Weir documentary to debut May 24 at SIFF
Pop Star on Ice tracks Weir's life and career
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| Johnny Weir unleashes his inner diva in "Popstar on Ice." (courtesy Retribution Media) |
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(05/12/2009) - New York - The Johnny Weir
feature film documentary POP STAR ON ICE will have its world premiere at the
Seattle International Film Festival in downtown Seattle. The
film will screen at the Egyptian Theatre on May 24, 2009 at
6:45 p.m. and tickets can be purchased through the festival's
website (www.siff.net/festival/). The film will screen on the
festival circuit throughout the summer before airing on Sundance
Channel in the fall to coincide with the ISU Grand Prix Series.
POP STAR ON ICE is an unprecedented behind-the-scenes portrait
of Olympian and three-time U.S. champion Weir. The film tracks the ups-and-downs of Weir's career
from his late start in the sport at age 12 to his meteoric rise
winning the junior world championship four years later, his
three national championships, the aftermath of his
Olympic experience and his coaching change. Weir's struggle to
fulfill his potential on the world stage takes the viewer from
training rink to competitions, shopping sprees and personal
appearances on three continents.
While covering the 2005 ISU Grand Prix Series, filmmakers David
Barba and James Pellerito were introduced to Weir, his
coach Priscilla Hill, and his mother Patti during that Olympic
season by a mutual friend and skating judge. After a trial
period, the filmmakers began following Weir exclusively in fall of
2006. The film was produced through the filmmakers production
company Retribution Media in association with Sundance Channel,
which provided generous post-production funds.
News of the film's premiere comes on the heels of the
announcement by Sundance Channel that the network has greenlit
an eight part documentary series entitled BE GOOD JOHNNY WEIR
following Weir's dream of returning to the Olympics in 2010.
Barba and Pellerito are the creators of the series and will
serve as directors and executive producers in partnership with
Original Media (LA INK, THE RACHEL ZOE PROJECT). The series
will feature Weir's competitive season leading up to Vancouver
along with his coaches, family, friends, choreographer and
costumer.
For more information on POP STAR ON ICE please visit our Web site or join the Facebook group.
Media requests contact: info@popstaronice.com