Grey Goose Entertainment and Sundance Channel Announce Talent Pairings for Fourth Season of 'Iconoclasts' Premiering October 16 at 10 PM ET/PT
Produced By Sundance Channel And Grey Goose Entertainment
An @radical.media Production, Fourth Season To Feature: Archbishop
Desmond Tutu + Sir Richard Branson; Stella McCartney + Edward Ruscha; Tony
Hawk + Jon Favreau; Bill Maher + Clive Davis; Venus Williams + Wyclef Jean;
Cameron Diaz + Cameron Sinclair
'One of the best documentary series on television.' - Whitney Matheson,
USA Today, October 24, 2007
'In any case, they are not sitting in a TV Studio, under TV lights,
falling back on their professional personalities. The result seems at once
more casual and more fabulous -like peeking over a fence at the Saturday
afternoon party.' - Los Angeles Times, October 21, 2007
NEW YORK, Aug. 18 -- Sundance Channel and Grey Goose
Entertainment today unveiled the six pairings set to appear during the
fourth season of the Sundance Channel original television series
"Iconoclasts." Each hour-long episode of the six-part series features two
leading innovators from different fields who come together to discuss their
passions and creative processes. "Iconoclasts" debuts Thursday, October 16,
2008, at 10 PM ET/PT and is executive produced by Robert Redford.
"Iconoclasts" is produced by @radical.media and directed by Joe
Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky (the filmmakers behind Metallica: Some Kind of
Monster).
Participants for Season Four are: Anglican Archbishop Desmond Tutu and
entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson; fashion designer Stella McCartney and
artist Edward Ruscha; skateboarder Tony Hawk and filmmaker/actor Jon
Favreau; political humorist Bill Maher and music industry executive Clive
Davis; tennis champion Venus Williams and musician/producer Wyclef Jean;
and actress Cameron Diaz and architect Cameron Sinclair.
"We are very excited about the pairings in this season of
'Iconoclasts'" said Laura Michalchyshyn, Sundance Channel GM. "Each
'Iconoclast' has made significant impact in their respective fields and
watching them share their worlds with those that inspire them makes each
episode entertaining and engrossing."
"Iconoclasts" pairs two leading creative innovators from different
fields including film, sports, architecture, fashion, food, music, and
business. Unlike an ordinary interview program, "Iconoclasts" captures the
essence of these headline-makers through the eyes of the creative
visionaries who respect and admire them the most. The "Iconoclasts" visit
each other's worlds to explore their creative process, their inspirations
and their passions. Each pair provides viewers with an inside glimpse into
the inspiration and motivation that made these iconoclasts who they are
today and offers insight into the real people behind the public personae.
Season one of "Iconoclasts" featured: actor Samuel L. Jackson and
basketball legend Bill Russell, fashion designer Tom Ford and artist Jeff
Koons, chef Mario Batali and musician Michael Stipe, producer Brian Grazer
and CEO Sumner Redstone, actress Renee Zellweger and news correspondent
Christiane Amanpour, and actor and environmentalist Robert Redford and
actor and philanthropist Paul Newman.
Season two featured: Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder and big-wave surfer Laird
Hamilton; dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov and chef Alice Waters; filmmaker
Quentin Tarantino and singer/songwriter Fiona Apple; actress Isabella
Rossellini and inventor Dean Kamen; music great Paul Simon and producer
Lorne Michaels; and comedian Dave Chappelle and poet Maya Angelou.
Season three featured: actor/filmmaker Sean Penn and author/adventurer
Jon Krakauer; singer/songwriter Alicia Keys and actress Ruby Dee; actor
Mike Myers and physician, author, and philosopher Dr. Deepak Chopra;
entrepreneur Howard Schultz and writer/producer Norman Lear;
musician/Artistic Director of Jazz at Lincoln Center Wynton Marsalis and
chef John Besh; and former U.S Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and
actress and humanitarian Ashley Judd.
"Iconoclasts" is executive produced by Robert Redford; Jon Kamen, Frank
Scherma and Justin Wilkes of @radical.media; Monsell Darville of Grey Goose
Entertainment; and Laura Michalchyshyn, Lynne Kirby and Kirk Iwanowski of
Sundance Channel; and co-executive produced by Sidney Beaumont and Joe
Berlinger. The series producers are Rachel Dawson and Christine Walters.
Supervising Producer for Sundance Channel is Mala Chapple.
