There is fallout from producer Stanley M. Brooks' financial troubles ahead of settlement talks planned for Monday with AFTRA, DGA and the WGA West. All three guilds have him on their "strike" (do not work) lists over unpaid salaries or residual payments.
The fallout involves Lifetime, to which Brooks had been a frequent supplier for the past decade -- up until a week or so ago. THR has learned he has quietly sold his interest in the only two projects he still has with the A&E Television Networks division, apparently to clear any obstacle to their production and to raise money to pay his union obligations -- and salvage his reputation.
One of the two movies, which have not been announced by domestic rights holder Lifetime Movie Network, is the suspense thriller "Sandra Brown's Smoke Screen," now shooting in Vancouver and starring Jaime Pressly and Canadian Currie Graham.
The fallout involves Lifetime, to which Brooks had been a frequent supplier for the past decade -- up until a week or so ago. THR has learned he has quietly sold his interest in the only two projects he still has with the A&E Television Networks division, apparently to clear any obstacle to their production and to raise money to pay his union obligations -- and salvage his reputation.
One of the two movies, which have not been announced by domestic rights holder Lifetime Movie Network, is the suspense thriller "Sandra Brown's Smoke Screen," now shooting in Vancouver and starring Jaime Pressly and Canadian Currie Graham.
- 8/19/2010
- by By Alex Ben Block
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Lifetime Movie Network has announced that it has started pre-production on "The Natalee Holloway Story," which is set to air sometime slated to air next year. Story focuses on the life on an eighteen-year-old Alabama woman who vanished in May of 2005 during a high school trip to Aruba. It is widely thought that she was murdered, although no body has yet to be retrieved. Apparently, the network is "working closely" with her mother Betty Twitty said Lifetime Movie Network's Tanya Lopez.
- 10/7/2008
- Upcoming-Movies.com
John Stamos is set to star in and produce Killing Mr. Kissel, a Lifetime original movie based on the true story of two multimillionaire brothers who married the women of their dreams and wound up dead.
Robin Tunney, Gretchen Egolf and Anson Mount also star in the movie, which premieres in November.
Separately, Stamos is developing a telefilm at TNT and Sony Pictures TV that centers on the founder of Project Cuddle, a national organization that works to save babies from being abandoned or harmed.
Killing centers on real estate mogul Andrew Kissel (Stamos), who marries ski instructor Hayley Wolff (Egolf), while his younger brother, Rob (Mount), a New York investment banker, marries social climber Nancy Keeshin (Tunney). On the surface, it seems that the brothers are starting idyllic families, but a turn of events ultimately leads to their deaths.
"While entertaining, this story about one family's quest for the American dream that spiraled out of control also reminds us to be careful what you wish for," Lifetime senior vp original movies Tanya Lopez said.
Robin Tunney, Gretchen Egolf and Anson Mount also star in the movie, which premieres in November.
Separately, Stamos is developing a telefilm at TNT and Sony Pictures TV that centers on the founder of Project Cuddle, a national organization that works to save babies from being abandoned or harmed.
Killing centers on real estate mogul Andrew Kissel (Stamos), who marries ski instructor Hayley Wolff (Egolf), while his younger brother, Rob (Mount), a New York investment banker, marries social climber Nancy Keeshin (Tunney). On the surface, it seems that the brothers are starting idyllic families, but a turn of events ultimately leads to their deaths.
"While entertaining, this story about one family's quest for the American dream that spiraled out of control also reminds us to be careful what you wish for," Lifetime senior vp original movies Tanya Lopez said.
Mena Suvari and Matthew Modine will star in the Lifetime original movie Sex & Lies in Sin City, based on the true story of the death of wealthy Las Vegas casino heir Ted Binion.
The tentatively titled telefilm, from Sony Pictures Television and the Konigsberg Co., is based on the book "Murder in Sin City" by Jeff German. Binion (Modine), the heir to the Binion Horseshoe Casino fortune, was found dead in his Vegas home in 1998 by his ex-stripper girlfriend Sandy Murphy (Suvari), ultimately leading to a scandalous trial involving Murphy and her con artist boyfriend.
