New TV Film: "When Love is Not Enough."

[Gary]

Barry Pepper is a good actor - his name isn't well known, but I like him. If you don't know him, think of the sniper in Saving Private Ryan - he was also in The Green Mile.

[oinone]

Yeah I think, he is underrated actor. He was really good in 25th hour and tommy lee jones's film which I don't remember name now.

[CHRIS B]

I think it's completely hilarious that just a few days ago all the news reports were saying “Winona Ryder's Big Comeback” in the headlines in regards to her signing onto Aronofsky’s “Black Swan.” Now, with the news of her doing a film for CBS… all of a sudden her career is over.  

[eagle-rare]

  I think her choosing to do this movie is going to be the final brick in the renaissance of her career. It's going to give her a solid leading role and she'll be portraying a likeable character. I like the choices she has been making over the last few years, even the cowgirl riding puppet movie, she has been slowly rebuilding her reputation as an actress. And proving that she can be dependable. I think that was her biggest challenge. This movie is going to be a big plus for her. She is going to show. She is going to prove.

[vulcannonibird]

In europe the division between theatrical and tv-production is way more floating as in the US. Most movie-producers here ARE tv-stations.

In the UK BBC (just look at all the great crime-thrillers and Kenneth Branagh's shakespeare productions) and ITV (offering one of my all-fav comedies with "Without A Clue" starring Ben Kingsley and Michael Caine). In france it's Canal+ doing today nearly all big french movies. And here in germany it's PRO7-Productions (all german-speakers do know Bully Herbig...) and of course all the public stations. Not to forget the german-french joint ARTE doing all the great independent movies.

And I'm sure Winona is the gurantee that this will be way better than the title. And I hope for a DVD release for all oversea fans...

But what roughly bothers me is that a movie like "The Changeling" which I think has similar box-office projections - now not counting in the lead actress - got a theatrical release...

[Gary]

Well there are quality TV productions, but I personally don't find Hallmark movies to be of the highest quality. IMO they're somewhat cheesy, and I don't mean to sound sexist, but I think they're geared toward women - which is fine, but it's a certain melodrama style that I don't take all that seriously. If you've ever watched the Lifetime channel you know what I mean.

check out this website - you might some idea what I mean

http://www.hallmarkchanne...rSite2007Nov/Default.aspx

[phil]

Hallmark has a long history of quality made-for-tv movies. Family friendly too.
"To Dance With The White Dog," is one of my favs.

[vulcannonibird]

@GoDrex

I know what you mean - have already checked their DVDs on amazon.com

@phil

That would be a change after Winona's R-rated movies of the last years....

[CHRIS B]

CBS Press Release:

11.12.09 - 02:23 PM]
"WHEN LOVE IS NOT ENOUGH: THE LOIS WILSON STORY," A NEW "HALLMARK HALL OF FAME" PRESENTATION STARRING WINONA RYDER AND BARRY PEPPER, HAS STARTED PRODUCTION IN TORONTO
Released by CBS
[NOTE: The following article is a press release issued by the aforementioned network and/or company. Any errors, typos, etc. are attributed to the original author. The release is reproduced solely for the dissemination of the enclosed information.]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
"WHEN LOVE IS NOT ENOUGH: THE LOIS WILSON STORY," A NEW "HALLMARK HALL OF FAME" PRESENTATION STARRING WINONA RYDER AND BARRY PEPPER, HAS STARTED PRODUCTION IN TORONTO FOR BROADCAST ON THE CBS TELEVISION NETWORK

This Drama, Based on the Biography by William G. Borchert, Is About the Trials and Ultimate Triumph of the Co-Founder of Al-Anon, Whose Alcoholic Husband Co-Founded AA

WHEN LOVE IS NOT ENOUGH: THE LOIS WILSON STORY, a new "Hallmark Hall of Fame" presentation starring Golden Globe Award winner and two-time Academy Award nominee Winona Ryder ("The Age of Innocence," "Little Women," "Star Trek") and Emmy Award and Golden Globe Award nominee Barry Pepper ("61*," "Seven Pounds," "Flags of Our Fathers"), has started production in Toronto for broadcast on the CBS Television Network. Spanning more than 30 years, this movie is based on the true story of the enduring but troubled love between Lois Wilson (Ryder), co-founder of Al-Anon, and her alcoholic husband Bill Wilson (Pepper), co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous.

