Christine Vachon,
the award-winning producer of Boy's Don't
Cry, Far From Heaven, Hedwig and the
Angry Inch, and a number of other queer-themed
indie films, is coproducing a television adaptation of
Ira Glass's idiosyncratic radio show, This
American Life, for Showtime.
Based on the
radio show's unique mix of journalism and short
fiction, the six-episode television show will begin
production in spring 2006. According to a statement
from Showtime, "Each episode will be hosted by
Ira Glass and will explore a single theme or topic through
the unique juxtaposition of first-person storytelling
and whimsical narrative, allowing for the
show's distinct and original voice."
Distributed
nationally to over 500 radio stations by Public Radio
International, This American Life has presented
several gay story lines since its 1995 debut: A 1996 episode
focused on the stigma associated with the word
"sissy" despite the nation's
growing acceptance of gays and lesbians in general, and a
2005 episode featured Dan Savage's wry
observations about raising a child with his lover.
Killer Films, the
production company cofounded by Vachon in 1995, quickly
gained respect within the independent film community for
making risk-taking choices with films like
Kids, Safe, I Shot Andy Warhol,
and Velvet Goldmine, among others.
(Advocate.com)
