Last year while Holly Robinson Peete was promoting her two Hallmark holiday films, she mentioned she wanted to do one featuring someone on the autism spectrum. Now, she has her chance.
Peete stars in and executive produces “The Christmas Bond” (working title), a new 2021 holiday movie for Hallmark Movies & Mysteries that also stars Lyriq Bent and Nik Sanchez, Variety has learned exclusively.
The film, which is set to begin production now, follows a single mother (played by Peete) and her teenage son with autism (played by Sanchez), who come to a crossroad during Christmas. In doing so, she must learn to let go so her son can flourish, but in the process she will find her “heart healing in unexpected ways,” the network said.
“I am making this movie for my son Rj, others with autism and their families,” said Peete. “I am grateful to Hallmark for bringing this story to screen with authenticity,...
Peete stars in and executive produces “The Christmas Bond” (working title), a new 2021 holiday movie for Hallmark Movies & Mysteries that also stars Lyriq Bent and Nik Sanchez, Variety has learned exclusively.
The film, which is set to begin production now, follows a single mother (played by Peete) and her teenage son with autism (played by Sanchez), who come to a crossroad during Christmas. In doing so, she must learn to let go so her son can flourish, but in the process she will find her “heart healing in unexpected ways,” the network said.
“I am making this movie for my son Rj, others with autism and their families,” said Peete. “I am grateful to Hallmark for bringing this story to screen with authenticity,...
- 9/20/2021
- by Danielle Turchiano
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Pastor, author and filmmaker T.D. Jakes has signed on as an executive producer of Lifetime’s upcoming foster care film I Am Somebody’s Child: The Regina Louise Story. Moved by Regina Louise and her harrowing story navigating the broken system, the network says Jakes joined the movie as an Ep to bring additional attention to the need for foster care reform.
In addition, Lifetime has partnered with several youth and adoption organizations on a PSA that will air during the movie’s April 20 premiere on Lifetime. You can watch it and a trailer for the film below.
I Am Somebody’s Child: The Regina Louise Story, based on Louise’s books Somebody...
In addition, Lifetime has partnered with several youth and adoption organizations on a PSA that will air during the movie’s April 20 premiere on Lifetime. You can watch it and a trailer for the film below.
I Am Somebody’s Child: The Regina Louise Story, based on Louise’s books Somebody...
- 4/8/2019
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
Lifetime started 2019 with “Surviving R. Kelly” a docuseries aimed to shine light on violence against women, and inspired by new original movie “I Am Somebody’s Child: The Regina Louise Story,” the next group for which the network wants to advocate is those in the foster care system, Variety has learned exclusively.
The network will run a special PSA driving awareness to adoption and foster care resources and information during the premiere of “I Am Somebody’s Child” Saturday, April 20 at 8 p.m.
“I Am Somebody’s Child” is based on author and motivational speaker Regina Louise’s experience navigating the foster care system in her youth. Angela Fairley, who also has experience within the foster care system, plays Regina in the project, while Ginnifer Goodwin plays her hopeful adoptive mother Jeanne.
Lifetime has also partnered with Promise House to raise funds and awareness for homeless youth at a “Sleep...
The network will run a special PSA driving awareness to adoption and foster care resources and information during the premiere of “I Am Somebody’s Child” Saturday, April 20 at 8 p.m.
“I Am Somebody’s Child” is based on author and motivational speaker Regina Louise’s experience navigating the foster care system in her youth. Angela Fairley, who also has experience within the foster care system, plays Regina in the project, while Ginnifer Goodwin plays her hopeful adoptive mother Jeanne.
Lifetime has also partnered with Promise House to raise funds and awareness for homeless youth at a “Sleep...
- 2/4/2019
- by Danielle Turchiano
- Variety Film + TV
Lifetime has unveiled a big expansion of its original movie lineup for next year. As part of the push the A+E Networks cabler has set new franchises with ABC News’ Robin Roberts and megachurch leader Bishop T.D. Jakes.
Lifetime plans to produce or acquire some 75 movies next year, a significant increase from 2018. The cabler has signed a wide-ranging production deal with “Good Morning America” anchor Roberts to produce movies and feature-length documentaries under the “Robin Roberts Presents” banner.
Also in the works for Lifetime is a five-movie series based on the novels of V.C. Andrews, starting next year with “V.C. Andrews’ Heaven.”
Roberts will focus on projects based on true events with an inspirational or educational focus. The first project under the deal will be a drama based on the life of famed gospel singer Mahalia Jackson. Roberts and Linda Berman of ABC’s Lincoln Square Productions...
