Monday, June 19, 2006

LOOKING FOR STARS Premieres Tonight - Shoot At Speaking Role In Sci-Fi Movie NEXT

LOOKING FOR STARS A Starz Original Micro-Series

World Premiere - 8:50 p.m. (ET/PT) Monday, June 19, 2006 - With an encore presentation every Sunday

Breaking into Hollywood has always been about as easy as breaking into Fort Knox. Until now. LOOKING FOR STARS, a Starz original micro-series, gives one talented individual a real shot at the big screen. All they have to do is shine.

14 ten-minute episodes chronicle the nationwide search for a star. Thousands vied for the 300 audition slots held in New York City, Las Vegas, Orlando and Kansas City - only eight finalists get tickets to Hollywood. Former MTV VJ Alan Hunter and two regional industry pros do the judging in each city. In the final, Hunter is joined by actor/director Melanie Mayron and Revolution Studios executive Brad Sexton. In the end, only one person will be cast in a speaking role in Revolution Studios′ action-adventure film Next starring Nicolas Cage and Julianne Moore Appearance (film subject to final editing as determined by Revolution Studios).

The competition begins on Starz, tonight, Monday June 19 at 8:50 p.m. (ET/PT) and continues through September, with an encore presentation every Sunday after the Starz Saturday Premiere replay.

About The Movie

Revolution Studios′ NEXT is the science fiction action thriller starring Academy Award® winner Nicolas Cage, Academy Award® nominee Julianne Moore and Jessica Biel. The film, which is being directed by Lee Tamahori, will be released domestically by Columbia Pictures in 2007.

In NEXT, Cage plays a man with the unique ability to see future events and affect their outcome. Relentlessly pursued by the FBI, which is seeking to use his abilities to prevent a global terrorist threat, he is ultimately faced with the daunting choice of saving the world or the woman he loves.

NEXT is being produced by Cage and his Saturn Films producing partner Norm Golightly, Broken Road Productions′ Todd Garner, Initial Entertainment Group′s Graham King and Arne Schmidt. The screenplay is by Gary Goldman and is based on the Philip K. Dick story "The Golden Man." Goldman, Jason Koernick and Ben Waisbren are serving as executive producers.

About The Host

Former MTV VJ Alan Hunter is the host and traveling judge of LOOKING FOR STARS. As one of the five original MTV VJs, he became known for his laid-back interviews with a diverse array of celebrities like Billy Joel, Mick Jagger, Tom Cruise, Madonna, U2, Hugh Hefner, and Robin Williams. In his post-MTV years, Hunter′s feature work includes Police Academy 6: City Under Siege (1989), White Hot (1989), and Penn and Teller′s Cruel Tricks for Dear Friends (1987). His television credits feature "To Heal a Nation" (1988) and pilots for the Fox hosted shows "Malibu Beach Party," "Pure Insanity" and "Haywire."

In 1995, Alan returned to Birmingham, Alabama to form the cornerstone of Alabama′s fledgling film industry - Hunter Films. Hunter Films focuses on the development and finance of independent film projects for theatrical release, original television, and internet programming. Currently, Hunter Films has several features in development including the hard hitting drama, Under Lanesfield, shooting in summer 2006.

Hunter is joined at each regional audition by two individuals who work in the industry or a related field. In New York, he was joined by Jessica Coen, editor of Gawker.com, and Naamua Delaney, reporter for Fox 5. Alicia Jacobs, entertainment reporter for KVBC News, and Bart Torres, reporter for the Las Vegas Connection and former actor, sat with Hunter on the judging panel in Las Vegas. Sisters and co-owners of the Actors Info Booth Inc., Lisa and Laura Bunbury, joined Hunter on-set in Orlando. In Kansas City, Tidy Dillard, actor and comedian, and Janis Kliethermes, owner of The Agency talent agency, made-up the judging team with Hunter. For the final competition in Los Angeles Hunter is joined by industry executive Brad Sexton with Revolution Studios and actor/director Melanie Mayron ("thirtysomething").