or


[12/07/05 - 12:00 AM]
FX Puts a New Face on Its Upcoming Six-Part Documentary

[via press release from FX]

FX Puts a New Face on Its Upcoming Six-Part Documentary

FX PUTS A NEW FACE ON ITS UPCOMING SIX-PART DOCUMENTARY

"BLACK. WHITE."

Award-Winning Producer R.J. CUTLER and Actor/Producer/Musician ICE CUBE Examine Race in Series That Transforms Two Families Using Make-Up Effects

Series Premieres in March '06

LOS ANGELES, December 7, 2005 ? What's it like to live in someone else's skin? That question will be answered in March with a provocative and insightful new original series "Black. White.", a six-part documentary from Emmy� Award winning producer R.J. Cutler and actor/producer/writer Ice Cube.

Black. White. examines race with an extraordinary approach by putting new faces on an African-American family, the Sparks, and Caucasian family, the Wurgels. Through the transformative power of make-up by Academy Award� nominated make-up effects artist Keith VanderLaan (The Passion of the Christ), the Wurgels become black and the Sparks become white, which challenges their beliefs and core values in ways they could have never imagined. The make-up process for each family member took 3 to 5 hours for every day of transformation.

In addition to the pressure of their newly assumed race, the Sparks of Atlanta (Brian, Renee and their son Nick) and Wurgel family of Santa Monica (Bruno, Carmen and their daughter Rose) shared a home in Tarzana, California for the duration of the six-week production, which wrapped last summer.

"Right after I first started at FX, I pitched R.J. the radical idea of using make-up to racially transform a black and white American family," said John Landgraf, FX Networks President and General Manager. "He took that notion and, with his colleagues Ice Cube and Matt Alvarez, developed and produced an astonishingly compelling and original documentary series. This show took a long time to finish because the idea is so risky and difficult to execute, but the results are extraordinarily provocative, entertaining and deep."

The series was developed by Cutler who serves as Executive Producer along with Ice Cube and Matt Alvarez. The show is produced by FX Networks, Actual Reality Pictures and Cube-Vision.

"I've never been more enthusiastic about a project than I am about Black. White.," said Cutler. "This series is an example of how television can be an extremely powerful and useful medium. I believe the Sparks and Wurgels took a big chance but are better people for having done so."

"I'm really excited to be a part of a show that explores race in America," said Cube. "Black. White. will force people to challenge themselves and really examine where we stand in terms of race in this country."

R.J. Cutler won the 2001 Emmy� Award for Outstanding Reality Program for his acclaimed FOX series American High. He also produced the Academy Award� nominated documentary The War Room, the behind-the-scenes look at Bill Clinton's 1992 presidential campaign. He also serves as an Executive Producer of FX's critically acclaimed 30 Days, FX's second documentary series under the recently revitalized brand of unscripted original programming. 30 Days, which was created by Academy Award� nominee Morgan Spurlock, returns for its second season next summer.

"Black. White. continues the growth, under the guidance of FX's head of unscripted development Eric Schrier, of FX's ambitious and distinctive documentary series brand which began with the launch last year of 30 Days," added Landgraf.

Ice Cube has made his mark as an actor starring in Barbershop, which he produced, XXX: State of the Union, Three Kings and Boyz in the Hood, and his films have generated over a half billion dollars at the box office. A double-platinum recording artist, Ice Cube has sold over 10 million records.

In addition to his work on The Passion of the Christ, Make-Up Effects Artist Keith VanderLaan has worked on films including Syriana, The Life and Death of Peter Sellers, Pirates of he Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl and Mrs. Doubtfire. Prior to the start of principal photography, VanderLaan and his team at Captive Audience Productions conducted extensive make-up testing on both the Sparks and Wurgel families.

FX is the flagship general entertainment basic cable network from Fox. Launched in June of 1994, FX is carried in more than 87 million homes. The diverse schedule includes a growing roster of distinctive original series and movies; an impressive roster of acquired hit series; an established film library with box-office hits from 20th Century Fox; and marquee sports such as NASCAR. For more information about FX, visit our web site at www.FXnetworks.com.





  [december 2005]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
    


· 30 DAYS (FX)
· BLACK WHITE (FX)





[11/04/25 - 02:15 PM]
"The Golden Girls: 40 Years of Laughter and Friendship - Special Edition of 20/20" Airs Tuesday, Nov. 11, on ABC, Streaming Next Day on Disney+ and Hulu
The special chronicles the making of "The Golden Girls," from its early inception and pilot episode to becoming one of the most treasured shows in television history.

