9 September, 2009
Two timeless and classic characters, T.E. Lawrence and Don Juan, will be the focus of the first projects to emerge from the new strategic alliance between Fireworks International and Alive Entertainment.
The collaboration will see Fireworks International, the television and digital programming distribution arm of ContentFilm plc, partner with multi-award winning US production house Alive Entertainment in the development, financing and production of a selection of primetime drama series and mini-series. Fireworks International will act as the exclusive international distributor for programming produced via the alliance whilst Alive Entertainment will handle domestic US placement.
The first two drama projects to go into production are LAWRENCE AND BELL: LIONS OF ARABIA and DON JUAN. Both will be produced by Philip Von Alvensleben and Jimmy Veres of Alive Entertainment.
LAWRENCE AND BELL: LIONS OF ARABIA is a mini-series that centres on the real life adventures of T.E. Lawrence and his tumultuous relationship with his largely unknown but historic equal Gertrude Bell as they helped to lay the foundation for the modern Middle East. The mini-series will be written and produced by Kamran Pasha (Kings, Sleeper Cell).
The second project in development is the epic series drama DON JUAN. Presenting a sumptuous and contemporary take on the life of the icon of swashbuckling romance, Don Juan, the drama will tell the legendary story of the man who in turbulent times and against convention sacrificed everything for what he believed was right as well as for love. The series will be penned and produced by Steve Meerson and Peter Krikes (Star Trek: The Voyage Home, Anna and the King), and Mark Harris (Crash, Gods and Monsters) will join Von Alvensleben and Veres in the capacity of Producer.
Alive Entertainment’s Philip Von Alvensleben added: “We are thrilled to be partnering with Fireworks International. These two powerful projects provide the foundations of what we know will be a great ongoing working relationship between our two companies.”
Greg Phillips, President of Fireworks International, commented: “Jimmy and Philip are brimming with terrific ideas and with their experience will produce a number of wonderful projects with huge worldwide potential, starting with these two dramas. The fascinating storylines and extraordinary writing talent onboard for the first two projects announced are a fantastic indication of the formidable slate of drama content we can look forward to through this alliance. ”
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About Fireworks International
Fireworks International is ContentFilm’s international television and digital distribution division with over 3,000 hours of high-quality and commercially appealing programming including an extensive slate of major drama series, non-fiction entertainment, kids live action comedy and drama series, TV movies, mini-series and special event programming. Recent additions include hit drama series, THE WILD ROSES, crime thriller series, THE BORDER and heart-warming family drama series, HEARTLAND; BLOOD TIES, twenty-two hours of mystery drama with more than a touch of the supernatural; U.S. tween comedy THE ASSISTANTS; Mondo Media’s MONDO MINI SHOWS catalogue featuring a raft of offbeat comedy programming; children’s programmes HALF MOON INVESTIGATIONS, FAMILY BIZ as well as the classic anime series ROBOTECH; plus over 200 U.S. network mini-series and TV movies; and specials including the Annual U.S. PRIMETIME EMMY AWARDS show. This new product is combined with the large and valuable Fireworks library catalogue which is complemented by a raft of formidable television shows including Gene Roddenberry’s ANDROMEDA, MUTANT X and RELIC HUNTER.
About Alive Entertainment
Alive Entertainment is a boutique production, finance and distribution company that has been involved in a diverse slate of feature films and television projects including The Good Girl, Van Wilder, Best Picture Oscar Winner Crash, as well as Showtime’s Emmy Winning Reefer Madness. Two series for Nickelodeon, Zoey 101 and Ned’s Declassified School Survival Guide, are among the highest rated shows in the network’s history. Current productions include Canadian miniseries ZOS: Zone of Separation which just nabbed four nominations from the DGC including best mini-series. Over the last decade, Alive has helped secure financing for a slate of projects with combined production budgets of over $400 million, including the highly successful ABC miniseries Me and My Shadows (winning 5 Emmys including Outstanding Lead Actress and Outstanding Supporting Actress) as well as the Emmy award winning CBS miniseries Hitler: The Rise of Evil.
Fireworks International: Jennifer BrinkworthVice-President, Marketing and Communications
Tel + 44 (0) 207 851 6517
www.contentfilm.com
