We’ve travelled coast to coast interviewing more notable Americans in two great American cities; New York and Los Angeles. Among those we interviewed on the East coast were Michael Douglas, Newt Gingrich, and Rudy Giuliani. Meanwhile on the West coast we caught up with Jane Fonda, Sheryl Crow, and John Lasseter. More interviews will continue through January, with Meryl Streep and Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs among those lined up. It’s been a privilege meeting some of America’s finest entrepreneurs, actors, singers,  and politicians. As to whether we prefer NYC or LA, the jury’s still out…

“America: The Story of Us” is being produced by Jane Root, a veteran British television executive who knows how to do epic television: She oversaw the launch of Discovery Channel’s “Planet Earth” when she ran that network. History is casting the project, inspired by the sense of momentousness that followed President Obama’s election, as the first comprehensive television history of the country since Alistair Cooke’s 1972 series “America: A Personal History of the United States.”

“I think it’s a sign of amazing confidence in themselves and the audience,” said Root, now an independent producer.

The project aims to explore the various tipping points that shaped the country’s trajectory, with each hour covering five events. Along with the usual interviews with historians, the series is making heavy use of CGI technology to re-create events such as the construction of the Statue of Liberty and the expansion of the railroad across the Rockies. “We want to tell it in a way that draws people in the way a movie would,” Dubuc said. “It’s OK to be entertaining.”

Read full article at:

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-ca-tv-history3-2010jan03,0,7729958.story

Streep, Douglas will tell story of ‘America’

History has lined up Meryl Streep, Michael Douglas, Colin Powell, Brian Williams and other notables to participate in the docu series that the cabler is calling the most ambitious original programming initiative in its own history.

Set to bow next year, the 12-part “America The Story of Us” series will cover a 400-year sweep of the nation’s history and pre-history. The cabler is prepping elaborate educational materials to distribute to schools in tandem with the series.

“America” is exec produced by Jane Root, former prexy of Discovery Channel and BBC2, through her Nutopia production banner. Series will focus on the elements that distinguish American democracy, the conflicts that shaped it and the myriad social and industrial innovations that have fueled the country’s prosperity. On-camera commentators — also set to include Buzz Aldrin, Gen. Tommy Franks, Donald Trump, John Lasseter and Stevie Wonder — will share their thoughts on the “building” of the nation, according to History.

“What distinguishes American history from that of any other country is how everyday people built this nation from the ground up,” said History prexy-general manager Nancy Dubuc. “American history truly belongs to the people and causes us to reflect on who we are, and how we will shape the future of the country.”

By CYNTHIA LITTLETON

Variety 2009

Former BBC2 controller Jane Root’s fledgling factual prodco Nutopia has signed a long-term first-look distribution agreement with BBC Worldwide (BBCWW), in return for investment in programming.

The move binds the two together for two-years, during which BBCWW will handle UK and international distribution of all Nutopia programmes.

BBCWW said it was looking forward to working with the indie, which was set up in 2008 by Root, and predicted it would become an internationally renowned producer.

Nutopia is currently producing America: The Story of US, a 12-part series looking at the history of America, which is likely to be the first title BBCWW handles. No new programmes have been announced.

Nutopia CEO Root said: “This is a really dynamic time for Nutopia, and we are already developing some really ambitious and innovative programming for broadcasters on both sides of the Atlantic. We are very excited to be working with BBCWW going forward. As a top distributor to territories across the globe, it is the perfect partner for our titles.”

The start-up surfaced in October 2008, with Root at the helm. Much speculation had surrounded her future after she left her role as controller of Discovery Channel in the US, with many predicting she would take up the reigns as controller of BBC1 or HBO.

Jesse Whittock
2 Dec 2009
© C21 Media 2009

History Channel have aired the trailer for the series which is debuting in April 2010 and the excitement is mounting!

We complete drama principal photography down in Cape Town in time for Christmas 2009. Lots of exciting footage from the Pilgrim fathers to Prohibition currently being shot. It’s going brilliantly and the sun is shining brightly despite a couple of freak thunderstorms earlier in the month.

Meanwhile we are crossing America from New York to New Mexico interviewing leading American figures. So far in the can is General David Petraeus, Donald Trump, General Colin Powell, Melissa Etheridge and Buzz Aldrin. Elsewhere in America (South Dakota to be exact) another filming unit has been tracking wild bison as they roam across the great plains and staging some old-fashioned Cowboys and Indians action.

Back in London we’re into the edit of the first batch of shows and into our sixth coffee of the day..

Watch this space.

After several months of development, Nutopia has kicked off pre-production on its landmark series for History Channel US “America: The Story of US.” Filming begins end of September 2009 down in Cape Town, South Africa. As well as providing the perfect filming climate, the beautiful vistas combined with the latest CGI will resemble America from its early days. Filming will continue through to December 2009 and wrap just in time for Christmas.

Development is moving on at a fast pace with some big ideas at advanced stages.

Jane Root has appointed former Channel 4 boss Michael Jackson and ex-Endemol chief creative officer Peter Bazalgette to the board of her new indie, Nutopia.

Jackson, currently non-executive chairman at STV, and Bazalgette, non-executive chairman of Sony Pictures Television’s UK production business, will form a four-strong team including managing director Laura Franses, who was previously acting managing director at Raw TV and chief operating officer of Amaze TV. Root is the new company’s chief executive.
Nutopia, which is based in both London and Washington DC, will specialise in “high-scale” productions on “classic subjects”. Its focus will be factual and factually-inspired drama.

Nutopia’s first commission is a 12 x 60-minute history series called America: The Story of Us. It will use CGI technology and dramatisation to show how a combination of visionary thinkers and innovations in technology and engineering have helped build the modern America.

The indie is currently developing projects for BBC1, BBC2, ITV and Discovery Channel US.

Root quit her post as president of Discovery Channel US in 2007. There she commissioned some of the network’s biggest hits, including Man vs Wild, Born Survivor and Deadliest Catch.