[11/04/25 - 01:01 PM]
"Nobody Wants This" Renewed for Season 3 on Netflix
The second season premiered on October 23 and is stealing hearts once again landing at number one in the Global English TV Top 10 list for the second week in a row.

[11/04/25 - 12:05 PM]
ABC Unwraps Festive Holiday Programming Lineup
Highlights include joyful episodes of "Abbott Elementary," "America's Funniest Home Videos," "Celebrity Family Feud," "Celebrity Wheel of Fortune," "Shark Tank," "Shifting Gears" and "What Would You Do?: Holiday Edition," alongside a new season of "The Great Christmas Light Fight."

[11/04/25 - 12:00 PM]
Prime Video and the BBC Unveil First-Look Images for Highly Anticipated Season Two of "The Night Manager" Starring Tom Hiddleston, Diego Calva, Camila Morrone and Olivia Colman
The acclaimed first season was nominated for more than 30 awards and won multiple Emmy, Golden Globes and BAFTA awards - including Best Actor for Tom Hiddleston, who reprises his role as former British intelligence operative, Jonathan Pine.

[11/04/25 - 11:30 AM]
FOX Entertainment Acquires Innovative Audio Drama Storyteller "Meet Cute"
Known for its quick-to-market, trend-driven approach, Meet Cute's cinematic audio storytelling style has resonated with a growing audience of podcast fans everywhere.

[11/04/25 - 11:03 AM]
Bravo's "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" Returns with Glamour and Gasps Aplenty for Season 15 on Thursday, Dec. 4 at 8 P.M. ET/PT
Housewives Erika Jayne, Dorit Kemsley, Kyle Richards, Bozoma Saint John, and Sutton Stracke return for a season marked by fresh starts, major fallouts and unforgettable adventures.

[11/04/25 - 10:14 AM]
The Queen of Fabulosity Returns to E! with "Kimora: Back in the Fab Lane" Premiering Tuesday, December 2 at 10:00 P.M. ET/PT
This fierce fashionista - now a single mom of five - commands an empire by running multiple businesses, including her iconic Baby Phat brand.

[11/04/25 - 10:00 AM]
Video: Merry Mishaps Ensue in New Trailer for "Prep & Landing: The Snowball Protocol," Streaming on Disney+ Nov. 28
The Emmy-winning franchise returns after more than a decade, following Christmas elves Lanny and Wayne as their holiday mission unfolds with many merry mishaps.

[11/04/25 - 09:01 AM]
Video: "A Man on the Inside" - Season 2 Official Trailer - Netflix
Charles goes undercover at a college campus, where the suspects are as unpredictable as the clues, and the hijinks get unexpectedly personal.

[11/04/25 - 08:38 AM]
Apple TV Lands International Thriller "Safe Houses" from Emmy Award-Winning Showrunner Gideon Raff
The thrilling new eight-episode series is a fast-paced international espionage thriller set in the aftermath of the killing of a high-ranking CIA officer in Madrid.

[11/04/25 - 08:01 AM]
Video: "Agatha Christie's Seven Dials" - Official Teaser - Netflix
When a playful prank at a country manor leads to murder, an unlikely sleuth Lady Eileen "Bundle" Brent must unravel a dangerous web of secrets in this captivating Agatha Christie adaptation.

[11/04/25 - 07:34 AM]
"BravoCon Live with Andy Cohen" Lights Up the Night with Star-Studded Lineup and Special Episodes Airing on Bravo & Next Day on Peacock the Week of Nov. 16-20
What happens in Vegas doesn't stay in Vegas when "BravoCon Live with Andy Cohen" airs all week long, November 16-20 on Bravo, with every show streaming next-day on Peacock.

[11/04/25 - 06:31 AM]
Video: "The Carman Family Deaths" - Official Trailer - Netflix
A young man's dramatic rescue at sea spirals into accusations he murdered two members of his wealthy New England family in this true-crime documentary.

[11/04/25 - 03:01 AM]
Video: "Start Up, Fall Down: From Billionaire to Convict" - Official Trailer - Netflix
One of Milan's most exclusive parties takes a dark turn when a woman reports sexual assault. This documentary chronicles the investigation that followed.

[11/04/25 - 01:02 AM]
Video: "Delhi Crime" Season 3 - Official Trailer - Netflix
A case that defies reason. A criminal with no limits.