Lifetime plans to produce or acquire some 75 movies next year, a significant increase from 2018. The cabler has signed a wide-ranging production deal with “Good Morning America” anchor Roberts to produce movies and feature-length documentaries under the “Robin Roberts Presents” banner.
Also in the works for Lifetime is a five-movie series based on the novels of V.C. Andrews, starting next year with “V.C. Andrews’ Heaven.”
Roberts will focus on projects based on true events with an inspirational or educational focus. The first project under the deal will be a drama based on the life of famed gospel singer Mahalia Jackson. Roberts and Linda Berman of ABC’s Lincoln Square Productions...
- 7/26/2018
- by Cynthia Littleton
- Variety Film + TV
Chabert displays sisterly love for A&E, Reeve pic
Lacey Chabert, who stars in the hit comedy "Mean Girls" opposite Lindsay Lohan for Paramount Pictures, has signed on to star in "The Brooke Ellison Story" for Christopher Reeve, who is directing. The A&E telefilm will see Chabert star as the older sister of the title character, who became a quadriplegic at age 11. With determination and the support of her family, Ellison rose above her disability and went on to graduate from Harvard University. Camille Thomasson adapted the screenplay from the book "Miracles Happen: One Mother, One Daughter, One Journey." The film, to shoot in New Orleans, will likely air in the fourth quarter.
- 6/4/2004
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Luther
Opened
Sept. 26
Martin Luther (1483-1546) is clearly one of the central figures of the Middle Ages. The man launched the Protestant movement, founded a church, helped standardize the German language, revolutionized ecclesiastical music with his congregational hymns and gave German nationalists their chief political issue for 100 years. No two-hour movie is going to do justice to such a life. Nevertheless, "Luther" gamely tries to cram in everything.
Produced with major funding from Thrivent, a Lutheran organization, and carrying more than a whiff of missionary zeal, "Luther" will appeal mostly to history buffs and those interested in questions of religion. Shot on 100 locations in three countries and outfitted with impressive props, costumes, art direction and medieval streets, "Luther" makes up for what it lacks in vigorous storytelling with such production values.
Veteran TV director Eric Till hands the task of embodying the religious reformer to Joseph Fiennes. While Fiennes seems to age nary a day over the course of Luther's long career -- other than changes to his hair style -- he does give a sense of the intellectual firebrand who led one of history's major revolts. His Luther is always in earnest, gaining increasing confidence in his own infallibility even as he questions the pope's. Certainly, he gets all the good lines, turning him into the kind of hero one usually finds in books written for young adults.
The movie's first scene recounts the legend of the young Luther vowing to become a monk when struck by a bolt of lightning. By the very next scene, he has accomplished this task, despite his father's opposition. Almost immediately, he is torturing himself with guilt over sins both real and imagined. He desperately longs for a merciful God, who will forgive rather than cruelly punish. His mentor, Johann von Staupitz (Bruno Ganz), swiftly packs him off first to Rome -- which is a moral cesspool -- then to the University of Wittenberg. Achieving a doctorate in theology in no time, Dr. Luther is soon performing stand-up comedy routines, poking fun at the nonsensical nature of "indulgences" and holy relics for an appreciative audience of fellow theologians.
Indulgences -- the practice of greedy churchmencq to confer the forgiveness of sin in exchange for hard cash -- is what causes Luther's break with the Roman Catholic Church.cq It is here that writers Camille Thomasson and Bart Gavigan do a fine job at sketching the political and social situation in the German states, which leads to the Reformation. But in the movie's extreme haste, things of huge importance get glossed over.
Luther's translation of the New Testament from a Greek text into German appears to take place in a fortnight rather than over years. The importance not only of this but a later German translation of the Old Testament into a rich vocabulary equal to Shakespeare's is never felt in the movie. So too Luther's marriage to an ex-nun (Claire Cox) is tacked onto the movie's final section without any appreciation for the profound impact this had on German culture and the Protestant world.
The actors do a decent job of bringing these historical figures to life. Among the well-known name actors, Peter Ustinov is his old scenery-chewing self as Luther's protector and prince, Friedrich, but nonetheless fun to watch. Alfred Molina doesn't get nearly as many opportunities, but he too is a hammy delight as an indulgence-peddling monk.
Tech credits are first-rate.
