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Principal photography began Nov. 5 in Los Angeles on Warner Bros.' music-based drama, "Why Do Fools Fall in Love?," directed by Gregory Nava and starring Halle Berry, Vivica A. Fox, Lela Rochon and Larenz Tate. The announcement was made Friday by Lorenzo di Bonaventura and Bill Gerber, presidents of worldwide theatrical production at Warner Bros.

The fact-based film tells the story of three women, each of whom claims to be the legitimate widow of pop singer Frankie Lymon. Lymon wrote and recorded a number of hit songs in the 1950s and '60s but died without realizing the financial rewards of his creativity.

The three women, in the course of a trial to determine the legitimacy of their claims, each tell the story of their lives with Lymon; in so doing, they reveal their diverse experiences as well as the charismatic, undisciplined and tangled life of the talented man they all loved and thought they knew.

"Why Do Fools Fall in Love?" is written by Tina Andrews and produced by Paul Hall and Stephen Nemeth. Harold Bronson will executive produce, as will Gregory Nava. Larenz Tate appears in flashbacks as Frankie Lymon; Halle Berry plays Zola, Vivica A. Fox plays Elizabeth and Lela Rochon plays Emira, the three women who married Lymon and are now attempting to claim his legacy.

Lymon's music, both as he recorded it and as it was covered by other artists, will be used in the film's soundtrack.

Larenz Tate has most recently completed a starring role in "The Postman," directed by and starring Kevin Costner and due in theaters later this year.

He made his motion-picture debut in Allen and Albert Hughes' "Menace II Society," followed by a starring role in "The Inkwell." He then rejoined the Hughes brothers for a starring role in "Dead Presidents." On television, Tate was a regular in the Fox series "South Central," NBC's "New Attitudes" and CBS's "The Royal Family."

Halle Berry will soon be seen in "Bulworth," in which she stars opposite Warren Beatty; she is currently in production on the Harpo Films/ABC miniseries "The Wedding."Berry made her film debut in Spike Lee's "Jungle Fever," followed by a starring role in "Strictly Business" and a supporting role opposite Bruce Willis and Damon Wayons in "The Last Boy Scout." She then starred in "Boomerang" with Eddie Murphy, followed by the title role in the miniseries "Queen," which earned her a NAACP Image Award, among other honors.

Berry's other credits include the feature films "Losing Isaiah," "Race the Sun," "Executive Decision," "The Rich Man's Wife" and "B.A.P.s," as well as the Showtime telefilm "Solomon and Sheba."

Vivica A. Fox most recently appeared in "Soul Food," followed by her appearance in the worldwide hit "Batman & Robin." In 1996, she impressed audiences in Roland Emmerich's massively successful science-fiction adventure, "Independence Day."

Fox's first film role was in Oliver Stone's drama "Born on the Fourth of July," followed by F. Gary Gray's powerful "Set it Off." She was seen earlier this year in the comedy "Booty Call." On television, Fox was a series regular on "Living Dolls" and "Out All Night."

Lela Rochon was most recently seen in "Gang Related," starring Jim Belushi and the late Tupac Shakur. Before that, she appeared opposite Chris O'Donnell and Gene Hackman in "The Chamber," and earned critical and popular praise for her starring role in the hit "Waiting to Exhale."

Rochon made her film debut in "Harlem Nights" opposite Eddie Murphy and appeared with him again in "Boomerang." On television, she starred opposite Timothy Hutton in Showtime's "Mr. and Mrs. Loving." Among Rochon's upcoming projects are the feature films "The Big Hit" and "Knock-Off," as well as the ABC telefilm "The Ruby Bridges Story."

Gregory Nava most recently directed the critically praised "Selena," which was distributed by Warner Bros. Prior to that, he wrote and directed the multigenerational feature film "My Family/Mi Familia," starring Jimmy Smits and Edward James Olmos, and co-wrote and directed the Academy Award-nominated drama "El Norte," the story about two young Guatemalan refugees fleeing to reach the American border.

In 1987, Nava directed the feature film "A Time of Destiny," starring William Hurt and Timothy Hutton. In 1973, Nava wrote, produced and directed "The Confessions of Aman," which won the 1976 Best Feature Award at the Chicago International Film Festival.

In addition to producing "Why Do Fools Fall in Love?," Paul Hall produced John Singleton's "Higher Learning." Hall is re-teaming with Singleton to produce "Shaft Returns," and also produced the network television series "Sightings" and "Encounters."

Stephen Nemeth, who heads Rhino Films, is currently in production on "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas," directed by Terry Gilliam. Prior to this, he executive-produced Rhino's first film, the comedic spoof "Plump Fiction," and also served as an executive producer on "Denise Calls Up," "Digging to China" and many others.

Tina Andrews makes her credited screenwriting debut with "Why Do Fools Fall in Love?."