VisionTV's I Prophesy: The Future Revealed


Toronto, January 06, 2009
*In VisionTV’s I Prophesy: The Future Revealed, leading oracles of today predict the shape of tomorrow* World premiere Canadian doc series to debut Jan. 27 Human-machine hybrids. Colonies on the moon. Flying cars, nanobots and animal organ donors. If these sound like far-fetched notions, then consider: 50 years ago the idea that we’d live in a world of pocket-sized telephones, portable music libraries, global computer networks and robotic assembly lines was the province of pure science fiction. The future keeps catching up with us. Human beings are obsessed with trying to predict what will come tomorrow – and these efforts tell us much about who we are today. *I Prophesy: The Future Revealed, a new documentary anthology series from VisionTV, takes a critical look at the predictions of present-day oracles. The world premiere 17-part series airs on Tuesdays, starting Jan. 27 at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT, with repeats on Fridays at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT. I Prophesy* will be followed at 10:30 p.m. ET by *Supernatural Investigator, another new VisionTV documentary anthology series, also premiering Jan. 27. Supernatural Investigator* is hosted by award-winning Canadian science fiction author Robert J. Sawyer. Produced for VisionTV by some of Canada’s leading independent production companies, the I Prophesy documentaries combine artful dramatizations, imaginative CGI sequences, and interviews with world renowned scientists, authors and intellectuals: from influential futurist Ray Kurzweil to self-described “skeptical environmentalist” Bjorn Lomborg. How will our society, our culture and our technology change in the years to come? What will it mean – physically, mentally and spiritually – to be human in this brave new world? The I Prophesy documentaries consider some of the possible futures that await us: from a world in which physical sex no longer exists and humans live for a thousand years, to doomsday scenarios in which our civilization is erased by asteroid collisions or epic floods. Toronto-based interactive media production company The Secret Location (www.thesecretlocation.com) has created an online extension of the series that will allow visitors to take a journey of self-discovery through interactive exploration, gaming and live chat. Said Joan Jenkinson, the Executive Producer and concept creator of I Prophesy: The Future Revealed: “This series draws upon an extraordinary array of sources – from the Bible and other ancient texts, from today’s headlines and from works of visionary science fiction – to help viewers understand the possible futures that await humankind. We are privileged to have worked with gifted documentary producers capable of taking these visions of tomorrow and bringing them vividly to life.” For more information on VisionTV programming, please visit www.visiontv.ca. *I Prophesy: The Future Revealed* – January/February Episodes: “Dude, Where’s My Flying Car?” Tuesday, Jan. 27, 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT Over the past century, science fiction authors have often proved uncannily accurate in their predictions. Can today’s generation of SF writers offer useful clues about the shape of tomorrow? In this premiere episode, Hugo Award-winning Canadian science fiction novelist Robert J. Sawyer (Hominids) ponders which of our contemporary fantasies may end up as reality. Will robots do our household cooking and cleaning? Will humanity colonize other worlds? And, most important: will we finally get flying cars? Produced by Arcadia Entertainment Inc. “Death From Above” Tuesday, Feb. 3, 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT Roughly 65 million years ago, scientists believe, an asteroid crashed into the earth – a cataclysmic event that triggered the extinction of the dinosaurs. And it could happen again. University of Calgary geologist Alan Hildebrand, a leading authority on extraterrestrial impacts, estimates that a collision with a comet or asteroid would pack a wallop 15 times greater than the world’s entire nuclear arsenal. In this episode, I Prophesy asks: can science prevent such a catastrophe? Can nations put aside their differences and unite to protect humankind from a killer in the skies? Produced by Henry Less Productions. “Sex And Romance” Tuesday, Feb. 10, 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT In this episode, I Prophesy asks: could technology spell the end of sex as we know it? Dr. James Hughes, a bioethicist and former Buddhist monk, believes neural implants and robotic partners could render physical intercourse a thing of the past. And futurist Ray Kurzweil predicts that tiny robots – or “nanobots” – will one day be able to enter our bloodstream and trigger sexual experiences. Still, not everyone is convinced that good old hanky-panky is on its way out. Even Kevin Alderman, an online entrepreneur who sells virtual sex products on Second Life, concedes there’s nothing that can take the place of human touch. Produced by Henry Less Productions. “Fountain of Youth” Tuesday, Feb. 17, 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT The first human being ever to live a thousand years may already have been born. Or so says biomedical gerontologist Aubrey de Grey. In this episode of I Prophesy, we meet the unorthodox Cambridge University professor, who is searching for the means to reverse the aging process. Some experts, such as futurist Ray Kurzweil, believe genetics and nanotechnology hold the key to extending human lifespans. But what are ethical implications? And will a longer life truly be a richer one? Produced by Henry Less Productions. “Mass Extinction” Tuesday, Feb. 