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Showtime Presents Provocative Programming Slate for Gay Pride Month in June
Line-up Includes SAME SEX AMERICA, WE ARE DAD, JACK, DAMAGED GOODS, SHOOK and
New Episodes of QUEER AS FOLK
LOS ANGELES, May 18 -- In June, Showtime Networks will honor
Gay Pride Month with provocative programming featuring the network's
celebrated new documentary SAME SEX AMERICA, which takes a hard look at the
headline-making gay marriage controversy. A mix of compelling dramas and
documentaries, the network's original programming slate demonstrates that gay
Americans, despite decades of civil rights advances, are still struggling for
acceptance and equal rights. The June line-up will also include four new
episodes of QUEER AS FOLK, which begin its fifth and final season on May 22
and ends July 31st with a two-hour season finale. This groundbreaking series,
which airs Sundays at 10 p.m., was the first television drama series to fully
explore the lives and issues of a gay community. The Gay Pride Month
programming also furthers the network's commitment to Viacom's KNOW HIV/AIDS
initiative, an unprecedented, global media campaign that combats HIV/AIDS
through education.
The line-up includes the following films:
SAME SEX AMERICA (June 28, 8 p.m.) has played to enthusiastic audiences at
many prestigious festivals including The Tribeca Film Festival, The Full Frame
Documentary Festival and The Independent Film Festival of Boston. The film
follows several gay and lesbian couples as they try to navigate the civil
rights clash over same sex marriage. Beginning in Massachusetts, where the
move to legalize gay marriage created a conservative backlash that reached all
the way to the White House, SAME SEX AMERICA examines both sides of the
political debate and a family's right to define itself without interference
from the state or federal government. The film is directed by Henry Corra
("Umbrellas," "George") of Corra Films, Inc., edited by Charlene Rule,
produced by Alex R. Johnson and executive produced by Robert F. Katz, Jerry
Kupfer and Jay Peterson.
WE ARE DAD (June 19, 7 p.m.) is a gut-wrenching documentary centered
around partners Steve Lofton and Roger Croteau. The two have been deemed
"unfit" by the state of Florida to adopt the five children they have raised
since birth -- even though they were viewed as capable foster parents for the
"unwanted" children born HIV positive. When one of the children - now a
teenager -- is found to be HIV-free and thus "adoptable," the state decides to
remove him from the only home he has known. The film is produced and directed
by Michel Horvat and was acquired for SHOWTIME from All Channel Films.
JACK (June 19 at 5:05 p.m.), the Emmy(R) and GLAAD(R) award-winning
original movie which aired on SHOWTIME in 2004, stars Anton Yelchin
(SHOWTIME's HUFF) in the title role. Jack is a 15-year-old boy who must come
to terms with his parents' divorce and the revelation that his father is gay.
Stockard Channing ("The West Wing," "Six Degrees of Separation") and Ron
Silver ("The West Wing," "Reversal of Fortune") play his parents. Jack,
already struggling with the usual adolescent demons, must fight the gay-
bashing he encounters at school and come to terms with his family. JACK was
directed by Lee Rose, from the screenplay by A.M. Homes based upon her novel,
and is a Daniel L. Paulson/Susan Rose/Ellen M. Krass production.
DAMAGED GOODS (June 14 at 10 p.m.) is a one-hour documentary which
explores the lives of five people living with a stigmatized disease in a
judgmental society. It follows them from the moment they are diagnosed with
HIV/AIDS through treatment and acceptance. The film features interviews with
some of today's prominent medical authorities and activists in the fight
against HIV/AIDS. The film is produced and directed by Nadia Buckmire, with
Rahi High also producing.
SHOOK (June 28 at 10:40 p.m.) is a dramatic short film about a woman who
discovers her husband is bi-sexual and that she is pregnant. With concerns
for the child, she gets tested for HIV and attempts to understand her
husband's relationship with a male friend and its impact on their marriage.
This film, directed and produced by Melanie RW Oram, first aired on SHOWTIME
in February during the 2005 Black Filmmakers Showcase.
QUEER AS FOLK (Sundays at 10 p.m.) Featuring four all-new episodes in the
month of June, this award-winning series will continue to explore cutting-edge
social and political issues that affect the gay community. This season gay
rights issues, such as gay marriage, are explored with a sensitivity and
candor rarely seen on television. Starring are Michelle Clunie, Robert Gant,
Thea Gill, Gale Harold, Randy Harrison, Scott Lowell, Peter Paige, Hal Sparks
and Sharon Gless with special guest appearances by Rosie O'Donnell and Cyndi
Lauper. QUEER AS FOLK is executive produced by Ron Cowen, Daniel Lipman and
Tony Jonas. Cowen & Lipman developed the series for American television based
on the British series created by Russell T Davies. Sheila Hockin serves as
producer. The SHOWTIME series is from Cowlip Productions, Tony Jonas
Productions and Temple Street Productions.
KNOW HIV/AIDS is an unprecedented, global media campaign that combats
HIV/AIDS through public service messages (PSAs), television and radio
programming, and free print and online content. The multi-year effort combines
the public health expertise of the Kaiser Family Foundation with the power of
Viacom's media brands and unmatched audience relationships to foster awareness
of the disease and its prevention. More information about KNOW HIV/AIDS is
available through the initiative's comprehensive Web site,
http://www.knowhivaids.org, or toll-free number 1-866-344-KNOW (5669).
Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Viacom
Inc., owns the premium television networks SHOWTIME(R), THE MOVIE CHANNEL(TM)
and FLIX(R), as well as the multiplex channels SHOWTIME(R) TOO(TM),
SHOWTIME(R) SHOWCASE, SHOWTIME EXTREME(R), SHOWTIME BEYOND(R), SHOWTIME
NEXT(R), SHOWTIME WOMEN(R), SHOWTIME FAMILYZONE(R) and TMC xtra. SNI also
offers SHOWTIME HD(R), THE MOVIE CHANNEL HD(R), SHOWTIME ON DEMAND(R), THE
MOVIE CHANNEL ON DEMAND(TM) and FLIX ON DEMAND. SNI operates and manages the
premium television network SUNDANCE CHANNEL(R), which is a venture between NBC
Universal, Robert Redford, and Showtime Networks Inc. 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(R) PPV. Additionally, the advertiser-supported television
network SHOWTIME is available in Turkey through a joint venture with UK-based
Zone Vision.
SOURCE Showtime Networks
Web Site: http://www.knowhivaids.org http://www.SHO.com
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