Above, ET Online goes behind the scenes of the production of Lifetime’s upcoming Whitney Houston biopic, which is being directed by Angela Bassett (her debut), starring Yaya DaCosta Alafia as Houston, and Arlen Escarpeta as Bobby Brown.

The clip features Bassett, Yaya and singer Deborah Cox (who is providing the vocal tracks for the telepic), talking about the production, using Whitney’s original music, and addressing some of the push-back the project has faced – notably from Houston’s family, and some audience reactions to Yaya’s casting.

You’ll also find footage of both lead actors performing in character (as Whitney and Bobby), although just brief glimpses scattered throughout – mostly of Yaya as Houston.

The telepic will chronicle the headline-making partnership between the iconic singer, actress, producer and model, and singer, songwriter Bobby Brown – from the time they first met at the very height of their celebrity, to their courtship and tumultuous marriage.

Joining Alafia and Escarpeta in front of the camera is Yolonda Ross, playing Whitney Houston’s longtime good friend and assistant, who was also rumored to be her lesbian lover – Robyn Crawford.

Bassett is directing the film, which is tentatively titled "Whitney Houston," from a script penned by Shem Bitterman ("Betty & Coretta" – the Lifetime Original Movie that Bassett starred in last year). 

Larry Sanitsky (who produced "Betty & Coretta") will do the same for "Whitney Houston."

The film is scheduled to debut in 2015.