"Universal and helmer Spike Lee have decided to shoot Denzel Washington-Clive Owen starrer "The Inside Man" at Brooklyn's Steiner Studios thanks to a new package of city and state tax incentives aimed at luring production to Gotham. Pic starts lensing June 27 for a 42-day shoot, and sets are being constructed at Steiner, the $118 million soundstage facility located at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Mel Brooks had earlier opted to house his U release "The Producers" at Steiner Studios for similar reasons..." (full details)
"Phoenix Pictures has inked a pact with Encounter Studios to develop and produce author T.M. Murphy's book series "The Secrets of Belltown" for television, as well as for DVD and a possible theatrical property. "Belltown" is an action-adventure series centering on 13-year-old sleuth Orville Jacques and his difficulties solving everyday teen problems as well as crimes in a small Cape Cod town. There are eight books in Murphy's series..." (full details)
"DreamWorks has preemptively bought the pitch "Extra! Extra!" by scribes Bobby Florsheim and Josh Stolberg ("Bruce Almighty 2") for Robert Kosberg to produce. Story is being kept under tight wraps but is described as an ambitious romantic comedy. The writing team has been a hot commodity in Hollywood since they sold their spec "The Passion of the Ark" to Sony last year..." (full details)
Thanks to 'KC'
