The Oprah Winfrey Network picks up “Family Affair” at Sundance Film Festival (video)

Make sure you view the trailer for this documentary. I have and it’s extremely powerful. I love documentaries and am pleased to see that the Oprah Winfrey Network will add quality documentaries to its lineup. This is definitely going on my Netflix list.  ~Affrodite

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LOS ANGELES, Jan. 29 /PRNewswire/ — OWN: THE OPRAH WINFREY NETWORK has acquired the rights to FAMILY AFFAIR, an independent feature length documentary film written and produced by Chico David Colvard. FAMILY AFFAIR, an intensely personal documentary that examines Mr. Colvard’s compelling family history, garnered great attention at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival where it had its world premiere.

FAMILY AFFAIR is the first film to join OWN’s recently announced Documentary Film Club. The Doc Club was created to spotlight cinematic documentaries that can inspire and entertain, and encourage emerging creative voices to bring their stories to a mainstream television audience on OWN.

“OWN is about real life stories of self-discovery, inspiration and transformation,” said Chief Executive Officer Christina Norman. “FAMILY AFFAIR is exactly that – a multi-layered, raw and provocative family story. I applaud Chico Colvard for his bravery in creating a deeply personal film that shares with us his pain, his anger and ultimately his transformation.”

“I’m honored to have my film be a part of the unique programming OWN will be offering,” said Mr. Colvard. “I believe that my story will resonate with both men and women who are struggling with their past, and give them a new insight to move forward with their future.”

“We are eager to bring this profound and important film to a larger audience,” said Annie Roney, founder and managing director ro*co films international, and curators of the OWN Documentary Film Club. “This documentary will allow viewers to create a community, giving them a platform for discussion and allowing personal growth and change.”

“I am deeply honored that FAMILY AFFAIR is the first acquisition by the OWN Documentary Club,” said Liz Garbus, producer. “Beyond our own personal excitement, OWN’s commitment to best of American documentary filmmaking is a thrilling development for the whole industry.”

A multi-platform experience, the Doc Club on OWN will be an opportunity for viewers to see monthly documentary films on the channel and, in some cases, at nationwide theatrical screening events. On Oprah.com, the OWN community will be able to come together to share reflections, ideas and continue the conversation.

Here’s the trailer for “Family Affair”

About FAMILY AFFAIR

At 10 years old, Chico Colvard shot his older sister in the leg. This seemingly random act detonated a chain reaction that exposed unspeakable realities and shattered his family. Thirty years later, Colvard ruptures veils of secrecy and silence again. As he bravely visits his relatives, what unfolds is a personal film that’s as uncompromising, raw, and cathartic as any in the history of the medium.

Driving the story forward is Colvard’s sensitive probing of a complex dynamic: the way his three sisters survived severe childhood abuse by their father, and as adults, manage to muster loyalty to him. These unforgettable, invincible women paint a picture of their harrowing girlhoods as they resiliently struggle with present-day fallout. The distance time gives them from their trauma yields piercing insights about the legacy of abuse, the nature of forgiveness, and eternal longing for family and love. These truths may be too searing to bear, but they reverberate powerfully within each of us.

FAMILY AFFAIR is written and produced by Chico David Colvard. Dan Cogan and Abigail Disney serve as Executive Producers, Rachel J. Clark as editor, Academy-Award® nominated Liz Garbus as producer, and Miriam Cutler as composer.

Visit www.rocofilms.com for submission information and guidelines.

About OWN: THE OPRAH WINFREY NETWORK

A joint venture between Oprah Winfrey and Discovery Communications, OWN: THE OPRAH WINFREY NETWORK is a multi-platform media company designed to entertain, inform, and inspire people to live their best lives. OWN will debut in more than 70 million homes, on what is currently the Discovery Health Channel. The venture also will include the award-winning digital platform, Oprah.com.

source: Oprah Winfrey Network

Related Links

Affrodite.net- She’s every woman. Oprah Winfrey to end talk show run Feb 9, 2011 (video, press release)

