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DOCUMENTARY CHANNEL SHARES IN THE OLYMPIC SPIRIT WITH
SPECIAL 12-HOUR PROGRAMMING EVENT ON CHINA
SET FOR MONDAY, AUGUST 4
Network to Hold U.S. Television Premieres of "Made in China" and "The World's Largest Studio," As Part of DOC's "Primetime Premieres" Lineup
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (July 24, 2008) --- Documentary Channel will help celebrate the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China by holding a special 12-hour programming event devoted to documentaries covering diverse aspects and issues related to China, including two exclusive premiere telecasts during the network's "Primetime Premieres" Monday, August 4. The special is highlighted by the U.S. television premieres of John Helde's critically acclaimed "Made in China" at 8 p.m. ET/PT and "World's Largest Studio" at 10 p.m. ET/PT.
"The 2008 Olympic Summer Games in Beijing next month is a much anticipated worldwide event and, as a precursor, we will be showcasing a special lineup of China-themed documentaries that should help our audience better connect with this fascinating host country," says Tom Neff, Documentary Channel founder and CEO. "This outstanding collection of films explores China's culture, business and history, and should provide viewers with an educational and enlightening perspective on China heading into the Games."
DOC is available on DISH Network (Channel 197), and several broadcast stations in major markets including NYC TV (Channel 25) throughout the greater New York metropolitan area. The network's special programming schedule of China-themed documentaries is as follows:
August 4-5, 2008 - Documentary Channel Schedule of China-Themed Films
- "Sunrise Over Tiananmen Square" 5:00 p.m. ET
- "Mardi Gras: Made in China" 5:30 p.m. ET
- "Children of Blessing" 7:00 p.m. ET
- "Made in China" 8:00 p.m. ET
- "Zhang Empresses" 9:00 p.m. ET
- "The World's Largest Studio" 10:00 p.m. ET
- "Made in China" 11:00 p.m. ET
- "Zhang Empresses" 12:00 a.m. ET
- "The World's Largest Studio" 1:00 a.m. ET
- "Sunrise Over Tiananmen Square" 2:00 a.m. ET
- "Mardi Gras: Made in China" 2:30 a.m. ET
- "Children of Blessing" 4:00 a.m. ET
"Made in China" follows filmmaker John Helde's quest across modern China to achieve a deeper understanding of where he came from ,exploring his white American father Tom's birth on a remote Chinese mountaintop and subsequent upbringing in Sichuan and Hunan provinces in the 1930's. This documentary explores themes of home, identity, and honoring the past through the unique tale of an American boy being raised with a foot in two cultures.
"I'm thrilled that Documentary Channel is programming the exclusive premiere of 'Made in China' as part of this special event," says Helde. "With eyes around the world on the upcoming Olympics it's a particularly appropriate time to think about an American connection to China not too many people know about. Thousands of Americans actually grew up in pre-Mao China - my father was one of them, and that family connection offered a way to tell a unique story about growing up abroad, fathers and sons, and the meaning of home."
Directed by Charlie Moretti and Matt Clarke and distributed by the National Film Board of Canada, "The World's Largest Studio" highlights the ambitious undertaking by several Chinese businessmen in 1996 when they began what would become the world's largest entertainment production studio, the Hengdian World Studios, located a few hours south of Shanghai. Larger than Universal's and Paramount's combined, Hengdian features 12 motion picture shooting sites spanning different periods of Chinese history. Now covering more than 800 acres, the studios started with just 2,000 yuan (U.S. $261) and 12 years later, it is the most successful production studio in China, having produced acclaimed films such as Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Hero, among others.
About Documentary Channel: Documentary Channel (DOC) is the USA's first 24-hour television network exclusively devoted to documentary films and is the Voice of the Independent Documentary Filmmaker. DOC seeks out and showcases independent, cutting-edge and international non-fiction programming rarely seen in the U.S., and often then only in film festivals or other special venues. Many of DOC's programs are U.S. or world premieres on television. DOC is the television viewer's round-the-clock opportunity to see fascinating, eclectic and award-winning documentary films of all lengths and genres, from classics to cutting-edge.
DOC has created partnerships and relationships with world-renowned organizations and festivals to bring the world's greatest documentaries to television, often for the first time. These organizations include The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, The International Documentary Association, The National Film Board of Canada, Los Angeles Festival, Nashville Film Festival, Hot Springs, HotDocs, Durango Film Festival, Reel Women, and many others. In addition, DOC has teamed up with distinguished educational institutions including USC School of Cinema and the Academy of Art in San Francisco, among others, to introduce young, future documentary filmmakers to the viewing public.
Headquartered in Nashville, Tenn., with offices in New York and Los Angeles, Documentary Channel was founded by CEO and Oscar-nominated documentary filmmaker Tom Neff. DOC launched on DISH Network (Channel 197) in January 2006, and now reaches over 21 million homes nationwide. DOC is carried by several broadcast stations in major television markets including NYC TV (Channel 25) throughout the greater New York metropolitan area. DOC's Web site is located at www.documentarychannel.com. DOC was recognized after its first year as co-winner of the Emmy for Best Feature Documentary at the 28th Annual News & Documentary Emmy Awards for the film, "Shake Hands with the Devil: The Journey of Romeo Dallaire."
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