Living Proof (film)

Infobox Film
name = Living Proof


caption =
director = Dan Ireland
producer = Neil Meron,
Craig Zadan,
Renée Zellweger,
Vivienne Radkoff,
Sony Pictures Television
writer = Vivienne Radkoff,
Robert Bazell
starring = Harry Connick, Jr.
music =
cinematography =
editing =
distributor = Lifetime
released = October 18, 2008
runtime =
country = United States
awards =
language = English
budget =
preceded_by =
followed_by =
website = http://www.mylifetime.com/on-tv/movies/living-proof
amg_id =
imdb_id = 1229367

"Living Proof" is an upcoming 2008 television movie, directed by Dan Ireland, starring Harry Connick, Jr..

The film is based on the true life story of Dr. Dennis Slamon and the book "HER-2: The Making of Herceptin, a Revolutionary Treatment for Breast Cancer" by Robert Bazell. Vivienne Radkoff penned the film script, and is also one of the film's producers.

The film has been announced to premiere on October 18, 2008, for Lifetime's 'Stop Breast Cancer for Life' public service and advocacy campaign, during the National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. [ [http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/080616/nym106.html?.v=101 'Living Proof,' Lifetime Television's Marquee Original Movie Starring Emmy(R)] , Yahoo!, June 16, 2008] [ [http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/emmyr-grammyr-award-winner-harry/story.aspx?guid=%7BD336C663-E83E-4A60-AB2E-0EC9A8D0DFF0%7D&dist=hppr "Emmy(R) and Grammy(R) Award Winner Harry Connick, Jr. Stars In Lifetime Original Movie, 'Living Proof,' Premiering Saturday, October 18",] marketwatch.com, August 28, 2008] The film is also scheduled to be streamed, in its entirety, for people in the United States, on the website [http://www.mylifetime.com/ myLifetime.com] beginning the day after the TV premiere. [ [http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/lifetime-networks-launch-14th-annual/story.aspx?guid=%7B04875553-6166-4E7F-AF50-331C1C6EA25D%7D&dist=hppr Lifetime Networks to Launch 14th Annual Stop Breast Cancer for Life Multi-Platform Campaign for October] , MarketWatch, September 16, 2008]

A red carpet premiere evening screening took place in New York on September 24, 2008, with a reception following where Harry Connick, Jr and Bernadette Peters performed. [ [http://www.mylifetime.com/community/my-lifetime-commitment/breast-cancer/stars-hit-pink-carpet-living-proof-premiere#id=2] , Lifetime Entertainment] [Friedman, Roger. [http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,427626,00.html "Harry Connick Serenades Sex Couple",] foxnews, September 25, 2008] Subsequent screenings were scheduled for London, Los Angeles (October 7), and Washington, D.C (September 25). [ [http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6596013.html?industryid=47199 Move Of A Lifetime Won't Come Easily] , Multichannel News, September 14, 2008] [ [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/26/AR2008092603487.html "Names and Faces",] "Washington Post", September 27, 2008]

Plot

The film is about the true story of Dr. Dennis Slamon (played by Harry Connick, Jr.), who helped develop the breast cancer drug Herceptin. Dr. Slamon is a research doctor at UCLA Medical Center (Los Angeles), where he has developed the experimental drug Herceptin, which he believes will become a treatment for breast cancer. However, when the drug company stops funding for research, philanthropists, including Lilly Tartikoff (Angie Harmon) and Ronald Perelman help him continue tests of the drug. Dr. Slamon loses some patients involved in the tests, but ultimately his work with the drug changes the course of breast cancer treatment.

Background and production

Renée Zellweger, in her first television project, is executive producer, with Neil Meron and Craig Zadan producers. [ [http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6557075.html Zellweger, Connick Jr. Sign On For Lifetime Original Movie] , Multichannel News, May 2, 2008] Zellweger has produced one film prior to this, "Miss Potter" (2006).

Filming took place in New Orleans, Louisiana in 2008. [ [http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/search/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003797793 Renee Zellweger has 'Proof'] , Hollywoodreporter, May 2, 2008]

Cast

*Harry Connick, Jr. - Dennis Slamon
*Amanda Bynes - Jamie, Dr. Slamon's student assistant
*Jennifer Coolidge - Tish, participant in Phase One of the Her2 study
*Angie Harmon - Lilly Tartikoff, wife of Brandon Tartikoff (NBC Television president)
*Regina King - Ellie, a fashion designer and breast cancer survivor
*Swoosie Kurtz - Elizabeth, Nicole's mother
*Bernadette Peters - Barbara Bradfield, a retired art teacher and the first woman the drug trial saved by Herceptin
*Trudie Styler - Tina, participant in Phase One of the Her2 study
*Tammy Blanchard - Nicole, the first woman to receive Herceptin
*John Benjamin Hickey - Blake Rogers, Dr. Slamon's friend and fellow scientist
*Paula Cale - Donna, Dr. Slamon's wife
*Amy Madigan - Fran Visco, President of the National Breast Cancer Coalition
*Bruce McKinnon - Dean Bradfield, Barbara Bradfield's loving husband
*Lance E. Nichols - Dr. Brown
*Rhoda Griffis - Bindy Hawn
*William Ragsdale - Andy Marks

"Note: the women patients portrayed are composites with the exception of Barbara Bradfield" [Buckley, Michael. [http://www.playbill.com/news/article/121442.html "STAGE TO SCREENS: Chats with Film Director George C. Wolfe, Zadan & Meron, Plus Fall Highlights",] playbill.com, Sept. 21,2008]

oundtrack

Harry Connick, Jr. has written "Song for the Hopeful". The song is also part of Connick's album "What a Night! A Christmas Album", which is to be released in November 2008. [ [http://music.barnesandnoble.com/What-a-Night-A-Christmas-Album/Harry-Connick-Jr/e/886973702048/?itm=5 What a Night! A Christmas Album] , Barnes & Noble] Sony has announced it will give a contribution to breast cancer charities, for each download of "Song for the Hopeful" from iTunes. [ [http://www.mylifetime.com/on-tv/movies/living-proof/video/1785357063/1842739315 Harry Connick Jr.'s "Song for the Hopeful"] , myLifetime.com]

References

#

[http://www.reuters.com/article/televisionNews/idUSN1639188320080616 Harmon, Peters join Connick in Lifetime's "Proof"] , Reuters, June 16, 2008

External links

* [http://www.mylifetime.com/on-tv/movies/living-proof Official site]
* [http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=412954654 "Living Proof"] at MySpace
*