Series to Premiere as Part of Third Season of THE GREEN in 2009
For Immediate Release, New York, New York, August 8, 2008 – Laura Michalchyshyn, Sundance Channel EVP and GM announced today that Sundance Channel has ordered a third season of the acclaimed eco-series "Big Ideas for a Small PlanetTM". The series first launched with THE GREEN in April, 2007 and will once again be produced for Sundance Channel by Scout Productions. Season 1 of "Big Ideas for a Small Planet" received the 2007 Environmental Media Award for Best Documentary.
"Big Ideas for a Small Planet" is a documentary series presenting the forward-thinking designers, products and processes that are on the leading edge of a new green world. Each episode revolves around a different green theme as it spotlights a specific innovation or innovator that has the potential to transform our everyday lives. The individuals profiled range from scientists to fashion and product designers, entrepreneurs to first-time inventors. The series also features a cast of recurring expert commentators including activists, scientists, writers and environmental personalities who provide the big-picture context to each week’s stories. Past innovators have included eco-fashion designer Linda Loudermilk, the founders of Amy’s Kitchen Rachel and Andy Berliner, and Adam and Lauren Gardner of ReVerb who help bands make their concerts more environmentally friendly. Past commentators have included award-winning scientist, geneticist, and author, Dr. David Suzuki, GOOD Magazine Founder Ben Goldhirsh, environmentalist Ed Begley Jr. and his wife Rachelle Carson and former Talking Heads front man and bicycle advocate David Byrne.
"Big Ideas for a Small Planet" is the centerpiece of Sundance Channel’s Tuesday night environmental programming block, THE GREEN, which presents a lively mix of original series, documentary premieres and interstitial series about the earth’s ecology year-round. Its original programs and interstitial segments, including "Its Not Easy Being Green", "Ecoists" and "Outrageous Wasters", provide viewers with ideas for how to work green, play green, eat green, dress green and live green.
"Big Ideas for a Small Planet" season 3 is executive produced by Michael Williams, David Collins and co-executive produced by Michael Selditch from Scout Productions and is overseen for Sundance Channel by Senior Vice President, Original Programming and Development Lynne Kirby and Director, Original Programming and Development Samuel J. Paul.
About Scout Productions:
With groundbreaking films and television series, including the Emmy Award® winning shows Queer Eye for the Straight Guy (Bravo/NBC) and Sox Appeal/Single Seats (NESN), Scout has evolved into a dynamic collective of award-winning media pioneers. Under the leadership of founders and principals David Collins and Michael Williams, and the creative direction of Rob Eric, Scout has maintained its commitment to "important stories, well told" with projects ranging from the long-running ABC Family series Knock First to Errol Morris’ documentary, The Fog of War, for which Williams received the 2004 Academy Award® for Best Documentary. Most recently, Scout began production on its third season of the award winning Sundance Channel series Big Ideas for a Small Planet, finished their second season of the Emmy Award winning Sox Appeal, world premiered their scripted series Sordid Lives and premiered their latest film, Transsiberian, starring Woody Harrelson, Emily Mortimer, and Sir Ben Kingsley, at the Sundance Film Festival and the Berlin Film Festival. Transsiberian, is currently showing in theaters.
About Sundance Channel:
Under the creative direction of Robert Redford, Sundance Channel is the television destination for independent-minded viewers seeking something different. Bold, uncompromising and irreverent, Sundance Channel offers audiences a diverse and engaging selection of films, documentaries, and original programs, all unedited and commercial free. Launched in 1996, Sundance Channel is subsidiary of Rainbow Media Holdings LLC. Sundance Channel operates independently of the non-profit Sundance Institute and the Sundance Film Festival, but shares the overall Sundance mission of encouraging artistic freedom of expression. Sundance Channel’s website address is www.sundancechannel.com.
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 content for global distribution, creating and managing some of the world’s most compelling and dynamic entertainment brands, including AMC, IFC, WE tv, Sundance Channel, LIFESKOOL, SPORTSKOOL, and VOOM HD Networks. Through IFC Entertainment, Rainbow Media also owns and manages the following: IFC Films, a leading distribution company for independent film; IFC Productions, a feature film production company that provides financing for select independent film projects; and IFC Center, a three screen, state-of-the-art cinema in the heart of New York’s Greenwich Village. Rainbow Media also operates Rainbow Advertising Sales Corporation, its advertising sales company; Rainbow Network Communications, its full service network programming origination and distribution company; and 11 Penn TV, a company that manages Rainbow Media’s NYC studios and post-production facilities.