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[09/10/19 - 10:04 AM]
TV One Announces Production of Original Holiday Film "Dear Santa, I Need a Date" Starring Ray J, Reagan Gomez-Preston and Anne-Marie Johnson
The film tells the comedic story of two successful and ambitious siblings Janelle Vaughn (Gomez-Preston) and Jason Vaughn (Ray J).

[via press release from TV One]

TV ONE ANNOUNCES PRODUCTION OF ORIGINAL HOLIDAY FILM "DEAR SANTA, I NEED A DATE" STARRING RAY J, REAGAN GOMEZ-PRESTON AND ANNE-MARIE JOHNSON

TV One Gears up for the Holidays with a Heartwarming Movie Full of Twists, Humor and a Sibling Competition

SILVER SPRING, MD - September 10, 2019 - TV One announced today that production is underway in Atlanta, GA for its new holiday film, DEAR SANTA, I NEED A DATE. The film stars Ray J (Love & Hip Hop: Hollywood, Moesha), Reagan Gomez-Preston (The Parent 'Hood, The Cleveland Show) and Anne-Marie Johnson (In Living Color, I'm Gonna Git You Sucka) and is slated to premiere on TV One in December 2019. The movie will be directed by Terri J. Vaughn (The Steve Harvey Show, Daddy's Little Girls), who also directed TV One's 2018 original holiday film MERRY WISHMAS.

"It's great to be part of TV One's holiday movie Dear Santa [I Need A Date]," said leading star Ray J. "This is the perfect film for the holiday season and presented by a network that consistently supports me. I'm excited and ready to go."

DEAR SANTA, I NEED A DATE tells the comedic story of two successful and ambitious siblings Janelle Vaughn (Gomez-Preston) and Jason Vaughn (Ray J). Their parents, Mr. Vaughn (Jay DeVon Johnson) and Mrs. Vaughn (Johnson), are proud of their children's flourishing careers but are displeased with their dating lives. Every holiday season, the Vaughn's anxiously prepare for their children to bring home a significant other only to be disappointed. This year, The Vaughn's apply pressure by expressing their concerns to Jason and Janelle, which sparks a bet between the siblings on who can find a date by Christmas.

"This is a holiday movie for the whole family to enjoy," stated Gold Morgan, Manager of Original Programming and Production, who serves as Executive in Charge of Production for TV One. "This captivating tale of family and love is sure to resonate with our audience and become a favorite among the TV One original movies."

DEAR SANTA, I NEED A DATE cast announced today:

· Ray J as Jason Vaughn

· Reagan Gomez-Preston as Janelle Vaughn

· Anne-Marie Johnson as Mrs. Vaughn

· Jay DeVon Johnson as Mr. Vaughn

· MAJOR as Mark

· Reginae Carter as Nicole

· B. Simone as Erica

DEAR SANTA I NEED A DATE is written by Kourtney Richard and directed by Terri J. Vaughn with casting provided by George Pierre. The film is being produced by Swirl Films with Eric Tomosunas, Keith Neal, James Seppelfrick, serving as Executive Producers. Ron Robinson, James "Jimmy" Watson serve as producers. For TV One, Gold Morgan is the Executive Producer in Charge of Production; Shakira Hedgpeth will serve as a producer; Donyell Kennedy-McCullough is Senior Director of Talent & Casting; and Brigitte McCray is Senior Vice President of Original Programming and Production.

For more information about TV One's upcoming programming, including original movies, visit the network's companion website at www.tvone.tv. TV One viewers can also join the conversation by connecting via social media on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook (@tvonetv)using the hashtags #SANTAINEEDADATE and #REPRESENT.

# # #

ABOUT SWIRL FILMS

Swirl Films is America's "number one urban film production company," a full-service film & television production company with over 60 original productions in the past six years, focusing on urban content and programming, independent features and multi-camera productions. Swirl Films is a major content provider for TV One including the original productions: Love Under New Management: The Miki Howard Story (2016), which was TV One's first ever biopic, starring LisaRaye McCoy, Vanessa Bell Calloway, Darius McCrary, Indirah Khan and Teyonah Parris as Howard. According to the network, the film broke record ratings, undeniably becoming the top original film in the network's history drawing in 2 million views, resulting in the networks highest ratings week ever. Quickly surpassing those numbers is TV One's #1 original premiere of all time, When Love Kills: The Falicia Blakely Story (2017), starring Lance Gross, Niatia Kirkland and Tami Roman, directed by actress Tasha Smith. Swirl Films previous production credits for TV One include Born Again Virgin, starring Danielle Nicolet, Meagan Holder and Eva Marcille; Here We Go Again, starring LeToya Luckett, Wendy Raquel Robinson and Kyndall Ferguson; Russ Parr's award-winning film, The Undershepherd, Hear No Evil and 35 & Ticking (Kevin Hart).

ABOUT TV ONE

Launched in January 2004, TV One serves 59 million households, offering a broad range of real-life and entertainment-focused original programming, classic series, movies and music designed to entertain and inform a diverse audience of adult black viewers. The network represents the best in black culture and entertainment with fan favorite shows Unsung, Uncensored, The DL Hughley Show, ATL Homicide, Fatal Attraction and Urban One Honors. In addition, TV One is the cable home of original blockbuster films including When Love Kills: The Falicia Blakely Story, Love Under New Management: The Miki Howard Story, Bobbi Kristina and The Bobby DeBarge Story. TV One is solely owned by Urban One, Inc., formerly known as Radio One, Inc. [NASDAQ: UONE and UONEK, www.urban1.com], the largest African-American owned multi-media company primarily targeting Black and urban audiences.

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· DEAR SANTA, I NEED A DATE (TV ONE)





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