Lifetime Television Greenlights Original Movie Unanswered Prayers

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Lifetime Television has green lit the original movie Unanswered Prayers, based on the popular Garth Brooks song of the same name that debuted at #1 on the Billboard and R&R charts.  The film, which will premiere in November, explores the themes of marriage, family, community and second chances with love, asking "Did I let the one I loved get away or is she right in front of me?"  This is the story of a happily married father (Eric Close) living the American dream.  When the woman (Madchen Amick) of his high school fantasies returns home, he has to face his past and will be presented with a choice that could change his future forever.  Samantha Mathis will portray his wife.  Produced by Sony Pictures Television, the film will shoot in the Richmond, Virginia, area.

The film's Executive Producers are Lisa Sanderson, Producing Partner and CEO of Red Strokes Entertainment, and multi-Grammy®-winning country music artist Garth Brooks.  Certified by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) as the #1 selling solo recording artist in U.S. history, Brooks has sold more than 128 million albums and has won every accolade the industry can bestow on an artist.  President Obama himself requested that Garth headline his Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial and Garth currently plays 15 weekends a year at the Encore Theatre, Wynn Resort in Las Vegas.  Emmy® Award-winning Steven Schachter (Lifetime's The Mermaid Chair, Door to Door) will direct Unanswered Prayers, which was written by Deena Goldstone (Lifetime's Identity Theft: The Michelle Brown Story, A Bunny's Tale) and Joyce Eliason (Lifetime's America and Gracie's Choice).  Andrea Baynes (Lifetime's Confessions of an American Bride and Sex and the Single Mom) will co-executive produce.  The film is being produced through Red Strokes Entertainment.

"Through his music, Garth Brooks is one of the greatest American storytellers ever, and we couldn't be more excited to be working with him on adapting 'Unanswered Prayers' into a major original movie," said Tanya Lopez, Senior Vice President, Original Movies, of Lifetime Networks.  "There's a reason Garth is one of the top selling recording artists of all-time – among the likes of The Beatles and Elvis Presley – and the huge popularity of 'Unanswered Prayers' is proof his work touches so many people."

"I had the pleasure and the great fun of collaborating with Garth and Lisa on a previous Sony Pictures Television movie, Call Me Claus," said Helen Verno, Executive Vice President, Movies and Miniseries, Sony Pictures Television.  "We were a hugely successful team on that project and I am delighted to have the opportunity to work with them again on this film adaption of Garth's iconic song, 'Unanswered Prayers.'"  

Sanderson added, "I have seen 'Unanswered Prayers' performed all over the world.  No matter what language the audience sings it in, they know all the words and sing along.  Executive producing this movie was an important challenge for me.  I wanted to make a movie that could add color and life to a song that has truly been loved by millions for 20 years!"

Close is best known for his role as "Martin Fitzgerald" on the hit CBS series Without a Trace and recently starred in Lifetime Movie Network's Seven Deadly Sins.  He also starred in the series Dark Skies and Now and Again, as well as the Golden Globe®-nominated miniseries, Taken.  Mathis has a long list of film credits, some of which include American Psycho, Broken Arrow, The American President, How to Make an American Quilt and Pump Up the Volume.  She has also appeared on television in the miniseries Nightmare's and Dreamscapes: From the Stories of Stephen King, Salem's Lot and Oprah Winfrey Presents: Mitch Albom's for One More Day. Amick, well known for her breakthrough role on Twin Peaks, was seen on Lifetime Movie Network's Lies and Deception, in addition to Damages, My Own Worst Enemy and Californication. Her film roles include the upcoming feature Priest, as well as Four Corners of Suburbia, The List and Global Effect.

ABOUT SONY PICTURES TELEVISION

Sony Pictures Television is one of the television industry's leading content providers.  It produces and distributes programming in every genre, including series, telefilms, theatrical releases and family entertainment around the world and for every platform:  broadcast and cable television, first-run and off-network syndication and digital distribution.  In addition to one of the industry's largest libraries of feature films and television shows, SPT boasts a current program slate that includes the top-rated daytime dramas and game shows, landmark off-network series, original animated series and critically acclaimed primetime dramas, comedies and telefilms. 

Internationally, SPT is a leader in local language productions around the world, some of which are co-produced with local partners and sells SPE-owned formats in approximately 70 countries.  To better serve its clients and partners worldwide, SPT maintains offices throughout the world, including Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, the Netherlands, the People's Republic of China, Russia, Singapore, Spain, Venezuela and the United Kingdom. SPT's worldwide television networks portfolio is a key strategy in SPE's long-range commitment to the global marketplace, with 122 channel feeds, which are available in more than 140 countries reaching almost 438 million households worldwide.  SPT also creates original content for and manages SPE's premium video website, Crackle.  Additionally, SPT is a part owner of cable channel GSN, FEARnet, the premier horror/thriller website and VOD service, and national media sales company ITN Networks, Inc.  SPT advertiser sales is one of the premiere national advertising sales companies, handling the commercial inventory in SPT's syndicated series as well as in all of SPE's digital businesses in the United States, for Sony Music Entertainment and for the Tennis Channel.  SPT (www.sonypicturestelevision.com) is a Sony Pictures Entertainment company.

ABOUT RED STROKES ENTERTAINMENT

Red Strokes Entertainment is a film and television company, having been named after a Garth Brooks' song, THE RED STROKES.  Reflecting Brooks' unique talent to bring stories to life in song, he and partner Lisa Sanderson produced CALL ME CLAUS for TNT, starring Whoopi Goldberg and Sir Nigel Hawthorne, garnering the highest ratings for that year and has become a holiday stable in television.  UNANSWERED PRAYERS will be a Thanksgiving gift to his audience.  Red Strokes has also developed original ideas for feature films and television with Paramount, Disney, Fox and, most recently, New Line.

ABOUT LIFETIME TELEVISION

Lifetime Television is committed to offering the highest quality entertainment and information programming, and advocating a wide range of issues affecting women and their families.  Lifetime Television®, Lifetime Movie Network®, Lifetime Real Women® and Lifetime Digital™ (which includes myLifetime.com, LMN.tv, Lifetime Games, Roiworld.com, DressUpChallenge.com, MothersClick.com and LifetimeMoms.com) are part of Lifetime Entertainment Services, LLC, a subsidiary of A&E Television Networks, LLC.  A&E Television Networks is a joint venture of the Disney-ABC Television Group, Hearst Corporation and NBC Universal.

SOURCE Lifetime Television