Documentary Series Explores Most Influential Movies of All Time
New York, NY, May 18, 2005 – As part of an ongoing series of announcements during the annual Upfront, AMC announced today, that it has added the new original documentary series, Movies That Shook the World, to its growing line-up of 2005 original programming. Each half-hour episode will take a probing look at pivotal movies and examine how their releases sparked societal, cultural, and even political discourse and change. As the premiere destination for movies and movie culture on basic cable, AMC examines this story with a unique voice and signature approach that will provide viewers with a complete look at how Hollywood and movies affected our lives. Some of the seminal films that will be spotlighted in this series include: The Graduate, Birth of a Nation, Do the Right Thing, Fatal Attraction, and The China Syndrome. World of Wonder will produce the series.
Today's announcement comes on the heels of AMC's most successful year ever (2004). In 2005, AMC continues to post record ratings growth in total day and prime time households and key demo deliveries. The network experienced its best EVER 1Q in 1Q 2005 and posted double digit HH and key demo growth across every daypart year to year in April 2005. In addition, season to date (Oct 04 thru Apr 05) is pacing to be AMC's strongest season ever.
"Movies have helped shape our society and have provided Americans with a valuable mirror, reflecting our times and the issues we have faced throughout history," stated Rob Sorcher, AMC's Senior Vice President of Original Programming and Production. "As a network dedicated to movies and movie culture it is a natural progression for AMC to tell a story about how the movies we love have influenced our lives, and continue to shape the way we think, feel, act and respond to popular culture."
"With a stellar portfolio of projects and a solid reputation within the industry, we are able to attract well-known and respected Hollywood personalities, who share AMC's love for movies, to this series," said Randy Barbato of World of Wonder.
Among the hundreds of feature films released by Hollywood each year, every so often a movie appears that actually alters lives, influences culture – even changes history. "Movies That Shook The World," will spotlight some of the rare groundbreaking movies that did much more than simply entertain audiences. Through in-depth interviews and revealing clips, this new documentary series will explore why these landmark movies were so explosive when they were released, the new paths they blazed, and why they remain so influential today. Celebrities and industry veterans confirmed to participate in the series, include: Spike Lee, Michael Douglas, Glenn Close, Debbie Allen, Buck Henry, Peter Bart, Katherine Ross, Sherry Lansing, Anne Archer and Roger Ebert.
A pilot of "Movies That Shook The World" was commissioned by AMC in December. The episode examines the dramatic and timely impact of the movie The China Syndrome, released in March 1979. The movie's controversial plot line, exploring what could happen if a nuclear power plant were to leak, became a staggering reality a mere 13 days after the movie was released when Three Mile Island, Pennsylvania experienced a frighteningly similar scenario. Actor Michael Douglas, film critic Michael Medved, and many others provide insightful commentary on the impact the movie had on the public and the extraordinary connection it had to the real-life disaster.
AMC's commitment to original programming can be seen through its topical, timely and newsworthy documentary projects. The network has enjoyed success with its airings of Imaginary Witness: Hollywood and the Holocaust, Rated R: Republicans in Hollywood, and Hollywood and the Muslim World. Upcoming documentaries include Robert Stone's Hollywood Vietnam and Barak Goodman's Good Cop, Bad Cop. AMC also recently partnered with ABC News to co-produces a series of documentaries on newsworthy entertainment issues, including the business of film sanitizing, as seen in the network's most recent documentary offering, Bleep: Censoring Hollywood?.
"Movies That Shook The World" joins a growing list of original programming to be announced during the Upfront period. AMC previously announced "Celebrity Charades," executive produced by actor/director Bob Balaban, Chad Lowe and Hilary Swank. These new shows join AMC's already strong stable of network series, including "Sunday Morning ShootOut" and "Movie Club with John Ridley," providing viewers with original content focused on today's evolving movie culture.
The series is Executive Produced by Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato (Inside Deep Throat, Party Monster, Eyes of Tammy Faye) and the Supervising Producer for World of Wonder is Gabriel Rotello.
About AMC
AMC, a division of Rainbow Media's Entertainment Services, which also includes WE: Women's Entertainment and IFC Companies, is a 24-hour, movie-based network, dedicated to the American movie fan. The network, which reaches over 86,000,000 homes, offers a comprehensive library of popular movies and a critically-acclaimed slate of original programming that is a diverse, movie-based mix of original series, documentaries and specials. AMC has garnered many of the industry's highest honors, including 14 Emmy awards. AMC is "TV for movie people."
About World of Wonder
Based in both Los Angeles and London, World of Wonder is best known for award-winning films and documentaries such as "The Eyes of Tammy Faye," "Party Monster" (both Sundance Film Festival favorites) "Monica in Black and White" (HBO) and "The Hidden Fuhrer" (Cinemax). Previous AMC productions include ", "Hollywood Fashion Machine" and a biography of William Haines. Most recently World of Wonder have created and produced the hit series "Show Biz Moms and Dads" and the popular sequel "Show Dog Moms & Dads" for Bravo. World of Wonder has also produced and created numerous documentaries and non-fiction programs for Court TV, VH1, MTV and A&E in the States, as well as BBC, Channel 4, Channel 5 and ITV in the UK. Co-founders Randy Barbato and Fenton Bailey recently wrote and directed "Inside Deep Throat," a feature documentary about the classic adult film. More information about World of Wonder can be found on the WOW Report daily blog, www.worldofwonder.net.