Big Screen Entertainment Group (PINKSHEETS: BSEG) is pleased to announce that the Big Screen production along with Special Entertainment and Melis Production of "William Shatner's Gonzo Ballet" will air on Epix (Paramount, Lionsgate and MGM) at the end of July in association with Netflix.
"It was certainly a pleasure working with Big Screen Entertainment Group on Gonzo Ballet," wrote William Shatner in a recent email to BSEG President of Production Stephen Eckelberry, adding, "You are wonderful people, and it is my hope that we collaborate in the future."
"We are pleased with the results of the final production, it is something for which we all worked very hard," said Eckleberry. "When Bill brought us the original footage of the Ballet in early 2008, we knew right away the potential inherent in the material -- this was a diamond in the rough that needed just a bit of work to shine."
The BSEG team worked tirelessly with Mr. Shatner to reshape the film, engaging award-winning filmmaker Kevin Layne to shoot new footage and forge a new cut.
The result: A critical hit which garnered the President's Award at the 2009 Nashville Film festival and went on to sweep the festival circuit. Variety called the film "surprisingly revealing" and IndieWire enthused: "Shatner comes across as a true original."
Gonzo Ballet is a feature-length documentary chronicling the production and performance of "Common People," the ballet by Margo Sappington which was set to the music of William Shatner and Ben Fold's album "Has Been."
The film explores the genesis of this unique artistic collaboration by fusing the music, poetry, and dance of "Common People" with interviews by William Shatner, Ben Folds, Margo Sappington, Elizabeth Shatner and Henry Rollins. The film was directed by Patrick Buckley, Kevin Layne, Bobby Ciraldo, & Andrew Swant share co-directing credits.
Shatner plays a prominent role in the film and also acted as Executive Producer along with BSEG's Kimberley Kates, Michael Manasseri, and David Zappone.
Gonzo Ballet was made by Big Screen Entertainment Group and Special Entertainment in association with Shatner's Melis Productions.
"William Shatner's Gonzo Ballet" will air on EPIX for the first time at the end of the month.
OTHER BIG SCREEN NEWS:
BSEG has just optioned a new screenplay by award winning filmmakers, GIRL ZERO, finishing up post-production on the new Sci-Fi, Action-Adventure film SUCKER, completing the final touches for release of MYSTERY OF THE MIRROR and preparing the award-winning film noir, SODIUM BABIES for release on October 18, 2011.
http://www.bigscreenent.com
ABOUT BSEG:
Big Screen Entertainment Group (PINKSHEETS: BSEG) is a full service entertainment company designed to develop, produce, purchase, exhibit and distribute products in all media formats, including motion pictures, television and video games. BSEG distributes numerous films in their library both internationally and domestically with their own label and numerous PPV/VOD, iTunes, Xbox and other digital formats. www.bigscreenent.com
Forward-Looking Statements:
A number of statements contained in this press release are forward-looking statements that are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties, including timely development, and market acceptance of products and technologies, competitive market conditions, successful integration of acquisitions and the ability to secure additional sources of financing. When used in this press release, words such as "could," "plan," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "potential," "should," and similar expressions are forward-looking statements.
SOURCE: Big Screen Entertainment Group
