Network Centralizes Original Programming Team to Support Growing Slate of Documentaries and Series
Critically-Acclaimed The Henry Rollins Show Returning for Season Three in ’07;
Greg the Bunny Returning for Season Two in November ’06;
New Original Docs The Bridge, Does Your Soul Have a Cold? and 3-part Documentary Series, Indie Sex, Slated for ’07
New York, NY, August 23, 2006 – The Independent Film Channel (IFC), the first and largest network dedicated to independent film, announced today that it has created an all-encompassing position to oversee the network’s growing slate of original programming. Debbie DeMontreux, IFC’s Vice President of Original Programming, will take on the expanded role at the network and will oversee the development and production of: original series, both fiction and non-fiction; documentaries and features; specials, including live broadcast events for the network and topical specials; IFC News, reporting on breaking stories and cultural events; and the network’s long and short form packages. Previously, DeMontreux served as the network’s Vice President of Original Series and Specials.
Reaffirming the network’s commitment to original programming, today’s announcement also includes an expansive slate of series and documentaries on the horizon for IFC. In November, the network will return for a second season with its original comedy series Greg the Bunny, and coming back for a third season in 2007 is the network’s critically-acclaimed signature series, The Henry Rollins Show. Also slated for 2007 is a lineup of powerful documentaries including The Bridge, Does Your Soul Have a Cold? and the three-part doc, Indie Sex.
Today’s announcement comes on the heels of the network’s season-long “Summer of IFC” campaign which included an extensive programming line-up of pulp indie films in June for ‘Pulp Month’; the premiere of the IFC Original Documentary Fabulous! The Story of Queer Cinema supported by a slate of gay-themed programming in July for ‘Queer Month’; and the premiere of its two new original series, The Minor Accomplishments of Jackie Woodman and The Business in August. The series have garnered critical acclaim and anchor the network’s Friday night programming line-up. IFC is also gearing up for the ambitious release of its controversial documentary, This Film is Not Yet Rated, which offers a breakthrough investigation into the MPAA film ratings system and its profound effect on American culture. The film, produced by the IFC network and from Academy Award-nominated director Kirby Dick, will hit theaters in September and air on IFC in January.
“After a successful turn last summer with our first entry into the scripted series arena, and the overwhelming success of our current lineup of originals, it is a natural next step for us to centralize the network’s original programming infrastructure to support IFC’s growing line-up of docs and series,” stated Evan Shapiro, IFC’s Executive Vice President and General Manager. “Debbie shares the network’s passion and dedication for creating engaging original programming that our viewers enjoy – and her track record of success more than warrants her expanded role within the company.”
“IFC is a destination where viewers come for great stories and storytelling, and there are a lot of exciting projects on the horizon that are a perfect fit for the uncut, uncensored network,” said DeMontreux. “I look forward to taking on this expanded role and am committed to bringing our viewers an ongoing lineup of engaging original programming.”
In addition to overseeing the two new series, DeMontreux has been responsible for the development and production of numerous originals for IFC including: The Festival, a ‘verite satire’ about a filmmaker taking his first movie to a film festival; Hopeless Pictures, an animated scripted comedy about a movie studio, and IFC’s exclusive coverage of the Independent Spirit Awards. Past IFC projects developed by DeMontreux include Film School, a documentary series about three NYU film students; Ultimate Film Fanatic, a film fan competition show that gives film lovers a chance to show off their knowledge and fanaticism; Rocked With Gina Gershon, a documentary series offering an inside, no-holds-barred look at a rock concert tour performed by actress Gina Gershon.
Below are descriptions of IFC’s upcoming original programming announced today:
THE HENRY ROLLINS SHOW season 3 – 20 episodes, 1/2 hour
Hosted by Henry Rollins, singer, actor, author and self-proclaimed “anti-man,” this multi-dimensional show offers an uncensored approach to talk show programming with an independent voice that strikes a brilliant balance of humor, angst, art and intellect. The series features special guests joining Rollins to discuss and debate films, music, celebrities, and movie culture in America. During each 30-minute episode, outspoken Rollins offers topical conversations and subversive, no-holds-barred debates delivered to viewers in IFC’s uncut environment. In addition, the show features a musical performance each week.
