CCI-News

Beyond the Screen goes behind-the-scenes, beginning May 4 on Bravo! at 7:30 p.m. ET

– The first installment of Beyond the Screen features Speed Racer starring Emile Hirsch –

John Pungente, an internationally acclaimed media education expert, writer, and teacher, explores the art of filmmaking with Beyond the Screen. Each 30-minute episode examines a contemporary theatrical release. Beyond the Screen encourages viewers to analyze films and enriches their viewing experience. Beyond the Screen premieres Sunday, May 4 at 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT.

“There are few people who have not seen The Wizard of Oz. One of my favorite moments comes towards the end of the movie when Dorothy pulls aside the curtain and reveals the truth about the wizard,” says Pungente, host of the new series. “In Beyond the Screen we want to pull back the curtain on the movies we watch.”

Using footage, and interviews with the cast and crew, Beyond the Screen examines the featured movie’s genre, themes, filmmaking techniques, and the film’s relevance in the world at large. Future episodes include Get Smart, Dark Knight, Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince.

Beyond the Screen’s debut episode features Speed Racer,the live-action, high-octane family adventure. Hurtling down the track, Speed Racer (Emile Hirsch) is a natural behind the wheel. Born to race cars, Speed is aggressive, instinctive, and fearless. When Speed turns down a lucrative offer from Royalton Industries, the company’s maniacal owner (Roger Allam) swears that Speed will never cross another finish line. To beat Royalton at his own game, Speed teams with his one-time rival – the mysterious Racer X (Matthew Fox) – to win the death-defying, cross-country rally known as The Crucible. Based on the classic animated series, the live-action Speed Racer also stars Christina Ricci, John Goodman, and Susan Sarandon.

For the past 10 years, John Pungente, SJ, host of Bravo!’s award-winning series Scanning the Movies, has encouraged audiences to watch carefully and think critically.

Beyond the Screen, co-produced by CCI Entertainment Ltd and the Jesuit Communications Project, is part of CTV's media education programming; accompanying Study Guides are available free of charge to facilitate use of the program by teachers in the classroom. To access the study guides, go to www.bravo.ca.

CCI Entertainment Ltd. (Cambium Catalyst International) is one of Canada's leading independent production and distribution companies, particularly recognized in the area of family programming.

Bravo! is a sojourn in the television landscape where viewers make a regular appointment with the arts. Bravo! is owned by CTV Limited, a division of CTVglobemedia, Canada's premier multi-media company.