18 Dec 2008 07:00
Embargoed: 0700hrs, 18 December 2008
DCD Media Plc
("DCD")
DCD Announces New TV Commission for C4
DCD Media, the independent TV production and distribution group, announces another 'shock doc' commission from C4 to produce 'Half Ton Son,' an hour-long documentary which follows the journey of Billy Robbins - the world's heaviest teenager as he makes the decision to turn his life around, undergoing several operations in the process.
This latest commission further enhances DCD-owned September Films' outstanding reputation in the field of human documentaries, having recently produced shows for C4's Bodyshock series including 'I am the Elephant Man,' which drew 3.5 million viewers as C4's second highest rated documentary in 2008. September was also responsible for 'The Pregnant Man,' 'Boys Joined at the Head' and 'The Human Camera.'
David Green, Chief Creative Officer and Acting CEO of DCD, said,
"DCD-owned September Films has become the producer of choice when it comes to 'shock docs.' As with the numerous human documentary successes that we have made in the recent past, 'Half Ton Son' will be produced to the highest quality, profitably and with the compassion and style befitting this fascinating and moving story."
For further information please contact,
David Green
Chief Creative Officer and Acting CEO
DCD Media Plc
Tel. 020 7297 8000
Ben Simons
M:Communications
Tel. 020 7153 1540
Tom Price or Jeremy Ellis
Evolution Securities
Tel. 020 7071 4300
Notes to Editors
DCD Media plc
DCD Media plc is one of the UK's 'super-indies', a large group of production and distribution companies specialising in factual, entertainment, drama, music and arts programming for TV, DVD and new media markets. DCD Media comprises a number of high profile content producers - Box TV, a drama specialist; arts and entertainment producer Iambic Productions; music and staged event specialist Done and Dusted; factual and lifestyle producer Prospect Pictures; primetime factual entertainment, reality, formats and shock docs producer September Films; documentary specialist West Park Pictures. The group also comprises its wholly owned international distributor DCD Rights, the international video download site and DVD label Digital Classics, and publishing division DCD Publishing. For further details see www.dcdmedia.co.uk.
Billy Robbins
Weighing over 57 stones (800lbs), 19 year old Billy has made the decision to transform his life in the hope that one day he may be able to move out of his mother's home. Eating up to 30,000 calories a day Billy realises that not only does he have to change his ways in order to gain his own independence, he must change them to live at all. He is now ready to begin the slow and torturous route to his target weight of 13 stones (180lbs), and may have to undergo up to seven risky operations.
Half Ton Son is directed by Jonathan Nowzaradan and produced by Luke Campbell who also made The Pregnant Man, and the documentary is a co-production between September Films, a division of DCD Media and Megalomedia Inc. based in Austin Texas.