EPIX: WILLIAM SHATNER'S NEXT FRONTIER
World Television Premiere of The Captains and Gonzo Ballet
"Shatnerpalooza" Lands July 21
New York, NY, May 18, 2011 - EPIX, the premium entertainment channel, video-on-demand and online service beams "Shatnerpalooza," the ultimate multi-platform experience, to viewers this summer. Kicking off Thursday, July 21 with a 48 hour on air marathon of William Shatner's movie and television work, "Shatnerpalooza" will launch simultaneously on all EPIX platforms: the EPIX channel, SVOD service, EpixHD.com and will also be available across Internet connected devices. The centerpiece of the event is the world premiere of The Captains, an EPIX Original Documentary produced and directed by William Shatner.
Fan favorite and cultural icon, William Shatner resumes the captain's seat in his most recent journey as documentary producer, director and star. The Captains gives EPIX viewers an in-depth look at the Star Trek franchise through the experiences of each actor who has played a Starfleet captain, including Patrick Stewart, Kate Mulgrew, Scott Bakula, Avery Brooks, Chris Pine and Shatner himself.
As the celebration of all things Shatner continues through July on EPIX, subscribers will also be treated to another of the Emmy and Golden Globe-winning actor's documentaries, festival crowd favorite and award-winner, William Shatner's Gonzo Ballet. In what Variety calls "surprisingly revealing," the film gives viewers a look at the staging of award-winning choreographer Margo Sappington's ballet set to the soundtrack of William Shatner's spoken word album, with music by Ben Folds, Has Been. Henry Rollins also contributes to the album and is featured in the documentary.
"From film and TV icon to hipster hero, William Shatner is a man of many talents," said EPIX President and CEO Mark Greenberg. "We are proud to celebrate him as actor, producer, director and cultural phenomenon and to bring his contributions to fans on EPIX and EpixHD.com."
While Shatner may have begun his long-running career performing Shakespeare at the renowned Stratford Shakespeare Festival in the 1950's, it is the famous phrase from a certain science fiction series that would foretell his ultimate career path: To boldly go where no man has gone before. Indeed, the actor has always pursued his career like an explorer. As a best-selling author, director, producer, spokesperson and actor, he shows no fear and very often a sense of humor fans have come to love.
"Shatnerpalooza" will feature the complete collection of the six original Star Trek films starring William Shatner in his seminal role as Captain Kirk, plus other rarely seen and sometimes controversial films, including The Intruder, Big Bad Mama, Disaster on a Coastliner and Broken Angel, along with some highly entertaining TV fare like a classic 1964 episode of Outer Limits, a dazzling turn as the first host of Iron Chef and a no holds barred TV roast.
The Captains is produced by Le Big Boss Productions Inc. in association with Movie Central, a Corus Entertainment Company; EPIX; The Movie Network, an Astral Media Network; and Les Chaines Tele Astral - a division of Astral Broadcasting Group Inc; with the participation of the Canada Media Fund, the Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit and the Ontario Media Development Corporation Film and Television Tax Credit.
About EPIX
EPIX, a joint venture between Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA and VIA.B), its Paramount Pictures unit, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (MGM) and Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF), is a next-generation premium entertainment channel, video-on-demand and online service launched on October 30, 2009. With access to more than 15,000 motion pictures spanning the vast libraries of its partners and other studios, EPIX provides a powerful entertainment experience with more feature films on demand and online and more HD movies than any other service. It is the only premium service providing its entire monthly line-up of new Hollywood titles, classic feature films, original series, music and comedy specials through the linear channel, video-on-demand and online at EpixHD.com, the leading online destination for movies. EPIX has made the commitment to deliver the industry's most expansive online collection of movies, making more than 3,000 titles available on EpixHD.com. The service is available to over 30 million homes nationwide through distribution partners including Charter Communications, Cox Communications, DISH Network, Mediacom Communications, NCTC, Suddenlink Communications and Verizon FiOS. In addition, Netflix members can instantly watch an array of new releases and library titles from EPIX streamed over the Internet from Netflix 90 days after they premiere in premium pay TV and on demand, giving EPIX another distribution channel to bring its films to more consumers.
For more information about EPIX, go to www.EpixHD.com.
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