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BBC
TWO's Arena commissions new film on Bob Dylan directed by Martin
Scorsese
The
BBC today announced that Arena has commissioned a feature-length
documentary on Bob Dylan, directed by Martin Scorsese.
Breaking
his silence after decades, Dylan has offered Scorsese his full co-operation
in the making of this film.
Through
his company Cappa Productions, Scorsese will be one of the producers,
along with Arena's Anthony Wall.
The
other producers on the film are Nigel Sinclair of Spitfire Pictures,
Jeff Rosen of Greywater Park and Susan Lacy (Executive Producer
of American Masters from New York's PBS channel Thirteen/WNET).
Noted
Scorsese: "I had been a great fan for many years when I had
the privilege to film Bob Dylan for The Last Waltz.
"I've
admired and enjoyed his many musical transformations. For me, there
is no other musical artist who weaves his influences so densely
to create something so personal and unique.
"This
project gives me a chance to explore one of the most exciting artists
and icons of the past 50 years."
Yet
to be titled, The Bob Dylan Anthology Project will focus
on Dylan's life and art from the beginning of his career - with
such seminal hits as Blowin' in the Wind and Like a Rolling Stone
- through to 1966, concluding with his recording the Blonde on Blonde
album and its breakaway single Just Like a Woman.
The
film will be illuminated by an extensive archive and other, never-before-seen
footage and contributions from major artists and other players from
the period.
In
addition, Dylan will tell his story and talk about the history and
the period that he has influenced so profoundly.
Franny
Moyle, Head of Arts Commissioning for the BBC, says: "It is
a real coup to get such a giant of the film industry profiling
one of the most influential musicians of our time.
"This
film is another major programme for the award-winning Arena, which
over the years has cast unique insights into icons from Pinter to
Elvis."
Arena's
Editor Anthony Wall says: "This is a great moment, Martin Scorsese
directing a film about Bob Dylan
is history in its own right. It
goes without saying that this is a truly exciting venture.
"It
will be a great privilege to work with Scorsese."
Notes
to Editors
*
The film is a Spitfire Pictures and Greywater Park production, co-produced
by Arena and American Masters, from New York's PBS channel Thirteen/WNET
under its Executive Producer, Susan Lacy.
Scorsese,
through his company Cappa Productions, will be one of the producers,
along with Wall, Lacy and Nigel Sinclair of Spitfire and Jeff Rosen
of Greywater Park.
*
Arena is the BBC's longest running arts strand.
It
has won eight British Academy Awards and over 20 nominations along
with numerous other honours from all over the world including the
Emmys and the Prix Italia.
Anthony
Wall was Director on the strand from 1979-85 and has been Series
Editor since then.
*
American Masters is produced for PBS by Thirteen/WNET New York.
The acclaimed series has become a cultural legacy in its own right.
Its
exceptional film library about America's artistic giants is one
of the most highly honoured in television history.
In
addition to Peabodys, Oscars and Grammys, American Masters has won
11 Emmys, including Outstanding Primetime Non-Fiction Series for
1999, 2000 and 2001.
*
Guy East and Nigel Sinclair's Spitfire Pictures is a newly formed,
independent feature film and television production company.
Currently,
Spitfire is developing an eclectic slate of high profile feature
and television projects. Their first feature, Masked and Anonymous,
premiered at the 2003 Sundance Film Festival and will be released
by Sony Classics in the U.S.
Sinclair
and East's long list of executive producer credits include Sliding
Doors, The Wedding Planner, IRIS, and the forthcoming Terminator
3, The Rise of the Machines.
All the
BBC's digital services are now available on Freeview,
the new free-to-view digital terrestrial television service, as well
as on satellite and cable.
Freeview
offers the BBC's eight television channels, interactive services
from BBCi, as well as 11 BBC radio networks.
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