GREG THE BUNNY season 2 – 6 episodes, 10-12 min
In Greg the Bunny, a comical series of puppet parodies, the cancellation of the main characters’ Fox sitcom is now just a painful memory. More current concerns are overdue rent and funding Warren the Ape’s drinking habit. So they’ve returned to where it all began: making film parodies for IFC. In season 2, each episode will precede the airing of the actual movie being parodied. Films to be parodied include: Monster, American Movie, Lost Highway, Being John Malkovich, Dogville, Velvet Goldmine. Monkeys with Checkbooks produces Greg the Bunny; Dan Milano, Spencer Chinoy and Sean Baker serve as the co-creators, writers and directors. Milano performs most of the characters.
THE BRIDGE
The Bridge is a provocative, unflinching account of the suicides at San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge, and a profound film about the human spirit in crisis, about compassion and the tenuous connections between life and death. The documentary offers a visual and visceral journey into one of life’s gravest taboos. The film is directed by Eric Steel and premiered at the 2006 Tribeca Film Festival.
INDIE SEX – AN IFC DOCUMENTARY SERIES – 3 x :70
Indie Sex is an IFC documentary trilogy by award-winning filmmakers Lisa Ades and Lesli Klainberg that explores the controversial, titillating and complicated topic of sex in cinema. Each documentary delves into a different sex genre in cinema, combining innovative verite footage, provocative film clips and compelling on-camera interviews with the industry’s leading actors, writers and directors.
- Indie Sex: Censored — Since the earliest film images were created, sex and nudity have been a part of cinema. Audiences have been both titillated and horrified by what they’ve seen. But who is to decide what is appropriate to show on screen? Indie Sex: Censored examines how filmmakers, the film industry and special interest groups have attempted to regulate the images that filmmakers create and who gets to see them.
- Indie Sex: Teens — Underage sex is one of the most taboo topics on screen and Indie Sex:Teens tells the story of teenage sex and sexuality on screen from Splendor in the Grass to Kids to Thirteen. Along the way, we track the blockbuster teen films of the 80s and the current trends that go farther than ever before.
- Indie Sex: Pushing the Envelope — The most controversial sex scenes are the ones that really push the envelope from Lolita to Secretary to Nine Songs. Indie Sex: Pushing the Envelope explores everything from real sex on screen, S&M, fetish, incest, pedophilia and more.
DOES YOUR SOUL HAVE A COLD?
This IFC original documentary offers viewers a look into the impact of exporting American definitions of depression and the use of antidepressants to the ancient culture of Japan in the last five years. In 1999 American pharmaceutical companies, seeking to expand their markets, helped to create a huge educational campaign to educate Japanese about mild depression. The campaign centers on the slogan “Does Your Soul Have A Cold?” Over the last five years in Japan, awareness of depression and sales of antidepressants have been rapidly on the rise. This documentary takes an intimate and compassionate look into the everyday lives of 3-5 Japanese people who take antidepressants, exploring their personal histories and their hopes and fears, and ultimately offering a perspective on the larger socio-cultural issues.
DeMontreux joined Rainbow Media’s Bravo Networks, comprised of Bravo (now owned by NBC) and IFC, as a scheduling coordinator in 1993, was promoted to production coordinator in 1995 and then named manager, packaging and production in 1996. She served as director of development and production for both networks beginning in 1999, and then solely for IFC when NBC purchased Bravo in December of 2002. During her tenure with Bravo, she worked on the development of series including “The It Factor,” “Musicians” and “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy.” In 2004, Ms. DeMontreux was promoted to vice president of original series and specials.
About IFC Television
The Independent Film Channel (IFC) is the first and most widely distributed network dedicated to independent film 24 hours a day, uncut, uncensored and commercial-free.
The network is part of IFC Companies — the only brand to operate in every area of independent film to include television, production, financing, distribution, digital, on-demand and exhibition. IFC Companies uses its unique cross-platform position to broaden the audience of independent film and to provide independent filmmakers with a strong voice. IFC Companies is a division of Rainbow Media Holdings, LLC.
About Rainbow Media Holdings LLC
Rainbow Media Holdings LLC is a subsidiary of Cablevision Systems Corporation (NYSE: CVC). Rainbow Media creates and manages some of the country’s most compelling and dynamic entertainment brands including popular national and regional television channels AMC, fuse, The Independent Film Channel (IFC), WE tv, and two FSN affiliated regional sports networks managed by Rainbow Sports Networks. The company also manages Mag Rack and sportskool, two original on-demand networks; VOOM HD Networks, the largest and most diverse suite of high definition channels available anywhere; IFC Entertainment, its film distribution, production and exhibition division; Rainbow Advertising Sales Corporation, its advertising sales division; and Rainbow Network Communications, its full service network programming origination and distribution company.