CBC Announces Air Date for Shania Twain TV Movie

press release - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friday October 28th, 2005

Premiere of “Shania: A Life in Eight Albums” Announced

Sudbury – For a few months last summer the City of Greater Sudbury and parts of Northern Ontario were transformed into Hollywood North with the filming of “Shania: A Life in Eight Albums.” Communities watched as local businesses were transformed into period locations for the film, local residents working as extras were dressed up in classic 80’s garb, and we all got an inside look at the exciting world of filmmaking.

Recently, CBC Television officially announced that the airdate for the two-hour CBC Big Ticket film-for-television will be Monday November 7th at 8:00 pm. “Shania” tells the inspiring rags-to-riches story of one Canada's most beloved and successful female artists of all time featuring Meredith Henderson (The Adventures of Shirley Holmes, MythQuest) starring in the lead role of megastar Shania Twain.

“To date, this was the biggest production we’ve seen here in Sudbury and the community delivered on every level” says Mark Palumbo, President of Music and Film in Motion. “Working on the “Shania” project was a huge step forward in the development of the film industry here in the North, illustrating that we are ready and able to support this new and exciting industry.”

”Shania” depicts the superstar's early years and her struggle for stardom. The drama takes viewers on a compelling journey spanning two decades, beginning in 1973 with a gangly eight-year-old known as Elly (Reva Timbers) belting out songs in Northern Ontario bars for tips, continuing with a determined teenager (Shenae Grimes) making her own way to Toronto for an appearance on The Tommy Hunter Show, to an under-age teen (Meredith Henderson) dragging a Sudbury bar band into the limelight. “Shania” then follows Eilleen Twain to Nashville where she finds a cut-throat industry wanting only her voice - not her music. Finally, we see Eilleen on the cusp of transforming into one of the world's most celebrated stars when she gets a fateful call from renowned music producer Mutt Lange.

The film also features Megan Follows as Shania's mother Sharon Twain; Eric Schweig as her adoptive father Jerry; Darrell Dennis as one of her early mentors, symphony conductor John Kim Bell and Gordon Tootoosis as her beloved grandfather, who introduces her to the richness of First Nations' music, traditions and ceremony.

“Music and Film in Motion is proud to have been a part of bringing the “Shania” project here to the North” Palumbo states. “Both on and off screen this production was assisted through the support and hard work of many of our areas finest talents in the film and television industry. We encourage everyone to watch the program; a true champion of what Northern Ontario has to offer.”

“Shania: A Life in Eight Albums” airs on CBC Monday November 7th at 8:00 pm and was produced by Barna-Alper Productions in association with CBC Television and the W Network.