A college-educated young woman from an affluent family, Lois Burnham spent her winters in New York and summers in Vermont, where she began her deliriously happy courtship with Bill Wilson, a slightly younger man of modest means. She married Bill in 1918, and, after his return from duty at the end of WWI, the two set out to build a life together in New York City. While Lois worked as an occupational therapist at Bellevue Hospital, Bill struggled to find his niche. Lois strongly believed, however, that Bill was destined for greatness, and despite noticing an increase in his drinking habits, she showered him with love and support. Eventually, Lois persuaded a friend's husband to hire Bill at his financial firm. By 1927, Bill was a lucrative securities analyst on Wall Street and the couple was living a luxurious lifestyle. Despite Lois' countless efforts to control his drinking, Bill's addiction to alcohol spiraled further and further out of control until his job, their lifestyle and dreams were gone.

In 1935, after years of unsuccessfully struggling to cover for Bill and manage his disease, Lois finally saw him take control of his alcoholism; however, his sobriety was not the result of Lois's help, rather it came through the support of a fellow recovering alcoholic, Dr. Bob Smith. As Bill and Bob attained lasting sobriety and co-founded Alcoholics Anonymous, Lois began to question the value she had in her own marriage. After devoting 17 years to healing her sick husband, Lois felt isolated and resentful that he was sober without her help. Lois eventually discovered that she was not alone. She slowly engaged the wives of the men in Bill's program and came to realize that while Bill was addicted to alcohol, she was addicted to him - and that the family and friends of alcoholics are, in some ways, as sick as their loved ones. Lois gained the necessary understanding needed to repair her fractured relationship and to help millions of others do the same. She co-founded Al-Anon in 1951.

WHEN LOVE IS NOT ENOUGH: THE LOIS WILSON STORY is being produced by E1 Entertainment, in association with Hallmark Hall of Fame Productions. John Morayniss ("Hung"), Ira Pincus ("Vinegar Hill") and Brent Shields ("The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler") are the executive producers; John Kent Harrison ("The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler") is the director; William G. Borchert ("My Name Is Bill W") and Camille Thomasson ("The Magic of Ordinary Days") wrote the script based on the book of the same name by Borchert. E1 Entertainment will handle international distribution, excluding the U.S.

RATING: To Be Announced
 

http://www.cbspressexpres..._network/release?id=23356

[vulcannonibird]

E1 has it's own cinema and DVD distribution in US, Canada, UK and continental europe....

And as in House Of Spirits we'll Winona in this one from young to....ehem....still young 

Looking at the stroyline this could be really good....

[CHRIS B]

From William G. Borchert's webpage. He got some info about Winona wrong, including the spelling of her name... ah well. He seems happy to have her in the film, though!

Lois Wilson Movie

 11-11-09
PRODUCTION OF THE LOIS WILSON MOVIE NOW UNDERWAY

The Hallmark Hall of Fame movie, "When Love Is Not Enough: The Lois Wilson Story," began shooting in Toronto, Canada on November 9, 2009. It is scheduled for completion by the middle of December.

The movie stars the magnificent young actress, Wynona Ryder, as "Lois Wilson," the co-founder of Al-Anon, and the wonderful young actor, Barry Pepper, as her husband, "Bill Wilson," the co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous. The distinguished director is John Kent Harrison and the Executive Producers are Brent Shields and Peter Duchow. The screenplay was written by William G. Borchert and Camille Thomasson.

More than three years in the making, the movie is based on the book, "The Lois Wilson Story: When Love Is Not Enough," written by veteran author William G. Borchert who was a close personal friend of Lois Wilson for more than 15 years before her passing in 1988. Mr. Borchert was nominated for an Emmy for writing the highly acclaimed Hallmark film, "My Name Is Bill W." which starred James Woods and James Garner and was based on the lives of Bill Wilson and Dr. Robert Smith and the founding of Alcoholics Anonymous.

Mr. Borchert long felt the story of Al-Anon must also be told and the heroic role Lois played in its founding. So four years ago he wrote her life story. Hallmark Hall of Fame then purchased the film rights to his book and now the movie is becoming a reality.

