or


[12/07/05 - 12:00 AM]
FX Puts a New Face on Its Upcoming Six-Part Documentary

[via press release from FX]

FX Puts a New Face on Its Upcoming Six-Part Documentary

FX PUTS A NEW FACE ON ITS UPCOMING SIX-PART DOCUMENTARY

"BLACK. WHITE."

Award-Winning Producer R.J. CUTLER and Actor/Producer/Musician ICE CUBE Examine Race in Series That Transforms Two Families Using Make-Up Effects

Series Premieres in March '06

LOS ANGELES, December 7, 2005 ? What's it like to live in someone else's skin? That question will be answered in March with a provocative and insightful new original series "Black. White.", a six-part documentary from Emmy� Award winning producer R.J. Cutler and actor/producer/writer Ice Cube.

Black. White. examines race with an extraordinary approach by putting new faces on an African-American family, the Sparks, and Caucasian family, the Wurgels. Through the transformative power of make-up by Academy Award� nominated make-up effects artist Keith VanderLaan (The Passion of the Christ), the Wurgels become black and the Sparks become white, which challenges their beliefs and core values in ways they could have never imagined. The make-up process for each family member took 3 to 5 hours for every day of transformation.

In addition to the pressure of their newly assumed race, the Sparks of Atlanta (Brian, Renee and their son Nick) and Wurgel family of Santa Monica (Bruno, Carmen and their daughter Rose) shared a home in Tarzana, California for the duration of the six-week production, which wrapped last summer.

"Right after I first started at FX, I pitched R.J. the radical idea of using make-up to racially transform a black and white American family," said John Landgraf, FX Networks President and General Manager. "He took that notion and, with his colleagues Ice Cube and Matt Alvarez, developed and produced an astonishingly compelling and original documentary series. This show took a long time to finish because the idea is so risky and difficult to execute, but the results are extraordinarily provocative, entertaining and deep."

The series was developed by Cutler who serves as Executive Producer along with Ice Cube and Matt Alvarez. The show is produced by FX Networks, Actual Reality Pictures and Cube-Vision.

"I've never been more enthusiastic about a project than I am about Black. White.," said Cutler. "This series is an example of how television can be an extremely powerful and useful medium. I believe the Sparks and Wurgels took a big chance but are better people for having done so."

"I'm really excited to be a part of a show that explores race in America," said Cube. "Black. White. will force people to challenge themselves and really examine where we stand in terms of race in this country."

R.J. Cutler won the 2001 Emmy� Award for Outstanding Reality Program for his acclaimed FOX series American High. He also produced the Academy Award� nominated documentary The War Room, the behind-the-scenes look at Bill Clinton's 1992 presidential campaign. He also serves as an Executive Producer of FX's critically acclaimed 30 Days, FX's second documentary series under the recently revitalized brand of unscripted original programming. 30 Days, which was created by Academy Award� nominee Morgan Spurlock, returns for its second season next summer.

"Black. White. continues the growth, under the guidance of FX's head of unscripted development Eric Schrier, of FX's ambitious and distinctive documentary series brand which began with the launch last year of 30 Days," added Landgraf.

Ice Cube has made his mark as an actor starring in Barbershop, which he produced, XXX: State of the Union, Three Kings and Boyz in the Hood, and his films have generated over a half billion dollars at the box office. A double-platinum recording artist, Ice Cube has sold over 10 million records.

In addition to his work on The Passion of the Christ, Make-Up Effects Artist Keith VanderLaan has worked on films including Syriana, The Life and Death of Peter Sellers, Pirates of he Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl and Mrs. Doubtfire. Prior to the start of principal photography, VanderLaan and his team at Captive Audience Productions conducted extensive make-up testing on both the Sparks and Wurgel families.

FX is the flagship general entertainment basic cable network from Fox. Launched in June of 1994, FX is carried in more than 87 million homes. The diverse schedule includes a growing roster of distinctive original series and movies; an impressive roster of acquired hit series; an established film library with box-office hits from 20th Century Fox; and marquee sports such as NASCAR. For more information about FX, visit our web site at www.FXnetworks.com.





