Perennial Productions, based in Los Angeles and founded in San Francisco in 1989, has specialized in original non-fiction, cultural, and performing arts television and media, characterized by a high degree of multidisciplinary collaboration.
Currently, Perennial is positioning selections from its original film and media assets for continuing cultural and educational use.
Currently, Perennial is positioning selections from its original film and media assets for continuing cultural and educational use.
In the 1990's Perennial conceived, produced and distributed its original television specials and series to premiere broadcasters worldwide, generating all attendant marketing, collaterals, publicity, sponsorships, and special events.
Perennial’s acclaimed, Emmy-awarded PBS documentary series Gardens of the World with Audrey Hepburn, with hardcover companion book (Macmillan), and music soundtrack CD (Conifer Classics/London), is Audrey Hepburn’s beautiful, final performance in her film oeuvre. As host, as herself, Audrey brought a transcendent dimension to what still stands as a veritable treatise on the art and culture of gardens, filmed in Europe, America, the Tropics and Japan.
Perennial’s prime-time special for PBS In Search of Angels: The Meaning, Myth and Allure — narrated by Debra Winger with Pulitzer Prize-Winning Playwright Tony Kushner, American literary critic Harold Bloom, and musical artist Rickie Lee Jones — was filmed on location in Los Angeles, New York, Paris, Rome, Vatican City and Vienna, with Tim Story musical score and soundtrack CD by Windham Hill/BMG. ISOA awards: Best Editing & Graphics, Worldfest Houston, and Best Documentary, SIVA/Special Interest Video Association.
For HGTV and Scripps International, Perennial produced the acclaimed 13-part series The Art & Practice of Gardening in England, Ireland & America, hosted by Penelope Hobhouse, with companion book by Frances Lincoln/UK; Perennial also initiated HGTV’s commercial free coverage of Pasadena’s annual Tournament of Roses Parade, a mainstay for the network for 15 years.
Perennial ’s commissioned marketing, media consultancies, and sponsor associations range from multi-year, national campaigns to strategic and editorial-driven development — often bringing together the commercial and not-for profit sectors, such as for: Air France, Group Yannick Alleno, Barclaycard UK, British Tourist Authority (Visit Britain), Fiji Water, NHK Art & Education, and Tourism Ireland/Fáilte Ireland, among others.
For the Ecology Global Network, Perennial created the concept for and curated ecology.com’s lead cultural franchise, Planting for the Planet, served as Managing Editor, and also provided services through the company’s Phase I launch of ecology.com, its inaugural flight of environmental television programming for China Green Channel International, Beijing, and creation of EGN’s marketing, sponsor and corporate sustainability portfolio.
Perennial’s Special Event production and design work, under Art Director Ken Short, include multi-media national corporate events, product introductions and trade shows, such as for Estée Lauder, Hewlett-Packard and Sun Microsystems, as well as Los Angeles arts and cultural events, such as for the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Kodak/Dolby Theatre, and Los Angeles Philharmonic’s Walt Disney Concert Hall.
Janis Blackschleger, Perennial’s founder & president, has lectured on Gardens of the World at major botanic gardens and flower shows in the U.S.A., Ireland and Japan. “I always begin my lectures by highlighting a few elements added exclusively for the occasion. Be it music, art or never before seen raw footage. The simple through line being to bring the audience inside the story — inside the ideas that drive the story.”
Perennial’s acclaimed, Emmy-awarded PBS documentary series Gardens of the World with Audrey Hepburn, with hardcover companion book (Macmillan), and music soundtrack CD (Conifer Classics/London), is Audrey Hepburn’s beautiful, final performance in her film oeuvre. As host, as herself, Audrey brought a transcendent dimension to what still stands as a veritable treatise on the art and culture of gardens, filmed in Europe, America, the Tropics and Japan.
Perennial’s prime-time special for PBS In Search of Angels: The Meaning, Myth and Allure — narrated by Debra Winger with Pulitzer Prize-Winning Playwright Tony Kushner, American literary critic Harold Bloom, and musical artist Rickie Lee Jones — was filmed on location in Los Angeles, New York, Paris, Rome, Vatican City and Vienna, with Tim Story musical score and soundtrack CD by Windham Hill/BMG. ISOA awards: Best Editing & Graphics, Worldfest Houston, and Best Documentary, SIVA/Special Interest Video Association.
For HGTV and Scripps International, Perennial produced the acclaimed 13-part series The Art & Practice of Gardening in England, Ireland & America, hosted by Penelope Hobhouse, with companion book by Frances Lincoln/UK; Perennial also initiated HGTV’s commercial free coverage of Pasadena’s annual Tournament of Roses Parade, a mainstay for the network for 15 years.
Perennial ’s commissioned marketing, media consultancies, and sponsor associations range from multi-year, national campaigns to strategic and editorial-driven development — often bringing together the commercial and not-for profit sectors, such as for: Air France, Group Yannick Alleno, Barclaycard UK, British Tourist Authority (Visit Britain), Fiji Water, NHK Art & Education, and Tourism Ireland/Fáilte Ireland, among others.
For the Ecology Global Network, Perennial created the concept for and curated ecology.com’s lead cultural franchise, Planting for the Planet, served as Managing Editor, and also provided services through the company’s Phase I launch of ecology.com, its inaugural flight of environmental television programming for China Green Channel International, Beijing, and creation of EGN’s marketing, sponsor and corporate sustainability portfolio.
Perennial’s Special Event production and design work, under Art Director Ken Short, include multi-media national corporate events, product introductions and trade shows, such as for Estée Lauder, Hewlett-Packard and Sun Microsystems, as well as Los Angeles arts and cultural events, such as for the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Kodak/Dolby Theatre, and Los Angeles Philharmonic’s Walt Disney Concert Hall.
Janis Blackschleger, Perennial’s founder & president, has lectured on Gardens of the World at major botanic gardens and flower shows in the U.S.A., Ireland and Japan. “I always begin my lectures by highlighting a few elements added exclusively for the occasion. Be it music, art or never before seen raw footage. The simple through line being to bring the audience inside the story — inside the ideas that drive the story.”
Among Janis’ production credits prior to Perennial: Producer, Peabody Awarded Corridos! Tales of Passion and Revolution for PBS, written and directed by Luis Valdez, starring Linda Ronstadt; Producer, Executive Producer or Executive in Charge of Production for KQED/San Francisco’s cultural and performing arts series and specials, including five seasons of San Francisco Opera in Park live simulcasts. She was Producer for “The Making of Wagner’s Ring,” conducted by Edo de Waart for SFO; and was awarded an Emmy for a first ever tri-mulcast, i.e., a live-on-tape music performance with two different views on VHF and UHF television channels, plus stereo audio on FM radio.
Janis was also KQED’s TV Division Administrator, which encompassed KQED & KQEC television, KQED-FM radio, In-School Programming, Cultural Productions, News & Public Affairs, Design, and Public Relations.
Janis has traveled extensively for work and for pleasure to over 30 countries in Europe, Africa, Arabia, Asia, Australia, the Caribbean, Mexico, and South America, plus 5 U.S. territories and 42 American states.
Janis was also KQED’s TV Division Administrator, which encompassed KQED & KQEC television, KQED-FM radio, In-School Programming, Cultural Productions, News & Public Affairs, Design, and Public Relations.
Janis has traveled extensively for work and for pleasure to over 30 countries in Europe, Africa, Arabia, Asia, Australia, the Caribbean, Mexico, and South America, plus 5 U.S. territories and 42 American states.
gardensoftheworld.org
ecologynow.org