New York, NY – (December 5, 2023) – Turner Classic Movies (TCM) announced today an all-new original documentary series, The Power of Film, which explores some of the greatest American classic films from the past century. New episodes of the six-part series will premiere every Thursday beginning January 4 at 8pm ET. Hosted and curated by renowned UCLA professor emeritus, founding chair of UCLA’s Film and Television Producers Program, and one of the founders of the UCLA Film Archive, Howard Suber, each 40-minute episode dives deep into the art of storytelling by examining the defining principles and inner workings of beloved films.
Executive produced by Doug Pray and Laura Gabbert, and based on Suber’s book of the same title, The Power of Film goes far beyond an online masterclass by intertwining his structured framework, teachings and insights with nearly 50 dramatic movie scenes to create a uniquely engaging narrative through humor, emotion and human experience.
“I am honored to have our series shown on TCM, surrounded by 17 of the most memorable American films, nearly all of which I discuss in depth in the series,” says Howard Suber. “TCM’s commitment to the history of American films has always been remarkable.”
Suber’s impact on the entertainment industry and deep understanding of cinema have inspired countless careers throughout his 53 years of teaching. His efforts resulted in the Dickson Emeritus Professorship Award, the highest honor bestowed upon a retired faculty member. Having an extensive history of analyzing films and television, Suber has uncovered the mysteries surrounding what makes a film not only popular, but also memorable across generations.
The Power of Film is directed by Laura Gabbert, written by Howard Suber, and written by Doug Pray who also serves as supervising editor. Pray and Gabbert previously studied under and worked closely with Suber at the UCLA School of Film, Theater, and Television where they received their MFA.
The following is a complete schedule for The Power of Film:
Thursday, January 4 at 8pm ET | Part 1 – Popular and Memorable
A large proportion of the most commercially successful American films are quickly forgotten. A tiny fraction, however, are truly memorable, lasting from one generation to another. Using iconic scenes from many of these classic films, this series explores films that were both popular and memorable. In this episode, Howard Suber asks why this small minority continues to have such power.
Thursday, January 11 at 8pm ET | Part 2 – Trapped
Nearly all memorable stories, whether told in movies or in real life, are about traps. The most memorable are generally about the loss, sacrifice, and ultimate triumph the central character must engage in to escape their trap.
Thursday, January 18 at 8pm ET | Part 3 – Character Relationships
There’s no such thing as an interesting character; there are only interesting character relationships. But, as is true for religions, myths, and the longest-lasting dramas, the structure of most memorable dramatic plots centers on a single individual, around whom all the most important action and the other characters revolve.
Thursday, January 25 at 8pm ET | Part 4 – Heroes and Villains
Memorable films tend to be a compensation for what we don’t see much of in the real world— justice, commitment, and altruism. Film drama frequently treats the central characters as if they were heroes or villains, but often the two are very much alike.
Thursday, February 1 at 8pm ET | Part 5 – The Power of Paradox
In almost every memorable film, things are not what they seem, and learning the truth about characters and situations creates much of the tension in the film. Often, the truth of the film is quite paradoxical, which is what makes us want to keep watching.
Thursday, February 8 at 8pm ET | Part 6 – Love and Meaning
Although it’s often said that in order to succeed, a Hollywood film has to have a happy ending, when you look at the most memorable love stories it’s astonishing how many of them end with the separation or death of one or both lovers. Often, the paradox underlying the film helps explain why they stick in our memories.
Host: Howard Suber
HOWARD SUBER is the founding chair of the Film & Television Producers Program at UCLA, where he taught for 53 years. He developed and chaired UCLA’s program in film history, theory, and criticism, served as the Director and one of the founders of the UCLA Film Archive, and was awarded the Dickson Emeritus Professorship Award, the highest honor bestowed upon a retired faculty member. Howard’s popular classes on storytelling
have inspired countless careers and had a profound impact on the film and television industry. His publications include The Power of Film, Letters to Young Filmmakers, and Creativity and Copyright (co-authored by John Geiger).
Executive Producer: Doug Pray
DOUG PRAY executive produced the Netflix hit series ARNOLD (June 2023), the AppleTV+ series HOME, Dave Grohl’s FROM CRADLE TO STAGE (Paramount+), and HBO’s Grammy-winning, 5x Emmy-nominated series THE DEFIANT ONES, which
he also wrote and edited. As a director, Pray is known for HBO-Max’s LOVE, LIZZO, and earlier feature documentaries including HYPE!, SURFWISE, and the Emmy-winning ART & COPY. Doug studied under and worked closely with Howard Suber at the UCLA
School of Film, Theater, and Television where he received his MFA.
Executive Producer: Laura Gabbert
LAURA GABBERT’S directing credits include SUNSET STORY (PBS), OTTOLENGHI AND THE CAKES OF VERSAILLES (IFC/Hulu) and the Sundance premiere features CITY OF GOLD (IFC/Hulu) and NO IMPACT MAN, which received international distribution and critical acclaim. Laura’s television work includes UGLY DELICIOUS and she executive produced the 2020 Netflix Originals documentary DISCLOSURE. She recently completed FOOD AND COUNTRY, which premiered at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival. Laura studied under and worked closely with Howard Suber at the UCLA School of Film, Theater, and Television where she received her MFA.
About Turner Classic Movies (TCM)
Turner Classic Movies (TCM) is a two-time Peabody Award-winning network that presents classic films, uncut and commercial-free, from the largest film libraries in the world highlighting “where then meets now.” TCM features the insights from Primetime host Ben Mankiewicz along with hosts Alicia Malone, Dave Karger, Jacqueline Stewart and Eddie Muller, plus interviews with a wide range of special guests and serves as the ultimate movie lover destination. With more than two decades as a leading authority in classic film, TCM offers critically acclaimed series like The Essentials, along with annual programming events like 31 Days of Oscar® and Summer Under the Stars. TCM also directly connects with movie fans through popular events such as the annual TCM Classic Film Festival in Hollywood and the TCM Classic Cruise. In addition, TCM produces the wildly successful podcast “The Plot Thickens,” which has had more than 7 million downloads to date. TCM hosts a wealth of material online at tcm.com and through the Watch TCM mobile app. Fans can also enjoy a classic movie experience on the TCM hub on Max.