Principal Photography Currently Underway On The Lifetime Original Movie 'Consequences' (Working Title) Starring Andrea Bowen ('Desperate Housewives') and Jennie Garth ('What I Like About You')

Lifetime Partners with Advocates for Youth and Other Organizations to Raise AIDS Awareness and Encourage HIV Testing

LOS ANGELES, Calif., March 9 -- Principal photography is currently underway in New Orleans on the Lifetime Original Movie "Consequences" (working title), the story of a high school senior who fears she may be infected with the HIV virus and must come to terms with the life- altering news. The telefilm stars Andrea Bowen ("Desperate Housewives") and Jennie Garth ("Beverly Hills 90210," "What I Like About You") as a teacher in her school who has been secretly living with the disease for years. "Consequences" will premiere in June 2007 on Lifetime Television.

In making the announcement, Libby Beers, Vice President, Original Movies, Lifetime Television, said, "Andrea Bowen is a great young talent who possess the perfect blend of innocence and vulnerability as a teen struggling with this devastating news. With AIDS as one of the leading causes of death for Americans between the ages of 25 to 44 today, it's also disturbing to learn that half of all new HIV infections are among young people age 25 and under as reported by Advocates for Youth."

"According to the Office of National AIDS Policy, two young people in the United States are infected with HIV every hour of every day," cited executive producer Bob Sertner. "That number is astounding and reinforces the need to educate today's youth that AIDS is still out there and can be easily spread regardless of who you are, or how well you think you know the person you are with."

In "Consequences," seventeen-year-old Rachel Sandler's (Bowen) world is turned upside down when word spreads through her upper middle class community that her neighbor Jason (Eric Von Detton, "Dinotopia," "Complete Savages"), a popular athlete who died an untimely death, was an IV drug user. After receiving a mysterious email that claims Jason was HIV-positive, Rachel becomes concerned she may be infected as well since she had unprotected sex with him. In an attempt to learn more about the disease, Rachel is urged to visit the local AIDS clinic by her new substitute teacher, Sari Williams (Garth). Upon Rachel's visit, she is administered a rapid AIDS test, but she panics and leaves before learning the test results.

When Sari breaks the news to Rachel that her rapid test came back positive, Rachel, at first, turns to her boyfriend. His response is overwhelmingly negative, blaming her for possibly spreading it to him. In tears, Rachel confides her fears to Sari, who reveals that she has secretly been living with HIV for over seven years. While both wish to keep their privacy, they soon find out that gossip, just like disease, can spread quickly.

According to the U.S. Office of National AIDS Policy, half of all new HIV infections occur in people under age 25; one-fourth in people under the age of 21. Following the film, Lifetime will air a PSA with the movie's stars, encouraging viewers to learn more about this national epidemic. As part of Lifetime's long-standing commitment to raising awareness about the issues facing families and teens, the Network will partner with leading nonprofit organizations, such as Advocates for Youth and Cable Positive, to provide additional information and resources on LifetimeTV.com.

Andrea Bowen is best known as Julie Mayer on the hit ABC series "Desperate Housewives." Bowen began her career as a professional performer on Broadway in New York at the age of six, playing Cosette in "Les Miserables," the youngest Cosette in the show's 16-year run. She went on to originate the role of Marta Von Trapp in the original cast of the Broadway revival of "The Sound of Music" with Richard Chamberlain, and the role of Adele in the Broadway musical production of "Jane Eyre." While performing on Broadway, she also guest-starred on series such as "Law & Order" and "Third Watch." Bowen's other television credits include "Nip/Tuck," Lifetime Television's "Strong Medicine," "That Was Then," "Boston Public," "One Tree Hill" and "Arli$$."

Jennie Garth gained fame for her starring role as Kelly Taylor on the long-running series "Beverly Hills 90210" and most recently starred in the WB sitcom "What I Like About You" with Amanda Bynes. Garth's other television credits include a series lead role on "A Brand New Life" and guest-starring roles on "Growing Pains," "Melrose Place" and "The Street." She also appeared on the television movies Danielle Steele's "Star," "A Loss of Innocence," "Power 98," "Falling for You," "Lies of the Heart: The Story of Laurie Kellogg," "Without Consent" and "An Unfinished Affair." Garth is married to actor Peter Facinelli who she met while filming "An Unfinished Affair." The couple has three daughters.

"Consequences" is produced by Von Zerneck-Sertner Films for Lifetime Television. Bob Sertner ("Haunting Sarah", "We Were the Mulvaneys"), Frank Von Zerneck ("For One Night") and Nancey Silvers ("Mom at Sixteen"), who also wrote the telefilm, serve as executive producers. Peter Werner ("Why I Wore Lipstick to My Mastectomy") co-executive produces and directs the movie. Randy Sutter ("Relative Chaos") and Chris Morgan ("The Fantasia Barrino Story: Life is Not a Fairytale") serve as producers.

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, LMN, Lifetime Real Women, Lifetime Home Entertainment and Lifetime Online (http://www.lifetimetv.com) are part of Lifetime Entertainment Services, a 50/50 joint venture of The Hearst Corporation and The Walt Disney Company.

SOURCE Lifetime Television
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