Dove(R) Partners with Hollywood Film to Empower Women to Work Together

Dove(R) Partners with Hollywood Film to Empower Women to Work Together

Dove goes behind-the-scenes of The Women to create a short film, The Women Behind 'The Women'

ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J., Sept. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- From high school to Hollywood, women have the opportunity to empower one another. Keeping with the brand's mission to foster positive self-esteem in all young women Dove(R), the global beauty brand, has partnered with The Women, to inspire and educate them about a wider definition of beauty. In addition to The Women, Dove partnered with director Diane English to create The Women Behind "The Women," a short film that shows the importance of women empowering one another to be their best, both on the screen and behind-the-scenes. Picturehouse will release The Women in movie theaters nationwide on September 12, 2008.

On Screen: The Women

Written and directed by Diane English, this remake of the 1939 classic film is a witty and emotional look at all things female, including loyalties, betrayals, careers, families and most of all, friendships. Preserving the same sharp wit and outrageousness of the original, English adapts her version of the story to more deeply focus the story line on the powerful friendships between the characters and the humorous but true-to-life support they lend to one another. The Women features an ensemble of distinguished actresses, including Meg Ryan, Annette Bening, Eva Mendes, Debra Messing, Jada Pinkett Smith, Cloris Leachman, Bette Midler and Candice Bergen, who have come together to redefine real beauty and real success for a new generation of women.

"Seventy percent of women say that having a close circle of friends is important to making a woman feel beautiful(1)," said Kathy O'Brien, Dove Marketing Director. "This film reminds us that our circle of friends is an influential and important factor shaping our views of beauty and success. Our partnership with The Women creates a new and compelling way of reaching real women and girls, to understand and address the challenges that they face today."

Behind-the-Scenes: The Women Behind "The Women"

The ongoing partnership with The Women allowed Dove to go behind-the-scenes of the film to develop exclusive content, including a short film titled The Women Behind "The Women." Directed by Diane English, the short film follows a 16-year-old Minnesota teen named Cammy Nelson as she interviews the director, producer, crew members and female cast, including Meg Ryan, Annette Bening, Debra Messing and Jada Pinkett Smith, in search of the definition of real beauty. English gives real women an inside look at the production of a major Hollywood film and encourages Cammy to share her views on beauty, Hollywood and the power of female friendships, based on her experience on set. The Women Behind "The Women," and additional content, including behind-the-scenes photos and weekly diary entries written by director Diane English and teen journalist Cammy Nelson are available exclusively at www.dove.com/TheWomen.

About Dove Campaign for Real Beauty

The Dove Campaign for Real Beauty is a global effort that is intended to serve as a starting point for societal change and act as a catalyst for widening the definition and discussion of beauty. The campaign was created in 2004 after the brand commissioned a global study that found that only two percent of women around the world describe themselves as beautiful. Employing various communication vehicles - advertising, a Web site, billboards, events and a Self-Esteem Fund - the campaign invites women to join in the discussion about beauty and share their views of it with women around the world. Women's response to the campaign has been overwhelmingly positive; nearly 4 million visitors have joined the conversation at www.campaignforrealbeauty.com.

About Unilever

Unilever (NYSE:UL) (NYSE:UN) , one of the world's largest consumer products companies, aims to add vitality to life by meeting everyday needs for nutrition, hygiene and personal care. Each day, around the world, consumers make 160 million decisions to purchase Unilever products. The company has a portfolio of brands that make people feel good, look good and get more out of life.

In the United States these brands include recognized names such as: Axe, "all," Ben & Jerry's, Bertolli, Breyers, Caress, Country Crock, Degree, Dove personal care products, Hellmann's, Knorr, Lipton, Popsicle, Promise, Q-Tips, Skippy, Slim-Fast, Snuggle, Suave, Sunsilk and Vaseline. All of the preceding brand names are registered trademarks of the Unilever Group of Companies. Dedicated to serving consumers and the communities where we live, work and play, Unilever in the United States employs approximately 13,000 people in more than 60 office and manufacturing sites in 24 states and Puerto Rico - generating nearly $10 billion in sales in 2006. For more information, visit www.unileverusa.com.

About The Women

For more information about The Women please visit www.TheWomenTheMovie.com or contact:

   Nina Baron/Picturehouse   203.303.1734   nina.baron@picturehouse.com     Contact:   Alison Dunning/Edelman   212-704-4452   alison.dunning@edelman.com    Stacie Bright/Unilever   203-625-1130   stacie.bright@unilever.com   

(1) Beyond Stereotypes: Rebuilding the Foundation of Beauty Beliefs, A Global Report, 2005

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: Dove

CONTACT: Nina Baron, Picturehouse, +1-203-303-1734,
nina.baron@picturehouse.com, or Alison Dunning, Edelman, +1-212-704-4452,
alison.dunning@edelman.com, or Stacie Bright/Unilever, +1-203-625-1130,
stacie.bright@unilever.com

Web site: http://www.thewomenthemovie.com/
http://www.dove.com/TheWomen
http://www.unileverusa.com/
http://www.campaignforrealbeauty.com/

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Profile: International Entertainment