Laura Bell Bundy to Lead Hallmark Original Movie DEAR DUMB DIARY

A delightfully imaginative middle-schooler learns that it's not just what's on the outside that matters but what's on the inside as well in "Dear Dumb Diary," a two-hour Hallmark Channel Original Movie World Premiere Friday, September 6 (8 p.m. ET/PT, 7C). Based on Scholastic's popular Dear Dumb Diary children's book series by Jim Benton, the movie stars Tony(R), CMT Music and American Country Music Award nominee Laura Bell Bundy ("Hart Of Dixie, "Guiding Light"), James Waterston ("Dead Poets Society"), Emily Alyn Lind ("Revenge," "Won't Back Down," "All My Children"), Mary-Charles Jones ("Identity Thief," "Hannah Montana") along with Sterling Griffith ("Easy Rider: The Ride Back") and David Mazouz ("Touch").

"Dear Dumb Diary" is part of Hallmark Channel's exciting new Friday night appointment viewing franchise, "Walden Family Theater," presented in collaboration with Walmart, Procter & Gamble, award-winning family entertainment producer Walden Media ("The Chronicles Of Narnia," "Bridge To Terabithia," "Holes") and fast-growing independent studio ARC Entertainment. "Walden Family Theater" is designed to further fill the void on TV for quality family entertainment.

Jamie (Lind) marches to the beat of her own music video. As an artistic and energetic glitter-loving diva in the making, the 11-year old's vivid daydreams about how life should be are often played out as full-blown musical productions. In her mind, Hudson Rivers (Mazouz), the eighth cutest boy in Mackerel Middle School, returns her affections and Angeline (Griffith), the prettiest and most popular girl in school, and other perfect people like her, are banished so that average folk get their due. Real life, however, is somewhat different and as a result, Jamie pours out her innermost thoughts in her cherished diary and shares some of her feelings with her beloved Aunt Carol (Bundy) as well as her shrewd best friend Isabella (Jones), who may not be the best influence on her.

When Mackerel Middle School's arts program is threatened because of budget cuts, Assistant Principal Devon (Waterston) announces the district's first-ever Jump-a-thon fundraiser. Jamie sees her winning participation as an opportunity to not only save the arts program but to impress Hudson, and by beating Angeline, bring justice to ordinary people of the world. At the same time, she becomes the unwitting participant in one of Isabella's schemes and her diary goes missing. As the story progresses, Jamie recognizes the importance of doing the right thing, learns not to judge by appearances and puts aside personal feelings for the greater good. She also discovers her own sparkling inner beauty, which was there all along. "Dear Dumb Diary," presented by ARC Entertainment, Walden Media, Walmart and Procter & Gamble, is a Zucker Production. Janet Zucker, Jerry Zucker, Jim Benton, Louis J. Grieci III, Ben Simon, Janet M. Morrison and Aaron Tucker serve as executive producers. Bonnie Greenberg, Patrick Panzarella and Julie Kane-Ritsch serve as co-executive producers. The film is produced by Don Schain, Sean Gesell and Ellen Goldsmith-Vein and directed by Kristin Hanggi. The teleplay is by Kristin Hanggi and Jim Benton, based on the book series Dear Dumb Diary by Jim Benton, published by Scholastic.

Photo Credit: RD / Crisler / Retna Digital

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