Deep Blue makes splash with Japanese royal family
Deep Blue, the major documentary feature film from BBC Worldwide and Greenlight Media, was given the royal treatment with a special World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) screening in Tokyo on 25th June 2004, in the presence of members of the Japanese royal family.
His Imperial Highness Prince Akishino, who is president of the Japan Committee of the WWF, attended the screening with Her Imperial Highness Princess Akishino and their children, Princesses Mako and Kako.
Commenting at the screening in Tokyo, Alix Tidmarsh, producer of the movie and Director of IPM Factual, BBC Worldwide said, “I am thrilled and honoured that the Japanese royal family has shown such an interest in Deep Blue. It’s testament to the quality and appeal of the film that it translates so beautifully to audiences around the world. With distribution in Japan, through TFC, this amazing cinematic experience will reach the widest possible audience in this very important market.”
Deep Blue explores life above, below and far beneath the ocean’s surface and was inspired by the international hit TV series The Blue Planet, co-produced by the BBC and Discovery Channel. The film features an inspiring score composed by five-time Academy AwardÒ nominated George Fenton and performed by the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra (its first-ever recording of a movie score).
The film has been distributed all over the world including the UK, where it went of general release on 18th June. It will open in Japan on July 17th and in other territories, including Italy, Australia and Poland later in the year. Miramax has acquired Deep Blue for North American release in early 2005.
Deep Blue took more than $6 million in its first 12 weeks of release in France and, with more than $5 million in 13 weeks, became Germany’s best selling documentary feature film ever.
Filmed in more than 200 locations around the world with camera crews descending as far as 5,000 meters in the most powerful submersible craft known, Deep Blue was directed by Alastair Fothergill and Andy Byatt, produced by Alix Tidmarsh and Sophokles Tasioulis and executive producers were Nikolaus Weil, Stefan Beiten, Andre Sikojev and Mike Phillips. Narration is by acclaimed actor Sir Michael Gambon.
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For further information please contact Mary Collins, BBC Worldwide, on +44 208 433 2412 or +44 7769 670516 or email [email protected]
Notes to editors:
BBC Worldwide Limited is the commercial consumer arm, and a wholly owned subsidiary, of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). The company was formed in 1994 to develop a co-ordinated approach to the BBC’s commercial activities: television, channels, publishing, product licensing, internet and interactive. BBC Worldwide exists to maximise the value of the BBC’s assets for the benefit of the licence payer, and re-invest in public service programming. In 2002/2003 BBC Worldwide returned £123 million to the BBC.
Greenlight Media provides development, finance, production and distribution for international quality films. It is committed to delivering strong entertainment brands to audiences all around the world in both film and non-film media. Founded in 1993, Greenlight Media took off with the launch of the wildly successful animated TV series ‘SimsalaGrimm’, Germany’s number one exported TV series of all time. Greenlight Media has previously produced television and theatrical documentaries such as “Sandstones”, “Iceland-Realm of the Gods” and “Giorgio Armani – A Man for All Seasons.”