| 42.4 percent News
LOS ANGELES, March 4th, 2005 Production began this week on Focus
Features' 42.4 percent, a romantic comedy starring Sanaa Lathan (Brown
Sugar, Alien vs. Predator) and Simon Baker (The Ring Two, L.A. Confidential)
and directed by Sanaa Hamri. Stephanie Allain is producing the film through
her company, Homegrown Pictures. Focus holds worldwide rights to the movie.
Focus co-presidents David Linde and James Schamus made the announcement
today.
Joining the two leads in the feature are Golden Brooks (star of the popular
sitcom Girlfriends, and soon to be seen in Beauty Shop), Mike Epps (upcoming
in Guess Who and The Honeymooners), Donald Faison (from the hit NBC series
Scrubs), Taraji P. Henson (of this summer's Hustle & Flow and Four
Brothers), Wendy Raquel Robinson (of this summer's Rebound), four-time
NAACP Image Award winner Blair Underwood, and four-time Emmy Award winner
Alfre Woodard.
Ms. Hamri, a top director of music videos, is making her feature directorial
debut on the movie. The original screenplay is by Kriss Turner (The Bernie
Mac Show), with recent revisions by Lisa Jones (Disappearing Acts) and
Kasi Lemmons (Eve's Bayou). Preston Holmes is executive-producing the
film. Focus executive vice president, production Joe Pichirallo is supervising
the project for the company, reporting to president of production John
Lyons.
The movie is about finding love when and where it's least expected. Kenya
(played by Ms. Lathan) is a career woman who, while being a success professionally,
yearns for comparable personal satisfaction. Looking for that perfect
man, she even has a checklist at the ready. Much to her surprise, she
sets off sparks with Brian (Mr. Baker), who's not what she'd pictured
for herself. They share a mutual attraction, passion, and a deepening
connection. Can Kenya retire her checklist, sweep aside preconceptions,
and commit to a future with Brian?
Mr. Linde and Mr. Schamus said, "At Focus, we look for love stories
that feed both heart and soul. Sanaa Hamri is bringing a visually lush
cinematic technique to the storytelling, and Stephanie has brought together
a terrific cast."
Moroccan-born Sanaa Hamri has helmed videos for Prince (Musicology, which
was nominated for several MTV Video Music Awards), India.Arie (The Truth
and Little(more)Things, for which she won an NAACP Image Award), Common
featuring Mary J. Blige (Come Close), Heather Headley (He Is), Jadakiss
(Ask Why), Sting, Destiny's Child, and Mariah Carey, among other artists.
Ms. Allain's slate of projects also includes the Sundance Film Festival
Audience Award winner Hustle & Flow, which she produced with John
Singleton, to be released this summer. She also produced Biker Boyz. Previously,
during her eight years as a Columbia Pictures creative executive, she
launched the careers of such filmmakers as Mr. Singleton (on Boyz n the
Hood) and Robert Rodriguez (on El Mariachi).
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