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| Intensity TV: Press Release |
BRACE YOURSELF FOR "INTENSITY TV,"
KQED'S NEWEST SERIES OF INDEPENDENT FILM SHORTS
New Prime-time Series Joins INDEPENDENT VIEW in Treating Bay Area Audiences to the Best in Independent Film
Inktomi Signs On As Exclusive Series Underwriter
San Francisco, CA -- Skin-crawling horror. Ground-breaking animation. Quirky comedy. Gripping drama. Surreal science fiction. Lavish fantasy. Hip independent shorts. These are the genres that are represented in KQED’s newest series of independent film shorts from some of the best, creative and invigorating filmmakers from around the world. Under the title Intensity TV -- labeled as such because the films keep you glued to your seat for the entire two-hour block -- the series debuts Saturday, March 24 at 8 p.m. and continues Saturday evenings through April 14 on KQED Public Television 9. The second half of the season will pick up again this summer.
Inspired from such legendary television fare as "The Twilight Zone" and the "Night Gallery" series, Intensity TV will spark and saturate audiences with stimulating and thought-provoking stories that leave a lasting impression after the television screen is turned off. The talented creators behind the films of Intensity TV are far from a homogenous lot, including international filmmakers, Hollywood insiders, film school students and first-time moviemakers. Short films allow filmmakers to experiment with fresh, bold ideas. And since many of the ones featured on Intensity TV are new faces, they aren't afraid to buck the trends and challenge the rules of conventional filmmaking. The series will unleash over 60 short films -- many of which have had successful and award-winning festival runs -- from around the world.
"Audiences around the Bay Area have always craved stories of substance, stories that say something and stories that make you think," said Scott Dwyer, curator of Intensity TV and KQED's director of programming for Public Television 9. "Intensity TV is the kind of anthology series that gives audiences great stories from great independent filmmakers."
Intensity TV is also inspired by the Age of Internet, bringing the television debut of many short films that have been seen by audiences exclusively on the Web. And as such, Intensity TV has a rich and robust Web site at kqed.org/intensitytv, where Internet surfers will find a Web-only film festival of shorts not included in the broadcast version of the series. In addition, the companion site offers film descriptions; filmmaker biographies and contact information; information on how surfers can submit their films for review; and viewer feedback and voting. The Web site launches March 14.
Intensity TV is part of KQED's Independent Initiative -- created in 1999 -- that showcases independent works by filmmakers across the world and fosters collaboration between KQED and the Bay Area's world-renowned independent filmmaking community. Through the Independent Initiative, media sponsorship of Bay Area independent film festivals and a local series entitled Independent View, KQED nurtures and enables the creation and broadcast of independently produced programs.
Funding for Intensity TV is provided by Inktomi and the members of KQED.
KQED operates KQED Public Television 9, the nation's most-watched public television station, and Digital Television 30, Northern California's only public television digital signal; KQED Public Radio 88.5 FM, the most listened-to public radio station in the nation; the KQED Education Network, which brings the impact of KQED to thousands of teachers, students, parents and media professionals through workshops, seminars and resources; and www.kqed.org, which harnesses the power of the Internet to bring KQED to communities across the Web.
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