Five Inspirational Films for Sky Living HD
Sky Living HD to show five films marking International Women's Day on 8th March 2012
Sky Living HD will be supporting IWD (International Women's Day) on Thursday 8th March by showing Five, a collection of five short films that explores the impact of breast cancer on people’s lives. Distributed by Sony Pictures Television, Five is directed by some of Hollywood’s biggest female stars including; Demi Moore, Jennifer Aniston and Alicia Keys.
Five highlights the shared experience of each of the title characters, from their point of diagnosis. Each film explores the effect the disease has on their relationships with the people around them as well as the way these women perceive themselves while searching for strength, comfort and ultimately, a cure.
The five films are Charlotte, Directed by Demi Moore and written by Stephen Godchaux, which takes place the night in July 1969 when man first walks on the moon, and when a young Pearl (Ava Acres) is more concerned about why her family is not letting her see her mother, Charlotte (Ginnifer Goodwin), who lies in her bedroom dying from breast cancer. When she sneaks in to see and ultimately say goodbye to her mother, Pearl develops a lifelong passion to help others afflicted with the disease and eventually opens an oncology clinic where she will treat the women we meet throughout “Five.” Charlotte also stars Jeanne Tripplehorn, Josh Holloway, Annie Potts, Jennifer Morrison and Bob Newhart.
Cheyanne is directed by Penelope Spheeris and written by Howard Morris, where sexy young stripper Cheyanne (Lyndsy Fonseca) and her handsome newlywed husband Tommy (Taylor Kinney) struggle to redefine their passionate relationship, as well as who they are as individuals, when Cheyenne is shocked by breast cancer diagnosis. Looking at a severe prognosis, Cheyanne’s aggressive treatment ultimately results in the removal of both of her breasts, which have defined her life physically, financially and emotionally.
In Lili, directed by Alicia Keys and written by Jill Gordon, a fiercely independent, career-minded woman (Rosario Dawson), recruits her sister (Tracee Ellis Ross) to help tell their hard-nosed mother (Jenifer Lewis) that she has breast cancer. As they work through their past issues, Lili’s mother and sister ultimately become her strongest allies when she needs her family the most. Lili also stars Jeffrey Tambor as a male patient diagnosed with breast cancer.
Directed by Jennifer Aniston, written by Wendy West and told in a series of humorous and dramatic flashbacks, Mia is a survivor’s tale that highlights all of the highs and lows of Mia’s (Patricia Clarkson) two-year journey from diagnosis. During this time, she gives away all of her worldly possessions, holds a hilarious mock funeral while still alive and enters into a second marriage to Mitch (Tony Shalhoub), the new love of her life. Mia also features Kathy Najimy as Mia’s friend Rocky.
In the final film Pearl, directed by Patty Jenkins and written by Deirdre O’Connor, Pearl (Jeanne Tripplehorn), is the successful oncologist we have followed from childhood, suddenly finds herself in the patient’s seat when she is diagnosed with breast cancer. Through this process, she finally understands what her parents experienced that night in 1969 and finds the strength to tell her young daughter that everything is going to be OK … something she never heard as a child. Pearl also stars Patricia Clarkson, Tony Shalhoub, Jeffrey Tambor, Bob Newhart, Rosario Dawson, Tracee Ellis Ross and Jenifer Lewis.
Jane Johnson, Director of Sky Living said: “We’re proud to be supporting International Women’s Day On Sky Living and share five short films directed by amazing talent including Demi Moore, Jennifer Aniston and Alicia Keyes. They examine in a hugely compelling way, the very different ways women deal with the difficult diagnosis of breast cancer, and also how it changes their lives and relationships. With such a fantastic calibre of names both in front and behind the camera and such powerful stories, we are sure will resonate with women everywhere.”
Sky customers will be able to watch Five on Sky Living HD from 9pm, on 8th March to Sky Living HD, further demonstrating Sky’s long-term commitment to investing in brilliant and exclusive programming.
Sky to Support and Celebrate International Women’s Day 2012
For the sixth year running Sky is supporting International Women’s Day on the 8th March 2012. Over the course of a week (5th-11th March), Sky will be showing a wide range of programming which showcases inspirational women as well as hosting a number of events to engage and inspire women who work for Sky or live in the local communities.
