JERICHO, NEW YORK, April 10, 2003 -The role of women in Hollywood has undergone a dramatic transformation over the past decade from supporting player to box office leader. The highest grossing film of last year, SPIDER-MAN, was produced by a woman; the indie phenomenon MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING was produced and written by women; and the second highest grossing film of all time, HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE, was written by a woman. Whether producing, writing, greenlighting or starring in multi-dimensional roles from Lara Croft to Virginia Woolf, women have beaten a path through the broken fragments of Hollywood's shattered glass ceiling.
Now, AMC celebrates the women in the entertainment industry with WOMEN ON TOP: HOLLYWOOD AND POWER, debuting Monday, May 12 at 10:00 PM ET/PT. Through stories and anecdotes from A-list talent including Nicole Kidman, Kirsten Dunst, Halle Berry and Sandra Bullock, this one-hour original production profiles 10 industry leaders – producers Laura Ziskin (SPIDER-MAN), Lauren Shuler Donner (X-MEN, the forthcoming X-MEN 2) and Paula Wagner (MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE); director Mimi Leder (THE PEACEMAKER); writer/directors Mira Nair (SALAAM BOMBAY!) and Callie Khouri (THELMA AND LOUISE);
cinematographer Ellen Kuras (BLOW, SUMMER OF SAM); film editor Sally Menke (PULP FICTION); and production designer/producer Polly Platt (WITCHES OF EASTWICK, TERMS OF ENDEARMENT). Through candid conversations and interviews, these intimate profiles illustrate how the role of women has evolved so dramatically to reach new heights in virtually every aspect of the motion picture industry.
Narrated by Chloe Sevigny (BOYS DON'T CRY), WOMEN ON TOP: HOLLYWOOD AND POWER tells the story of these influential women through the eyes of the actresses who have worked with them. Nicole Kidman and Kirsten Dunst worked with Laura Ziskin on the films TO DIE FOR and SPIDER-MAN, respectively, and reflect on their experiences with this power producer. Likewise, Halle Berry has collaborated with Lauren Shuler Donner on two X-MEN projects. Penelope Cruz details her experience working with Paula Wagner on VANILLA SKY and the collaboration between Wagner and her producing partner, Tom Cruise.
The experience of working with acclaimed women directors is detailed by such talent as Julianna Marguilies, who shared years working with director Mimi Leder on the hit show ER. Gena Rowlands contributes to the profile of director Mira Nair, who directed the acting legend in HYSTERICAL BLINDNESS. Sandra Bullock and director Callie Khouri formed a powerful bond making DIVINE SECRETS OF THE YA-YA SISTERHOOD. Lili Taylor discusses her work with cinematographer Ellen Kuras, who brought her unique eye to I SHOT ANDY WARHOL; while comic legend Lily Tomlin reflects on her work with editor Sally Menke in THE SEARCH FOR SIGNS OF INTELLIGENT LIFE IN THE UNIVERSE. Lastly, Kathleen Turner recalls the early career of producer Polly Platt, who gained prominence first as a production designer of such films as THE WAR OF THE ROSES.
WOMEN ON TOP: HOLLYWOOD AND POWER is executive produced by Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato of World of Wonder Productions. Roberta Grossman is the Producer/Writer. Jessica Falcon is the Executive Producer for AMC.
AMC is a 24-hour movie-based network, dedicated to the American movie fan. The network, which reaches over 84,000,000 homes, offers a comprehensive library of popular movies and an increasingly visible, critically-acclaimed, slate of original
programming that is a diverse, movie-based mix of original series,
documentaries and specials. AMC has more than doubled its original programming over the past 3 years and garnered many of the industry's highest honors, including seven Emmy awards. AMC is "TV for movie people."
A leader in sports, news and entertainment programming, Rainbow Media Holdings, Inc. is a subsidiary of Cablevision Systems Corporation. Rainbow owns and manages AMC, WE: WOMEN'S ENTERTAINMENT, IFC (The Independent Film Channel), muchmusic usa, Mag Rack, Rainbow Sports Networks, News 12 Networks, and MetroChannels as well as the Rainbow Advertising Sales Corporation and Rainbow Network Communications. Rainbow is a 50 percent partner in Fox Sports Net and has a strategic partnership with MGM, which owns a 20 percent stake in three of Rainbow's national networks: AMC, WE: WOMEN'S ENTERTAINMENT, and IFC.