"Much like a trip to Vegas, this movie is a guilty pleasure," Lifetime senior vp original movies Tanya Lopez said, adding that it "captures all of the true crime story elements and the madness that surrounded Ted Binion's life."
Frank Konigsberg is executive producing the telefilm, which premieres in September. Peter Medak ("Carnivale") is directing from a script by Teena Booth.
"There is no one better than Peter Medak to tell this fascinating true story of sex, drugs and an untimely death," said Helen Verno, executive vp movies and miniseries at SPT.
The tentatively titled telefilm, from Sony Pictures Television and the Konigsberg Co., is based on the book "Murder in Sin City" by Jeff German. Binion (Modine), the heir to the Binion Horseshoe Casino fortune, was found dead in his Vegas home in 1998 by his ex-stripper girlfriend Sandy Murphy (Suvari), ultimately leading to a scandalous trial involving Murphy and her con artist boyfriend.
"Much like a trip to Vegas, this movie is a guilty pleasure," Lifetime senior vp original movies Tanya Lopez said, adding that it "captures all of the true crime story elements and the madness that surrounded Ted Binion's life."
Frank Konigsberg is executive producing the telefilm, which premieres in September. Peter Medak ("Carnivale") is directing from a script by Teena Booth.
"There is no one better than Peter Medak to tell this fascinating true story of sex, drugs and an untimely death," said Helen Verno, executive vp movies and miniseries at SPT.
- 5/14/2008
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Patricia Cornwell has inked a deal with Lifetime to adapt two of her crime novels -- "At Risk" and the upcoming sequel, "The Front" -- into movies, marking a first for the best-selling author.
Cornwell has worked in television before -- she was writer/executive producer on ABC's short-lived 1999 series "ATF", which was not based on one of her novels -- but the Lifetime movies will mark the first time any of her books will be adapted for the big or small screen.
"As we continuously reinvent our popular Lifetime original movies, we're expanding the genres and including more works by America's leading women writers," Lifetime senior vp original movies Tanya Lopez said. "Patricia Cornwell is in a class by herself."
"At Risk" originally appeared as a 15-week serialization in the New York Times Sunday Magazine in January 2006 before being released by G.P. Putnam's Sons in book form four months later. It revolves around Massachusetts state investigator Win Garano, a shrewd man with a chip on his shoulder; D.A.
Cornwell has worked in television before -- she was writer/executive producer on ABC's short-lived 1999 series "ATF", which was not based on one of her novels -- but the Lifetime movies will mark the first time any of her books will be adapted for the big or small screen.
"As we continuously reinvent our popular Lifetime original movies, we're expanding the genres and including more works by America's leading women writers," Lifetime senior vp original movies Tanya Lopez said. "Patricia Cornwell is in a class by herself."
"At Risk" originally appeared as a 15-week serialization in the New York Times Sunday Magazine in January 2006 before being released by G.P. Putnam's Sons in book form four months later. It revolves around Massachusetts state investigator Win Garano, a shrewd man with a chip on his shoulder; D.A.
- 4/13/2008
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Lifetime has greenlighted the original movie Fab Five: The Texas Cheerleader Scandal, based on a true story about five out-of-control teenage girls. Tatum O'Neal, Jenna Dewan and Ashley Benson have signed on to star.
In the movie from Orly Adelson Prods. and Fox Television Studios, Benson plays Brooke Tippit, captain of the cheerleading squad and daughter of principal Lorene Tippit (O'Neal), whose groups of friends -- known as the Fab Five -- constantly disobey school rules and disregard teachers while administrators turn the other way.
When young teacher Emma Carr (Dewan) joins the faculty as the new cheerleading coach, she tries to discipline them, only to be asked to resign. Then she decides to take the story to the local and national media.
The real version of the events took place at a high school in the Dallas suburb of McKinney; the story broke in late 2006.
"The real-life story of these cheerleaders shocked many when the story broke, not only for their racy and inappropriate behavior but also for the inaction of the school's administrators and parents," Lifetime senior vp original movies Tanya Lopez said.
