Naman Shrestha
Based on the true story of the titular woman, Lifetime’s ‘Abducted: The Carlina White Story’ is a biographical drama movie that centers on Carlina Renae White, a newborn who is admitted to the Harlem Hospital in New York by her parents, Joy White and Carl Tyson. However, the 19-day-old child is abducted by Ann Pettway, who has been struggling to have a child of her own. Although Ann raises Carlina as Nejdra “Netty” Nance, like her own blood, in Bridgeport, Connecticut, she keeps the dark secret concealed from her.
Meanwhile, Carlina’s biological parents have been searching for her for several years. When she comes of age, she starts to doubt whether or not Ann was her birth mother. As she delves deep into the matter, she learns the truth and reunites with her biological parents with the help of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. A majority of the Vondie Curtis-Hall directorial unfolds in a suburban neighborhood of Bridgeport, Connecticut, where Carlina grows up unaware of the truth about her kidnapping.
Abducted: The Carlina White Story Filming Locations
‘Abducted: The Carlina White Story’ was filmed in its entirety in British Columbia, specifically in and around Vancouver. According to reports, the shooting for the biographical drama was conducted over the course of a few weeks in the summer of 2012, commencing in early July and concluding in the same month itself.
Vancouver, British Columbia
For the purpose of filming, the cast and crew of ‘Abducted: The Carlina White Story’ settled upon the city of Vancouver in the westernmost province. While the harrowing ordeal of Carlina White, the woman on whose story the film is based, transpired in the States, the team decided to set up the base of filming in Vancity. It is not surprising, considering the fact that it is a favored location for many movies and shows, including multiple Lifetime movies. After all, it boasts state-of-the-art production studios, easy availability of skilled technicians and local talent, lucrative tax benefits, proximity to LA (the home of Hollywood), first-rate infrastructure, a favorable climate, and a diverse landscape ranging from mountains and beaches to forests and rivers, all of which contribute to ensuring everything gets done smoothly.
Over many decades, Vancouver has consistently been a popular filming destination for filmmakers across the globe. Owing to its emergence as a world-renowned production hub, the port city has earned the nickname Hollywood North, which it shares with Toronto, another leading shooting spot. Therefore, all these factors make it an ideal filming location for bringing to life the raw story of the titular character in Lifetime’s ‘Abducted: The Carlina White Story.’ Some of the movies and television shows that feature the stunning locales and landmarks of Vancouver are ‘Untamed,’ ‘Supernatural,’ ‘Criminal Minds,’ ‘Do You Know Me?,’ ‘The Killing,’ ‘Under the Bridge,’ ‘Kiss the Girls,’ ‘Memories of Murder,’ and ‘Good Morning, Killer.’
Abducted: The Carlina White Story Cast Details
‘Abducted: The Carlina White Story’ is led by the powerful performances of Aunjanue Ellis, Keke Palmer, and Sherri Shepherd. Aunjanue’s love for movies sparked through her discovery of theater. Before making her way into the industry, she featured in “The Tempest” opposite Patrick Stewart. The winner of two Primetime Emmys, Keke Palmer, is an all-rounder as she is also a writer, director, and producer, having worked on the script of ‘That’s the Gag.’ Much like Keke, Sherri has also served as a producer for several projects, like ‘The Way Out,’ ‘Women Like Us,’ and ‘The View.’ Their collective acting experience drive the narrative and ensure the film delivers on its promise.
Aunjanue Ellis as Ann Pettway
Aunjanue Ellis portrays Ann Pettway, the woman who kidnaps Carlina White, in ‘Abducted: The Carlina White Story.’ Hailing from San Francisco, California, the experienced actor has plenty of film credits under her belt, including ‘King Richard,’ ‘Men of Honor,’ ‘Ray,’ ‘Undercover Brother,’ ‘Nickel Boys,’ ‘Exhibiting Forgiveness,’ and ‘The Color Purple.’ She is popular for her portrayal of Miranda Shaw in ‘Quantico,’ Madeleine Hightower in ‘The Mentalist,’ and Martha Roberts in ’61st Street.’
Keke Palmer as Carlina White
Keke Palmer steps into the role of Carlina White, the kidnapped girl who is raised away from her biological parents, in the Lifetime production. Widely recognized for her role as Emerald Haywood in ‘Nope,’ she has several other movie credits to her name, such as ‘Alice,’ ‘Hustlers,’ ‘Pimp,’ ‘One of Them Days,’ ‘2 Minutes of Fame,’ and ‘Brotherly Love.’ You might also recognize her from various TV shows, including ‘Scream Queens,’ ‘That’s the Gag,’ ‘Berlin Station,’ and ‘True Jackson, VP.’
Sherri Shepherd as Joy
Sherri Shepherd essays the role of Joy in ‘Abducted: The Carlina White Story.’ Her face might seem familiar as she appears in numerous movies and TV shows, including ‘Precious,’ ‘One for the Money,’ ’30 Rock,’ ‘Imperfect High,’ ‘The Sex Lives of College Girls,’ ‘Mr. Iglesias,’ and ‘The Soul Man.’ Moreover, she is also known for her portrayal of Sharon in ‘Call Your Mother’ and Anne Flatch in ‘Trial & Error.’
Besides the above-mentioned stars, several other talented actors help bring the Lifetime production to life, including Roger Cross as Carl, Afton Williamson as Cassandra, Fulvio Cecere as Detective Dalton, Candus Churchill as Mrs. White, Heather Doerksen as Agent Johnson, Naika Toussaint as Tina, Anne Marie DeLuise as Sarah, and Aaron Craven as Keith Radnor.
Read More: Lifetime’s A Stranger’s Child: Filming Locations and Cast Details
