LIFETIME'S "ABDUCTED: THE CARLINA WHITE STORY," STARRING AUNJANUE ELLIS, KEKE PALMER AND SHERRI SHEPHERD, TO PREMIERE SATURDAY, OCTOBER 6
Movie Based On Headline-Making, Dramatic True Story of a Young Woman Reunited With Her Biological Parents 23 Years After She Was Kidnapped
NEW YORK, NY (August 28, 2012) - The original movie Abducted: The Carlina White Story, starring Aunjanue Ellis (The Help), Keke Palmer (True Jackson, VP), and Emmy(R) Award winner Sherri Shepherd (The View), will make its world premiere on Saturday, October 6, at 8 pm ET/PT on Lifetime. The film is based on a remarkable true story of the kidnapping of Carlina White (Palmer), who was abducted as an infant by Ann Pettway (Ellis) from a New York hospital and solved her own kidnapping and reunited with her biological parents 23 years later. The case is reported to be the first known infant abduction from a New York hospital. On July 30th of this year, Pettway was sentenced in a New York court to 12 years in prison for kidnapping Carlina.
In August of 1987, new parents Joy White (Shepherd) and Carl Tyson (Roger Cross, 24) took their 19-day-old daughter Carlina to Harlem Hospital in New York with a high fever. Ann Pettway, who had suffered a series of miscarriages and was desperate for a child of her own, posed as a hospital nurse and walked out of the hospital with Carlina hidden from view. While Joy and Carl desperately searched for their daughter over the years, Pettway was raisingCarlina as Nejdra "Netty" Nance in Bridgeport, Connecticut - a mere 45 miles from New York City. As Carlina grew older she began to suspect Pettway was not her birth mother and launched her own investigation. After contacting the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Carlina was reunited with her biological parents in January 2011.
Immediately following the movie at 10 pm ET/PT, Lifetime will premiere the hour-long documentary, Beyond the Headlines: Carlina White, featuring interviews with Carlina telling her own story, as well as her birthparents and the family of her kidnapper as they offer their own perspectives about the case.
In addition to Abducted: The Carlina White Story, Lifetime will debut the world premiere of its highly anticipated original movie event Steel Magnolias, headlined by the all-star cast of Queen Latifah, Phylicia Rashad, Adepero Oduye, Condola Rashad, Jill Scott and Alfre Woodard on Sunday, October 7, at 9pm ET/PT. The film is executive produced by Craig Zadan, Neil Meron, Queen Latifah, Shakim Compere and Shelby Stone, and directed by Kenny Leon.
Abducted: The Carlina White Story is produced by Pilgrim Studios (Amanda Knox: Murder On Trial in Italy), with Emmy Award winner Craig Piligian serving as executive producer. Mary Martin and Alan Gasmer also are executive producers. Emmy Award nominated actor/director Vondie Curtis Hall (Silent Voice, ER, The Shield) is directing thefilm, which was written by Elizabeth Hunter (Jumping the Broom, Sins of The Mother). Music for the film was composed by Grammy(R) Award-winning and Golden Globe(R)-nominated composer and musician Terence Blanchard (Red Tails, 25th Hour, Malcolm X).
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Lifetime Television is committed to offering the highest quality entertainment and information programming, and advocating awide range of issues affecting women and their families. The network postedmajor growth in viewership among the key demographics in First Quarter 2012versus First Quarter 2011, including a 9% jump in Adults 25-54, +12% with Women 25-54, +14% with Adults 18-49 and +18% with Women 18-49. In addition, the quarter marks the first time Lifetime has posted First Quarter year-on-yeargrowth for Adults 25-54, Women 25--54 and Women 18-49 in seven years. Lifetime Television(R), LMN(R), Lifetime Real Women(R) and Lifetime Digital(TM) are part of Lifetime Entertainment Services, LLC, a subsidiary of A+E Networks. A+E Networks is a joint venture of the Disney-ABC Television Group and Hearst Corporation.
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