#SmallScreenScenes #StateoftheUnion #ROSAMUNDPIKE @BigBoyler @SundanceTV SUNDANCETV MARRIES SHORT FORM INNOVATION WITH PREMIUM SCRIPTED DRAMA IN STATE OF THE UNION, STARRING AWARD-WINNERS ROSAMUND PIKE AND CHRIS O’DOWD
Short Form Series from Nick Hornby and Directed by Stephen Frears Debuts Monday, May 6 Across Multiple Platforms with a “10@10” on SundanceTV and “Digital Happy Hour” on Sundance Now
On Monday, May 6, SundanceTV’s commitment to innovation in storytelling will be showcased through the new, short form series State of the Union, produced by See-Saw Films. Debuting on SundanceTV, Sundance Now and other digital platforms same day, the highly anticipated series, comprised of ten ten-minute episodes, stars Oscar®-nominee Rosamund Pike (Gone Girl, A Private War) and Emmy®-winner Chris O’Dowd (Bridesmaids, Get Shorty).
State of the Union will be rolled out on multiple platforms simultaneously, including its “10@10” debut on SundanceTV starting Monday, May 6 through Friday, May 17, where a ten-minute installment will be released each weeknight at 10:00 p.m. ET. Additionally, beginning Monday, May 6 through Friday, May 10, viewers can join series’ stars Louise (Pike) and Tom (O’Dowd) for a “Digital Happy Hour” with two episodes each day at 5:00 p.m. ET on Sundance Now, SundanceTV.com and the SundanceTV app.
Written by Nick Hornby (Brooklyn, An Education) and directed by Stephen Frears (The Queen, A Very English Scandal), State of the Union explores the world of Louise (Pike) and Tom (O’Dowd) as they attempt to repair their crumbling marriage through weekly marital therapy sessions. Before each appointment, the couple meets at a pub where they delve into how they came together and, how eventually, their marriage fell into disrepair. Throughout each episode, audiences are provided with an honest and humorous take on contemporary relationships.
“State of the Union is a first-of-its-kind premium short form show, featuring award-winning talent, that is every bit as elevated as the best long form series,” said Jan Diedrichsen, Executive Director, SundanceTV and Sundance Now. “SundanceTV has always been a brand that takes risks, experiments with formats and conventional scripted series. I’m thrilled that we will be rolling out this remarkably entertaining series across a multitude of platforms, embracing the very nature of the show and providing multiple consumption options for viewers.”
See-Saw Films’ COO Hakan Kousetta and Head of Television Jamie Laurenson added: “Sundance TV have always understood the potential for this series and have been the best possible partners to launch the show. Brilliant performances married with exceptional writing and excellent direction delivers satisfying entertainment we are sure the Sundance audience will love.”
In addition to Hornby and Frears, Jamie Laurenson, Hakan Kousetta, Iain Canning, Emile Sherman are executive producers, with Amy Jackson producing the series for See-Saw Films. Kristin Jones, EVP of international programming for AMC and SundanceTV, is the executive in charge for SundanceTV.
State of the Union premiered as an official selection of the 2019 Sundance Film Festival and will screen at the Tribeca Film Festival on May 4.
About Sundance TV
Since its launch in 1996, SundanceTV has remained true to founder Robert Redford’s mission to celebrate creativity and distinctive storytelling through unique voices and narratives found in the best independent films. From delivering critically acclaimed Emmy®, Golden Globe® and Peabody Award-winning television featuring some of the world’s most talented creators and performers, to showcasing some of the most compelling and iconic films across genres and generations, SundanceTV is a smart and thought-provoking entertainment destination. SundanceTV is owned and operated by AMC Networks Inc.; its sister networks include AMC, IFC, BBC America and WE tv. SundanceTV is available across all platforms, including on-air, online at www.sundancetv.com, on demand and mobile.
About Sundance Now
Sundance Now is AMC Networks’ premium streaming service, offering original and exclusive dramas, comedies, and true crime series, in addition to award-winning movies from every genre, including foreign-language and documentary features – all streaming commercial-free. Built on the Sundance legacy and curated by acclaimed filmmakers and cultural icons, Sundance Now is proud to present an extensive array of entertainment for a passionate and intellectually curious audience.
Follow Sundance Now on Twitter@sundance_now, Facebook@SundanceNow, Instagram@SundanceNow and YouTube@Sundance Now
About See-Saw Films
Academy Award® winning producers Iain Canning and Emile Sherman founded See-Saw Films in 2008. See-Saw specializes in international film and television production with offices in the UK, Australia and the US. Chief Operating Officer, Hakan Kousetta, co-runs the TV division with its creative Head of TV Jamie Laurenson.
See-Saw’s television division formally started in 2012 and kicked off with the multi-award winning first season of Jane Campion’s ‘Top of the Lake’. Which returned for a second series in 2017 entitled ‘Top of The Lake: China Girl’ starring Elisabeth Moss, Nicole Kidman and Gwendoline Christie which was one of the first TV series ever to premiere at the Cannes Film Festival and was nominated for a Golden Globe. More recent productions include, ‘The New Legends of Monkey’, See-Saw’s live action television series for Netflix, ABC Australia and TVNZ; and ‘The End’ for Sky Atlantic and Foxtel which stars Harriet Walter and Frances O’Connor, written by Sam Strauss and directed by Jessica M Thompson and Jonathan Brough (delivering 2019); and ‘The North Water’ written and to be directed by Andrew Haigh (45 Years), adapted from the novel by Ian McGuire, starring Colin Farrell, which will shoot in 2019 for BBC Two.
See-Saw’s recent film projects include Academy Award® winner Steve McQueen’s Widows which See-Saw is producing for New Regency was released by Twentieth Century Fox in 2018 and six-time Academy Award® nominated Lion, starring Dev Patel, Nicole Kidman and Rooney Mara.
