VANCOUVER, July 17, 2019 /CNW/ - Network Media Group Inc. (TSX: NTE.V) (OTCMKTS: NMGGF) and Network Entertainment Inc. ("Network" or "the Company") are pleased to announce that its I Am Patrick Swayze feature documentary produced for Paramount Network will hold its world premiere in the actor's home state of Texas at the San Antonio Film Festival on Friday, August 2, and will debut on Swayze's birthday, Sunday, August 18 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT on Paramount Network. Patrick Swayze classics Ghost and Dirty Dancing will air leading into the documentary at 3:00 p.m. ET/PT and 6:00 p.m. ET/PT respectively.
I Am Patrick Swayze is a loving tribute to the prolific actor that showcases his life and career through untold stories, exclusive interviews, heartfelt home movies, and family photos featuring those who knew him best. The film explores his childhood in Texas and his enduring relationship with his widow, Lisa Niemi, who he met as a teenager at his mother's dance studio. Known for undeniable star quality, the documentary is a window into an artist's life that delves into Swayze's remarkable film career working on huge blockbuster hits like Dirty Dancing, The Outsiders, and Ghost.
The film features interviews with Swayze's friends, family – including his widow Lisa Niemi and brother Don Swayze, co-stars Sam Elliott, Jennifer Grey, C. Thomas Howell, Rob Lowe, Kelly Lynch, Demi Moore, Lori Petty, Marshall R. Teague, director Roland Joffe, agent Nicole David, manager Kate Edwards, personal assistant Rosemary Hygate and stuntman Cliff McLaughlin.
"We are proud of our ongoing partnership with Paramount Network, and we look forward to the much-anticipated premiere of the film," said Derik Murray, Network's founder and CEO. "We are extremely grateful to Lisa Niemi, the stellar cast of Swayze co-stars and others who shared poignant and very personal memories of Patrick."
The documentary, directed by Adrian Buitenhuis (who also directed I Am Heath Ledger and I Am Paul Walker), is the latest from Network Entertainment's award-winning filmmaker Derik Murray, who has previously produced films on iconic figures such as John F. Kennedy Jr., Martin Luther King Jr., Heath Ledger, Bruce Lee, Paul Walker, Chris Farley and Richard Pryor. The Company's next documentary slated to premiere is I Am Jackie O, later in 2019.
Thunderbird Entertainment is distributing I Am Patrick Swayze in Canada, and Fremantle will be distributing internationally in all media.
I Am Patrick Swayze is Executive Produced by Paul Gertz, Kent Wingerak and Derik Murray. Paramount Network's Chaz Gray also serves as Executive Producer.
About I Am
The original documentary series I Am is an inside look at the lives of extraordinary individuals, told by the people who knew them best. The award-winning franchise from filmmaker Derik Murray's Network Entertainment, which began in 2012 with I Am Bruce Lee, features documentaries that provide biographical portraits of iconic figures including John F. Kennedy Jr., Martin Luther King Jr., Steve McQueen, Evel Knievel, Sam Kinison, Paul Walker, Chris Farley, Heath Ledger and Richard Pryor.
About Network Entertainment
Network Media Group is the parent company of Network Entertainment Inc.
Network Entertainment is a creatively driven, boutique film and television production company that creates, finances, produces, and delivers award winning programming to television, digital platforms and movie audiences around the world. The Network premium brand of content delivers world class casts, with visually cinematic and richly crafted storytelling, which is consistently embraced by both audiences and critics alike, garnering awards, record ratings and unparalleled media coverage for Network and its partners.
Network has a full slate of films and series in current production including a feature documentary on Jackie Kennedy Onassis and a multi-part documentary series for YouTube on Artificial Intelligence in partnership with Robert Downey Jr. The Company's most recent releases include Punk, a 4-part series for Epix Executive Produced by John Varvatos and Iggy Pop, and the feature documentary I Am Richard Pryor, which premiered at this year's SXSW Film Festival. Among the Company's many accolades, Network was named to the Realscreen Global 100 List, an annual compilation of the best global production companies working in the non-fiction and unscripted visual content industry.
Network's broadcast and distribution partners include: A&E, CBC, Crave, Epix, Fremantle, HBO Canada, Lionsgate, National Geographic, Paramount Network, Thunderbird, and YouTube Premium. The Company's work has been recognized by the Academy Awards, the Emmys, the Leos, Realscreen Awards, the Gemini Awards, the Los Angeles Film Festival, Washington D.C. Silver Docs, Seattle International Film Festival, Tribeca Film Festival, Hawaii International Film Festival, Houston International Film Festival, Vancouver International Film Festival, Banff Television Festival, and the International Film and Television Festival of New York.
For additional information on Network Entertainment Inc., visit www.networkentertainment.ca
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Cautionary Statement on Forward-looking Information
Except for historical information contained herein, this news release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. These statements are necessarily based upon management's perceptions, beliefs, assumptions and expectations, as well as a number of specific factors and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management of the Company as of the date of such statements, are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies that could result in the forward-looking information ultimately, perhaps materially, being incorrect. All forward looking information in this news release involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that are beyond the control of the Company and may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward looking information. Except as required pursuant to applicable securities laws, the Company will not update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof.
About Paramount Network
Paramount Network is a premium entertainment destination that pushes the limits of storytelling with bold original scripted and non-scripted series. Inspired by over a century of cinema, Paramount Network is where today's brightest stars bring the experience of the big screen to every screen with stories that are immersive, inclusive, and deeply personal. A subsidiary of Viacom Inc., Paramount Network has a global reach of 234 million households across 117 countries. For up-to-the-minute and archival press information and photographs visit Paramount Network's press site at paramountnetwork.com/press and follow us on Twitter at @ParamountNetPR for the latest in breaking news updates, behind-the-scenes information and photos.
SOURCE Network Media Group Inc.
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Enquiries: Trevor Treweeke, Director of Capital Markets, 778.870.5028, trevor@networkentertainment.caCopyright CNW Group 2019