KCET Presents New Documentary 'Karen Black: On Acting'
Revealing Film Showcases the Late Academy Award®
Nominated Actress' Expansive Insights on the Craft of
Acting
Film Critic Ben Mankiewicz Introduces Film, Discusses
Actress' Legacy
Burbank, Calif. - July 29, 2014 - KCET, the nation's
largest independent public television, station presents a new documentary,KAREN
BLACK: ON ACTING
, featuring the late Academy Award® nominated and two-timeGolden Globe winning actress, Karen Black. The film premieres on KCET on
Friday, August 8 at 8:30 p.m., exactly one year after her death from ampullary cancer in Los Angeles at the age of 74.
KAREN BLACK: ON ACTING is an illuminating 75-minute film offering viewers an in-depth look into
Black's most coveted acting methods. In the film, Black covers everything from
perfecting regional accents to finding a character's inner needs.
"The secrets of her craft
and her deeply humanistic observations of life will be of interest both to
makers and appreciators of good drama," said the film's director, Russell
Brown.
Easy
Rider
, Five Easy Pieces and The Great Gatsby, Black revealedpublicly in March 2013 that she had been battling cancer for several years.
Prior to the announcement, the actress sat down with Brown to share more than
50 years worth of insight into the craft of acting, which is showcased in the
film.
Black gave the world an array of unforgettable screen characters in
numerous films and television series for more than four decades. She worked
with world-class directors including Alfred Hitchcock, Robert Altman, Bob
Rafelson, Jack Clayton and John Schlesinger. In 1970, she earned a Golden Globe
Award for Best Supporting Actress for Five Easy Pieces, which also
earned her an Academy Award® nomination. In 1974, she earned another Golden
Globe Award for her role as Myrtle Wilson in The Great Gatsby.
The film is bookended with a discussion between Brown and film critic Ben
Mankiewicz, who reflects on Black's noteworthy career, her legacy and her contribution to a profoundly significant era in
American cinema. Mankiewicz is known for providing thoughtful cinematic
commentary as weekend daytime host on Turner Classic Movies (TCM).
To view a trailer of this film, please visit: http://bit.ly/1jZP6Y8
ABOUT KCET
On-air, online and in the community, KCET plays a vital
role in the cultural and educational enrichment of Southern and Central
California. KCET offers a wide range of award-winning local programming as well
as the finest public television programs from around the world. Throughout its
50-year history, KCET has won hundreds of major awards for its local and
regional news and public affairs programming, its national drama and
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