Ryan Pinkston, who gained attention as a mischievous kid on MTV's Punk'd, is in negotiations to star in Slay the Bully for New Line Cinema. Student Academy Award winner Dennis Lee is making his feature directorial debut on the project. The movie, which is based on a Roy Frumkes and Rocco Simonelli spec that has been rewritten by Rob Lieber, centers on an eighth-grader (Pinkston) who moves to a new town. He is immediately mistaken for having beaten the resident bully to a pulp, and a rematch is set for the wrestling ring. Darryl Taja is producing along with Promark Entertainment's David Bixler and Jon Kramer. Overseeing for New Line are Mark Kaufman and Matt Moore. Pinkston's feature credits include Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over and Bad Santa. He next appears in Soul Plane. He is repped by Cindy Osbrink of the Osbrink Talent Agency and Chris Fenton of H2F Entertainment.
Model-turned-actress Ivana Milicevic is poised to join Sean Astin and Vinnie Jones in the sci-fi indie Slipstream for MPCA and helmer David Van Eyssen. The project is due to start lensing this month in South Africa. Slipstream centers on a young scientist (Astin) who invents a time-travel device that allows those who touch it to travel 10 minutes into the past. His plan to use the machine for a bank heist goes awry when a group of robbers tries to hold up the same place. Milicevic will play an FBI agent who is assigned to thwart the plot of Astin's character. Brad Krevoy, David Lancaster, David Bixler and Frank Hubner are producing, with Julia Verdin co-producing. Milicevic, who starred on HBO's The Mind of the Married Man, is repped by UTA, One Entertainment and attorney Karl Austen. She next appears in the features Paycheck and Love Actually.
- 10/27/2003
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Dennis Lee, a silver medalist at this year's Student Academy Awards, will make his feature directorial debut on the New Line Cinema comedy Slay the Bully. The project, which is based on a Roy Frumkes and Rocco Simonelli spec that has been rewritten by Rob Lieber, centers on a boy who transfers to a new junior high school and must face the school bully after being mistakenly credited with beating him up. Catch 23/Alter Ego's Darryl Taja is producing with Promark Entertainment's David Bixler. Promark's Jon Kramer is executive producing, while New Line production senior vp Mark Kaufman and vp David Brewington are overseeing for the studio. Lee, who is still finishing up his Columbia University master's degree, is a newcomer who has quickly garnered studio attention after his short Jesus Henry Christ was honored at the Student Academy Awards. He also will collect the DGA Award for best Asian American student filmmaker at a ceremony this week. Lee is repped by the Gersh Agency, manager Sukee Chew and attorney Mitch Smelkinson.
- 10/14/2003
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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