overbrook entertainment Tagged Articles at Cinematical

Now that her husband has officially conquered the world (and then some), Jada Pinkett-Smith is looking to get things started behind the camera. Filmjerk reports Pinkett-Smith wrote and will direct her first feature film this coming fall, when production kicks off on The Human Contract. Though the film stars two male leads, hubby Will Smith will not be one of them. He will be exec producing, though, through his Overbrook Entertainment, alongside producing partner James Lassiter. The film will begin shooting in Los Angeles on November 12, and currently no studio or distributor has signed on. What's it about, you ask? Good question -- see if you can figure this one out ...

... From the Filmjerk description (because I'm not sure I can sum this thing up any better than they did): "... Julian Wright, a charming and mega-successful businessman who hides a secret from the rest of the world which tears his soul apart every day. With his personal life in shambles, Julian will find himself willing to travel down the rabbit hole, as it were, when he meets Michael Reed, a gorgeous stranger who entices Julian to forget his rigid corporate world and try a more bohemian lifestyle, a decision that will not only affect his own life but those of his boss and co-workers, as well as inspire his half-sister Rita to re-examine her life with her abusive husband." Hmmm, gorgeous strangers, bohemian lifestyles and abusive husbands always go well together, so I guess this one's got potential. No word on who's starring in the film, though I imagine we'll find out soon enough. And if Pinkett-Smith can direct the entire film as Niobe from the Matrix films, then that'd be wicked cool, eh?

Bollywood's UTV Motion Pictures is really, really serious about getting involved with the American film industry. Yesterday there was an article in The New York Times about Will Smith's two-film collaboration with the company, and today Variety reported that UTV will -- in an agreement unrelated to the Smith deal -- co-produce Fox Searchlight's Chris Rock-directed Chloe in the Afternoon remake, I Think I Love My Wife.

The Smith deal, which is actually with Overbrook Entertainment, the company founded by Smith and partner James Lassiter, is interesting because the films will be India-based (with Sony managing worldwide distribution), and will in no way feature Smith's face. Instead, he and Lassiter will develop, cast and produce the films, while UTV will take care of financing (up to an level that hasn't been made public; beyond that point, Overbrook will be responsible for raising necessary money). The Fox deal, meanwhile, is strictly financial: UTV has provided $7 million of the movie's budget, and will also handle Indian distribution.