Showtime Supports Gay Pride Month With Special Programming Highlighting Gay Themes in June
Mon. May 31, 2004 12:00 AM
Featuring the Premieres of 'The Opposite Sex: Jamie's Story' and 'Jack'
New York -
In recognition of Gay Pride Month in June, SHOWTIME is proud to offer its viewers a number of programs featuring gay themes and issues including the premiere of the original documentary "The Opposite Sex: Jamie's Story" and the original picture "Jack." Additionally, the network continues to support the Viacom and Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation's multi-year HIV/AIDS initiative, entitled KNOW HIV/AIDS, with programs that educate consumers about the disease.
THE OPPOSITE SEX: JAMIE'S STORY will premiere June 7, 2004 at 9:00 PM (ET/PT). The focus of this 90 minute documentary is Jamie, 47, a male-to- female gender reassignment candidate formerly known as Jim. A macho man from a small town in Michigan, she has been married to Brenda for 25 years and fathered their 12-year-old daughter. This is the second of two documentaries which focus on one individual's transition and surgery to change from one sex to another. Both verite documentaries are directed by Oscar(R) nominee Josh Aronson (Sound and Fury). Dr. Bruce Hensel (Emmy(R) Award-winning medical journalist for NBC's Los Angeles affiliate) serves as executive producer, along with Stuart Krasnow. At 10:45 PM (ET/PT), SHOWTIME will re-air THE OPPOSITE SEX: RENE'S STORY, featuring Rene, 31, a female-to-male gender reassignment candidate. Rene took hormones for years and 'passed' as a man for all of his adult life. The decision to complete the transition with a new type of surgery has overwhelming effects on Rene's marriage to Wona, a heterosexual woman, religion, and personal life.
Each documentary will be followed by SEXUAL DIALOGUES, a 30-minute round-table forum about other transgender journeys and lives. Hosted by Executive Producer Dr. Bruce Hensel, these panel discussions will feature other transgenders, their partners, and sex change experts debating the sex- change process and issues surrounding the hormones and surgery.
Also premiering in June is JACK, a SHOWTIME Original Picture for All Ages. Anton Yelchin stars as Jack, a 15-year-old boy who must come to terms with his parents divorcing, his own puberty and the revelation that his father is gay. The film also stars Stockard Channing and Ron Silver. Directed by Lee Rose from the screenplay by A.M. Homes based on her novel, the film is executive produced by two-time Emmy(R) Award-winner Susan Rose and Bob Chmiel and produced by Emmy(R) nominee Dan Paulson. JACK is a Danel L. Paulson/Susan Rose/Ellen M. Krass production. The film will premiere June 20 at 8:00 PM (ET/PT).
Airing every Tuesday throughout June, the network will air back-to-back episodes of the miniseries ARMISTEAD MAUPIN'S MORE TALES OF THE CITY and FURTHER TALES OF THE CITY. MORE TALES OF THE CITY is based on Maupin's classic saga of San Francisco Life including the romantic entanglements of several gay characters searching for love and acceptance. FURTHER TALES OF THE CITY is based on the third novel in Maupin's classic saga of San Francisco Life set in the 1980s and featuring several homosexual and lesbian characters.
On June 1 and June 27, SHOWTIME will air a number of short films. This includes the premiere of a new installment of SCENARIOS USA, an anthology of short films created by high school students who teamed up with industry professionals to produce stories that inspire kids to act responsibly and make healthy choices about sexual matters. Included are the short films "Lipstick," "Today I Found Out," "From an Objective Point of View," and "Just Like You Imagine." Additionally, THE SLOWDOWN, which initially aired on SHOWTIME as part of its Black Filmmaker Showcase, features a female rapper who fears she has contracted AIDS.
The network will also air PETER'S FRIENDS, a witty British ensemble drama, on June 24. Stephen Fry stars as Peter, a wealthy aristocrat who invites the members of his long-ago Cambridge theater troupe to his estate for a reunion - one that is fraught with romantic assignations, broken hearts, rekindled friendships, and one very startling revelation. Kenneth Branagh costars.
The schedule for the programs is as follows (ET/PT):
THE OPPOSITE SEX: JAMIE'S STORY
Monday, June 7
9:00pm The Opposite Sex: Jamie's Story
10:15pm Sexual Dialogues: Men to Women
10:45pm The Opposite Sex: Rene's Story
12:05am Sexual Dialogues: Women to Men
Wednesday, June 23
9:00pm The Opposite Sex: Jamie's Story
10:15pm Sexual Dialogues: Men to Women
ARMISTEAD MAUPIN
June 1, June 8, June 15
9pm Armistead Maupin's More Tales Of The City -2 episodes back to back
June 22, June 29
9pm Armistead Maupin's Further Tales Of The City - 2 episodes back to back
KNOW HIV/AIDS AWARENESS INITIATIVE
The June programming to support this initiative is as follows:
Tuesday, June 1
8:00pm Short Films - Scenarios USA
8:45pm Black Filmmaker Showcase: The Slowdown
Sunday, June 20
8:00pm
Jack (OPAA)
Wednesday, June 23
10:45pm Black Filmmaker Showcase: The Slowdown
Thursday, June 24
9:00pm Peter's Friends
Saturday, June 26
1:45pm Jack
Sunday, June 27
7:00pm Short Films - Scenarios USA
7:45pm Black Filmmaker Showcase: The Slowdown
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, www.knowhivaids.org, or toll-free number 1-866-344-KNOW (5669).
