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TV ONE’S ORIGINAL FILM, WHEN LOVE KILLS: THE FALICIA BLAKELY STORY, SCHEDULED TO PREMIERE MONDAY AUG. 28 AT 9 P.M. ET 

Directed  by  Tasha  Smith,  the  project stars  Niatia  ‘Lil’  Mama’  Kirkland,  Lance  Gross, and  Tami  Roman  in  a  true  crime  thriller  ripped  from  the  headlines WASHINGTON D.C.  – TV  One’s  latest  original  film,  When  Love  Kills:  The  Falicia Blakely  Story,  will  premiere  Monday,  August  28  at  9  pm  EST.  The  film  marks  the feature-length  directorial  debut  for  Tasha  Smith  (For  Better  Or  Worse,  Empire) and  stars  Niatia  “Lil’  Mama”  Kirkland,  Lance  Gross,  and  Tami  Roman,  with special  appearances  from  Big  Freedia,  Lil  Zane,  and  Floyd  Mayweather. 

The project  is  the  network’s  first original  movie  inspired  by  an  episode  of  TV  One’s original  true  crime  series,  For  My  Man. When Love Kills:  The  Falicia  Blakely  Story  tells  the  tragic  story  of  Falicia  Blakely, a  teen  mom from  Atlanta  who  grows  up  in  the  fast-lane.  When  she  becomes  an exotic  dancer,  she  attracts  the  attention  of  local  pimp  and  predator,  Dino.  His empty  promises  of  a  life  together  turn  Falicia  into  a  pawn  in  his  dangerous games;  and  she’s  forced  to  prove  her  love  for  him  at  the  expense  of  innocent lives. “I  totally  did  not  see  myself  playing  an  exotic  dancer,  but  it  was  so  much  more to  the  story,”  says  Niatia  “Lil’  Mama”  Kirkland  of  taking  on  the  role.  “I  pulled from  the  truth  of  women  all  around  the  world  who  have  been  victims  and  not known  that  they  were  victims  of  society.  This  is  what’s  so  amazing  about  acting –  allowing  myself  to  be  as  vulnerable  as  I  would  be  in  that  moment,  just  to actually  live  through  the  character  and  become  Falicia.  I  want  to  do  her  justice, and  so  I  tapped  into  truth  to  tell  her  story.” In  playing  Dino,  a  modern  day  Dr.  Jekyll  and  Mr.  Hyde  who  uses  Falicia’s  desire to  be  loved  for  his  gain,  Gross  says  he  had  to  “dive  all  the  way  in.” “This  is  a  role  nobody’s  ever  seen  me  in  –  they’re  used  to  me  being  the  nice  guy,” says  the  actor,  who  is  known  for  his  roles  in  Tyler  Perry’s  House  of  Pain  and Temptation.  ”I  want  the  audience  to  know  that  you  really  have  to  be  conscious of  the  decisions  that  you  make,  because  there’s  consequences  that  come  along with  it.”   Tami  Roman  portrays  Stacey,  Falicia’s  alcoholic  mother  who  has  jumped  in  and out  of  her  daughter’s  life,  exposing  her  to  too  much  too  soon.

Roman  said  she  had  to  reflect  back deeply  into  her  own  relationship  with  her mother  as  a  teenager  in  order  to  understand  how  to  play  the  character. “At  the  age  of  13  [my  mother]  sent  me  to  live  with  my  grandmother.  By  15  she came  to  get  me,  and  at  that  point  we  became  best  friends  because  she  had finally  gotten  herself  together,”  she  recalls.  “And  I  think  that  is  where  I  tried  to become  my  mom  [in  this  role].” Each  actor  transforms  into  their  characters  under  the  directorial  leadership  of Tasha  Smith,  whose  goal  was  to  challenge  each  actor  to  dig  deep  to  relate  to their  character,  while  creating  a  suspenseful,  high-stakes  drama  on  screen.  In addition  to  directing  and  producing,  Smith  is  a  multifaceted  actress  whose  work brings  style  and  intensity  to  the  subjects  she  plays  on  the  big  and  small  screens. “I  feel  like  it’s  my  calling  to  inspire  other  actors  to  pursue  their  purpose  in  the heart,  and  that’s  why  to  have  the  opportunity  to  direct  and  to  work  with  actors on  that  level  –  I  love  it.  I’m  in  heaven,”  says  Smith  on  stepping  behind  the camera  for  the  first  time. When  Love  Kills:  The  Falicia  Blakely  Story  is  written  by  industry  veteran  Cas Sigers-Beedles,  who  previously  wrote  and  executive  produced  the  TV  One movies  Welcome  to  the  Family  and  Girlfriends  Getaway  1  & 2.    

The  film  is produced  for  TV  One  by  Eric  Tomosunas,  Keith  Neal  and  James  Seppelfrick  of Swirl  Films.  For  TV  One,  Tia  A.  Smith  is  Sr.  Director  of  Original  Programming  & Production  and  Executive  in  Charge  of  Production;  Donyell  McCullough  is  Senior Director  of  Talent  &  Casting;  Robyn  Greene-Arrington  is  VP  of  Original Programming,  and  D’Angela  Proctor  is  Head  of  Original  Programming  and Production. For  more  information  about  TV  One’s  upcoming  programming,  including original  movies,  visit  the  network’s  companion  website  at  www.tvone.tv .  

TV  One viewers  can  also  join  the  conversation  by  connecting  via  social  media  on  Twitter Instagram and  Facebook (@tvonetv)  using  the  hash  tag  #REPRESENT.

📸  by Tyren Redd 👗 by Michael Mann

Lil Mama, Tasha Smith, Lance Gross

Jamison Harris, Tyren Redd, Jonta Harris – 360 MAGAZINE

Lil Mama’s Style Team: Michael Mann × Tyler Jacob