Production Begins on CTV's Next Original Movie Eight Days to Live, Starring Kelly Rowan

Nov. 17, 2005

-- The O.C. actress stars in drama based on heroic, true-life story --

On the heels of the incredible success of the CTV original movie The Man Who Lost Himself, Eight Days to Live shoots in Vancouver, Squamish and the rugged Coastal Mountains of British Columbia until December 14, 2005.

Eight Days to Live stars Rowan as Teresa Spring, a real-life woman who spent over a week in 2001 searching against all hope for her son Joe, who went missing in the rough interior of BC. In May of 2001, Joe Spring set out from Aldergrove, BC on a long, lonely drive down the desolate winding roads of British Columbia's rugged interior. A few hours into his journey, his sports car drifted off the highway, soaring down a steep embankment. His body broken, Joe lay trapped in the crumpled wreck of his car for eight days without food or water, where he clung to life, awaiting a miracle. The riveting story made headlines across the country and around the world.

Eight Days to Live is the sixth original movie in CTV's "Heroes, Champions and Villains" production strand that focuses on remarkable Canadian personalities, characters and stories. Previous titles that have enjoyed critical and ratings success include the two-part mini-series Lives of the Saints; TERRY, the story of Terry Fox's remarkable Marathon of Hope; and, most recently, The Man Who Lost Himself, the true story of football hero Terry Evanshen which earlier this week became the most-watched Canadian television movie of the year with an audience of 1.5 million.

Eight Days to Live celebrates the surprising heroism of an ordinary family transformed by loss and redeemed by hope. While the media counts off the days, Spring's mother Teresa (Rowan), his father Tim (Shawn Doyle), his younger sister Becca (Teagan Moss) and younger brother Will (Ryan McDonell) - along with a RCMP helicopter pilot (Gwynyth Walsh) � make a pledge to find Joe Spring (Dustin Milligan) against all odds. Their story offers inspiration and courage in a heartwarming, suspenseful tale that audiences of all ages will embrace.

"Kelly brings a major international profile to the role of Teresa Spring," said Susanne Boyce, CTV's President of Programming and Chair of the Media Group. "As the determined mother who would not quit when all hope was gone, Kelly is the perfect actor to bring to life this wonderful story of indomitable Canadian courage."

"Joe Spring's story is one that all families can relate to," said Christina Jennings, Executive Producer, Shaftesbury Films. "A mother's love knows no bounds and this story shows how true that is. While others doubted, she never stopped believing that her son would be found alive. Shaftesbury is proud to follow up the recent success of TERRY with another remarkable story of the human experience."

Rowan, the Canadian-born actor and Gemini award winner (Adrift), has come home not only to star in the movie but also to serve as one of the Executive Producers for Eight Days to Live. Known internationally for her role as Kristen Cohen on CTV's The O.C., Kelly also appeared with Samuel L. Jackson in the thriller feature film 187 and in Hook with Dustin Hoffman.

Award-winning actor Shawn Doyle (The Eleventh Hour, Scar Tissue) joins the cast as Joe Spring's father Tim. Playing Joe Spring's sister Becca is Teagan Moss (Alice I Think, Sea People). Joe Spring is played by Dustin Milligan (DaVinci's City Hall, Dead Zone), Gwynyth Walsh (Taken, DaVinci's Inquest) plays the helicopter pilot Jodeen and Brian Markinson (The Life, 100 Days in the Jungle) plays RCMP Sgt. Al Ramey.

Eight Days to Live is produced by Shaftesbury Films Inc. It is developed and produced in association with CTV. Executive Producers of Eight Days to Live are Christina Jennings (ReGenesis, Terry) and Scott Garvie for Shaftesbury Films. Colossal Entertainment's, Graham Ludlow (Anya's Bell, Call of the Wild) and Kelly Rowan are also Executive Producers. Kelly Rowan is repped by ICM in the U.S. Producers are Laurie McLarty and Virginia Rankin for Shaftesbury Films and Ken Gord (Relic Hunter, Highlander- The Series) is Supervising Producer. Eight Days to Live is directed by Norma Bailey (Ladies Night, The Sheldon Kennedy Story) and written by David Fraser (Sleep Murder, In the Dark), Peter Smith (The Zack Files, Tripping the Wire) and Greg Spottiswood (Tripping the Wire, The Snow Walker). Director of Photography Paul Sarossy (Ararat, Where the Truth Lies) is behind the camera and Phil Schmidt (Ladies Night, The Thing Below) is the production designer. Robin Johnston is CTV's production executive overseeing the movie. Bill Mustos is Senior Vice-President, Dramatic Programming for CTV. Susanne Boyce is President of Programming and Chair of the CTV Media Group. The Shaftesbury Sales Company hold's world sales and distribution rights.

Additional titles in CTV's Heroes, Champions and Villains stream slated for upcoming broadcast include Hunt for Justice: The Louise Arbour Story and Shades of Black.

Founded in 1987, Shaftesbury Films has established a reputation as one of Canada's leading producers of high quality television and film. Recent productions include the one-hour television drama series ReGenesis, the highly-rated TV movie TERRY about Terry Fox (CTV) and the on-going TV movie series Murder 19C: The Detective Murdoch Mysteries. Shaftesbury Films also produces kid's programming and has created a large format division, SK Films. Its most recent release is the multi-award-winning box-office success IMAX 3D film Bugs! Visit the Shaftesbury website at www.shaftesbury.org