Showcasing inspirational women on screen
The cross network programming will be led by Sky Living HD, Sky’s female focused channel, which will be airing the UK premiere of Five, a series of short films exploring the impact of breast cancer on people’s lives. Five is directed by some of Hollywood’s biggest female stars including Demi Moore; Jennifer Aniston and Alicia Keys and features a prestigious cast, of among others: Patricia Clarkson (“Pieces of April”), Rosario Dawson (“Sin City”), Josh Holloway (“Lost”) and Emmy nominee Jeanne Tripplehorn (“Big Love”). The series of films will be shown back to back on the 8th March.
Other programming will give viewers the chance to enjoy television that applauds the achievements of women with:
Sky Movies: ‘Women in Film Season’, 5th-11th March on Sky Movies Showcase HD will includefilms with strong female characters: Winters Bone, Salt, Made in Dagenham, and The Blind Side.
Sky News: All female News Anchors, for the sixth year in a row, Sky News will mark IWD with female-only news presenters on 8th March including a special interview with Sky News Special Correspondent Alex Crawford.
Sky Arts: All female Centre Stage and ‘Divas season’, 5th-11th March.Sky Arts 1 will feature programming with some of the most inspiring women in the entertainment business including KT Tunstall’s Songbook, Grace Jones plays Avo and Jo Whiley meets Annie Lennox. Meanwhile Sky Arts 2 is playing host to Divas Season – a week-long celebration of some of the biggest divas in show business past and present from Edith Piaf to Katharine Jenkins.
From the 29th February Elle Macpherson will be Sky’s face of the campaign talking exclusively about the woman who has most inspired her.
And over the course of March visitors to the SkyLiving.com site will be able to find out about the careers and lives of inspirational women as well as information on the Sky supported charity Women for Women.
Inspiring colleagues and local communities
Off-screen Sky is carrying out a number of activities for its own female employees and young women from the surrounding community.
Networking event: A number of Sky’s senior women including Sophie Turner Laing; Jane Johnson, Director Sky Living; and Alison Dolan, Director of Finance will be taking part in a panel discussion and networking event aimed at female middle management from across the business. This debate will be aired on Sky’s intranet for all employees to access and pose questions.
Community engagement: On the 7th and 8th March a number of girls from The Green School, a local Hounslow school, will be visiting Sky for a chance to see behind the scenes, meet women at Sky and learn about jobs in the media industry.
Notes to editor
For press enquiries, please contact:
Nick Dear, Senior Publicist – Sky 1 HD & Sky Living HD
Tel: 020 7032 7273 / nick.dear@bskyb.com
Note to Editors
Sky is proud to have been recognised for its commitment to women with the Women of the Future Corporate Award 2011 and by inclusion in The Times’ Top 50 places for Women to Work.
Sky believes in encouraging diversity and equal opportunities for everyone. Sky’s initiatives to support its female employees include mentoring schemes and a Senior Women’s Development Network. Sky’s range of benefits for employees includes a competitive maternity scheme and flexible working options to help employees balance family life with work.
About Sky Living HD
Sky Living HD is one of the UK’s ultimate entertainment destinations on TV. Bursting with the glossiest UK and US productions, the channel embodies fun, optimism and friendship.
Hugely successful commissions like Four Weddings and Britain & Ireland’s Next Top Model (now hosted by global icon Elle Macpherson) have emerged as some of the UK’s most talked about programmes.
Making a welcome move into original scripted British drama, supernatural thriller ‘Bedlam’ starring Will Young became the highest rated original series in the channel’s history. Sky Living is turning up the heat to bring even more A-List talent to the channel including Chris Moyles and Stacey Solomon to present the forthcoming and brand new entertainment format The Love Machine.
Sky Living HD has also built a reputation for cleverly identifying and out-manoeuvring its rivals to the best acquired shows and is the home of US hits like The Secret Circle, Ringer, Bones, Cougar Town, Grey’s Anatomy, Unforgettable, Supernatural, Criminal Minds and America’s Next Top Model.
Sky Living HD's high-gloss output is available at channel 107 cementing its place in Sky’s strengthened entertainment line-up, on the front page of the Sky EPG.
