Amanda Bynes to co-star in Proof for Lifetime tv movies

[pranksalot]

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/...53c61ed2e1e98a

"An all-star cast has been assembled for Lifetime's original movie "Living Proof."

Angie Harmon, Amanda Bynes, Bernadette Peters, Swoosie Kurtz, Regina King, Jennifer Coolidge, Trudie Styler, Tammy Blanchard, John Benjamin Hickey and Paula Cale have joined Harry Connick Jr. in the movie, from executive producers Renee Zellweger, Craig Zadan and Neil Meron.

"Proof," from Zadan and Meron's Storyline Entertainment and Sony Pictures TV, is based on Robert Bazell's book and centers on Dennis Slamon (Connick), the UCLA doctor who developed the breast cancer drug Herceptin. The movie, filming in New Orleans, is set to air in October.

Bynes plays Slamon's student assistant. Harmon portrays Lilly Tartikoff, wife of former NBC entertainment chief Brandon Tartikoff and the person responsible for raising money to continue Slamon's research. Blanchard is the first woman to receive Herceptin, while Kurtz plays her grandmother.

Peters plays the first woman in to be saved by Herceptin, while Styler and Coolidge play participants in the drug study. King plays a breast cancer survivor, and Hickey is a friend and fellow scientist to Slamon. Cale portrays Slamon's wife, Donna.

The movie marks a reunion for Zadan and Meron with many of the cast members, having worked with Peters, Blanchard, Cale, Styler, Hickey and Bynes.

"Instead of going to our Rolodexes, we went to our e-mail address books," Zadan said, adding that Zellweger also "wrote beautiful e-mails to people she had a personal relationship with, telling them what we were trying to accomplish with this movie."

Added Meron: "It is very heartwarming that the talent we've assembled easily recognized their ability to use their stardom and do something for the greater good, in particular breast-cancer awareness. People got it immediately."

Dan Ireland is directing from a script by Vivienne Radkoff, who also exec produces."

What do you guys think about it? Amanda returning to the small screen. I was hoping for a silver screen movie. I hope Amanda have a huge supporting role in this movie. This is definitely a different role than Amanda had ever played before.

[M_F_Burk]

I've wanted AB to try new television roles (but not star in another series), so I am happy to learn of this.

This is a very good choice for AB:
It's an ensemble project. She doesn't have to carry it. No pressure.
It's not a comedy. This will be her dramatic debut as an adult.
She'll be noticed for this work. It will open things up for her in TV and film.

Congrats, pranksalot, on being the first fan to break the news.

[pranksalot]

Thanks MF_burk, I probably beat you to it like by half an hour.

I am somewhat excited about the role. This is an all-star cast and I hope Amanda's part is significant and rather large. In Robots and Hairspray, I was yearning for more delicious scenes from Amanda. Those two movies gave her so little to work on but she still was able to shine. I just hope this film will give her more scenes and witty/memorable dialogue. Who knows...maybe Amanda can get nominated for an emmy...and maybe win one for her supporting role? "Sometimes one have to dream big to be big." (Hairspray)

[sparky]

The storm is over at last

This is going to be a nice change for her. I hope it will show everyone that she can do more than just comedy.

It's going to air in October... only four months away so let the countdown begin

It's great now that we have something to look forward to once again from Amanda. Thanks for delivering the great news!

[geo]

so, as i can see, it is not a comedy, is it?
i'm curious how it would be for amanda? what do you guys think about her skills as a dramatic actress?

what should we expect if she will play in this movie? i suppose we should expect something completely different.. maybe unusual, but opening a new direction of amanda's career..

[brusha]

I'm pretty excited considering Breast Cancer is a really important issue in my life/family. hollywoodreporter.com is a reliable source? That means they'll start filming ASAP?

Craig and Neil are probably a big reason as to why Amanda is in it too.

[cdc792000]

They are probably already filming as we speak.

Does anyone think Amanda is not being offered other roles and took this just for the work? I'm trying to play Devil's Advocate for a moment and was thinking, there are a couple scenarios.

A) Amanda is not being offered any really good roles. EVERYONE from HAIRSPRAY got decent offers and are all doing films.

B) Amanda is being offered films, but she is turning the offers down. Would Amanda turn down a film like PROM NIGHT for example? Maybe Amanda is being fussy or maybe she is being offered roles that require drug use, sex scenes, nudity, or just not roles she would like to play

C) Amanda needs work and will take anything just to work.

D) Amanda may have a film she is committed to but its in the preproduction stages and wants to do something to fill in the time. This sounded different and because its a small part she would only work for about 2-3 weeks.

E) The film is about a subject that is personal to her and she wanted to be a part of it for the experience and to work some of the cast. Maybe she wants this to be a learning experience to prep her for bigger and serious projects in the future

F) Maybe she read the script and felt it was damn good! Sometimes these films are planned for HBO or cable or even independent films and while shooting or during pre or post production they get sold to networks. Maybe this got sold to Lifetime after she signed on.

I am leaning towards the latter reasons. Thoughts?

[pranksalot]

Originally Posted by cdc792000

They are probably already filming as we speak.

Does anyone think Amanda is not being offered other roles and took this just for the work? I'm trying to play Devil's Advocate for a moment and was thinking, there are a couple scenarios.

A) Amanda is not being offered any really good roles. EVERYONE from HAIRSPRAY got decent offers and are all doing films.

B) Amanda is being offered films, but she is turning the offers down. Would Amanda turn down a film like PROM NIGHT for example? Maybe Amanda is being fussy or maybe she is being offered roles that require drug use, sex scenes, nudity, or just not roles she would like to play

C) Amanda needs work and will take anything just to work.

