Press Release
June 28, 2002 - Los Angeles - Peter Sussman, CEO, ALLIANCE ATLANTIS Entertainment Group, announced today that ALLIANCE ATLANTIS will begin production on the two hour CBS movie The Battle of Mary Kay on July 3, 2002.
The Battle of Mary Kay will mark the directorial debut of ALLIANCE ATLANTIS' multi-Emmy and multi-Golden Globe nominated Executive Vice President of Movies, Miniseries and Motion Pictures, Ed Gernon (Life With Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows, Joan of Arc). The film will star Academy Award winner Shirley MacLaine (Salem Witch Trials, Terms of Endearment) as Mary Kay. Parker Posey (Best in Show, The House of Yes) will play rival Jinger Heath, and Shannen Doherty (Mallrats, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, Heathers) will play Mary Kay beauty consultant Lexi Wilcox.
The world of direct beauty sales can get rather ugly; this satirical black-comedy is the true story of the rivalry between the reigning queen of the direct beauty sales business, self-made tigress Mary Kay Ash (MacLaine) of Mary Kay Cosmetics and young and sexy upstart, Jinger Heath (Posey) of Beauti-Control Cosmetics.
"I'm thrilled at the opportunity, humbled by the challenge, and deeply touched by the confidence expressed not only by CBS, but ALLIANCE ATLANTIS and the ever marvelous Ms. MacLaine, who launched us all on this incredible journey. What first time Director could ask for more?" commented Ed Gernon.
"Mary Kay was one of the first business women who juggled God, family and business seemingly with success and in that order, but inherent in that are impossible contradictions. Anyone who could do that is someone I want to play. She was one of the first feminists and she was funny, although she was unaware of it," said Shirley MacLaine.
The Battle of Mary Kay will be produced by ALLIANCE ATLANTIS in association with Howard Meltzer's TurtleBack Productions. ALLIANCE ATLANTIS' multi-Emmy and multi-Golden Globe nominated Peter Sussman and Ed Gernon again team up to executive produce the film. The Battle of Mary Kay is another in a long list of films Sussman and Gernon have now produced together for ALLIANCE ATLANTIS, some of which include Joan of Arc, Nuremberg, Life With Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows, Salem Witch Trials, When Billy Beat Bobby and The Mathew Shepard Story. Howard Meltzer (Witness Protection, The Pentagon Wars) is also Executive Producer of The Battle of Mary Kay. The producer is Ian McDougall. The script is written by Patricia Resnick.
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Release Date: October 6, 2002
Directed by: Ed Gernon
Written by: Patricia Resnick
Starring: Shirley MacLaine, Parker Posey, Shannen Doherty
Parker's Character: Jinger Heath
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