HBO Picks Up Rights to Cracked Not Broken

TORONTO, February 20: Open
Door’s controversial documentary Cracked Not Broken has been acquired by HBO, making it one of the
four independent films chosen to be part of HBO’s Addiction project launching March 16.

A co-production of Open Door and Blatant Exposure, the documentary,
slated to air on HBO on March 17, is directed by Paul Perrier and executive
produced by Tom Powers. The film probes into the life of Lisa, a 37-year-old
crack cocaine addict and estranged mother who prostitutes herself to fuel her
costly drug habit. Shot almost entirely in her Toronto hotel room, the film
depicts Lisa talking to Perrier about the struggles of being “in the game” and
her quest for redemption. Despite growing up in an upper class family in a
privileged Toronto neighborhood, attending private schools and having the right
friends, Lisa’s life has gone wrong. The film gained international prominence
after being featured on The Oprah Winfrey show last May.

“We are extremely proud of
the acquisition of Cracked Not Broken by HBO, the industry’s premiere documentary network,” said Open
Door’s Powers. “Lisa’s story is very powerful. By breaking down stereotypes it
vividly demonstrates that despite a privileged background, we are still
vulnerable to drug addiction and the lifestyles that fuel it. This film is a
subtle hammer between the eyes for those that feel invincible, as well as those
that prefer to turn a blind eye.”

In addition to its HBO
sale, Open Door has sold the film for broadcast in the U.K. and Israel and is
actively pursuing other broadcast deals through its
distributor outside of North America, Tricon Films.

Perrier and
Powers have teamed up again to produce the follow-up film to Cracked Not
Broken entitled Cracked
Wide Open. It follows
Lisa for a one-year period as she tries to use the film to pull herself out of
her addiction.