Corus Entertainment’s Movie Central (Western Canada) announced today that it has partnered with William Shatner’s production company Melis Productions and Ballinran Productions Limited to produce The Captains (working title), a feature length documentary on the life of William Shatner.
Movie Central has also acquired the Canadian broadcast rights to the critically-acclaimed documentary William Shatner’s Gonzo Ballet, a documentary about the legendary Tony® Award-winning choreographer Margo Sappington’s journey to create a ballet set to the music of William Shatner’s critically acclaimed album Has Been (produced and co-written with Ben Folds).
“We are thrilled to be partnering with the legendary William Shatner to produce a unique and never-before-seen view of his life,” said Erica Benson, Vice President, Programming, Movie Central. “Both The Captains and the acquisition of the Canadian broadcast rights for Gonzo Ballet are going to be a great fit for both our pay TV network Movie Central and specialty network Sundance Channel (Canada).”
THE CAPTAINS (working title)
A feature documentary following the life and career of William Shatner, The Captains will explore Shatner’s Montreal roots and his early career in Stratford, Ontario, as well as the extraordinary change in circumstances caused by the serendipitous casting for the role of Captain James T. Kirk. Produced by Corus Entertainment’s Movie Central in association with Melis Productions and Ballinran Productions Limited, The Captains is scheduled to start production in July for broadcast in winter 2011. The film will be directed by Shatner, who will also executive produce with David Zappone and Craig Thompson.
WILLIAM SHATNER’S GONZO BALLET
William Shatner’s Gonzo Ballet studies the legendary Tony® Award-winning choreographer Margo Sappington’s quest to collaborate William Shatner’s critically acclaimed album Has Been (produced and co-written with Ben Folds), with poetry and dance from the ballet Common People. Featuring interviews with William Shatner, Ben Folds, Margo Sappington, Henry Rollins and the Milwaukee Ballet, this documentary will premiere on Corus Entertainment’s pay TV channel Movie Central this fall, followed by repeat airings on Corus’ Sundance Channel (Canada). William Shatner’s Gonzo Ballet was made by Special Entertainment and Big Screen Entertainment Group in association with Shatner’s Melis Productions. Executive Produced by William Shatner, directed by Pat Buckley and Kevin Lane, and co-directed by Bobby Ciraldo and Andrew Swant. Music by Ben Folds.