Girl Talk to be featured on Documentary Channel

The Documentary Channel (DOC) presents U.S. television premiere of controversial and critically acclaimed documentary “RiP: A Remix Manifesto” Monday, Oct 26, at 9 p.m. ET/PT, boldly showcasing a probing investigation into copyright issues in the information age. The same evening, DOC is making the film available to online audiences in its entirety on the network’s Sling.com channel (www.sling.com/network/189/The-Documentary-Channel), and is partnering with the prestigious The Paley Center for Media (formerly The Museum of Television & Radio) for a screening event the day of the premiere.

Created by web activist and filmmaker Brett Gaylor, “RiP: A Remix Manifesto” engagingly explores the meaning of copyright in the digital age where the wall between producers and users has been irrevocably torn down. Gaylor’s documentary follows several key individuals who seek to redefine originality in the future, including mash-up musical phenomenon Girl Talk (Greg Gillis), Creative Commons founder Lawrence Lessig, BoingBoing creator Cory Doctorow, and Gilberto Gil, Brazil’s Minister of Culture. The film was an official selection at 12 film festivals worldwide, receiving a variety of awards including Special Jury Prize (Festival Nouveau Cinema Montreal), Audience Choice (Whistler Film Fest, International Doc Festival Amsterdam) and Canada’s Top 20 (Victoria Film Festival). It covers the gamete of viewpoints on the energetic, innovative and potentially illegal world of mash-up media: from artists of all genres and eras to intellectual property experts, from U.S. Register of Copyrights Marybeth Peters to celebrity Paris Hilton, both of whom make appearances in the film.

The Paley Center for Media in New York will accompany DOC in hosting a screening of the film on Monday, Oct. 26 as part of the 10th annual documentary festival, PaleyDocFest09. The free screening event will begin at 6:30 p.m. ET, immediately followed by a panel discussion including filmmaker Brett Gaylor and The Documentary Channel’s founder, Tom Neff, among others.

"The issues of intellectual rights, fair usage, and photo and footage rights are the most important issues of the 21st century in all documentaries,” says Neff, The Documentary Channel founder and chief creative officer. “We’re pleased to bring these issues to the forefront with the premiere of ‘RiP: A Remix Manifesto’ on our network and to have The Paley Center for the Media screen the film to generate discussion around these crucial issues."

"I'm thrilled that RiP has found such a great partner in The Documentary Channel, and I want to thank them for having the guts to broadcast the film in the current climate around copyright in the U.S.,” says Brett Gaylor, who’s film Web site can be found at www.ripremix.com. “The fact that they've chosen to air the film is a big step forward for Fair Use and creative freedom. I hope it will stir the pot and create a debate around copyright policy, particularly in the country that is setting the worlds agenda on this issue.


“I'm also looking forward to the film screening at the Paley Center on October 26th,” adds Gaylor, “and anticipate a spirited discussion with my fellow panelists and the audience. Viva le Mouse Liberation Front!”

DOC is available on DISH Network (Channel 197), and several broadcast stations in major markets including NYC TV (Channel 25) throughout the greater New York metropolitan area.