Opening Shot is a UK-based non-fiction television series with LWT productions, Channel 4, and Bravo in the US. It wass directed by David Johnson and Amir Amirani and produced and edited by Gerald Fox. It ran from 10 July 1993 to 17 December 1995^[1] and garnered favorable reviews.

Premise

The series is dedicated to kids and subjects that appeal to all ages. Opening Shot encouraged children to become involved in the arts on many levels.^[2]

Cast

• Stan Lee – Himself
• Andy Lanning – Himself

Production

In an interview, producer Gerald Fox shared that he was initially working on a documentary about Russian violinist Dmitry Sitkovetsky.^[3] While using old footage of Dmitri as a child and intercutting it with shots of his ten-year-old nephew playing violin, Fox recognized that children make for compelling documentary subjects.^[2] He observed that children often respond well to the camera and identified a gap in the market for arts-focused television shows that catered to younger audiences in both the United States and the United Kingdom. Consequently, he decided to develop a new documentary series that would feature subjects that would be of interest to younger viewers.^[2][3]

Reception

The series was well-received among children. The joint production between Britain and the United States focused on various topics, including the Marvel Comics universe, which is home to iconic characters like Spider-Man, X-Men, The Incredible Hulk, and Captain America.^[1][2] The series also showcased films that explored the lives of musical prodigies, including Sarah Chang and the Dance Theatre of Harlem, as well as the Peking opera. In addition, the series featured in-depth profiles of figures such as Savion Glover, who is known as "The Tap Dance Kid." Other subjects covered in the series included Tintin, Asterix, flamenco, Irish and ballroom dancing.^[2]

References