Wynona Ryder, who expressed great eagerness to play the role of Lois, has been nominated for two Academy Awards and has starred in many box office hits. These include "Star Trek," "The Informers," "Edward Scissorhands," "The Age of Innocence," "Little Women," "The Crucible," "Being John Malkovich," "The Last Word," "Bettle Juice," and many others.

Audiences have also gotten to know Wynona through her many TV appearances on such shows as Jay Leno, David Letterman, Conan O'Brien, The Charley Rose Show and eight appearances on Saturday Night Live.

Barry Pepper is a deeply sensitive actor as he clearly showed in his major roles in "Saving Private Ryan" and "The Green Mile." A six-time nominee and winner of The Golden Globe Award, Barry has starred in many other feature films such as "We Were Soldiers" and "Flags of Our Fathers." He has also starred in major television movies such as "61" where he played New York Yankees home run slugger Roger Maris and in "Lonesome Dove:The Outlaw Years."

Like Wynona, audiences have seen him interviewed on many TV shows such as The Late, Late Show with Craig Ferguson and the Rosie O'Donnell Show. The man guiding these marvelous actors through the difficult task of portraying a loving couple battling the scourge of alcoholism is an outstanding director with many awards and credits to his name. John Kent Harrison understands this story from many points of view and considers it a personal privilege to be undertaking this challenge.

Last year John directed the moving and gripping Hallmark Hall of Fame drama, "The courageous Heart of Irene Sandler" which won accolades from around the world. He also wrote and directed the TV movie, "Pope John Paul II" and the highly acclaimed movie, "The Sound and the Silence" about Alexander Graham Bell.

"When Love Is Not Enough" is scheduled to be shown on the CBS Television Network in late April of 2010, just before Mothers Day. Stay tuned for further news on this important event.

9-10-09
We wll continually update you on this page as the Lois Wilson movie "When Love Is Not Enough" moves through pre-production into shooting and through post-production. You will learn who will be playing the starring roles, about the director and cast and where it will all be done on location. We hope you will stay tuned.

http://williamborchert.com/movie.html

[Gary]

I hate the Wynona spelling. I found this funny:

"Audiences have also gotten to know Wynona through her many TV appearances on such shows as Jay Leno, David Letterman, Conan O'Brien, The Charley Rose Show and eight appearances on Saturday Night Live."

yeah but you haven't because you don't even know what her name is!

"The movie stars the magnificent young actress, Wynona Ryder"

I guess 38 is young to this guy? It's not old, but he could have just said magnificent actress. Just another thing that makes me think this guy is a little out of touch.

[CHRIS B]

I hate the Wynona spelling. I found this funny:

"Audiences have also gotten to know Wynona through her many TV appearances on such shows as Jay Leno, David Letterman, Conan O'Brien, The Charley Rose Show and eight appearances on Saturday Night Live."

yeah but you haven't because you don't even know what her name is!

"The movie stars the magnificent young actress, Wynona Ryder"

I guess 38 is young to this guy? It's not old, but he could have just said magnificent actress. Just another thing that makes me think this guy is a little out of touch.

Yeah, I think it's funny that she's been in the business for about 25 years and her name is still being mispronounced and misspelled!   

[ty]

I hate the Wynona spelling. I found this funny:

"Audiences have also gotten to know Wynona through her many TV appearances on such shows as Jay Leno, David Letterman, Conan O'Brien, The Charley Rose Show and eight appearances on Saturday Night Live."

yeah but you haven't because you don't even know what her name is!

"The movie stars the magnificent young actress, Wynona Ryder"

I guess 38 is young to this guy? It's not old, but he could have just said magnificent actress. Just another thing that makes me think this guy is a little out of touch.

Yeah, I think it's funny that she's been in the business for about 25 years and her name is still being mispronounced and misspelled!   

that drives me nuts when people do that, plus I hate it when people pronounce her name whynona 
I definitely share your view that this guy might be out of touch...I wouldn't exactly list Being John Malkovich as a movie that winona starred in 

[Gary]

wow I didn't even catch that - yeah a 2 second thing in an audience that you can barely notice doesn't really count as one of her movies...