Sundance Film Festival 2010- festival.sundance.org/2010

Sundance Film Festival 2010- 2010 Sundance Film Festival announces films in competition

WGBH Lab- Current filmmakers in residence

She’s every woman. Oprah Winfrey to end talk show run September 9, 2011 (video, press release)

news29762Oprah

As one of her season intros borrowed Chaka Khan‘s “I’m Every Woman,” Oprah has indeed found a unique way to reach the hearts of women all over the world, and men, too.  She broke the stereotype too often required of women on television or in film that they need to be a size 0, fair-skinned and with features unlike Oprah.  Now, once she has 25 golden seasons under her belt, Oprah is retiring her weekday talk show to make room for new pursuits.  She didn’t offer much detail, but her next venture will be under her own cable network, the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN).

I, personally, am not stunned.  Oprah’s had a good run with the show, and as her declining ratings over the past few seasons indicate, television viewers are not choosing her show to the degree that they had been in prior years.  Plus, if you simply look at the fact that she’s ending at a 25 year mark, it seems like that’s a goal she’s probably had in mind for years.

Here’s a CNN report talking about Oprah’s departure.

Here’s the press release from Oprah.com…

November 20, 2009, CHICAGO — On today’s live episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show, Winfrey announced that she plans to end her show in September 2011 after 25 years on the air. The Oprah Show will end its run as its 25th season draws to a close on September 9, 2011.

Launched nationally in 1986, The Oprah Winfrey Show is viewed by an estimated 42 million viewers each week in the United States.* Oprah and The Oprah Winfrey Show have received 48 Daytime Emmy Awards®, including the Lifetime Achievement Award in 1998. The Oprah Winfrey Show has remained the number one talk show for 23 consecutive seasons, winning every sweep since its debut in 1986.** It is produced in Chicago by Harpo Productions, Inc. and syndicated to 215 domestic stations by CBS Television Distribution and to 145 countries by CBS Studios International.

Said Winfrey: “I love this show. This show has been my life. And I love it enough to know when it’s time to say goodbye. Twenty-five years feels right in my bones, and it feels right in my spirit. It’s the perfect number—the exact right time. So I hope that you will take this 18-month ride with me right through to the final show.”

Winfrey continued, “So, the countdown to the end of The Oprah Winfrey Show starts now, and until that day in 2011 when it ends, I intend to soak up every meaningful, joy-filled moment with you.”

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After production wraps on The Oprah Winfrey Show, Winfrey plans to appear and participate in new programming for OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network, a 24-hour cable network that reflects her vision, values and interests. The launch date for OWN, a joint venture with Discovery Communications, is now set for January 2011.

Read Oprah’s full statement.

About Harpo

Harpo Productions, Inc. produces the number one–rated, award-winning The Oprah Winfrey Show; creates and develops original TV programming for primetime, syndication and cable television; and operates Oprah.com (www.oprah.com), a premier lifestyle website. ZoCo Productions, LLC, an affiliate of Harpo Productions, Inc., and Sony Pictures Television co-produce The Dr. Oz Show. Harpo Print, LLC and Hearst Magazines publish the monthly O, The Oprah Magazine publication. Harpo Films produces feature films and, through an exclusive deal with HBO, scripted television programming. Harpo Radio, Inc. produces Oprah Radio (XM channel 156, Sirius channel 195 as part of its “Best of XM” package) on Sirius XM Radio. A joint venture between Oprah Winfrey and Discovery Communications, OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network, a multiplatform company, will debut in January 2011 in more than 70 million homes on what is currently the Discovery Health Channel.

Connect with Oprah

Twitter- oprah

Facebook- The Oprah Winfrey Show fan page

Myspace- www.myspace.com/theoprahwinfreyshow

YouTube- www.youtube.com/oprah (i had no idea she had a youtube channel!)

Related Links

PopEater.com- Oprah’s Long Goodbye Begins with Tears

LA Times- Oprah tells viewers she is signing off in 2011

CNN- Oprah ending talk show in 2011

Yahoo! News- Oprah’s departure presents problem for TV stations

MSNBC- Oprah decides to end show ‘after much prayer’

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