Created and Produced by Award-Winning Filmmaker Nanette Burstein
(The Kid Stays in the Picture)
Dennis Hopper Spotlighted in New Documentary Premiering Early Spring 2006
NEW YORK, January 11, 2006 – AMC presents AUTOBIOGRAPHY, an innovative new documentary project that beautifully balances the world of art and the documentary format. Created and executive produced by Nanette Burstein, the award-winning filmmaker behind the acclaimed documentary The Kid Stays in the Picture (2002), AUTOBIOGRAPHY is the close cousin of Kid, illuminating the life of a favorite movie figure in an equally intimate, beautiful and entertaining way. This one-hour special offers viewers a journey into the life of a celebrated actor/director, using the subject's own voice to tell the tale, providing insightful and surprising personal revelations along the way. In the episode "Thank God for Voices," controversial director/actor/artist Dennis Hopper speaks candidly about his infamous and illustrious career highs and lows. The special premieres in early Spring 2006.
Beautifully crafted using graphically treated photographs, news clips and gorgeous visual images to illustrate events and people, the special paints a rich picture of a life as never before portrayed. In this special, Hopper poignantly reflects 'Thank God for Voices' when telling how he almost beat up Peter Fonda over the script for Easy Rider, hearing an inner voice reminding him of his deep desire to make movies. The phrase also speaks to Hopper's own inner struggles throughout his career. He explains with vivid detail and brutal honesty the pivotal moments of his life. The memories include the friendship with his acting contemporary James Dean, his co-star in Rebel Without A Cause and Giant, which left an indelible mark in his life; reflections on his successful yet troubled directorial debut in Easy Rider (and later his denied opportunities to act and direct); and speaking frankly about his progressive drug use and subsequent rehab.
Nanette Burstein produced and directed her first feature length documentary, 1998's On the Ropes, winning many accolades including an Academy Award nomination, the Director's Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement, the IDA (International Documentary Association) Achievement Award for Best Feature Documentary, and the Jury award at the Sundance Film Festival. In 2000, she produced and directed the five part series Say it Loud: A Celebration of Black Music in America in collaboration with Quincy Jones. In 2002, Nanette Burstein co-produced and directed The Kid Stays in the Picture, the critically acclaimed feature length film about the legendary Hollywood producer, Robert Evans, receiving many critical awards. In 2003, Burstein directed a film about Olympic gold medallist, Marion Jones for Nike and NBC. In addition, Burstein executive produced and created the reality series, Film School. Burstein is also producing and directing a feature length documentary, American Teen. In addition to her documentary productions, Burstein also directs commercials including campaigns for Nike and Footlocker.
AUTOBIOGRAPHY is created and executive produced by Nanette Burstein, produced via her Firehouse Films. Co-directors/writers are Eddie Rosenstein and Rick Velleu. Produced by Jeremy Amar. Max Nova is editor. Wyeth Hansen is art director. Music by Joey Waronker. Supervising Producer for AMC is Jody Girgenti and Executive Producers for AMC are Dave Ladik and Rob Sorcher.
About AMC
AMC, a division of Rainbow Media's Entertainment Services, which also includes WE: Women's Entertainment and IFC Companies, is a 24-hour, movie-based network, dedicated to the American movie fan. The network, which reaches over 87,000,000 homes, offers a comprehensive library of popular movies and a critically-acclaimed slate of original programming that is a diverse, movie-based mix of original series, documentaries and specials. AMC has garnered many of the industry's highest honors, including 14 Emmy awards. AMC is "TV for movie people."
About Rainbow Media Holdings LLC
A leader in the entertainment industry, Rainbow Media Holdings LLC is a subsidiary of Cablevision Systems Corporation. Rainbow creates and manages some of the country's most compelling and dynamic programming with linear networks including national networks – AMC, fuse, IFC (The Independent Film Channel) and WE: Women's Entertainment; its regional programming service – Rainbow Sports Networks; on-demand networks including Mag Rack and sportskool; and the largest suite of high definition channels available anywhere – the VOOM HD Networks. Rainbow's other businesses include its film distribution, production and exhibition division – IFC Entertainment; in addition to its advertising sales division – Rainbow Advertising Sales Corporation – and its full service network programming origination and distribution company – Rainbow Network Communications.