Oscar(R) Nominated and Golden Globe(R) Award-Winning Actress Sigourney Weaver ('Ice Storm,' 'Gorillas in the Mist') Headlines Her First Made for Television Movie With Lifetime's 'Prayers for Bobby'
Movie Based on a True Story and Leroy Aarons' Critically Acclaimed Book
Prayers for Bobby: A Mother's Coming to Terms with the Suicide of Her Gay
Son
LOS ANGELES, May 19 -- Oscar(R) nominated and Golden
Globe(R) winner Sigourney Weaver ("Aliens," "Ice Storm," "Gorillas in the
Mist") has signed on to star and co-produce the Lifetime Original Movie,
"Prayers for Bobby," marking her first performance in a made for television
movie. Based on a true story and Leroy Aarons' book of the same name,
Weaver stars as Mary Griffith, a profoundly religious wife and mother who
begins to question her faith after the suicide of her beloved gay son.
Ultimately, with the posthumous acceptance of her son's homosexuality, Mary
becomes an advocate for the rights of gay and lesbian youth. "Prayers for
Bobby" will premiere in February 2009 on Lifetime Television.
"Sigourney Weaver's passion and dedication to this project are
incredibly inspiring," said Tanya Lopez, Senior Vice President, Original
Movies, Lifetime Networks. Adding, "As both the star and co-producer of
this movie, she wholly embodies the strength and perseverance of Mary
Griffith."
Executive producer Stanley M. Brooks, said, "It's our sincere hope this
heart-wrenching true story will foster more tolerance and understanding for
all people." Added executive producers David Permut and Daniel Sladek, "The
landmark book, Prayers for Bobby, has changed countless minds and saved
hundreds of lives since it was first published in 1995. We hope that
through this powerful movie, we can continue to positively affect lives and
do justice to the memory of Bobby Griffith."
In "Prayers for Bobby," Mary Griffith (Weaver) is a devout Christian
who raised her children with the conservative teachings of her Presbyterian
church. But when her son Bobby confides to his older brother he may be gay,
life changes for the entire family after Mary learns about his secret.
While Bobby's father and siblings slowly come to terms with his
homosexuality, Mary believes God can cure him of what she considers his
'sin' and persuades Bobby to pray harder and seek solace in church
activities in hopes of changing him. Desperate for his mother's approval,
Bobby does what is asked of him, but through it all, the church's apparent
disapproval of homosexuality causes him to grow increasingly withdrawn and
depressed.
Guilty over the pain he is causing Mary, Bobby moves away, yet hopes
that some day his mother will accept him. His subsequent depression and
self-loathing intensifies as he blames himself for not being the 'perfect'
son and is driven to suicide. Faced with their tragedy, Mary begins to
question her faith when she receives no answers from her pastor concerning
her devastating loss. Through her long and emotional journey, Mary slowly
reaches out to the gay community and discovers unexpected support from a
very unlikely source.
Sigourney Weaver has created a host of memorable characters, both
dramatic and comedic, for film, television and theater. She made her motion
picture debut in Ridley Scott's blockbuster "Alien." Following "Alien,"
Weaver went on to star in three back-to-back hit movies: "Ghostbusters II,"
"Gorillas in the Mist: The Story of Dian Fossey" and "Working Girl," with
the latter two movies earning her additional Oscar(R) nods and Golden
Globe(R) wins. She reprised the role of Warrant Officer Ripley in James
Cameron's "Aliens," for which she earned a Best Actress Academy Award(R)
nomination. She again brought Ripley back to life in David Fincher's "Alien
3," which she co-produced, and "Alien: Resurrection" for director
Jean-Pierre Jeunet.
Her impressive body of work includes the films "Copycat," "Jeffrey,"
"Death and the Maiden," "Half Moon Street, "Conquest to Paradise," "One
Woman or Two" and "Eyewitness." She also starred in "The Ice Storm" which
earned her a BAFTA Award, a Golden Globe(R) nomination and a Screen Actors
Guild Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress. She received another
Golden Globe(R) nod for her work in "A Map of the World." Weaver's knack
for comedy was once again seen in "Galaxy Quest," "Heartbreakers," and
"Holes." Weaver's most recent film credits include "The Village,"
"Imaginary Heroes," "The TV Set," "Snow Cake," "The Girl in the Park," "Be
Kind, Rewind" and "Vantage Point." Most recently, Weaver was seen in the
comedy, "Baby Mama" with Tina Fey and Amy Poehler and will soon be seen in
James Cameron's "Avatar," due out in 2009.
On television, Weaver appeared in the Showtime live-action film, "Snow
White: A Tale of Horror," based on the original Grimm's fairy tale which
earned her an Emmy(R) and Screen Actors Guild Award nomination. Weaver also
narrated the American version of the Emmy(R) and Peabody Award-winning BBC
documentary series, "Planet Earth." Weaver's theater credits include "The
Nature and Purpose of the Universe," "Titanic" and "Das Lustania
Songspiel." She co-wrote "Das Lustania Songspiel" with Christopher Durang
which garnered them both Drama Desk Award nominations. Weaver received a
Tony(R) Award nomination for her role in "Hurlyburly" and was featured in
"The Merchant of Venice." She later was seen in "Sex and Longing" which
re-teamed her with Christopher Durang. She also appeared in "The Mercy
Seat" with Liev Schreiber and was the lead in "The Guys at The Flea."
"Prayers for Bobby" is produced by Once Upon A Time Films in
association with Permut Presentations and Sladek Taaffe Productions for
Lifetime Television. Emmy(R) Award winner Stanley M. Brooks (LMN's "Capture
of the Green River Killer," "Broken Trail"), David Permut ("Face/Off"),
Daniel Sladek ("Tale of the Mummy") and Chris Taaffe ("Thank Heaven") serve
as executive producers. Weaver, Silvio Muraglia ("High Speed"), David
Steinberg, Leroy Aarons, Mary Griffith and Steve Longi ("Charlie Bartlett")
serve as co-producers. Damian Ganczewski ("Broken Trail") is producer.
Russell Mulcahy ("Queer as Folk," "Swimming Up Stream") will direct from a
script written by Katie Ford ("Miss Congeniality").
Lifetime is the leader in women's television and one of the top-rated
basic cable television networks. A diverse, multi-media company, Lifetime
is committed to offering the highest quality entertainment and information
programming, and advocating a wide range of issues affecting women and
their families. Lifetime Television, Lifetime Movie Network, Lifetime Real
Women and Lifetime Digital (including myLifetime.com) are part of Lifetime
Entertainment Services, a 50/50 joint venture of Hearst Corporation and The
Walt Disney Company.
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