TUNE-IN – UP’s LYFE’S JOURNEY – Sun, Oct. 26, 7 p.m. ET
TUNE-IN
UP Original Movie LYFE’S JOURNEY
Premieres this Sunday, October 26th, 7:00 p.m. EDT / 6:00 p.m. PDT
Starring Keith Robinson (“Dreamgirls”),
Angell Conwell (“The Young and the Restless”) and Richard T. Jones (“Judging Amy”)
Written by UP’s Corey A. Prince & Directed by Ryan Richmond
UP PRESENTS THE UP ORIGINAL MOVIE
LYFE’S JOURNEY
EMOTIONAL, TIMELY DRAMA STARS KEITH ROBINSON (GET ON UP) AND
RICHARD T. JONES (“JUDGING AMY”)
PREMIERES EXCLUSIVELY ON UP,
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 26 AT 7:00 P.M. EDT / 6:00 P.M. PDT
ATLANTA – October 13, 2014 – UP presents the UP Original Movie Lyfe’s Journey, an emotional, timely drama about David Lyfe, a successful bank manager, devoted husband and father of a little girl, with another on the way, whose life crashes in on itself in a tough economy. In a rapid downward spiral, he becomes homeless after being laid off in a merger and making a bad decision with a lonely woman in a hotel bar. But with the help and support of a few caring people, David finds forgiveness and the true meaning of life. With actor Keith Robinson (Get On Up, Dreamgirls) in the lead, Lyfe’s Journey will make its world television premiere on UP on Sunday, October 26 at 7:00 p.m. EDT / 6:00 p.m. PDT.
The ensemble cast also includes Angell Conwell (“The Young and the Restless,” “Family Time”), Richard T. Jones (Godzilla, “Judging Amy”), Judi Blair (Love Always, Flight), Erica Page (“Osirus,” “The Game”), Ahmed Lucan (UP’s Where’s The Love?, “Homeland”), Jennifer Gullick (Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues, Come On In, We’re Dead), DeEtta West (UP’s forthcoming Marry Us For Christmas, Between Sisters) and newcomer Rylei I. Nooks. Filmed in Atlanta, Lyfe’s Journey originated from within the UP family. The screenplay was written by Corey A. Prince, UP’s senior director, human resources. The film was directed by Ryan Richmond, ASPiRE’s executive in charge of original production (Money Matters, “Changemakers”) and produced by Atlanta-based Swirl Films.
In Lyfe’s Journey, David Lyfe (Keith Robinson) is a successful bank manager and family man who lives the simple life with his beautiful, pregnant wife, Tricia (Angell Conwell), young daughter Allison (Rylei I. Nooks), and terrific friends John (Ahmed Lucan) and Cindy (Jennifer Gullick) Reynolds. In a bad economy, his blissful life turns inside out as he eliminates numerous jobs and loyal staff he has put in place, only to receive his own pink slip when the merger finalizes. Stunned, David ends up in the hotel bar, where he meets Amy (Erica Page), a lonely, friendly stranger, and ends up making a decision that soon becomes the catalyst for sending his life into a downward spiral. Eventually, he meets Pastor Taylor (Richard T. Jones) and his 20-something daughter Sam (Judi Blair), who show him kindness and that everything in life has a purpose. David discovers his own purpose and realizes that his life – and forgiveness – is worth fighting for. Karon Riley (UP’s forthcoming Marry Us For Christmas, “Necessary Roughness”) stars as Rob White, the bank executive responsible for the merger and layoff of David and his staff.
“As our economic recovery continues in the U.S., Lyfe’s Journey is a timely, gripping drama about one average man’s spiraling fall into homelessness – and inspiring personal rise,” Sophia Kelley, senior vice president of programming, UP. “Keith Robinson really brings his A-game to this emotional starring role as David Lyfe.”
