HBO DOCUMENTARY FILMS ACQUIRES U.S. TV RIGHTS TO PUBLIC SPEAKING, SPOTLIGHTING WRITER FRAN LEBOWITZ

Academy Award(R) Winner Martin Scorsese Directs; Vanity Fair Editor Graydon Carter Produces

NEW YORK, Sept. 7, 2010 - HBO has acquired U.S. TV rights to the documentary PUBLIC SPEAKING, directed by Oscar(R) winner Martin Scorsese and produced by Emmy(R)- and Peabody-winning documentary producer Graydon Carter, and Margaret Bodde, it was announced today by Sheila Nevins, president, HBO Documentary Films. Debuting on HBO in November, the feature-length film stars legendary New York wit and writer Fran Lebowitz, known for her unique take on modern life.

Directed in the style of Scorsese's early documentaries "Italian American" and "American Boy," PUBLIC SPEAKING showcases Lebowitz's worldview and experiences. Spotlighting her trademark humor, the film weaves together extemporaneous monologues with archival footage.

Fran Lebowitz is the author of two collections of humorous essays, "Metropolitan Life" (1978) and "Social Studies" (1981), and the children's book "Mr. Chas and Lisa Sue Meet the Pandas" (1994). Her eclectic career has included stints writing for Interview and Mademoiselle magazines and serving as a contributing editor at Vanity Fair. Lebowitz still lives in New York City, as she does not believe that she would be allowed to live anywhere else.

PUBLIC SPEAKING was directed by Martin Scorsese; produced by Graydon Carter, Fran Lebowitz and Martin Scorsese; producer, Margaret Bodde; executive producers, Ted Griffin and John Hayes; supervising producer, Jenny Carchman; associate producers, Erin Edeiken and Chris Garrett; editors, Damian Rodriguez and David Tedeschi; director of photography, Ellen Kuras, ASC.