Leading Independent Studio, E1 Entertainment to produce and distribute
12 November 2009
A NEW "HALLMARK HALL OF FAME" PRESENTATION
STARRING WINONA RYDER AND BARRY PEPPER, HAS STARTED PRODUCTION IN TORONTO, CANADA 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 Cofounder of Al-Anon,
Whose Alcoholic Husband Cofounded 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”) and Emmy Award and Golden Globe Award nominee Barry Pepper (“61*,” “Flags of Our Fathers”), has started production in Toronto, Canada 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), cofounder of Al-Anon, and her alcoholic husband Bill Wilson (Pepper), cofounder of Alcoholics Anonymous.
A college-educated young woman from an affluent family, Lois Burnham spent her winters in New York City 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. However, despite Lois’ countless efforts to control his drinking, Bill’s addiction to alcohol spiralled further and further out-of-control. Soon his job, their lifestyle and dreams were all gone.
In 1935, after years of unsuccessfully struggling to cover for Bill and to manage his disease, Lois finally witnessed him taking control of his alcoholism. But his sobriety was not achieved through Lois’s help, rather it came through the support of 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. The past 17 years had been devoted to healing her sick husband. Now, he was sober without her help, and Lois was feeling isolated and resentful. 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.
E1 is building worldwide recognition as one of the industry’s foremost creators, producers and international distributors of quality entertainment in all genres. This deal with HHOF fits perfectly in line with E1’s ongoing mandate to partner with the best in the business. Recent E1 partnerships include Stephen King for the TV series Haven, HBO for Hung, CBS for The Bridge and ABC / Canwest for Copper.
Ryder will next be seen in Rebecca Miller's "The Private Lives of Pippa Lee" and was recently seen in "Star Trek." Ryder is repped by The Gersh Agency and law firm Hirsch Wallerstein Hayum Matlof + Fishman. Pepper recently completed production on the film “Casino Jack,” the Jack Abramoff story in which he stars opposite Kevin Spacey. Last year he starred in “Seven Pounds.” He is repped by The Kohner Agency and law firm Sloane, Offer, Weber and Dern and Management 360.
#
For more information:
Pam Wilson Lisa Wookey
Ink Media Corporation E1 Entertainment
Tel: 818 655 6010 Cell: 310 849 7303 Tel: 416 646 2400 x 326
About E1 Entertainment
E1 Entertainment (AIM: ETO) is a leading independent entertainment content owner that acquires film, television and music rights and exploits these rights in all media in more than 190 countries.
The company currently operates in Canada, the U.S., the UK, Holland and Belgium through its four primary businesses units: E1 Television, E1 Films, E1 Music and E1 Distribution. These businesses collectively represent E1’s extensive expertise in film distribution, television and music production/distribution, Kids content, Licensing and Distribution.
E1’s content library includes more than 3,700 feature films, 2,700 hours of original television programming and 15,000 music tracks.