In the movie from Orly Adelson Prods. and Fox Television Studios, Benson plays Brooke Tippit, captain of the cheerleading squad and daughter of principal Lorene Tippit (O'Neal), whose groups of friends -- known as the Fab Five -- constantly disobey school rules and disregard teachers while administrators turn the other way.
When young teacher Emma Carr (Dewan) joins the faculty as the new cheerleading coach, she tries to discipline them, only to be asked to resign. Then she decides to take the story to the local and national media.
The real version of the events took place at a high school in the Dallas suburb of McKinney; the story broke in late 2006.
"The real-life story of these cheerleaders shocked many when the story broke, not only for their racy and inappropriate behavior but also for the inaction of the school's administrators and parents," Lifetime senior vp original movies Tanya Lopez said.
- 2/22/2008
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Heather Locklear is reuniting with Lifetime for a holiday-themed original movie tentatively titled Flirting With 40.
Flirting, based on the Jane Porter novel, is described as a lighthearted and poignant story about a divorced mother of two (Locklear) who, while on vacation on the brink of her 40th birthday, enters into an unexpected romance with a much younger man and learns that life can begin at 40.
Locklear starred in Lifetime's Nora Roberts' Angels Fall, the network's most-watched original movie of 2007 with nearly 5 million viewers.
"It's obvious that our viewers adore her," said Tanya Lopez, senior vp original movies at Lifetime Networks. "This movie is an honest look at how sometimes women can become stuck in first gear, yet finding the courage to make a dramatic change in their lives can truly be invigorating, even to the chagrin of friends and family."
Flirting, set to premiere in December, was written by Julia Dahl (The West Wing). The movie is produced by von Zerneck/Sertner Films, Peace Out Prods.
Flirting, based on the Jane Porter novel, is described as a lighthearted and poignant story about a divorced mother of two (Locklear) who, while on vacation on the brink of her 40th birthday, enters into an unexpected romance with a much younger man and learns that life can begin at 40.
Locklear starred in Lifetime's Nora Roberts' Angels Fall, the network's most-watched original movie of 2007 with nearly 5 million viewers.
"It's obvious that our viewers adore her," said Tanya Lopez, senior vp original movies at Lifetime Networks. "This movie is an honest look at how sometimes women can become stuck in first gear, yet finding the courage to make a dramatic change in their lives can truly be invigorating, even to the chagrin of friends and family."
Flirting, set to premiere in December, was written by Julia Dahl (The West Wing). The movie is produced by von Zerneck/Sertner Films, Peace Out Prods.
Lifetime has beefed up its original movies department, hiring former NBC executive Stephen Bulka as vp.
Bulka, based in Los Angeles, will be responsible for the development of Lifetime's original movies as well as movies for Lifetime Movie Network, which debuts its first original miniseries, "The Capture of the Green River Killer," in the first quarter.
Bulka most recently spent seven years as vp movies and miniseries at NBC Entertainment, where he oversaw the development and production of such telefilms as "Martha Inc: The Story of Martha Stewart" and the musical production of "A Christmas Carol". He also launched the "Behind the Camera" franchise, which included "The Unauthorized Story of 'Three's Company.'"
Before NBC, Bulka was a literary agent at WMA. He also has held development posts at Nickelodeon Movies and Paramount Pictures.
Bulka, whose appointment is effective immediately, reports to senior vp original movies Tanya Lopez.
Upcoming Lifetime movies include "Queen Sized", starring "Hairspray"'s Nikki Blonsky (Jan. 12), and "Racing for Time", starring Charles S. Dutton (Feb. 16).
Bulka, based in Los Angeles, will be responsible for the development of Lifetime's original movies as well as movies for Lifetime Movie Network, which debuts its first original miniseries, "The Capture of the Green River Killer," in the first quarter.
Bulka most recently spent seven years as vp movies and miniseries at NBC Entertainment, where he oversaw the development and production of such telefilms as "Martha Inc: The Story of Martha Stewart" and the musical production of "A Christmas Carol". He also launched the "Behind the Camera" franchise, which included "The Unauthorized Story of 'Three's Company.'"
Before NBC, Bulka was a literary agent at WMA. He also has held development posts at Nickelodeon Movies and Paramount Pictures.
Bulka, whose appointment is effective immediately, reports to senior vp original movies Tanya Lopez.
