TCM Presents MOGULS & MOVIE STARS 10 Part Documentary

The true story behind the making of the American movie industry has as many ups and downs, twists and turns as the latest big-budget thriller, not to mention a cast of characters worthy of a shelf full of Oscars®. Now, Turner Classic Movies (TCM) is telling the real story of the film industry in MOGULS AND MOVIE STARS: A HISTORY OF HOLLYWOOD (Working Title), an ambitious new 10-part documentary series co-produced by Bill Haber's Ostar Productions and TCM. Haber (TNT's Nightmares & Dreamscapes: From the Stories of Stephen King; Broadway's The History Boys and Monty Python's Spamalot) will serve as executive producer, while Jon Wilkman will write and produce. Wilkman is a veteran documentary filmmaker whose work has been honored with four Emmys® and numerous other international film and TV awards.

"TCM is known by lovers of great film as a destination for those who cherish the film industry's cinematic legacy; no network is better positioned to tell Hollywood's complete story than Turner Classic Movies," said Michael Wright, executive vice president, head of programming for TCM, TBS and TNT. "This is an epic project that promises to be a landmark event for TCM."

"More than just a check list of great movies, MOGULS AND MOVIE STARS is a rare, personalized look at the American film industry, featuring the remarkable men and women whose drive and ambition founded the ‘Dream Factory' that became Hollywood," Haber said. "At the heart of our story is a remarkable generation who, in a few short years, created an entertainment empire - among them such names as Mayer, Goldwyn, Warner, Fox, Zanuck and Selznick. Many began as impoverished immigrants and became among the wealthiest and most influential figures in American culture."

"Our story will span more than 100 years of inventiveness and entertainment," said Wilkman. "From Thomas Edison to Steven Spielberg, from Charlie Chaplin and Mary Pickford to Sean Penn and Kate Winslet, we'll tell the stories of MOGULS AND MOVIE STARS, the lives they've lived, the movies they've made and the impact they've had on lives around the world."

Set to premiere in 2010, MOGULS AND MOVIE STARS: A HISTORY OF HOLLYWOOD will consist of 10 one-hour documentaries, each focusing on a different era of American movie history, from the invention of the first photographs that moved to the astonishing, computer-driven imagery of the present. Each installment will feature rarely seen photographs and film footage, clips from memorable American movies and interviews with distinguished historians and major Hollywood figures.

At its heart, the documentary series will be a personal history of Hollywood, detailing the personalities, inter-personal relationships, collaborations and conflicts that created an industry and an art form. The series will also serve as a history of America, looking at how moviemakers responded to such major events as the Great Depression, World War II and the Civil Rights movement. As America has change, so has the movie industry, with the rise and fall of the studio system, the challenge of television and online media and the evolution of conglomerates and mega-producers.

Turner Classic Movies, currently seen in more than 80 million homes, presents great films uncut and commercial-free, from the largest film library in the world. TCM, which is celebrating its 15th anniversary in 2009, features the insights of veteran primetime host Robert Osborne and weekend host Ben Mankiewicz, plus interviews with a wide range of special guests. As the foremost authority in classic films, TCM offers critically acclaimed original documentaries and specials, along with regular programming events that include The Essentials, 31 Days of Oscar and Summer Under the Stars. TCM also produces a wide range of media about classic film, including books and DVDs, along with hosting a wealth of materials at its Web site, www.tcm.com. TCM is part of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company.

Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company, creates and programs branded news, entertainment, animation and young adult media environments on television and other platforms for consumers around the world.