SHOWTIME® TO PREMIERE PROVOCATIVE DOCUMENTARY
FROM ACADEMY AWARD® WINNER BARRY LEVINSON ABOUT
THE COLLISION AND COLLUSION BETWEEN POLITICS,
HOLLYWOOD AND THE MEDIA
LOS ANGELES, CA – (October 1, 2009) – As America works its way through one of the most intense and contentious political periods in its history, Showtime Networks will premiere the new feature-length documentary, POLIWOOD, an in-depth and provocative look into the often convergent worlds for entertainment and politics directed by Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Barry Levinson. The 90-minute documentary will premiere on SHOWTIME Tuesday, November 2nd at 7:30 PM ET/PT.
Legendary Academy Award®-winning director Barry Levinson (Rain Man, Bugsy, Diner, Avalon) sets out to explore the collision and collusion between politics and Hollywood. The film gives the viewer a front-row seat and backroom access to the most significant presidential campaign of the 21st century. Featuring interviews with high-profile celebrities and powerful political figures, POLIWOOD gives insider access to the influence Hollywood has over today’s political process as we discover the thin line between politician and actor, news and entertainment, policy and tabloid. Trailing a number of politically active actors, writers, directors, and musicians, this documentary is sure to spark debate about the role media and celebrities should have in modern-day politics.
The celebrities featured in POLIWOOD include Annette Bening, Anne Hathaway, Sting, Susan Sarandon, Spike Lee, Fergie, Zooey Deschanel, Danny Glover, Tim Daly, Ellen Burstyn, Kerry Washington, Elvis Costello, Alfre Woodard, Angela Bassett, Billy Baldwin, Charlie Daniels, Connie Britton, Dana Delany, David Crosby, Hayden Panettiere, Josh Lucas, Matthew Modine, Maura Tierney, Alan Cumming, Mos Def, Rachael Leigh Cook, Richard Schiff, Steve Earle, The Pharcyde, Tony Goldwyn, and Will.i.am.
POLIWOOD was produced in coordination with The Creative Coalition, Baltimore Pictures and Screen Media Films; and by Robin Bronk, Robert Baruc, Tim Daly and Jason Sosnoff.
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About Showtime
Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of CBS Corporation, owns and operates the premium television networks SHOWTIME®, THE MOVIE CHANNELTM and FLIX®, as well as the multiplex channels SHOWTIME® 2TM, SHOWTIME® SHOWCASE, SHOWTIME EXTREME®, SHOWTIME BEYOND®, SHOWTIME NEXT®, SHOWTIME WOMEN®, SHOWTIME FAMILYZONE® and TMC XTRA. SNI also offers SHOWTIME HD®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL HDTM, SHOWTIME ON DEMANDTM and THE MOVIE CHANNEL ON DEMANDTM. SNI also manages Smithsonian Networks, a joint venture between SNI and the Smithsonian Institution. All SNI feeds provide enhanced sound using Dolby Digital 5.1. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME® PPV.
CONTACT:
Kelley McCormick
Qorvis Communications
(202) 683-3125
kmccormick@qorvis.com
Frank Marchesini
Showtime Networks Inc.
(310) 234-5342
frank.marchesini@showtime.net