Upcoming Lifetime movies include "Queen Sized", starring "Hairspray"'s Nikki Blonsky (Jan. 12), and "Racing for Time", starring Charles S. Dutton (Feb. 16).
- 12/10/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Kelly Preston and Ron Eldard have signed on to star in the Lifetime original movie The Tenth Circle, based on the novel by Jodi Picoult.
In Circle, Preston plays Laura Stone, who teaches at a local college and is married to Daniel (Eldard), a comic book artist. Their idyllic lives are turned upside down when their daughter is drugged and date-raped by her ex-boyfriend Jason.
When Jason later dies in an apparent suicide, the family finds itself at the center of a high-profile investigation that rocks their Maine community. Soon, Daniel's dark, controversial past and Laura's personal secrets are revealed.
"We are thrilled to have Kelly Preston starring in this project along with Ron Eldard in what is an extremely powerful piece about how far parents will go to protect their children," Lifetime senior vp original movies Tanya Lopez said. She also called Picoult "a remarkable storyteller."
Circle, released in 2006, is Picoult's 13th novel. Two other Picoult novels have been turned into Lifetime movies: 1998's The Pact and 2000's Plain Truth.
Circle, from Jaffe/Braunstein Films, is set to go into production next month for a 2008 premiere.
In Circle, Preston plays Laura Stone, who teaches at a local college and is married to Daniel (Eldard), a comic book artist. Their idyllic lives are turned upside down when their daughter is drugged and date-raped by her ex-boyfriend Jason.
When Jason later dies in an apparent suicide, the family finds itself at the center of a high-profile investigation that rocks their Maine community. Soon, Daniel's dark, controversial past and Laura's personal secrets are revealed.
"We are thrilled to have Kelly Preston starring in this project along with Ron Eldard in what is an extremely powerful piece about how far parents will go to protect their children," Lifetime senior vp original movies Tanya Lopez said. She also called Picoult "a remarkable storyteller."
Circle, released in 2006, is Picoult's 13th novel. Two other Picoult novels have been turned into Lifetime movies: 1998's The Pact and 2000's Plain Truth.
Circle, from Jaffe/Braunstein Films, is set to go into production next month for a 2008 premiere.
- 12/4/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
ICM let go of at least 10 agents in its television department on Friday on the heels of the announcement of ICM's purchase of the Broder Webb Chervin Silbermann Agency. Sources said Friday that the agents were informed of their termination Thursday evening and Friday morning, as staffers at both agencies came to grips with the news that surprised the town when it broke late Thursday afternoon. BWCS is known for the strength of its television activities, so the shakeout on the ICM side was to be expected as the two agencies meld operations. In announcing the deal, ICM said that all 27 existing BWCS agents would make the move to ICM. The BWCS-related restructuring prompted the departure of agency stalwart and co-president Nancy Josephson (HR 7/28). Agents departing ICM included Scott Arnovitz, Patty Detroit, Nancy Etz, Jill Gillett, Tanya Lopez, Stacey Lubliner, Dan Norton, Babette Perry, Stacey Rosenfelt and Steve Simons. The status of the clients represented by those agents was unclear Friday.
- 7/28/2006
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
ICM let go of at least 10 agents in its television department on Friday on the heels of the announcement of ICM's purchase of the Broder Webb Chervin Silbermann Agency. Sources said Friday that the agents were informed of their termination Thursday evening and Friday morning, as staffers at both agencies came to grips with the news that surprised the town when it broke late Thursday afternoon. BWCS is known for the strength of its television activities, so the shakeout on the ICM side was to be expected as the two agencies meld operations. In announcing the deal, ICM said that all 27 existing BWCS agents would make the move to ICM. The BWCS-related restructuring prompted the departure of agency stalwart and co-president Nancy Josephson (HR 7/28). Agents departing ICM included Scott Arnovitz, Patty Detroit, Nancy Etz, Jill Gillett, Tanya Lopez, Stacey Lubliner, Dan Norton, Babette Perry, Stacey Rosenfelt and Steve Simons. The status of the clients represented by those agents was unclear Friday.
- 7/28/2006
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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