Multiple Grammy Winner and Oscar Nominee T Bone Burnett to Serve as Executive Musical Producer of Upcoming EPIX (TM) Original Pr
01 Dezembro 2009 - 5:33PM
PR Newswire (US)
Burnett Will Supervise Music Placement And Create Original Music
For EPIX's First Series, Drama About Dysfunctional Country Music
Dynasty NEW YORK and SANTA MONICA, Calif., Dec. 1
/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Multiple Grammy winner and
Oscar-nominated producer, musician and songwriter T Bone Burnett
will be the executive musical producer and an executive producer
for Lionsgate's "Tough Trade," the first original series pilot for
EPIX (TM), the new multiplatform entertainment service from Viacom
Inc. (NYSE:VIANYSE:and VIA.B), its Paramount Pictures unit,
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (MGM) and Lionsgate (NYSE:LGF),
the leading next generation studio. The announcement was made today
by EPIX President and CEO Mark Greenberg and Lionsgate Music
President Jay Faires. EPIX launched on October 30, 2009. "Tough
Trade" is a provocative, contemporary one-hour drama about a
three-generation Nashville music dynasty whose penchant for drink,
debauchery and divorce has left them both morally corrupt and on
the verge of bankruptcy. The family with little left is pinning its
hopes on its former black sheep, a budding country star turned
alternative rock heart throb. "Tough Trade" brings viewers behind
the scenes and into the living room to expose the tragic and
sometimes comedic secrets, scandals and sorrows of this
unforgettable American family. T Bone Burnett is renowned for his
exceptional and wide-ranging work as a producer, musician and
songwriter. He won five Grammy Awards for his work on O Brother,
Where Art Thou? for which he wrote the score and produced the
multiplatinum soundtrack, which also spawned two highly successful
national concert tours, and he won Grammys for his work with Robert
Plant and Alison Krauss. In 2002 he was honored with the Grammy
Award for Non-Classical Producer of the Year. He was nominated for
an Oscar for Best Original Song for "The Scarlet Tide" from the
film Cold Mountain. He oversaw the music for the Grammy
Award-winning platinum soundtrack to the Johnny Cash biopic Walk
The Line and cult classic Coen Brothers film The Big Lebowski.
Burnett has produced such artists as Roy Orbison, The Wallflowers,
k.d. lang and Counting Crows. Songs performed by Burnett have been
covered by Emmylou Harris, Arlo Guthrie, Warren Zevon and many
others. "Burnett brings a track record of experience and musical
talent that cuts across genres of film, television and music in a
unique and inspiring way," said Greenberg. "EPIX is focused on
producing truly premium original programming, and we are absolutely
thrilled to have Burnett place his musical stamp on our first
original pilot." "T Bone Burnett is an iconic musical talent who is
the perfect choice to serve as executive musical producer for this
show," said Faires and Kevin Beggs, Lionsgate's president of
television programming and production. "His selection reflects our
commitment to produce premium shows with premium talent for our
premium new network. We know that he and the cast will distinguish
the show with truly memorable music true to its Nashville roots."
Burnett's work has earned him particular recognition and respect in
the country music world, making him an ideal choice for the role as
music supervisor on a show that focuses on the lives of a country
music family. The soundtrack and score Burnett produced for O
Brother, Where Art Thou? garnered awards from the Country Music
Association and the Academy of Country Music in addition to the
Grammys. The addition of Burnett builds on a stellar cast which
includes celebrated playwright and actor Sam Shepard (Lionsgate and
Relativity Media's Brothers, The Assassination of Jesse James, The
Right Stuff), who will portray the patriarch of the Tucker family.
