Hollywood calling
Paulist Productions sets docu 'Insight' series
By Alexa Harrison--Daily Variety
Posted: Mon., Feb. 14, 2011, 4:00am PT
"Insight" was a staple of Sunday morning TV for decades. The half-hour anthology series, which often featured notable actors, offered feel-good morality tales.
The syndicated skein, which ran from 1961-83, is now the subject of a TV docu in the works from Paulist Prods., the shingle behind the original series.
The story of "Insight" is also the story of Father Ellwood "Bud" Kieser, a Roman Catholic priest who was skilled in the art of Hollywood networking and schmoozing. His pulpit at St. Paul the Apostle Church in Westwood afforded him connections in the entertainment industry, which spurred him to establish Paulist Prods. as a vehicle for producing uplifting movies and TV shows.
Paulist Productions sets docu 'Insight' series
By Alexa Harrison--Daily Variety
Posted: Mon., Feb. 14, 2011, 4:00am PT
"Insight" was a staple of Sunday morning TV for decades. The half-hour anthology series, which often featured notable actors, offered feel-good morality tales.
The syndicated skein, which ran from 1961-83, is now the subject of a TV docu in the works from Paulist Prods., the shingle behind the original series.
The story of "Insight" is also the story of Father Ellwood "Bud" Kieser, a Roman Catholic priest who was skilled in the art of Hollywood networking and schmoozing. His pulpit at St. Paul the Apostle Church in Westwood afforded him connections in the entertainment industry, which spurred him to establish Paulist Prods. as a vehicle for producing uplifting movies and TV shows.
Kieser, who died in 2000, was the host of "Insight," and he also founded the Humanitas Prize to honor film and TV scribes. Through Kieser's connections, "Insight" was able to draw such thesps as Martin Sheen, Patty Duke, Paul Sorvino, Bob Newhart, Cicely Tyson, Louis Gossett Jr. and Ron Howard, as well as established writers, producers and directors.
"God put him in the right place at the right time," says Father Eric Andrews, who now runs Paulist Prods., of Kieser's legacy.
"God put him in the right place at the right time," says Father Eric Andrews, who now runs Paulist Prods., of Kieser's legacy.
The "Insight" docu is part of a renewed effort at Paulist to ramp up production activity. In the 1970s and '80s, Paulist produced numerous TV movies and the 1989 feature "Romero," starring Raul Julia as the slain archbishop of El Salvador.
Revisiting the history of "Insight" for the docu has been inspirational for the contempo Paulist team, given the wide range of issues and topics -- everything from mental illness to alcoholism to the Cold War -- that the show tackled over more than 250 episodes. The company is also exploring ways to distribute the vintage segs, possibly on DVD or via Web streaming.
Andrews says they're also thinking about remakes and other ways to "gather young actors and actresses and writers to do a half-hour on a topic of interest," he says. "The documentary raises awareness and hopefully opens our minds to what we can do now."
As CatholicTV gears up, other faith-based networks are cautiously optimistic about 3D
By Andrea Domanick -- Broadcasting & Cable, 2/14/2011 12:01:00 AM
Like their mainstream peers, many faith-based networks are waiting to see if 3D on TV and on the Web gains momentum. Some of these broadcasters are already producing 3D Web content and teeing up programming for conversion if 3D ends up being worth their wait.
CatholicTV Network is leading the pack with 3DCatholicTV.com. The site hosts 3D videos of some of the channel’s most popular series, including Catholic Destinations, and online extras, like a 3D version of the net’s visit with Pope Benedict XVI. Viewers can request a free pair of 3D glasses from via an online order form. “3D and holographic technology is the next big thing,” says Father Robert Reed, CatholicTV Network president. “However, like HD, it is going to take a while for [3D] to settle into the living room.”
While CatholicTV’s engineering budget is still focused on completing its update to HD, the network plans to allocate resources to its move into on-air 3D programming in the next fiscal year.
Other religious broadcasters are waiting to see if 3D catches on before considering the switch. “We want to learn what others are doing with the technology first so we can better understand how to develop it,” says John Mattiello, director of marketing and affiliate relations for The Word Network. He says TWN hopes to incorporate 3D to showcase its gospel music programming in a way that viewers can feel like they’re right there in the ministries.
CBN CEO Gordon Robertson says that the upcoming animated series Superbook, along with all of CBN’s new content going forward, is designed to be modifi ed for 3D—should household sets make the leap of faith. “Until they figure out a way to get rid of the glasses, I don’t think 3D television is going to catch on big,” he says.
Rev. Eric Andrews, president of faith-based Paulist Productions, is concerned less about the technology than about whether 3D makes sense for religious audiences in the first place. “I don’t know if people want a 3D version of Jesus getting nailed to the cross,” he says. “We’ll use the latest technology if it’s helpful in telling the story. If it is, I don’t think we’d rule [3D] out.”
Revisiting the history of "Insight" for the docu has been inspirational for the contempo Paulist team, given the wide range of issues and topics -- everything from mental illness to alcoholism to the Cold War -- that the show tackled over more than 250 episodes. The company is also exploring ways to distribute the vintage segs, possibly on DVD or via Web streaming.
Andrews says they're also thinking about remakes and other ways to "gather young actors and actresses and writers to do a half-hour on a topic of interest," he says. "The documentary raises awareness and hopefully opens our minds to what we can do now."
As CatholicTV gears up, other faith-based networks are cautiously optimistic about 3D
By Andrea Domanick -- Broadcasting & Cable, 2/14/2011 12:01:00 AM
Like their mainstream peers, many faith-based networks are waiting to see if 3D on TV and on the Web gains momentum. Some of these broadcasters are already producing 3D Web content and teeing up programming for conversion if 3D ends up being worth their wait.
CatholicTV Network is leading the pack with 3DCatholicTV.com. The site hosts 3D videos of some of the channel’s most popular series, including Catholic Destinations, and online extras, like a 3D version of the net’s visit with Pope Benedict XVI. Viewers can request a free pair of 3D glasses from via an online order form. “3D and holographic technology is the next big thing,” says Father Robert Reed, CatholicTV Network president. “However, like HD, it is going to take a while for [3D] to settle into the living room.”
While CatholicTV’s engineering budget is still focused on completing its update to HD, the network plans to allocate resources to its move into on-air 3D programming in the next fiscal year.
Other religious broadcasters are waiting to see if 3D catches on before considering the switch. “We want to learn what others are doing with the technology first so we can better understand how to develop it,” says John Mattiello, director of marketing and affiliate relations for The Word Network. He says TWN hopes to incorporate 3D to showcase its gospel music programming in a way that viewers can feel like they’re right there in the ministries.
CBN CEO Gordon Robertson says that the upcoming animated series Superbook, along with all of CBN’s new content going forward, is designed to be modifi ed for 3D—should household sets make the leap of faith. “Until they figure out a way to get rid of the glasses, I don’t think 3D television is going to catch on big,” he says.
Rev. Eric Andrews, president of faith-based Paulist Productions, is concerned less about the technology than about whether 3D makes sense for religious audiences in the first place. “I don’t know if people want a 3D version of Jesus getting nailed to the cross,” he says. “We’ll use the latest technology if it’s helpful in telling the story. If it is, I don’t think we’d rule [3D] out.”