Current broadcast schedule (subject to change) is as follows:
Archbishop Desmond Tutu + Sir Richard Branson (Oct. 16 at 10 PM ET/PT)
Stella McCartney + Edward Ruscha + (Oct. 23 at 10 PM ET/PT)
Tony Hawk + Jon Favreau (Oct. 30 at 10 PM ET/PT)
Bill Maher + Clive Davis (Nov. 6 at 10 PM ET/PT)
Venus Williams + Wyclef Jean (Nov. 13 at 10 PM ET/PT)
Cameron Diaz + Cameron Sinclair (Nov. 20 at 10 PM ET/PT)
SUBJECT BIOGRAPHIES
Archbishop Desmond Tutu
In 1979, Anglican priest and Bishop of Lesotho Desmond Mpilo Tutu
became the first black General Secretary of the South African Council of
Churches. He spoke strongly and fearlessly against the evil of apartheid,
calling on the international community to impose economic sanctions against
South Africa towards a non-violent change. He won the Nobel Peace Prize in
1984 and was elected the first black Anglican bishop of Johannesburg. In
1986 he was installed as Archbishop of Cape Town, and he continued to be
untiring in his denunciation of apartheid. In 1994, after the end of
Apartheid and the election of Nelson Mandela as the first President of a
free South Africa, Archbishop Tutu was appointed Chairman of South Africa's
Truth and Reconciliation Commission, to investigate apartheid-era crimes.
His policy of forgiveness and reconciliation has become an international
example of conflict resolution, and a trusted method of post-conflict
reconstruction. He continues to pursue an active international ministry for
peace.
Sir Richard Branson
Sir Richard Branson is the founder and president of Virgin Group, one
of the world's most recognized and respected brands. The Virgin Group has
expanded into air and ground travel, telecommunications, financial
services, health, space travel and clean energy. In 1999, Branson was
awarded a knighthood for "services to entrepreneurship." In an effort to
develop new approaches to social and environmental issues through business
and social sector partnerships, Branson founded the not-for-profit
foundation Virgin Unite. Beginning in September 2006, he committed future
proceeds from the Virgin Group's transportation interests to investment
into renewable energy initiatives. He also announced a $25 million prize
for a viable technology that achieves net removal of anthropogenic,
atmospheric greenhouse gases. Recently, he joined Nelson Mandela, Graca
Machel and Desmond Tutu to form The Elders, a group of independent leaders
seeking sustainable solutions to global humanitarian issues. In December
2007, Branson was recognized by UNCA as Citizen of the Year.
Stella McCartney
Born and raised in London, Stella McCartney graduated from Central St
Martins in 1995. Her signature style of sharp tailoring, natural confidence
and sexy femininity has made her one of the world's top fashion designers.
After an acclaimed tenure as Creative Director of Chloe in Paris, McCartney
launched her own fashion house, showing her first collection in Paris in
October 2001. She now operates stores in eight cities worldwide; in
addition to ready-to-wear, her collections include accessories, eyewear,
fragrance, and the critically lauded sports performance line "adidas by
Stella McCartney," launched in 2004. In 2007, she introduced the world's
first luxury organic skincare line, CARE by Stella McCartney; this was
followed in Spring 2008 by a lingerie line and a limited edition travel
collection with LeSportsac. A lifelong vegetarian, McCartney does not use
any leather or fur in her designs. She has received numerous awards
recognizing her achievements in fashion and social awareness
Edward Ruscha
Born in 1937 in Omaha, Nebraska, Edward Ruscha was raised in Oklahoma
City, Oklahoma. In 1956, he moved to Los Angeles to attend the Chouinard
Art Institute, and had his first solo exhibition in 1963 at the Ferus
Gallery. He continues to live and work in Los Angeles, and is represented
by Gagosian Gallery. Ruscha has consistently combined the cityscape of his
adopted hometown with vernacular language to communicate a particular urban
experience. His work encompasses painting, drawing, photography and
artist's books, and he has been the subject of numerous museum
retrospectives that have traveled internationally. In 2001, he was elected
to The American Academy of Arts and Letters and in 2005 he represented the
United States at the 51st Venice Biennale. Ruscha's paintings and drawings
are currently the subject of a 13 volume catalogue raisonne, the first
volume of which was published in 2003. A major painting retrospective will
open at the Hayward Gallery, London in 2009.
