A new documentary about the famous golden statuette will make its debut on the small screen Feb. 1, the Academy announced Monday. "Oscar," a historical doc about the Academy and its awards show, will premiere on Turner Classic Movies (TCM) on Feb. 1, 2014, kicking off the network's annual monthlong showcase, "31 Days of Oscar."
A new documentary about the famous golden statuette will make its debut on the small screen Feb. 1, the Academy announced Monday.
"Oscar," a historical doc about the Academy and its awards show, will premiere on Turner Classic Movies (TCM) on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2014, kicking off the network's annual monthlong showcase, "31 Days of Oscar."
Written, directed and executive-produced by Oscar-winning filmmakers Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman, the movie "will take movie lovers on a journey through Hollywood history as it tells its story of the little statuette that became the industry's most coveted prize," according to the Academy's statement.
Epstein won two Documentary Feature Oscars — one for 1984's "The Times of Harvey Milk" and another for 1989's "Common Threads: Stories from the Quilt." Friedman was a producer on "Common Threads."
Oscar winners will appear throughout the documentary in interviews, including Annette Bening, Whoopi Goldberg, Tom Hanks, Steven Spielberg, Michael Moore, cinematographer Janusz Kaminski and visual effects designer Craig Barron.
More details from the Academy's statement:
“We’re delighted to partner with TCM on this extraordinary 85-year history of the Academy Awards,” said Academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs, in the statement. “Rob and Jeffrey are in the midst of producing a fantastic showcase of special Oscar moments that will take audiences on a memorable cinematic journey.”
Here is the full list of interviewees, which continues to grow:
Oscar-winning Actors and Actresses: Annette Bening (American Beauty), Ellen Burstyn (Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore), Cher (Moonstruck), George Clooney (Syriana), Benicio Del Toro (Traffic), Whoopi Goldberg (Ghost), Tom Hanks (Philadelphia, Forrest Gump), Jennifer Hudson (Dreamgirls), Sir Ben Kingsley (Gandhi) and Dame Helen Mirren (The Queen).
Award-winning filmmakers and producers: Steven Spielberg (Schindler's List, Saving Private Ryan), Kathleen Kennedy (Schindler's List), Freida Lee Mock (Maya Lin: A Strong Clear Vision), Michael Moore (Bowling for Columbine), Jason Reitman (Up in the Air) and Phil Alden Robinson (Field of Dreams).
Other award winners: Oscar-winning cinematographer Janusz Kaminski (Schindler's List, Saving Private Ryan); Academy Award-winning editor Kirk Baxter (The Social Network, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo); award-winning production designer Jeannine Claudia Oppewall (L.A. Confidential); award-winning costume designer Jeffrey Kurland (Inception); Academy Award-winning make-up artist Ve Neil (Beetlejuice, Mrs. Doubtfire, Ed Wood); Oscar-winning visual effects designer Craig Barron (Titanic); and Academy Award-winning sound designer Ben Burtt (Star Wars, E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial).
Produced by Telling Pictures, Inc., in association with the Academy and Hollywood Newsreel, the documentary is part of increased programming leading up to TCM's 20th anniversary in April 2014. Christopher Pavlick and Rick Spalla are also producing "Oscar."
"Oscar," a historical doc about the Academy and its awards show, will premiere on Turner Classic Movies (TCM) on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2014, kicking off the network's annual monthlong showcase, "31 Days of Oscar."
Written, directed and executive-produced by Oscar-winning filmmakers Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman, the movie "will take movie lovers on a journey through Hollywood history as it tells its story of the little statuette that became the industry's most coveted prize," according to the Academy's statement.
Epstein won two Documentary Feature Oscars — one for 1984's "The Times of Harvey Milk" and another for 1989's "Common Threads: Stories from the Quilt." Friedman was a producer on "Common Threads."
Oscar winners will appear throughout the documentary in interviews, including Annette Bening, Whoopi Goldberg, Tom Hanks, Steven Spielberg, Michael Moore, cinematographer Janusz Kaminski and visual effects designer Craig Barron.
More details from the Academy's statement:
To bring its story to life, Oscar will be packed with great moments from 85 years of Academy Award ceremonies, which were first held at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, now home to the TCM Classic Film Festival each spring. The special will also feature extensive clips from Oscar-winning and nominated films, plus exclusive, behind-the-scenes ceremony footage from the archives of Hollywood Newsreel, much of it never shown before. CNN Films will air the encore presentation of the documentary on CNN, following the film’s first broadcast on TCM.
In addition, Oscar will feature an interviews with frequent Academy Award ceremony host Billy Crystal (When Harry Met Sally…), ceremony producer Don Mischer and head writer Bruce Vilanch, as well as former Academy executive director Bruce Davis and cinematographer and Board of Governors member John Bailey (As Good as It Gets). The special will also include a chat with TCM host, author and Academy Awards historian Robert Osborne, whose book 85 Years of the Oscar: The Official History of the Academy Awards is set to be released Oct. 29 from Abbeville Press.
Oscar will not only tell the history of the Academy Awards, but also highlight the relationship between the honored movies and major historical events and trends. Woven throughout the narrative will be segments about the major categories, including Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Director and Best Picture, as well as sidebars about the annual parade of fashions on the red carpet, memorable host monologues and emotion-packed tributes.
“We’re delighted to partner with TCM on this extraordinary 85-year history of the Academy Awards,” said Academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs, in the statement. “Rob and Jeffrey are in the midst of producing a fantastic showcase of special Oscar moments that will take audiences on a memorable cinematic journey.”
Here is the full list of interviewees, which continues to grow:
Oscar-winning Actors and Actresses: Annette Bening (American Beauty), Ellen Burstyn (Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore), Cher (Moonstruck), George Clooney (Syriana), Benicio Del Toro (Traffic), Whoopi Goldberg (Ghost), Tom Hanks (Philadelphia, Forrest Gump), Jennifer Hudson (Dreamgirls), Sir Ben Kingsley (Gandhi) and Dame Helen Mirren (The Queen).
Award-winning filmmakers and producers: Steven Spielberg (Schindler's List, Saving Private Ryan), Kathleen Kennedy (Schindler's List), Freida Lee Mock (Maya Lin: A Strong Clear Vision), Michael Moore (Bowling for Columbine), Jason Reitman (Up in the Air) and Phil Alden Robinson (Field of Dreams).
Other award winners: Oscar-winning cinematographer Janusz Kaminski (Schindler's List, Saving Private Ryan); Academy Award-winning editor Kirk Baxter (The Social Network, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo); award-winning production designer Jeannine Claudia Oppewall (L.A. Confidential); award-winning costume designer Jeffrey Kurland (Inception); Academy Award-winning make-up artist Ve Neil (Beetlejuice, Mrs. Doubtfire, Ed Wood); Oscar-winning visual effects designer Craig Barron (Titanic); and Academy Award-winning sound designer Ben Burtt (Star Wars, E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial).
Produced by Telling Pictures, Inc., in association with the Academy and Hollywood Newsreel, the documentary is part of increased programming leading up to TCM's 20th anniversary in April 2014. Christopher Pavlick and Rick Spalla are also producing "Oscar."
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