D) Amanda may have a film she is committed to but its in the preproduction stages and wants to do something to fill in the time. This sounded different and because its a small part she would only work for about 2-3 weeks.

E) The film is about a subject that is personal to her and she wanted to be a part of it for the experience and to work some of the cast. Maybe she wants this to be a learning experience to prep her for bigger and serious projects in the future

F) Maybe she read the script and felt it was damn good! Sometimes these films are planned for HBO or cable or even independent films and while shooting or during pre or post production they get sold to networks. Maybe this got sold to Lifetime after she signed on.

I am leaning towards the latter reasons. Thoughts?

Nice list of possible reasons why Amanda signed on this project. A & B & D & E is possible. C, unlikely. F is also unlikely because Renne Z. signed up as an executive producer for this movie awhile back and it was reported that this film will be made through Lifetime. So Amanda definitely knew that this is film is going to be a tv movie.

[M_F_Burk]

Originally Posted by cdc792000

They are probably already filming as we speak.

Does anyone think Amanda is not being offered other roles and took this just for the work? I'm trying to play Devil's Advocate for a moment and was thinking, there are a couple scenarios.

A) Amanda is not being offered any really good roles. EVERYONE from HAIRSPRAY got decent offers and are all doing films.

B) Amanda is being offered films, but she is turning the offers down. Would Amanda turn down a film like PROM NIGHT for example? Maybe Amanda is being fussy or maybe she is being offered roles that require drug use, sex scenes, nudity, or just not roles she would like to play

C) Amanda needs work and will take anything just to work.

D) Amanda may have a film she is committed to but its in the preproduction stages and wants to do something to fill in the time. This sounded different and because its a small part she would only work for about 2-3 weeks.

E) The film is about a subject that is personal to her and she wanted to be a part of it for the experience and to work some of the cast. Maybe she wants this to be a learning experience to prep her for bigger and serious projects in the future

F) Maybe she read the script and felt it was damn good! Sometimes these films are planned for HBO or cable or even independent films and while shooting or during pre or post production they get sold to networks. Maybe this got sold to Lifetime after she signed on.

I am leaning towards the latter reasons. Thoughts?

I believe Amanda's recent inactivity is mainly because of B, D and F.

She's getting offers but has been turning down most of them. She's 22 now and probably not interested in "teen" comedies any more, for example.

When Hairspray producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron offered Amanda the role of a medical student in Living Proof, she was probably thrilled to have an opportunity to work with them again. Maybe she cleared her schedule for them. But she would not have taken this part just because she's loyal to Zadan and Meron. She accepted because the script was good and it's a chance to show fans and the industry that she can do dramatic work.

[sparky]

Yep, B, E and F pretty much sum it up for me.

I think Amanda has limits when it comes to deciding on a role. It doesn't seem like she would make a movie just for the sake of adding another title to her resume. And there are probably some things that she will simply not do, or just not ready for at this moment.

I think now that she is getting older she wants to take her acting career to a new level so she is a little picky, making sure she chooses roles that will help her achieve her goal.

I also believe that when Amanda decides to take a job, it's mostly because the story means something to her personally, or she feels the story leaves people with a good message, or something that just has some meaning or value.

Sometimes these Lifetime movies are extremely cheesy. But many times they are actually very good, with stories that you can really get in to. And I really believe that if Amanda is doing this, it's because of all these reasons.

Originally Posted by geo

so, as i can see, it is not a comedy, is it?
i'm curious how it would be for amanda? what do you guys think about her skills as a dramatic actress?

I think she will do an excellent job with this role. No doubt in my mind. I've been waiting for this!

[pranksalot]

I just found out that her character's name is Jamie

[P. Suvarnvasi]

Ahhh....Angie & Amanda....

must be nice one....

[LOKO73]

This is a film or TV series? Very forward Amanda in a new role!

[sparky]

Originally Posted by LOKO73

This is a film or TV series? Very forward Amanda in a new role!

Hi LOKO73. It's a TV-Movie. So it's basically a movie that will go straight to TV, without any theatrical release.

[wonderboy]

I'm excited about this. This is a great cast and story and will be a great experience and growing process for Amanda.

[LOKO73]

Originally Posted by sparky

Hi LOKO73. It's a TV-Movie. So it's basically a movie that will go straight to TV, without any theatrical release.

sparky, hello! Thank you answered my question.
Now just wait ...

[wonderboy]

Originally Posted by pranksalot

I just found out that her character's name is Jamie

I found out that it will premiere in October 2008

Is that breast cancer awareness month?

[cdc792000]

Has the film already been shot?

Is it currently shooting?

I have a feeling its either already done or very near done.

Anyone know for sure?

[brusha]

It's in preproduction. I don't think it'll take all that long to film, so only a month or two. They'll probably start soon, no later than the beginning of July and finish anywhere from the end of July to sometime in August.

[pranksalot]

Originally Posted by brusha

It's in preproduction. I don't think it'll take all that long to film, so only a month or two. They'll probably start soon, no later than the beginning of July and finish anywhere from the end of July to sometime in August.

The movie started filming over a week ago. There are blogs of extras stating so. So far, I found no pictures. :(

Yes this movie is coming out in October to concide with Breast Cancer awareness month. This movie is suppose to be the "centerpiece' of the event. This movie is not going to be an ordinary Lifetime movie, it is going to be promoted drastically. Expect the cast members including Amanda to attend many Breast Cancer related events in October. Meaning lots of pictures
The filming is suppose to wrap up in June 27th. Giving Amanda time to film an another movie during the summer unless the actor strike occurs.