National Geographic Television (NGT) launched its newest programming initiative, "National Geographic Beyond the Movie," it was announced today by Tim Kelly, president, NGT.

Anchored by a series of all-new television documentaries, "National Geographic Beyond the Movie" is an innovative multi-media initiative created to complement today's feature films and explore the most compelling real-life questions that movies inspire.

In addition to television, "National Geographic Beyond the Movie" will draw upon the vast resources of the National Geographic Society, including the heralded photography archives, print publications, www.nationalgeographic.com, maps, posters, home video, DVD and classroom materials, to deliver a one-stop shop for movie-going audiences who want to know more about the topics covered in the movies.

"National Geographic is the world's largest non-profit educational and scientific organization," said Kelly. "Our mission is to excite people's curiosity and imagination about the world around us." He further explained, "Popular movies spark interest in topics and we're uniquely suited to reach out to movie audiences everywhere in an entertaining and informative way."

National Geographic launches this initiative with Touchstone Pictures on the summer event film, "Pearl Harbor," from producer Jerry Bruckheimer and producer/director Michael Bay, opening May 25, 2001.

"We are delighted to be working with Touchstone Pictures as they release this epic film," stated Kelly.

Commenting on the announcement, Dick Cook, chairman of the Walt Disney Motion Pictures Group, said, "National Geographic is the leader in producing entertaining documentary programming for television and all of us at Touchstone are thrilled to be working with them in launching their new series.

"With its historic themes and bold filmmaking approach, 'Pearl Harbor' is an ideal subject for this exciting new multi-media project and it will give movie-goers an opportunity to learn more about the film and the event itself. This is a great way to educate and entertain and we're proud to be associated with National Geographic."

"We designed 'National Geographic Beyond the Movie' to give people a whole new way to enjoy movies. It's the ideal companion resource for audiences of today's Hollywood feature films," said Catherine Hagney, senior vice president at NGT and the creator of "National Geographic Beyond the Movie."

"Today, many movies touch on topics that National Geographic is known for -- adventure, science, cultures, nature and history. 'National Geographic Beyond the Movie' will provide people with fun tools to explore, enhance and extend their movie-going experience. It is truly for people who love movies and the real stories that inspire them," explained Hagney.

National Geographic Television will collaborate with the Hollywood studios on excerpts from the movies, interviews with the talent and movie-makers paralleled with the real stories, the 'real-life' experts and witnesses, and documentary archives to show how fiction and fact come together to make a fascinating story.

Written by Randall Wallace, "Pearl Harbor" stars Ben Affleck, Josh Hartnett, Kate Beckinsale and Cuba Gooding, Jr. "National Geographic Beyond the Movie: Pearl Harbor" examines the story behind the U.S. entry into World War II, the subject of the Hollywood film.

It expands on the major issues identified by the movie and provides audiences with ways for them to explore their questions about what really happened at Pearl Harbor. Why did the Japanese attack? Why was the United States caught off guard? How did Americans respond to the attack? Were Americans involved in the war in Europe before the attack on Pearl Harbor?

The relationship between National Geographic and Touchstone Pictures has generated many ground-breaking collaborations. Touchstone Pictures provided National Geographic with access to footage from the film, talent interviews, and links between www.PearlHarbor.com and www.nationalgeographic.com/pearlharbor.

Additionally, National Geographic is producing a classroom guide for teachers, sponsored by Touchstone Pictures, which will be distributed free to high schools in May. A unique movie poster/map combination will be given away free in select theaters on opening weekend featuring a "Pearl Harbor" one-sheet on one side and a National Geographic commemorative map of the attack on Pearl Harbor on the other.

This far-reaching initiative was developed with the help of Fireworks Enterprises Inc., a Los Angeles-based entertainment consulting firm. Coinciding with the release of Touchstone Pictures' "Pearl Harbor" on Memorial Day weekend, "National Geographic Beyond the Movie: Pearl Harbor" premieres on the National Geographic Channel in the United States on Sunday, May 27, at 10 p.m. ET, immediately following "Pearl Harbor: Legacy of Attack," a two-hour National Geographic documentary that presents the first-ever images from inside the sunken battleship USS Arizona.

National Geographic Explorers-in-Residence discoverer Dr. Robert Ballard and noted historian Dr. Stephen Ambrose explore the still unsolved mysteries and startling true stories behind this day of infamy. Internationally, the National Geographic Channels will broadcast "Pearl Harbor: Legacy of Attack" and "National Geographic Beyond the Movie: Pearl Harbor" worldwide to coincide with the global release of the film.

"National Geographic Beyond the Movie: Pearl Harbor" will also be distributed on home video. A special featured section of the www.nationalgeographic.com/pearlharbor Web site dedicated to "National Geographic Beyond the Movie" debuted earlier this month.

"National Geographic Beyond the Movie" will collaborate with the productions of Los Angeles-based National Geographic Feature Films, beginning with the Cold War submarine thriller "K-19: The Widowmaker," starring Harrison Ford, Liam Neeson and Peter Sarsgaard, and directed by Kathryn Bigelow.

"K-19: The Widowmaker" tells a story inspired by the real-life reactor malfunction and ensuing crisis heroically braved by the Soviet crew aboard the U.S.S.R.'s first nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine in 1961. "K-19: The Widowmaker" is produced by Joni Sighvatsson's Palomar Pictures, National Geographic Feature Films' Christine Whitaker in partnership with Bigelow's First Light Productions and Edward S. Feldman.

Intermedia is financing the film, which is currently in production. Regency Enterprises will release the film domestically through 20th Century Fox.

Building on its reputation for remarkable visual and compelling stories, National Geographic Television augments its award-winning documentary production (winner of 109 Emmys and more than 800 other industry awards) with feature films, large-format and long-form television drama programming, as well as international broadcast and video distribution.

At present, NGT's programming can be seen in the United States on the National Geographic Channel, CNBC and PBS, as well as on home video and DVD, and internationally through video distribution and broadcast syndication in more than 100 different outlets in some 90 territories.

The National Geographic Channel in the United States is a business enterprise of National Geographic Television (NGT) and Fox Cable Networks Group. Abroad, those partners are joined by NBC, and the Channel reaches 129 countries and over 100 million households in 18 languages. More information about NGT is available on www.nationalgeographic.com.