24, 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT Animal species around the world are dying off at an alarming rate. An estimated one-quarter of all mammals are now in danger of becoming extinct – and if we continue to pollute the environment and destroy natural habitats, human beings may one day join them. That’s the shocking claim made by biologist Daniel Simberloff and philosopher Ingrid Leman Stefanovic. Other experts, like self-described “skeptical environmentalist” Bjorn Lomborg, dismiss such predictions as alarmist. Who’s right? In this episode, I Prophesy asks whether humanity is destined for the endangered species list. Produced by Henry Less Productions. I Prophesy: The Future Revealed – Future Episodes: “Cyborg” Tuesday, March 3, 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT Bridging the divide between human and machine. Produced by Henry Less Productions. “Nuclear 9-11” Tuesday, March 10, 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT Is nuclear terrorism a real or imagined threat? Produced by Partners In Motion Inc. “Thought Police” Tuesday, March 17, 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT Will we sacrifice freedom for security? Produced by Partners In Motion Inc. “2012” Tuesday, March 24, 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT Does the Mayan calendar foretell the world’s end in the year 2012? Produced by Partners In Motion Inc. “Designing Humanity” Tuesday, March 31, 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT Genetic engineering could give us the power to redesign the human species – but at what price? Produced by Henry Less Productions. “Apocalypse 2060” Tuesday, April 7, 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT Did Sir Isaac Newton decode a Biblical prophecy of global destruction? Produced by Arcadia Entertainment Inc. “Chasing Chimera” Tuesday, April 14, 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT Scientists have begun to explore the possibility of injecting animals with human DNA to create new forms of life. But these experiments raise grave ethical concerns. Produced by Henry Less Productions. “Superflood” Tuesday, April 21, 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT Could climate change turn the Biblical story of the great flood into a terrifying reality? Produced by Arcadia Entertainment Inc. “Tiny Revolution” Tuesday, April 28, 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT The advance of nanotechnology could have startling implications – for the consumer products industries, for the environment, and for human health. Produced by Henry Less Productions. “Cosmic Energy” Tuesday, May 5, 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT Some researchers believe cosmic rays are altering our climate, and may slow the progress of global warming. Produced by Henry Less Productions. “Journey From Earth” Tuesday, May 12, 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT Colonizing other worlds may be necessary to ensure the survival of the human race. Produced by Henry Less Productions. FINAL EPISODE: “Utopia” Tuesday, May 19, 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT Is it possible to create a perfect world? Produced by Arcadia Entertainment Inc. I Prophesy: The Future Revealed – The Producers Arcadia Entertainment Inc. www.arcadiatv.com Arcadia Entertainment Inc. is an Atlantic Canadian company, based in Halifax, NS, that began producing documentary programs for broadcast in Canadian and international markets in August of 2001. Arcadia’s library of programs includes the long-running ocean technology series Marine Machines (airing on National Geographic International), the documentary Buried at Sea (which aired in 2008 on CBC Newsworld’s Passionate Eye), and the award-winning feature-length documentary Chasing Wild Horses (which aired on Bravo!). Currently, Arcadia is completing production on the second cycle of Go Deep for History Television and National Geographic Canada, and Aquateam for Discovery Kids Canada and YTV. Arcadia’s programs have been broadcast in more than 140 countries in 26 languages. Henry Less Productions www.henryless.com Based in Toronto, Henry Less Productions (HLP) is a vertically integrated production and distribution company recognized domestically and internationally for producing dynamic and innovative factual, variety and dramatic content for television, web, advertising and theatrical release. Current HLP productions include Three Chords From the Truth (CMT/Movie Central), Chevy Cross Canada Countdown (CMT), ‘Twas the Night Before Dinner (Food Network) and The Tara Oram Christmas Special (CMT). Past productions include the award-winning comedy series The Wilkinsons (CMT), the music/documentary series Crystal: Living the Dream (CMT) and The Tara Diaries (CMT), and the internationally acclaimed lifestyle/food series Made to Order (Food Network/Fine Living USA) and Plucked (CMT). Partners In Motion Inc. www.partnersinmotion.com Established in 1993 as a one-man film and video production company, Partners In Motion has grown and matured into a comprehensive, multi-purpose entertainment organization engaged in the development, production and distribution of award-winning television programming seen in more than 150 countries around the world. With a team of more than fifty talented and enthusiastic individuals, Partners In Motion is committed to the creation of smart, innovative and entertaining programs, specializing in three distinct areas of production: television programs and series, commercial and corporate production, and multimedia and animation production. Partners in Motion has received a number of key international awards, including an Emmy for its documentary 13 Seconds: The Kent State Shootings.

