New Deal in Development for Original Series Bollywood Hero and Extensive Online Initiatives Timed With “Dot Com Month” Including First Ever Web Series: IFC Digital Original Getting Away with Murder
Debbie DeMontreux Promoted to Senior Vice President, Original Programming
New York, NY, May 7, 2007 – The Independent Film Channel (IFC) reaffirmed its commitment to expanding its original programming, on air and online, with a series of announcements today. Bollywood Hero, an 8-part, half-hour comedy series starring Chris Kattan (Saturday Night Live), is a new project in development for the network. In addition, IFC will debut its first-ever exclusive web series entitled Getting Away with Murder. The 13-episode online series, which is powered by IFC’s user-generated program Media Lab, will launch May 13 as part of “Dot Com Month”, joining an extensive list of other web initiatives for IFC.com. In conjunction with today’s announcement, IFC announced the promotion of Debbie DeMontreux to Senior Vice President of Original Programming.
“Debbie’s passion and dedication for creating the kind of original programming that could only air on IFC classifies her as one of the network’s most valuable players, and her promotion is a testament to the amazing work that she does,” said Evan Shapiro, IFC’s General Manager. “IFC is committed to developing unique content that aligns with the network’s uncut, uncensored environment – and we are more focused than ever on extending that value to ifc.com with an incredible batch of exclusive content.”
“With the recent success of our original series, including last summer’s The Minor Accomplishments of Jackie Woodman and The Business, IFC is making a long-term investment in original programming and I’m proud to be a part of the network’s evolution,” added DeMontreux.
The network’s 13-part exclusive online series Getting Away with Murder, which premieres on www.ifc.com on May 13 with a new webisode uploaded every week, is about a hit man, Seth Silver, who still lives with his overbearing, albeit loving mother and leads an extraordinary double life. In addition to the series, IFC is unveiling a variety of additional web initiatives timed to launch during May’s Dot Com Month. IFC will celebrate “31 Days of Profanity” throughout May, in which every day of the month ifc.com will highlight one of the greatest moments in movie profanity and its importance in film history. Online viewers will also get exclusive online access to the coveted Cannes Film Festival with the network’s two live web cams – one with a one-of-a-kind view overlooking the Red Carpet and the other on-site at the Festival with IFC NEWS Host Matt Singer delivering up-to-the-minute event coverage and celebrity interviews. IFC.com will also continue to build its online community with live chat rooms and exclusive content from such shows as The Henry Rollins Show, offering musical performances and clips of Rollins’ controversial rants.
Bollywood Hero, an original scripted series in development for IFC, follows comedian/actor Chris Kattan who plays himself in this otherwise fictional comedy. After growing tired of being rejected as Hollywood-leading man material, Kattan assembles an entourage and heads off to India in search of his ideal role…in Bollywood. The series is executive produced by Snackaholic and 3 Arts Entertainment in conjunction with Chris Kattan, as well as Evan Shapiro, Debbie DeMontreux and Rachel Smith for IFC.
Today’s announcement builds on a successful year of original programming for IFC. After premiering its critically-acclaimed, controversial documentary This Film Is Not Yet Rated in March, IFC announced another ambitious slate of documentaries including: The Bridge, a provocative, unflinching account of the suicides at San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge; Indie Sex, a 4-part documentary that explores the controversial, titillating and complicated topic of sex in cinema; Does Your Soul Have a Cold?, a compassionate look into the recent emergence of antidepressants in Japan; and Darkon, following the real-life adventures of an unusual group of weekend “warrior knights,” fantasy role-playing gamers whose live-action “battleground” is modern-day Baltimore. In addition, the network recently debuted season two of The Henry Rollins Show, and in August 2007, IFC will premiere season two of its critically-acclaimed original series, The Minor Accomplishments of Jackie Woodman and The Business.
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, DeMontreux was promoted to Vice President of Original Series and Specials, and most recently served as Vice President, Original Programming for IFC. DeMontreux has developed and executive produced several hit series for IFC, including Ultimate Film Fanatic, Greg the Bunny, The Minor Accomplishments of Jackie Woodman and The Business, as well as taken the reigns of the network’s non-fiction programming and live coverage of the Independent Spirit Awards.
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 is a leading producer of targeted, multi-platform programming for global distribution, creating and managing some of the world’s most compelling and dynamic entertainment brands, including AMC, IFC, WE tv, Rainbow Sports Networks managed FSN Bay Area and FSN New England, LIFESKOOL, SPORTSKOOL, and VOOM HD Networks. The company also manages Rainbow Advertising Sales Corporation, its advertising sales division, and Rainbow Network Communications, its full service network programming origination and distribution company.