Tony Hawk
Skateboarding legend Tony Hawk has dazzled fans with his physical skill
and artistry since he turned pro at age 14. Hawk's talents have brought
skateboarding unprecedented mainstream attention and respect, which has
helped legitimize all action sports. Now 40 and still skating
professionally, Hawk invented more than 80 tricks and is best known for his
"900" (two and a half spins above a 12-foot-high halfpipe), which existed
only in theory until he landed it at the 1999 X-Games. He has written three
books, including the bestselling autobiography, "HAWK: Occupation
Skateboarder," and has released a series of hit video games. The Tony Hawk
video game series is now one of the best-selling franchises of all time,
with more than 30 million units sold worldwide. In recent years Hawk has
expanded his licensing, media and event businesses into some of the biggest
brands in action sports. He is an active participant in the Make-a-Wish
Foundation, and his non-profit charity, the Tony Hawk Foundation, has
awarded over $2.3 million to help finance over 390 public skateparks in
low-income areas nationwide.
Jon Favreau
Eleven years after establishing himself with the acclaimed hipster
comedy, Swingers, Jon Favreau continues to challenge himself with a variety
of eclectic projects highlighting his strengths as an actor, writer and
director. As a director, Favreau most recently released Iron Man, starring
Robert Downey Jr. As an actor, he is currently filming I Love You, Man; he
next appears in Four Christmases, opening in late 2008. His directing
credits include the intergalactic adventure Zathura and the 2003 holiday
classic Elf, starring Will Ferrell. In 2001, he made his feature
directorial debut with Made; he also wrote and co-starred with Vince Vaughn
and Sean "Puffy" Combs. Favreau conceived and hosted the Emmy(TM)-nominated
IFC series "Dinner For Five," which premiered in 2001. His acting credits
include The Break Up; the title role in the Rocky Marciano biopic Marciano;
Wimbledon; Daredevil; Love and Sex; The Replacements; Very Bad Things; Deep
Impact; Rudy; "Friends"; and "The Sopranos," playing himself.
Bill Maher
For the last 15 years, Bill Maher has set the boundaries of where
funny, political talk can go on American television. First on "Politically
Incorrect" (Comedy Central, ABC, 1993-2002), and for the last six years on
HBO's "Real Time," Maher's combination of unflinching honesty and big
laughs have garnered him 21 Emmy nominations. And in October of 2008, this
same combination will be on display in the movies when Maher's uproarious
and unprecedented swipe at organized religion, "Religulous," directed by
Larry Charles ("Borat") hits theaters.
Clive Davis
As the record industry's most innovative, outspoken and influential
executive, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member Clive Davis has had a profound
effect on the world of music. As the president of Columbia Records from
1967-1973, he was directly responsible for signing artists including Janis
Joplin, Santana, Laura Nyro, Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen and Aerosmith.
Davis strengthened Columbia's catalog in all fields of recorded music,
playing a key role in the careers of Simon & Garfunkel, Sly & The Family
Stone, Bob Dylan, Barbra Streisand, Miles Davis and Herbie Hancock. In
1974, he founded Arista Records, where he launched the recording careers of
Whitney Houston, Barry Manilow and Patti Smith. In 2000, Davis formed J
Records, enjoying the first of many successes with Alicia Keys'
Grammy(R)-winning debut. Davis' triumph at J led to his joining the BMG
Record Group in 2003. A longtime humanitarian activist, Davis has
spearheaded the donation of millions of dollars to AIDS charities since
1985 and in 2003 he endowed the first ever degree awarded program in
contemporary music establishing the Clive Davis Department of Recorded
Music at NYU's Tisch School.
Venus Williams
At the tender age of 14, Venus Williams became a professional athlete,
taking the world of tennis by storm. Fiercely determined and wielding an
impressive physical prowess, she spent the next decade rising to the
top-ranked position and winning numerous championships, including the U.S.
Open, Wimbledon and doubles at the Australian Open and French Open, as well
as two Olympic Gold medals. In July 2008, she won her fifth Wimbledon
Championship in a riveting match against her sister Serena Williams,
joining the handful of legendary women's singles tennis champions who have
won five or more Wimbledon Championships. Known for her distinctive style,
Williams earned a degree in Fashion Design from The Art Institute of Ft.