Toronto, January 06, 2009

In VisionTV’s I Prophesy: The Future Revealed, leading oracles of today predict the shape of tomorrow

World premiere Canadian doc series to debut Jan. 27

Human-machine hybrids. Colonies on the moon. Flying cars, nanobots and animal organ donors.

If these sound like far-fetched notions, then consider: 50 years ago the idea that we’d live in a world of pocket-sized telephones, portable music libraries, global computer networks and robotic assembly lines was the province of pure science fiction. The future keeps catching up with us.

Human beings are obsessed with trying to predict what will come tomorrow – and these efforts tell us much about who we are today.

I Prophesy: The Future Revealed, a new documentary anthology series from VisionTV, takes a critical look at the predictions of present-day oracles.

The world premiere 17-part series airs on Tuesdays, starting Jan. 27 at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT, with repeats on Fridays at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT.

I Prophesy will be followed at 10:30 p.m. ET by Supernatural Investigator, another new VisionTV documentary anthology series, also premiering Jan. 27. Supernatural Investigator is hosted by award-winning Canadian science fiction author Robert J. Sawyer.

Produced for VisionTV by some of Canada’s leading independent production companies, the I Prophesy documentaries combine artful dramatizations, imaginative CGI sequences, and interviews with world renowned scientists, authors and intellectuals: from influential futurist Ray Kurzweil to self-described “skeptical environmentalist” Bjorn Lomborg.

How will our society, our culture and our technology change in the years to come? What will it mean – physically, mentally and spiritually – to be human in this brave new world?

The I Prophesy documentaries consider some of the possible futures that await us: from a world in which physical sex no longer exists and humans live for a thousand years, to doomsday scenarios in which our civilization is erased by asteroid collisions or epic floods.

Toronto-based interactive media production company The Secret Location (www.thesecretlocation.com) has created an online extension of the series that will allow visitors to take a journey of self-discovery through interactive exploration, gaming and live chat.

Said Joan Jenkinson, the Executive Producer and concept creator of I Prophesy: The Future Revealed: “This series draws upon an extraordinary array of sources – from the Bible and other ancient texts, from today’s headlines and from works of visionary science fiction – to help viewers understand the possible futures that await humankind. We are privileged to have worked with gifted documentary producers capable of taking these visions of tomorrow and bringing them vividly to life.”

For more information on VisionTV programming, please visit www.visiontv.ca.

I Prophesy: The Future Revealed – January/February Episodes:

“Dude, Where’s My Flying Car?”
Tuesday, Jan. 27, 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT
Over the past century, science fiction authors have often proved uncannily accurate in their predictions. Can today’s generation of SF writers offer useful clues about the shape of tomorrow? In this premiere episode, Hugo Award-winning Canadian science fiction novelist Robert J. Sawyer (Hominids) ponders which of our contemporary fantasies may end up as reality. Will robots do our household cooking and cleaning? Will humanity colonize other worlds? And, most important: will we finally get flying cars? Produced by Arcadia Entertainment Inc.

“Death From Above”
Tuesday, Feb. 3, 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT
Roughly 65 million years ago, scientists believe, an asteroid crashed into the earth – a cataclysmic event that triggered the extinction of the dinosaurs. And it could happen again. University of Calgary geologist Alan Hildebrand, a leading authority on extraterrestrial impacts, estimates that a collision with a comet or asteroid would pack a wallop 15 times greater than the world’s entire nuclear arsenal. In this episode, I Prophesy asks: can science prevent such a catastrophe? Can nations put aside their differences and unite to protect humankind from a killer in the skies? Produced by Henry Less Productions.

“Sex And Romance”
Tuesday, Feb. 10, 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT
In this episode, I Prophesy asks: could technology spell the end of sex as we know it? Dr. James Hughes, a bioethicist and former Buddhist monk, believes neural implants and robotic partners could render physical intercourse a thing of the past. And futurist Ray Kurzweil predicts that tiny robots – or “nanobots” – will one day be able to enter our bloodstream and trigger sexual experiences. Still, not everyone is convinced that good old hanky-panky is on its way out. Even Kevin Alderman, an online entrepreneur who sells virtual sex products on Second Life, concedes there’s nothing that can take the place of human touch. Produced by Henry Less Productions.

“Fountain of Youth”
Tuesday, Feb. 17, 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT
The first human being ever to live a thousand years may already have been born. Or so says biomedical gerontologist Aubrey de Grey. In this episode of I Prophesy, we meet the unorthodox Cambridge University professor, who is searching for the means to reverse the aging process. Some experts, such as futurist Ray Kurzweil, believe genetics and nanotechnology hold the key to extending human lifespans. But what are ethical implications? And will a longer life truly be a richer one? Produced by Henry Less Productions.

