John Pierson’s ‘Split Screen’: FilmStruck Announces New Streaming Home For Seminal Television Series
For two years back in the late nineties and early aughts, producer, author and all-around film lover John Pierson hit the road alongside his own group of fellow cinephiles to explore the filmmaking scene in a variety of venues and with a ton of exciting guests.
The venture resulted in his beloved television series “Split Screen,” which introduced movie buffs to all manner of filmmakers and their creations over the course of 60-plus episodes. “Split Screen” was IFCtv’s signature series from 1997-2001, boasting such guests as Spike Lee, Richard Linklater, Kevin Smith, Mary Harron, Katherine Dieckmann and many, many more.
While the series has long been available online in bits and pieces, it’s now bound for a brand new internet home, where it will be available in all its wild glory, thanks to another group of avowed cinephiles. Newly launched streaming service FilmStruck has announced today that it will premiere the series on its Criterion Channel starting on December 10, with a tiered rollout over the coming months.
Starting on Saturday, December 10, six episodes of the series will be released every six weeks. The first batch includes:
1. Spike Lee, the Real “Fargo,” Waters Shocks
Spike Lee’s first decade, John Pierson and Bob the Mailman, “Hang Your Dog in the Wind” (the movie about making movies), the real “Fargo,” Brainerd, MN, and the Gruesome Twosome: an encounter with John Waters and Herschell Gordon Lewis. Original air date: 03/10/1997
2. Linklater & Bogosian in NYC, Duct Town
Richard Linklater and Eric Bogosian at the New York Film Festival with their film “SubUrbia,” Linklater’s first film “It’s Impossible to Learn to Plow By Reading Books,” and a trip to North Reading, MA – Duct Town. Original air date: 03/10/1997
3. Kevin and “Crumb” at the Quickstop
Kevin Smith and John co-host from New Jersey, a visit with “Crumb” director Terry Zwigoff at home, found video “Direction Man,” director Chris Smith and “Making Northwestern” with Mark Borchardt. Original airdate: 3/17/1997
4. Sundance on the Hudson
Bob the Mailman in LA, insights from filmmakers at the Cold Spring, NY Film Workshop, Marina Zenovich explores the January film alternatives in Park City, UT, the home of the Sun, Slam and Slum Dance Festivals. Original airdate: 3/24/1997
5. Breakthrough Screenwriting
Brian Flemming and Keythe Farley take a weekend “blockbuster” screenwriting course and make a film. Directors Mary Harron and Katherine Dieckmann, both 9 months pregnant discuss their altered state with Guinevere Turner. Original airdate: 06/02/1997
6. PROJECTIONS: Harmony Korine
In this installment of PROJECTIONS, a series of interviews about filmmaking in New York, John Pierson speaks one-on-one with filmmaker Harmony Korine. Original airdate: 10/23/2000
Check out our exclusive new trailer for “Split Screen” below.
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