UP presents Lyfe’s Journey, a Swirl Films production. Starring Keith Robinson, Angell Conwell, Richard T. Jones, Judi Blair, Karon Riley, Erica Page, Ahmed Lucan, Jennifer Gullick, DeEtta West and Rylei I. Nooks. Directed by Ryan Richmond. Produced by Eric Tomosunas, David Eubanks and Keith Neal. Director of Photography is George Su. Editor is Dante Wyatt. Script by Corey A. Prince.
Follow our cast and author at:
- UPtv.com/LyfesJourney
- Keith Robinson on Twitter @keithsings
- Angell Conwell on Twitter @AngellConwell
- Richard T. Jones on Twitter @richjonesactor
- Judi Blair on Twitter @IamJudiBlair
- Karon Riley on Instagram at http://instagram.com/darealblk007
- Erica Page on Twitter @ericanpage
- Ahmed Lucan on Twitter @Ahmed_Lucan
- Jennifer Gullick on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/JenniferGullickActor
- DeEtta West on Twitter @deettawest
About the Screenwriter
Corey A. Prince is a native of Franklin, TN and grew up watching a lot of TV shows with his family around the living room. After graduating from Tennessee Tech University with a degree in Finance, he moved to Charlotte to begin his career in banking. Years later, Prince would rekindle his love for TV and began writing screenplays in his spare time. He’s always been fascinated with stories that introduce the internal struggles that people face every day. In 2006, Prince’s first script, Coming Home, received two nominations (Best Alternative Script and Best Dramatic Scene) at the 2009 Action on Film Festival in Pasadena, California. His second script, The Journal, was a finalist in the 2010 Beverly Hills Film Festival. Prince also completed a short script, Love Is Blind, which was a finalist in the 2010 Movie Script Short Contest. He’s currently collaborating with his wife to develop his fourth script, Stuck. Prince now serves as Senior Director of HR for UP, overseeing recruiting, payroll, compensation, training, employee development and engagement.
About the Director
Ryan Richmond is a native Washingtonian. He caught the bug for story telling by performing in professional theater as a kid. After graduating film school at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, Richmond studied under Spike Lee and renowned cinematographer Mathew Libatique. He went on to work as a cinematographer for several years before becoming an award-winning director himself. His first feature film Money Matters was released in 2011. Ryan is now a producer for ASPiRE where he serves as executive in charge of original production.
About UP
UP is the television network dedicated to uplifting viewers every day with original and acquired movies, reality and dramatic series, comedies and music specials. One of the most trusted family-friendly networks on cable, UP can be seen in 67 million homes on cable systems and satellite providers across the United States in both standard and high definition. Along with its mission to entertain, uplift and inspire viewers, UP’s pro-social initiative “Uplift Someone” reminds and inspires people to do simple acts of kindness. Based in Atlanta, UP is a division of UP Entertainment, LLC, which also offers gMovies, the first faith-friendly streaming movie service and provides sales and operations services to the ASPiRE network.
Follow UP on the Web at www.UPtv.com, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/UPtv, Twitter on @UPtv and Instagram at UP_TV.
About Swirl Films
Swirl Films (www.swirlfilms.com), America’s “number one urban film production company,” focuses on independent features and multi-camera productions. Recent films include 2012 ABFF Best Narrative Feature, Best Actress and Best Director winner The Under Shepherd, 35 & Ticking and Percentage, with Flavor Unit Production (Queen Latifah & Shakim Compere). Swirl Films is a major content provider for UP. Most recently, Swirl Films produced My Other Mother, starring Essence Atkins, Lynn Whitfield and Jasmine Guy; Marry Us For Christmas, the sequel to last year’s Marry Me For Christmas, starring Malinda Williams; and The Perfect Summer, starring Eric Roberts, Sydney Penny and Jason Castro. In addition, hit programming includes She’s Still Not Our Sister, Sugar Mommas, and the Wedding Vow series. Additional original productions include: Love For Sale and Something Like A Business, starring Kevin Hart, Clifton Powell and Kym Whitley.
The Industry Cosign 