THE OPPOSITE SEX: JAMIE'S STORY will premiere June 7, 2004 at 9:00 PM (ET/PT). The focus of this 90 minute documentary is Jamie, 47, a male-to- female gender reassignment candidate formerly known as Jim. A macho man from a small town in Michigan, she has been married to Brenda for 25 years and fathered their 12-year-old daughter. This is the second of two documentaries which focus on one individual's transition and surgery to change from one sex to another. Both verite documentaries are directed by Oscar(R) nominee Josh Aronson (Sound and Fury). Dr. Bruce Hensel (Emmy(R) Award-winning medical journalist for NBC's Los Angeles affiliate) serves as executive producer, along with Stuart Krasnow. At 10:45 PM (ET/PT), SHOWTIME will re-air THE OPPOSITE SEX: RENE'S STORY, featuring Rene, 31, a female-to-male gender reassignment candidate. Rene took hormones for years and 'passed' as a man for all of his adult life. The decision to complete the transition with a new type of surgery has overwhelming effects on Rene's marriage to Wona, a heterosexual woman, religion, and personal life.
Each documentary will be followed by SEXUAL DIALOGUES, a 30-minute round-table forum about other transgender journeys and lives. Hosted by Executive Producer Dr. Bruce Hensel, these panel discussions will feature other transgenders, their partners, and sex change experts debating the sex- change process and issues surrounding the hormones and surgery.
Also premiering in June is JACK, a SHOWTIME Original Picture for All Ages. Anton Yelchin stars as Jack, a 15-year-old boy who must come to terms with his parents divorcing, his own puberty and the revelation that his father is gay. The film also stars Stockard Channing and Ron Silver. Directed by Lee Rose from the screenplay by A.M. Homes based on her novel, the film is executive produced by two-time Emmy(R) Award-winner Susan Rose and Bob Chmiel and produced by Emmy(R) nominee Dan Paulson. JACK is a Danel L. Paulson/Susan Rose/Ellen M. Krass production. The film will premiere June 20 at 8:00 PM (ET/PT).
Airing every Tuesday throughout June, the network will air back-to-back episodes of the miniseries ARMISTEAD MAUPIN'S MORE TALES OF THE CITY and FURTHER TALES OF THE CITY. MORE TALES OF THE CITY is based on Maupin's classic saga of San Francisco Life including the romantic entanglements of several gay characters searching for love and acceptance. FURTHER TALES OF THE CITY is based on the third novel in Maupin's classic saga of San Francisco Life set in the 1980s and featuring several homosexual and lesbian characters.
On June 1 and June 27, SHOWTIME will air a number of short films. This includes the premiere of a new installment of SCENARIOS USA, an anthology of short films created by high school students who teamed up with industry professionals to produce stories that inspire kids to act responsibly and make healthy choices about sexual matters. Included are the short films "Lipstick," "Today I Found Out," "From an Objective Point of View," and "Just Like You Imagine." Additionally, THE SLOWDOWN, which initially aired on SHOWTIME as part of its Black Filmmaker Showcase, features a female rapper who fears she has contracted AIDS.
The network will also air PETER'S FRIENDS, a witty British ensemble drama, on June 24. Stephen Fry stars as Peter, a wealthy aristocrat who invites the members of his long-ago Cambridge theater troupe to his estate for a reunion - one that is fraught with romantic assignations, broken hearts, rekindled friendships, and one very startling revelation. Kenneth Branagh costars.
The schedule for the programs is as follows (ET/PT):
THE OPPOSITE SEX: JAMIE'S STORY
Monday, June 7
9:00pm The Opposite Sex: Jamie's Story
10:15pm Sexual Dialogues: Men to Women
10:45pm The Opposite Sex: Rene's Story
12:05am Sexual Dialogues: Women to Men
Wednesday, June 23
9:00pm The Opposite Sex: Jamie's Story
10:15pm Sexual Dialogues: Men to Women
ARMISTEAD MAUPIN
June 1, June 8, June 15
9pm Armistead Maupin's More Tales Of The City -2 episodes back to back
June 22, June 29
9pm Armistead Maupin's Further Tales Of The City - 2 episodes back to back
KNOW HIV/AIDS AWARENESS INITIATIVE
The June programming to support this initiative is as follows:
Tuesday, June 1
8:00pm Short Films - Scenarios USA
8:45pm Black Filmmaker Showcase: The Slowdown
Sunday, June 20
8:00pm
Jack (OPAA)
Wednesday, June 23
10:45pm Black Filmmaker Showcase: The Slowdown
Thursday, June 24
9:00pm Peter's Friends
Saturday, June 26
1:45pm Jack
Sunday, June 27
7:00pm Short Films - Scenarios USA
7:45pm Black Filmmaker Showcase: The Slowdown
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, www.knowhivaids.org, or toll-free number 1-866-344-KNOW (5669).