“Mass Extinction”
Tuesday, Feb. 24, 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT
Animal species around the world are dying off at an alarming rate. An estimated one-quarter of all mammals are now in danger of becoming extinct – and if we continue to pollute the environment and destroy natural habitats, human beings may one day join them. That’s the shocking claim made by biologist Daniel Simberloff and philosopher Ingrid Leman Stefanovic. Other experts, like self-described “skeptical environmentalist” Bjorn Lomborg, dismiss such predictions as alarmist. Who’s right? In this episode, I Prophesy asks whether humanity is destined for the endangered species list. Produced by Henry Less Productions.

I Prophesy: The Future Revealed – Future Episodes:

“Cyborg”
Tuesday, March 3, 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT
Bridging the divide between human and machine. Produced by Henry Less Productions.

“Nuclear 9-11”
Tuesday, March 10, 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT
Is nuclear terrorism a real or imagined threat? Produced by Partners In Motion Inc.

“Thought Police”
Tuesday, March 17, 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT
Will we sacrifice freedom for security? Produced by Partners In Motion Inc.

“2012”
Tuesday, March 24, 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT
Does the Mayan calendar foretell the world’s end in the year 2012? Produced by Partners In Motion Inc.

“Designing Humanity”
Tuesday, March 31, 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT
Genetic engineering could give us the power to redesign the human species – but at what price? Produced by Henry Less Productions.

“Apocalypse 2060”
Tuesday, April 7, 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT
Did Sir Isaac Newton decode a Biblical prophecy of global destruction? Produced by Arcadia Entertainment Inc.

“Chasing Chimera”
Tuesday, April 14, 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT
Scientists have begun to explore the possibility of injecting animals with human DNA to create new forms of life. But these experiments raise grave ethical concerns. Produced by Henry Less Productions.

“Superflood”
Tuesday, April 21, 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT
Could climate change turn the Biblical story of the great flood into a terrifying reality? Produced by Arcadia Entertainment Inc.

“Tiny Revolution”
Tuesday, April 28, 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT
The advance of nanotechnology could have startling implications – for the consumer products industries, for the environment, and for human health. Produced by Henry Less Productions.

“Cosmic Energy”
Tuesday, May 5, 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT
Some researchers believe cosmic rays are altering our climate, and may slow the progress of global warming. Produced by Henry Less Productions.

“Journey From Earth”
Tuesday, May 12, 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT
Colonizing other worlds may be necessary to ensure the survival of the human race. Produced by Henry Less Productions.

FINAL EPISODE: “Utopia”
Tuesday, May 19, 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT
Is it possible to create a perfect world? Produced by Arcadia Entertainment Inc.

I Prophesy: The Future Revealed – The Producers

Arcadia Entertainment Inc.
www.arcadiatv.com

Arcadia Entertainment Inc. is an Atlantic Canadian company, based in Halifax, NS, that began producing documentary programs for broadcast in Canadian and international markets in August of 2001. Arcadia’s library of programs includes the long-running ocean technology series Marine Machines (airing on National Geographic International), the documentary Buried at Sea (which aired in 2008 on CBC Newsworld’s Passionate Eye), and the award-winning feature-length documentary Chasing Wild Horses (which aired on Bravo!). Currently, Arcadia is completing production on the second cycle of Go Deep for History Television and National Geographic Canada, and Aquateam for Discovery Kids Canada and YTV. Arcadia’s programs have been broadcast in more than 140 countries in 26 languages.

Henry Less Productions
www.henryless.com

Based in Toronto, Henry Less Productions (HLP) is a vertically integrated production and distribution company recognized domestically and internationally for producing dynamic and innovative factual, variety and dramatic content for television, web, advertising and theatrical release. Current HLP productions include Three Chords From the Truth (CMT/Movie Central), Chevy Cross Canada Countdown (CMT), ‘Twas the Night Before Dinner (Food Network) and The Tara Oram Christmas Special (CMT). Past productions include the award-winning comedy series The Wilkinsons (CMT), the music/documentary series Crystal: Living the Dream (CMT) and The Tara Diaries (CMT), and the internationally acclaimed lifestyle/food series Made to Order (Food Network/Fine Living USA) and Plucked (CMT).

Partners In Motion Inc.
www.partnersinmotion.com

Established in 1993 as a one-man film and video production company, Partners In Motion has grown and matured into a comprehensive, multi-purpose entertainment organization engaged in the development, production and distribution of award-winning television programming seen in more than 150 countries around the world. With a team of more than fifty talented and enthusiastic individuals, Partners In Motion is committed to the creation of smart, innovative and entertaining programs, specializing in three distinct areas of production: television programs and series, commercial and corporate production, and multimedia and animation production. Partners in Motion has received a number of key international awards, including an Emmy for its documentary 13 Seconds: The Kent State Shootings.