  [december 2005]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
    


· 30 DAYS (FX)
· BLACK WHITE (FX)





[09/17/25 - 03:15 PM]
Nexstar ABC Affiliates to Preempt "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" Indefinitely Beginning Tonight
The company's owned and partner television stations affiliated with the ABC Television Network will preempt "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" for the foreseeable future beginning with tonight's show.

[09/17/25 - 03:14 PM]
Buccaneers at Texans Delivers 17.4 Million Viewers, ESPN's Most-Watched "MNF" Week 2 Game Since 2008
Additionally, the Buccaneers-Texans is ESPN's most-watched individual game on weeks with multiple "MNF" games, whether a true doubleheader or two games with staggered start times.

[09/17/25 - 02:14 PM]
Apple TV+ Lands "The Off Weeks," New Drama Starring and Executive Produced by Ben Stiller and Jessica Chastain
When divorce throws writing professor Gus Adler's life into chaos, he struggles to hold things together during "on weeks" when he has custody of his kids.

[09/17/25 - 12:21 PM]
Prime Video Announces Franchise Expansion with Greenlight of "The Summer I Turned Pretty" Movie
While story details are still under wraps, the surprise news was announced this evening at the series' finale red carpet celebration in Paris, France.

[09/17/25 - 12:01 PM]
Most Valuable Promotions Moves Blockbuster Jake Paul vs. Tank Davis Event to Miami, Florida's Kaseya Center on Friday, November 14, Live Globally Only on Netflix
The blockbuster event, Jake vs. Tank, pits boxing's most-watched disruptor against one of the sport's most feared punchers in a collision that has been four years in the making.

[09/17/25 - 12:01 PM]
Next on Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN - October 2025
Upcoming premieres include: "Fate" (October 8), "Murdaugh: Death in the Family" (October 15), and "LEGO Frozen: Operations Puffins" (October 24).

[09/17/25 - 12:01 PM]
"Camp Rock 3" Officially Greenlit for Disney+ and Disney Channel
Joe, Nick and Kevin Jonas will return to their iconic roles.

[09/17/25 - 12:00 PM]
"The Price Is Right" and "Let's Make a Deal" Kick Off New Seasons Beginning Monday, Sept. 22 with Special Episodes
The former returns for its landmark 54th season and will introduce a new pricing game in partnership with BetMGM, "The Lion's Share."

[09/17/25 - 10:26 AM]
USA Network Serves Up "Everything on the Menu with Braun Strowman," Premiering Friday, October 24 at 10:00 P.M. ET/PT
The travel series follows WWE legend Braun Strowman as he swaps body slams for bite-sized adventures at some of America's favorite local eateries.

[09/17/25 - 10:23 AM]
"Unaccustomed Earth" Adds Justin Bartha, Jayant Kripalani, Parveen Kaur, Swayam Bhatia and Palomi Ghosh to Cast
They join the previously announced Freida Pinto, Siddharth, Sarayu Blue, Indraneil Sengupta, Adi Roy, and Iyla Sundarsingh Mckaig.

[09/17/25 - 10:13 AM]
Video: Official Trailer - "Abbott Elementary" Returns October 1 on ABC and Stream on Hulu
Watch the season premiere Wednesday, October 1 at 8:30/7:30c on ABC and stream on Hulu.

[09/17/25 - 10:01 AM]
Award-Winning Artist and Horror Aficionado Janelle Monae Returns as "HalloQueen" for AMC Networks' "FearFest" Programming Event Celebrating Horror and Genre
The long-running, annual horror and genre programming event featuring over 650 hours of iconic horror films franchises, new series, specials and more, across linear and streaming.

[09/17/25 - 10:00 AM]
Mario Lopez Set to Host the 52nd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards in Exclusive Collaboration with "Access Hollywood"
The event will be streamed live at watch.theemmys.tv and via The Emmys app on Friday, October 17.

[09/17/25 - 09:56 AM]
"South Park" to Continue on Wednesday, September 24th at 10PM ET/PT on Comedy Central
Regarding tonight's previously scheduled episode: "Apparently when you do everything at the last minute sometimes you don't get it done," said Trey Parker and Matt Stone.

[09/17/25 - 09:07 AM]
The CW Gives Classic TV Fans the Chance to Step Back in Time with "TV We Love"
The nostalgic series celebrates eight of America's most iconic television shows and the indelible mark they left on popular culture.