INSIGHT DEVELOPING BEST-SELLING NOVEL, TEMPTING FAITH DINAPOLI, INTO DRAMA SERIES AT CBC

Insight and CBC are developing a character-driven half-hour drama series, based on Lisa Gabriele’s novel, Tempting Faith DiNapoli, John Murray, Vice President & Supervising Producer, announced today. The series is a bittersweet and darkly funny look at a volatile yet heartwarming relationship between a mother and daughter, both coming of age in the early 80s. Gabriele serves as creator and executive producer along with industry veteran Shelley Scarrow (Being Erica, Lost Girl). Both Gabriele and Scarrow will also act as writers on the series.

Set in Windsor’s Little Italy and the francophone enclave of Belle River, Ontario, Tempting Faith DiNapoli tells the story of what it means to grow up in a broke, blue-collar, loving, dysfunctional, God-fearing, yet increasingly faithless family. After Nancy DiNapoli’s marriage falls apart and their immigrant community turns its back on the family, this scrappy single mother and her four unruly teens must start all over again. Faith tries to keep it together, even while everything around her is falling apart, with sometimes heartbreaking, sometimes hilarious results.

“Lisa has such an authentic and unique voice,” said John Murray, Supervising Producer. “The novel reminds me of Angela’s Ashes – poignant, heartbreaking at times – and yet always propelled by Lisa’s incredible gift for character and razor sharp wit. CBC’s passion for finding and developing unique Canadian voices makes it the perfect home for the series.”

Tempting Faith DiNapoli is executive produced by Insight Production’s John Brunton and Barbara Bowlby. Lisa Gabriele and Shelley Scarrow serve as creators and executive producers. John Murray is Supervising Producer.

John Murray’s most recent project, the widely acclaimed How To Change The World, has just added International Documentary Association’s Pare Lorentz Award to its list of honours. Earlier this month, Insight Productions announced it had inked a development deal at CBC for Hardwood, a one-hour, character-driven drama series set in the world of youth basketball.