Newswise — LOS ANGELES_Dec. 2, 2015 _ USC Annenberg Professor and award-winning documentarian Dan Birman has landed the rights to produce the bestselling seven-volume book series Hinges of History, by revered scholar and historical author Thomas Cahill.
Cahill sold the rights to adapt and produce his landmark collection, which explores formative events in Western civilization, to Daniel H. Birman Productions. Birman has also signed a co-venture agreement with Breakthrough Entertainment, a Canada-based producer of non-fiction programming.
“My long association with [Birman] gives me confidence that the series will represent my work,” Cahill said of the acquisition. “I’m looking forward to working with Birman Productions and Breakthrough Entertainment to bring my series to television.”
Joining Birman as a producer on the project is Megan Chao, an alumna and adjunct faculty member of the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, who works as head of development and production for Birman’s production company.
Once they find a network partner, the task will become imagining Cahill’s work for the screen.
“I have paid close attention to Thomas Cahill’s work ever since I picked up a copy of How the Irish Saved Civilization nearly 20 years ago,” Birman said. “What an honor to be the company that now has the rights to produce his epic book series for television.
“This is a significant project, because the scope of Cahill’s work bridges the ancients to America in the present. It’s a good fit for us, because we look for projects that have great complexity. Spanning more than 3,000 years and keeping it relevant to us is certainly all of that.”
Cahill has studied with many of the world’s most distinguished literary and biblical scholars, and he is both respected and admired for a storytelling brand that distills complex themes in history into accessible, illuminating and engaging narrative for readers.
Translated into numerous languages, Cahill’s six best-selling books in his Hinges of History series – as well as his September 2016 release of How The Americans Saved Civilization – will serve as the springboard for the documentary series, which revisits the beginnings of Western civilization through the little-known stories of those who had the greatest impact on its evolution.
“Cahill gives us an even greater understanding of who we are and our role in the western world,” Birman said. “His extraordinary historical perspective is the basis for a relevant and altogether unprecedented series.”
About Daniel H. Birman Productions
Based in Los Angeles, Daniel H. Birman Productions is a television production company specializing in nonfiction and documentary programming. The company’s works can be seen in the U.S. on such networks as TLC, Discovery Channel, Science, Nat Geo and PBS, as well as internationally. The company is responsible for the award-winning documentaries Me Facing Life: Cyntoia's Story and Brace for Impact: The Chesley B. Sullenberger Story.
About Breakthrough Entertainment
Headquartered in Toronto, Breakthrough Entertainment Inc. (BEI) is a world class studio, being a leading global producer and distributor of acclaimed primetime comedy and drama series, as well as factual entertainment, documentaries, television movies, feature films, family entertainment and children’s animation. As one of Canada’s largest television production and distribution companies, BEI has licensed programs to major broadcasters worldwide. A vertically-integrated entertainment studio, Breakthrough is involved in worldwide distribution as well as pre-sales, co-productions and third-party acquisitions. In addition, Breakthrough’s digital media division ranks among one of the industry’s most respected producers of high quality digital entertainment including ebooks, webisodes and online and mobile games. www.breakthroughentertainment.com. Follow us on Twitter @breakthroughent.
About the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism
Located in Los Angeles at the University of Southern California, the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism is a national leader in education and scholarship in the fields of communication, journalism, public diplomacy and public relations. With an enrollment of more than 2,000 students, USC Annenberg offers doctoral, master's and bachelor's degree programs, as well as continuing development programs for working professionals across a broad scope of academic inquiry. The school's comprehensive curriculum emphasizes the core skills of leadership, innovation, service and entrepreneurship and draws upon the resources of a networked university located in the media capital of the world.
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