PRISM Awards Showcase Premiere on September 16 Highlights Suicide Prevention Week

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The PRISM Awards affirm and recognize Hollywood's commitment to deal with issues such as suicide in movies, on television, in comic books, and other media in ways that are both compelling and can have a positive impact.

Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) September 12, 2012

Suicide Prevention Week culminates on September 16 with the FX Network premiere of the Entertainment Industries Council’s 16th Annual PRISM Awards Showcase honoring movies, television shows, and other entertainment for accurate and compelling depictions of substance use and mental heath concerns, including a special segment dedicated to suicide prevention.

“Through authentic and sensitive storylines and portrayals, audiences can see that suicide is preventable and help is available, said Brian Dyak, Entertainment Industries Council President and CEO. “The PRISM Awards affirm and recognize Hollywood's commitment to deal with issues such as suicide in movies, on television, in comic books, and other media in ways that are both compelling and can have a positive impact.”

FX will debut the 16th Annual PRISM Awards Showcase on September 16 at 4 PM and 1 AM, and will make the show available via video on-demand and web streaming at FXNetworks.com from September 24 – November 22. In addition, REELZCHANNEL will be airing the show on September 22 at 7 p.m. Eastern / 4 p.m. Pacific, with an encore the following day at 11 a.m. Eastern / 8 a.m. Pacific, while also offering the show on-demand and at Reelz.com. Schedules for Retirement Living TV, MTV.com, and mtvU—along with additional airing partners—will be announced shortly.

The 16th Annual PRISM Awards Showcase highlights several productions that dealt with the difficult topic of suicide and suicide prevention:

•     The Sunset Limited from HBO Films was honored for TV Movie or Miniseries, while Samuel L. Jackson and Tommy Lee Jones were both nominated for Performance in a TV Movie or Miniseries.
•     Emily Osment won for Performance in a TV Movie or Miniseries in the ABC Family production of Cyberbully, which was also nominated in the TV Movie or Miniseries category.
•     E: 60 from ESPN won Documentary, News Magazine or Biographical Program – Mental Health for “Scott Hall: The Wrestler. ”
•     I Am an Avenger #5 from Marvel Comics took top comic honors for a suicide related Captain America story and mtvU’s Half of Us won Best Public Service Project.

Other productions and performers were nominated or commended for PRISM Awards that recognized depictions of suicide, including:

•     The “Home Sweet Home,” “One Last Shot,” and “Whiz Kid” episodes from HBO’s Entourage, along with star Adrian Grenier.
•     The MTV television movie (Dis)Connected.
•     “Anna Nicole Smith: Tragedy on Trial” from True Crime with Aphrodite Jones produced by Investigation Discovery, and “Invisible Wounds of War” from Our America with Lisa Ling produced by OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network.
•     The “Educated Guess” episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit from NBC and Universal Television.

Dr. Drew Pinsky hosts the one-hour program with guest co-hosts Mark Valley, Alison Haislip, and Tamala Jones and announcer Shadoe Stevens. The show is executive produced by Brian Dyak, Lawrence Scot Deutchman and Marie Gallo Dyak, and is written by Deutchman and Brian Dyak. Angela Snow serves as Supervising Producer.

On September 13, the show receives a special advance showcase in Washington DC featuring highlights of the show and congressional and government speakers. It will be held at the headquarters of the National Cable & Telecommunications Association and is hosted by TV personality Carly Steel.

For more information, go to http://www.prismawards.com.

About Entertainment Industries Council
EIC, a non-profit organization, was founded in 1983 by leaders of the entertainment industry to bring the power and influence of the industry to bear on communication about health and social issues. The organization is considered to be the chief pioneer of entertainment outreach and one of the premiere success stories in the field of entertainment education. EIC provides information resources for entertainment creators through innovative and time-proven services and methods of "encouraging the art of making a difference" from within the entertainment industry. EIC produces the simulcast national television special PRISM Awards Showcase which addresses accurate portrayals of prevention, treatment and recovery from drug, alcohol and tobacco use, and mental health concerns. The organization also produces the S.E.T Awards, honoring positive and non-stereotypical portrayals of science, engineering and technology.

EIC also addresses issues such as diabetes, ADHD, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, foster care, women's health, firearm safety and injury prevention, sun safety and skin cancer prevention, human trafficking, terrorism and homeland security, eating disorders and obesity, seat belt use and traffic safety, and HIV/AIDS prevention. The organization has also launched an initiative to increase the public profile and interest in science, engineering and technology. EIC’s web site is http://www.eiconline.org. The PRISM Awards web site is http://www.prismawards.com.

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