LUTHER
RS Entertainment
NFP teleart
Credits:
Director: Eric Till
Screenwriters: Camille Thomasson, Bart Gavigan
Producers: Brigitte Rochow, Christian Stehr, Alexander Thies
Executive producers: Dennis Clauss, Kurt Rittig, Gabriela Pfandner, J. Daniel Nichols
Director of photography: Robert Fraisse
Production designer: Rolf Zehetbauer
Music: Richard Harvey
Costume designer: Ulla Gothe
Editor: Clive Barrett
Cast:
Martin Luther: Joseph Fiennes
Prince Friedrich: Peter Ustinov
Johann Tetzel: Alfred Molina
Girolamo Aleandro: Jonathan Firth
Katharina von Bora: Claire Cox
Johann von Staupitz: Bruno Ganz
Pope Leo XII: Uwe Ochsenknecht
Cardinal Cajetan: Mathieu Carriere
Ulrick: Marco Hofschneider
Charles V: Torben Liebrecht
Running time -- 122 minutes
MPAA rating: PG-13...
Sept. 26
Martin Luther (1483-1546) is clearly one of the central figures of the Middle Ages. The man launched the Protestant movement, founded a church, helped standardize the German language, revolutionized ecclesiastical music with his congregational hymns and gave German nationalists their chief political issue for 100 years. No two-hour movie is going to do justice to such a life. Nevertheless, "Luther" gamely tries to cram in everything.
Produced with major funding from Thrivent, a Lutheran organization, and carrying more than a whiff of missionary zeal, "Luther" will appeal mostly to history buffs and those interested in questions of religion. Shot on 100 locations in three countries and outfitted with impressive props, costumes, art direction and medieval streets, "Luther" makes up for what it lacks in vigorous storytelling with such production values.
Veteran TV director Eric Till hands the task of embodying the religious reformer to Joseph Fiennes. While Fiennes seems to age nary a day over the course of Luther's long career -- other than changes to his hair style -- he does give a sense of the intellectual firebrand who led one of history's major revolts. His Luther is always in earnest, gaining increasing confidence in his own infallibility even as he questions the pope's. Certainly, he gets all the good lines, turning him into the kind of hero one usually finds in books written for young adults.
The movie's first scene recounts the legend of the young Luther vowing to become a monk when struck by a bolt of lightning. By the very next scene, he has accomplished this task, despite his father's opposition. Almost immediately, he is torturing himself with guilt over sins both real and imagined. He desperately longs for a merciful God, who will forgive rather than cruelly punish. His mentor, Johann von Staupitz (Bruno Ganz), swiftly packs him off first to Rome -- which is a moral cesspool -- then to the University of Wittenberg. Achieving a doctorate in theology in no time, Dr. Luther is soon performing stand-up comedy routines, poking fun at the nonsensical nature of "indulgences" and holy relics for an appreciative audience of fellow theologians.
Indulgences -- the practice of greedy churchmencq to confer the forgiveness of sin in exchange for hard cash -- is what causes Luther's break with the Roman Catholic Church.cq It is here that writers Camille Thomasson and Bart Gavigan do a fine job at sketching the political and social situation in the German states, which leads to the Reformation. But in the movie's extreme haste, things of huge importance get glossed over.
Luther's translation of the New Testament from a Greek text into German appears to take place in a fortnight rather than over years. The importance not only of this but a later German translation of the Old Testament into a rich vocabulary equal to Shakespeare's is never felt in the movie. So too Luther's marriage to an ex-nun (Claire Cox) is tacked onto the movie's final section without any appreciation for the profound impact this had on German culture and the Protestant world.
The actors do a decent job of bringing these historical figures to life. Among the well-known name actors, Peter Ustinov is his old scenery-chewing self as Luther's protector and prince, Friedrich, but nonetheless fun to watch. Alfred Molina doesn't get nearly as many opportunities, but he too is a hammy delight as an indulgence-peddling monk.
Tech credits are first-rate.
LUTHER
RS Entertainment
NFP teleart
Credits:
Director: Eric Till
Screenwriters: Camille Thomasson, Bart Gavigan
Producers: Brigitte Rochow, Christian Stehr, Alexander Thies
Executive producers: Dennis Clauss, Kurt Rittig, Gabriela Pfandner, J. Daniel Nichols
Director of photography: Robert Fraisse
Production designer: Rolf Zehetbauer
Music: Richard Harvey
Costume designer: Ulla Gothe
Editor: Clive Barrett
Cast:
Martin Luther: Joseph Fiennes
Prince Friedrich: Peter Ustinov
Johann Tetzel: Alfred Molina
Girolamo Aleandro: Jonathan Firth
Katharina von Bora: Claire Cox
Johann von Staupitz: Bruno Ganz
Pope Leo XII: Uwe Ochsenknecht
Cardinal Cajetan: Mathieu Carriere
Ulrick: Marco Hofschneider
Charles V: Torben Liebrecht
Running time -- 122 minutes
MPAA rating: PG-13...
- 10/6/2003
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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