Lauderdale. Now 28, she is a successful entrepreneur with her own line of
sneakers, clothing and accessories, "EleVen"; and an interior design firm,
V Starr Interiors. She is the subject of a new coffee-table book, "Venus,"
with images by world-renowned avant-garde photographer, Koto Bolofo.
Wyclef Jean
Haitian-born Wyclef Jean is a Grammy Award-winning musician/producer
and social activist. A founding member of the pioneering hip-hop group
Fugees and prolific solo artist, Jean has effortlessly crossed genres,
generations and geographic boundaries as a musical goodwill ambassador and
a diplomat for positive cultural evolution. His sixth and latest studio
solo album is "Carnival Vol. II: Memoirs of an Immigrant." His albums with
the Fugees include the platinum-selling 1996 classic "The Score," which
reached the #1 slots on Billboard's Top 200 and Top R&B/Hip-Hop albums
charts and earned two Grammy Awards. Much in demand as a producer, writer
and performer, he has collaborated with artists including Bono, Carlos
Santana, Whitney Houston and Shakira. In 2005, Jean created the non-profit
foundation Yele Haiti to provide aid and assistance to his native Haiti.
The charity links with existing groups and/or starts programs relating to
hunger, education, youth rehabilitation, AIDS treatment and prevention, and
sustainable development.
Cameron Diaz
Cameron Diaz made her feature film debut at age 21 in the hit 1994
comedy The Mask. She has since appeared in over 30 feature films, emerging
as one of the most talented actresses of her generation and winning
numerous awards. She has given critically acclaimed performances in a wide
range of films, including My Best Friend's Wedding, There's Something About
Mary, Being John Malkovich, Any Given Sunday, Charlie's Angels, Shrek,
Vanilla Sky, Gangs of New York, The Holiday, In Her Shoes and, most
recently, What Happens in Vegas. She also produced a 10-episode worldwide
adventure series, entitled Trippin for MTV. Diaz is a committed
environmentalist and has been trained to deliver Al Gore's presentation on
climate change, a grass-roots efforts to raise awareness around the world.
She has been a guest lecturer on environmentally friendly building at
Stanford University as part of a popular MTVU program. A longtime supporter
of the Environmental Media Association, she has filmed public service
announcements about the importance of conserving energy.
Cameron Sinclair
Cameron Sinclair is the co-founder and 'eternal optimist' for
Architecture for Humanity, a charitable organization founded to develop
architectural and design solutions to humanitarian crises and provide
pro-bono design services to communities in need. The organization has
completed over one hundred projects in seventeen countries ranging from
schools, health clinics, affordable housing and long term sustainable
reconstruction. Most recently they have been rebuilding after Hurricane
Katrina and developed HIV/AIDS outreach centers throughout Africa. Named by
Fortune Magazine as one of seven people changing the world for the better
he was the recipient of the TED prize in 2006, was recently selected a
Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum, and is the recipient of
Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum's the 2008 Smithsonian National
Design Awards for Design Patron Award. As a result of the TED Prize he and
Architecture for Humanity co-founder Kate Stohr launched the Open
Architecture Network, the world's first open source community dedicated to
improving living conditions through innovative and sustainable design.
Sinclair and Stohr also compiled a compendium on socially conscious design
titled "Design Like You Give A Damn".
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 http://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.
Grey Goose Entertainment
Founded in April 2005, Grey Goose Entertainment is dedicated to
producing original and unique content for television, music and film. Each
innovative project reflects the spirit of GREY GOOSE Vodka and celebrates
the interests of the consumer. Season one of "Iconoclasts" was the first
production from Grey Goose Entertainment. In addition to season one and
season two of "Iconoclasts" Grey Goose Entertainment supports THE ARTISTS
DEN, an innovative enterprise that curates the best new music from around
the globe, which it showcases in unique and intimate venues.
@radical.media
@radical.media is a diverse global production company which has
produced numerous award-winning feature films and television programs
including the Academy Award(R)-winning "Fog of War," the Grammy Award
winning "Concert For George," "Metallica: Some Kind of Monster" winner of
the Independent Spirit Award and Jay-Z's "Fade To Black." Additionally, the
company produced the first and second season of the critically acclaimed
television series "Iconoclasts" on the Sundance Channel, "The Gamekillers"
and "Nike Battlegrounds" on MTV, "Fast Cars and Superstars" on ABC and the
Emmy winning-series "Ten Days That Unexpectedly Changed America" for the
History Channel.
For more information go to http://www.sundancechannel.com/iconoclasts.
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