The creative team is led by executive producer and showrunner Jenji
Kohan (Lionsgate's "Weeds"). The pilot was written by
creator/co-executive producer Chris Offutt ("True Blood," "Weeds")
and will be directed by Gavin Hood (X-Men Origins: Wolverine,
Rendition, the Oscar nominee Tsotsi). Executive producers also
include Sean and Bryan Furst (The Matador, The Cooler). The show
was developed by Furst Films under the company's first look deal
with Lionsgate Television. The production begins shooting on
December 3 in Nashville. About Lionsgate: Lionsgate (NYSE:LGF) is
the leading next generation studio with a strong and diversified
presence in the production and distribution of motion pictures,
television programming, home entertainment, family entertainment,
video-on-demand and digitally delivered content. The Company has
built a strong television presence in production of prime time
cable and broadcast network series, distribution and syndication of
programming through Debmar-Mercury and an array of channel platform
assets. The most recent release of its feature film business,
PRECIOUS, has earned critical raves and generated remarkable per
screen averages at the box office in limited release, and it
expanded to 629 screens on November 20. The Company's home
entertainment business has grown to more than 7% market share and
is an industry leader in its box office-to-DVD revenue conversion
rate. Lionsgate handles a prestigious and prolific library of
approximately 12,000 motion picture and television titles that is
an important source of recurring revenue and serves as the
foundation for the growth of the Company's core businesses. The
Lionsgate brand remains synonymous with original, daring, quality
entertainment in markets around the world. About Lionsgate Music:
Lionsgate Music oversees music for Lionsgate's film and TV slate,
builds the Company's music publishing assets and releases its
soundtracks and scores. The music team has received two Oscar
nominations for Marco Beltrami's score for 3:10 TO YUMA and for
Bird York's song "In The Deep" for Best Picture Academy Award
Winner CRASH. Current and upcoming projects include the soundtrack
for PRECIOUS, to be released through Matriarch/Geffen Records and
featuring a lead track from Mary J. Blige. PRECIOUS is directed by
Lee Daniels (MONSTER'S BALL) and presented by Oprah Winfrey and
Tyler Perry. The film has already generated rave critical reviews
and remarkable per screen averages at the box office in its limited
rollout. Additional upcoming projects include the Jim Sheridan film
BROTHERS, scheduled for release in December featuring music from
U2, as well as music for such upcoming films as THE EXPENDABLES,
starring Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham and Jet Li, FIVE
KILLERS, starring Katherine Heigl and Ashton Kutcher, KICK ASS,
starring Nicolas Cage, and Academy Award winning director Paul
Haggis' THE NEXT THREE DAYS, starring Russell Crowe. The Lionsgate
Music team is also working on the Starz! television series Crash,
featuring music from Paul McCartney and The Doors, the third season
of AMC's Emmy-winning series Mad Men, scored by the critically
lauded composer David Carbonara, and its live musical revue, Mad
Men Live Revue, which premiered last fall to rave reviews at Los
Angeles' El Rey Theatre, with more productions upcoming. About EPIX
EPIX, a joint venture between Viacom Inc.
(NYSE:VIANYSE:andNYSE:VIA.B), its Paramount Pictures unit,
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (MGM) and Lionsgate (NYSE:LGF), is
a next-generation multiplatform premium entertainment channel,
video-on-demand and online service launched on October 30, 2009.
EPIX is currently distributed by Verizon FiOS on Channel 395 in SD
and Channel 895 in HD and will be distributed by other partners.
With access to more than 15,000 motion pictures spanning the vast
libraries of the partner studios, EPIX will deliver films from
Paramount, Paramount Vantage, MTV Films and Nickelodeon Movies
released theatrically on or after January 1, 2008 and MGM, United
Artists and Lionsgate titles released theatrically on or after
January 1, 2009, which will be available exclusively to its
subscribers. In addition, it will carry up to 22 Roadside
Attractions films slated for theatrical release in 2009, 2010 and
2011 and up to 20 of Samuel Goldwyn's films slated for theatrical
release in 2010 and 2011. Providing a powerful entertainment
experience with more feature films on demand and online and more HD
movies than any other service, EPIX will air new Hollywood titles
plus classic feature films, original series, and music and comedy
specials. It is the only premium service providing its entire
monthly line-up on video-on-demand, online and on the linear
channel. Further, EPIX has made the commitment to deliver the
industry's most expansive online collection of movies, making more
than 3,000 titles available online to subscribers via its enhanced
service EPIX Megaplex. The joint venture controls all rights to
EPIX's programming and Viacom provides operational support,
including marketing and affiliate services through its MTV Networks
division. Follow the EPIX twitter feed at
http://www.twitter.com/EpixHD. For more information about Lionsgate
Music, please contact: Jim Merlis or Bobbie Gale BIG HASSLE MEDIA
310.204.0200 Contact: Michael Boccio for EPIX (212) 446-1867
-------------------- Leah Krantzler for Lionsgate (323) 965-1990
-------------------------- For corporate inquiries, please contact:
Peter D. Wilkes, Lionsgate 310-255-3726 DATASOURCE: Lionsgate
CONTACT: Jim Merlis, or Bobbie Gale, both of BIG HASSLE MEDIA,
+1-310-204-0200, for Lionsgate Music; or Michael Boccio,
+1-212-446-1867, , for EPIX; or Leah Krantzler, +1-323-965-1990, ,
for Lionsgate; or Peter D. Wilkes of Lionsgate, +1-310-255-3726,
Web Site: http://www.lionsgate.com/
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