No nepotism at Netflix.
Despite her husband being the chief content officer of Netflix, Nicole Avant says she had to “pitch and pitch” her acclaimed “Black Godfather” documentary to the streaming service before it got the green light.
Avant appeared on a panel at Stephanie and Floyd Rance’s 17th annual Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival and, according to an audience member, “she said that at first [her husband Ted Sarandos] wasn’t feeling it for Netflix, but when she told him she had two presidents confirmed to appear in the doc, that’s when he said it’s a go.”
Bill Clinton and Barack Obama are both in the film, which tells the story of Avant’s music executive father, Clarence Avant. Diddy, Irving Azoff, Clive Davis, Jamie Foxx, Lionel Richie and Motown legend Suzanne de Passe are also featured in the film. De Passe received a standing ovation after the screening. David Letterman sat behind her and Sarandos. “After the lights came on, fans noticed him and he had to take at least 100 selfies,” said a spy. “His wife was trying her best to move him along, but he was into it and didn’t say no.”