THE GLAMOROUS LIE Feature-Length Documentary Chronicles One Woman's Triumph Over One Man's Lie

Feb. 29, 2012 - PRLog -- Los Angeles, CA February 29, 2011 – It was a story that would make for a fantastic fictional drama: high-placed boyfriend caught cheating; scorned girlfriend seeks very public acknowledgement. Billboards throughout the country showing a very literal picture of couple, with the message “you are my soul mate forever” posted larger than life over the streets of New York, Atlanta and Silicon Valley.   But this was no fictional drama: it was, and it is, real.

The break-up of YaVaughnie Wilkins and Charles E. Phillips, Jr., onetime Oracle Corporation executive and former member of the President’s Economic Recovery Advisory Board, played out in newspaper and television outlets around the world, but it was always played out as a story of the wrath of a woman scorned and the height to which she had gone to call out her cheating boyfriend. The story was a media gold mine and fodder for comedians who saw only humor in one woman’s heartache. But that was only part of the story.

Little was known about the woman behind the billboards, and less still about how far one man would go to cover up the truth about their relationship.  Now, a feature documentary, THE GLAMOROUS LIE, tells Wilkins’ full account of the years leading up to and during the relationship, and the tumultuous aftermath of it.

THE GLAMOROUS LIE both sets up the drama of the relationship and follows Wilkins many months after the infamous billboard incident as she tries to move on with her life, starting her home products business ReJuvenescence and other businesses while she continues to struggle with her troubled past.  (www.getrejuvenescence.com )
This year-long investigation by filmmaker Mark Alamares, a.k.a. Mark Zhen, reveals an unexpected and dramatic turn as Wilkins tries to recover after the breakup.

“I agreed to executive produce The Glamorous Lie because I wanted to tell my story in my own way.  Media interviews alone would not have done my story justice,” Wilkins explains.  “Immediately after the billboards went up, I began receiving media email inquires. At first, it was funny.  I mean, I was just a private citizen, and despite the fact Charles was a co-president of Oracle, he was extremely private so who would care, right?  But, three hours after the first billboard went up in Times Square, a question was posted to Gawker: ‘Hey, is that the Charles Phillips that runs Oracle?’  All hell broke loose.”

As the drama was unfolding in her life, aspiring filmmaker Mark Alamares was installing a home entertainment and security system in Wilkins’ house.  After several weeks, privy to the billboard program, the breakup, Wilkins’ business startup and the "normal" family chaos of her life, he said, "No one would believe everything you're going through. Have you ever thought of doing a reality television show or documenting your day-to-day life?  I'm serious," he said.  "You have a very interesting life."

Initially, Wilkins demurred.  But after Alamares showed her his work and created a budget and outline for the film, she agreed to executive produce it and THE GLAMOROUS LIE began to take shape. Wanting this project to be neither a smear campaign against Phillips nor a propaganda piece about her, she granted Alamares and the film crew unfettered access to her family, friends, and business associates, and trusted him with details about her life that she had not shared with anyone other than Phillips.

Taping her as she tries to restart her life in Santa Monica, California, the film shows Wilkins as she deals with constant surveillance by private investigators standing guard outside her house to shocking phone calls with her ex-boyfriend to facing her haunted past. Through her own words and commentary from mutual friends and family, the picture of Wilkins and her eight and a half year, seemingly monogamous relationship with Phillips is firmly established.

And while the documentary has wrapped, the story continues to unfold.  Wilkins, family members, friends, business associates and even casual past acquaintances remain victims of ongoing surveillance and intimidation. Alamares absconded with the film’s raw footage, which is now in the hands of Phillips. And while Wilkins has moved on with her life, it seems, another chapter of “The Glamorous Lie” may be yet be written.  This film will remain a work-in-progress until its premiere screening.

THE GLAMOROUS LIE tells how one woman has overcome adversity and seemingly insurmountable obstacles to emerge from both the shadows of notoriety and years of struggle to find happiness and success as she steps into the future.

Find out more at: http://www.21yellowtulips.com

# # #

Platform Media Group (PMG) specializes in food and beverage, filmed entertainment, hospitality and media properties, as well as undertaking production, film and branding work at Sundance and other industry convocations annually.