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Music, Sound, and Audio Technology
| Multiple Grammy Winner and Oscar Nominee T Bone Burnett to Serve as Executive Musical Producer of Upcoming EPIX (TM) Original Program 'Tough Trade' By Staff posted Dec 28, 2009, 06:01 |
Burnett Will Supervise Music Placement And Create Original Music For EPIX's First Series, Drama About Dysfunctional Country Music Dynasty
(New York, NY and Santa Monica, CA) Multiple Grammy winner and Oscar-nominated producer, musician and songwriter T Bone Burnett will be the executive musical producer and an executive producer for Lionsgate's "Tough Trade," the first original series pilot for EPIX (TM), the new multiplatform entertainment service from Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA and VIA.B), its Paramount Pictures unit, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (MGM) and Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF). The announcement was made by EPIX President and CEO Mark Greenberg and Lionsgate Music President Jay Faires. EPIX launched on October 30, 2009.
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"Tough Trade" is a provocative, contemporary one-hour drama about a three-generation Nashville music dynasty whose penchant for drink, debauchery and divorce has left them both morally corrupt and on the verge of bankruptcy. The family with little left is pinning its hopes on its former black sheep, a budding country star turned alternative rock heart throb. "Tough Trade" brings viewers behind the scenes and into the living room to expose the tragic and sometimes comedic secrets, scandals and sorrows of this unforgettable American family.
T Bone Burnett is renowned for his exceptional and wide-ranging work as a producer, musician and songwriter. He won five Grammy Awards for his work on O Brother, Where Art Thou? for which he wrote the score and produced the multiplatinum soundtrack, which also spawned two highly successful national concert tours, and he won Grammys for his work with Robert Plant and Alison Krauss. In 2002 he was honored with the Grammy Award for Non-Classical Producer of the Year. He was nominated for an Oscar for Best Original Song for "The Scarlet Tide" from the film Cold Mountain. He oversaw the music for the Grammy Award-winning platinum soundtrack to the Johnny Cash biopic Walk The Line and cult classic Coen Brothers film The Big Lebowski. Burnett has produced such artists as Roy Orbison, The Wallflowers, k.d. lang and Counting Crows. Songs performed by Burnett have been covered by Emmylou Harris, Arlo Guthrie, Warren Zevon and many others."Burnett brings a track record of experience and musical talent that cuts across genres of film, television and music in a unique and inspiring way," said Greenberg. "EPIX is focused on producing truly premium original programming, and we are absolutely thrilled to have Burnett place his musical stamp on our first original pilot."
"T Bone Burnett is an iconic musical talent who is the perfect choice to serve as executive musical producer for this show," said Faires and Kevin Beggs, Lionsgate's president of television programming and production. "His selection reflects our commitment to produce premium shows with premium talent for our premium new network. We know that he and the cast will distinguish the show with truly memorable music true to its Nashville roots."
Burnett's work has earned him particular recognition and respect in the country music world, making him an ideal choice for the role as music supervisor on a show that focuses on the lives of a country music family. The soundtrack and score Burnett produced for O Brother, Where Art Thou? garnered awards from the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music in addition to the Grammys.
The addition of Burnett builds on a stellar cast which includes celebrated playwright and actor Sam Shepard (Lionsgate and Relativity Media's Brothers, The Assassination of Jesse James, The Right Stuff), who will portray the patriarch of the Tucker family. The creative team is led by executive producer and showrunner Jenji Kohan (Lionsgate's "Weeds"). The pilot was written by creator/co-executive producer Chris Offutt ("True Blood," "Weeds") and will be directed by Gavin Hood (X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Rendition, the Oscar nominee Tsotsi). Executive producers also include Sean and Bryan Furst (The Matador, The Cooler). The show was developed by Furst Films under the company's first look deal with Lionsgate Television. The production began shooting on December 3 in Nashville.
Resources:
Lionsgate: www.lionsgate.com
Lionsgate Music
EPIX