25 Jun 2009 07:00
Embargoed:Β 0700hrs,Β 25Β June 2009
DCD Media plc
("DCD" or the "Company")
DCD Wins MultipleΒ USΒ TV Commissions
DCD MediaΒ plc has won a raft of commissions from US Cable TV Network TLCΒ to produce four exclusive one-off human interest documentaries.Β The shows, to be produced by DCD-ownedΒ September Films,Β are:
650 lbΒ VirginΒ (1x60') follows the incredible transformation of thirty-one year old David Smith fromΒ PhoenixΒ ArizonaΒ as he goes from a morbidly obese loner to a healthy, happy fitness instructor, losing more than 400 pounds in weight. To do this without the use of gastric bypass surgery is almost unheard of and, having achieved the seemingly impossible, David is now hoping to make up for lost time by finding himself a girlfriend for the first time in his life.
Child Frozen In TimeΒ (1x60')Β explores the unique case of Brooke Greenberg who, at sixteen, resembles aΒ sevenΒ month old infant. She has not grown or aged for eleven years. Brooke's condition is so rare that doctors simply call it 'Syndrome X', and believe that if they can find the cause they may discover the secret of ageing.
Conjoined Twins: Sister BondΒ (1x60')Β tells the remarkable story of American twins Kendra and Maliyah who, born joined at the abdomen and pelvis, were successfully separated in a surgical procedure of almost unimaginable complexity. This uplifting film follows the medical journey and the family before, during and after this life-changing and groundbreaking operation, in fact the first medical intervention of its kind.Β
Marlie's New Face: Four Years OnΒ (1x60') - follows Marlie Casseus, the little girl fromΒ Haiti, whose heart-rending story went around the world. A hideous 16-pound growth was closing her throat and slowly killing her. Four years later Marlie is now a teenager with a new face. The revolutionary operations, which continue today, have given her back her life, and throughout this time, a courageous and inspirational Marlie has never forgotten how to laugh, and how to dance.Β
David Green, Chief Creative Officer and Acting CEO, DCD Media,Β said:Β
"DCD-ownedΒ September Films' outstandingΒ reputation in the field of human interest documentaries has spread well beyond theΒ UK,Β and was recently confirmed byΒ topΒ rating performances on majorΒ USΒ networks. Growing our outputΒ in the North American TV marketsΒ is a key, and profitable,Β element of our diversification strategyΒ and these multiple commissions further our push Stateside."
650 lb VirginΒ andΒ Child Frozen In TimeΒ are being distributed by international sales company DCD Rights.
Enquiries:
David Green
Chief Creative Officer and Acting CEO DCD Media plc
Tel. 020 7297 8000
Ben Simons
M: Communications
Tel. 020 7153 1540
Tom PriceΒ or Jeremy Ellis
Evolution Securities
Tel. 020 7071 4300
Notes to Editors:
China's Elephant ManΒ was the highest rated documentary of 2009 on National Geographic and the second highest rated documentary on C4 in 2008 (UKΒ title: I Am The Elephant Man)
The Pregnant ManΒ wasΒ the highest rated documentary on Discovery HealthΒ USΒ in 2008.
About DCD Media:
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; music and staged event specialist Done and Dusted; factual and lifestyle producer Prospect Pictures; primetime factual entertainment, reality, formats and documentaries producer September Films; documentary specialist West Park Pictures, recently established Scottish production company, Matchlight, a joint venture with some of Scotland's leading programme makers; and West Park West, a new Dublin-based producer and developer of documentaries and factual programming.Β
The group also comprises international distributor DCD Rights, the international video download site and DVD label Digital Classics; and publishing and merchandising division DCD Publishing. For further details seeΒ www.dcdmedia.co.ukΒ
About September Films, a division of DCD MediaΒ
DCD-owned September Films is a leadingΒ UKΒ independent television and film production company with offices inΒ LondonΒ andΒ Los Angeles. It was founded in 1992 by feature film director David Green, who devised the groundbreakingΒ Hollywood WomenΒ series that launched the company, and September's current flagship showΒ Bridezillas. Having produced over 1,000 hours of primetime television during the last 16 years, September is an established specialist in factual entertainment, documentaries and features, reality programming and entertainment formats on both sides of theΒ Atlantic. Programming for September Films is distributed by DCD Rights. For further details seeΒ www.septemberfilms.comΒ
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