Discovery Makes Documentary Deal

Cable World, March 10, 2003

Byline: Jon Lafayette

Looking to boost its standing among both filmmakers and viewers of serious documentaries, Discovery Communications last week formed a joint venture that will back some of the leading documentarians and give their work exposure in theaters and on cable.

The full-length films produced by the joint venture will be called Discovery Docs. Billy Campbell, president, Discovery Networks U.S., said the venture will give a green light to the first projects in the next few weeks. Those projects should be ready for theatrical distribution by early next year. The films will appear on Discovery, or possibly some of the company's other networks, within six months of their theatrical opening.

Partner CameraPlanet will distribute the films theatrically in at least five cities.

Campbell said there is no set number of projects the venture will put into production and no minimum or maximum budget for these films.

The theatrical releases of the films are intended to publicize the films before they appear on cable. "Commercial documentaries should be seen by a much larger audience," Campbell said. Thanks to the joint venture, "people will get to see these great filmmakers' work across the country."

Some of the biggest names in the documentary business are involved in the Discovery Docs program, including Barbara Kopple (Harlan County USA), Michael Apted (7 Up and Coal Miner's Daughter), Peter Gilbert (Hoop Dreams), Nanette Burstein (The Kid Stays in the Picture) and the team of Chris Hegedus and D.A. Pennebaker (Startup.com and The War Room).