From Variety: Paramount Vantage has optioned the Sudhir Venkatesh book “Gang Leader for a Day” and set Craig Brewer to direct and “Sopranos” scribe Michael Caleo to write the script. What more? Some pretty accomplished filmmakers have signed on to a Freakonomics doc, in which they will each adapt a chapter. More here.
I’m holding my breath that funding for my own doc project will come through sometime next month. It will be decidedly different in both style and scope from the all-star “independent” films coming out of the Freakonomics franchise, and it’s too early in the process for any of the developments to be bloggable. But I’m anxious to write more about the challenges involved with translating academic research to film. Hopefully soon!
