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In a year that saw independent movies taking center stage at the
Oscars®, Turner Classic Movies (TCM) explores the uncompromising vision,
creative spirit and maverick determination of independent filmmakers, both
classic and current, in its first fully in-house produced original
documentary, EDGE OF OUTSIDE, premiering Wednesday, July 5, at 8 p.m. ET.
EDGE OF OUTSIDE kicks off a month-long movie festival dedicated to
filmmakers who have worked on the edges of Hollywood.
A tribute to the fight for artistic freedom in American independent cinema,
EDGE OF OUTSIDE features original interviews with Martin Scorsese,
Peter Falk, Ed Burns, Spike Lee, Henry Jaglom, Arthur Penn, Gena Rowlands
and John Sayles as well as friends and crew members who worked with classic
filmmakers, including Nicholas Ray, John Cassavetes and Sam Peckinpah.
Offering an intimate look at the various issues, creative and personal,
financial and emotional, this documentary illustrates the struggles endured
by many classic filmmakers to create a personal vision, a vision mirrored by
many contemporary directors today. EDGE OF OUTSIDE dispels the
notion that an independent film is simply a low-budget film, instead
defining the genre by the maverick filmmaker's ability to infuse his or her
films with creative spirit and determination.
The documentary also illustrates the work of several maverick filmmakers
including Orson Welles, Stanley Kubrick, Nicholas Ray, Samuel Fuller, Sam
Peckinpah and John Cassavetes. Each of these directors took a different
approach to producing films, whether part of the Hollywood studio system or
not. Some have been able to survive within the system, others felt it
necessary to be on their own and others were banished because of their
fierce independence. However, their adamant drive to create a personal
vision, despite many obstacles, exemplifies the significant influence they
have had on the independent film movement of today.
"Classic films aren't represented only by box-office blockbusters and
Oscar®: nominees," said Tom Karsch, executive vice president and general
manager of Turner Classic Movies. "Turner Classic Movies takes pride in
recognizing all cinematic accomplishments, no matter how small or large the
director or studio, and bringing those triumphs to viewers'
attention."
EDGE OF OUTSIDE is directed and produced by Shannon Davis, senior
vice president of original production for TCM and executive-produced by
Chris Merrifield, vice president and creative director of TCM on-air
creative.
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