OWN Sets First Scripted Film

OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network will develop its first original film based on the life of Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame inductee Darlene Love.

The film, based on Love’s memoir My Name is Love: The Darlene Love Story will be executively produced by Oprah Winfrey, Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Morgan Neville and Love, said network officials.

 Love, who sang backup for such performers as Aretha Franklin and Elvis Presley and performed on 1960’s hits as He’s A Rebel and He’s Sure The Boy I Love,” recently appeared in the Neville-directed, Academy Award-nominated documentary film Twenty Feet From Stardom, which profiles famous backup singers.  

“The fantastic life journey of music great Darlene Love is the perfect choice for our first original scripted movie,” said Sheri Salata, president, OWN in a statement. “Darlene is a true living legend who worked with many of the greatest talents in music from Elvis Presley and Tom Jones to Frank Sinatra, Aretha Franklin and Bruce Springsteen.”

The movie follows the network’s launch of several original scripted series from producer/writer/actor Tyler Perry, including The Haves and The Have Nots, Love Thy Neighbor and For Better Or For Worse.  

R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.