painter who produces roughly a dozen works a year, the demand is so strong it’s basically blown up the waitlist for her paintings, which had been growing ever since demand spiked for the artist’s limited number of works, following her first solo show at Monique Meloche Gallery in Chicago in 2016.

© 2018 Pete Souza. Courtesy of the National Portrait Gallery, Washington D.C.

“The ability to be the first African American painter to paint the first African American president of the United States,” said Wiley, “It doesn’t get any better than that.”

The Obamas were the first African American family in the White House, now they are  the first African Americans in the National Portrait Gallery’s collection of presidential portraits. The National Portrait Gallery was established in 1962, and is housed in the Old Patent Office Building in Washington’s Chinatown.

The Obamas at their luxury $2,500-a-night Indonesian resort enjoy some rafting with the whole family

 

Making a splash: The Obamas enjoy whitewater rafting down the Ayung River- although Malia (front) looks a bit surprised

Ever no drama Obama, the former president looked typically relaxed as he enjoyed some family time on the island of Bali

The family arrived at a military airport via Guam on Friday evening, with Ngurah Rai Military Air Base commander Col. I Wayan Superman enforcing security measures along with scores of soldiers and police officers.

Prior to their landing, the commander told the Jakarta Post the Obamas’ private jet would have priority, although they would try to minimize any disruptions to the other flights.

Soldiers fell into formation in Bali, Indonesia, on Friday in preparation for the Obamas’ five-day vacation

The Obamas are enjoying some rest and relaxation at the Four Seasons, where freestanding villas come with a private pool and a spacious sun terrace overlooking the lush rice fields surrounding the Ayung River. Pictured, the Four Seasons spa

With anti-gravity yoga classes, spa sessions and river rafting, the Obamas will have plenty to do for five days before the former president heads to the island of Java

 

Penguin Random House has won in a bidding war for a pair of books by Barack and Michelle Obama.The books are likely to be released in 2018, but there are no official publication dates yet. The publishing house announced the book deal last Tuesday night. CEO Markus Dohle said it would work with the former first couple to “make each of their books global publishing events of unprecedented scope and significance.”

The Financial Times reported that auction between several prominent book publishers had surpassed the $60 million mark. It is speculative as to  how much Penguin Random House ultimately paid for the two books. The parties involved declined to comment on the terms of the deal.  But the FT said it amounted to “a record sum for US presidential memoirs.”

According to the publishers announcement, the Obamas “plan to donate a significant portion of their author proceeds to charity, including the Obama Foundation.”

Additionally, Penguin Random House will donate one million books “in the Obama family’s name.The couple’s books will be published separately, but publishing houses vied for the rights to the books together. Their Lawyer and literary agent Bob Barnett, represented the couple in the joint book deal.

Former President Obama’s past books were published by Penguin Random House, so the new deal continues a two-decade-long relationship.

Books by the Obamas are virtually guaranteed to be best-sellers, selling millions of copies and generating weeks of media attention.Book industry bidding wars get competitive for other reasons as well. The opportunity to be in business with a famous figure like a former president is a factor.

George W. Bush reportedly received about $10 million for the rights to to his memoir from Crown publishing company.

Michelle Obama Presents Awards To 10 Libraries & Museums

The medals are given each year to 10 cultural institutions for their  outstanding service to their  communities. The 21st annual event was held in the East Room of the White House.

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