Craig Brewer’s career as a filmmaker is continuing to flourish under Paramount’s indie division label. The harmonious relationship began when the Classics division picked up the Sundance titled Hustle & Flow for distribution, continued with Black Snake Moan – one of the first Spring tentpole films for what was a new Vantage label, and has now matured with a project that takes Brewer back onto the streets.
Variety reports that Paramount Vantage have optioned Gang Leader for a
Day and have sprung “Sopranos” writer Michael Caleo (The Last Time) onto the script. The true-life story is based on Sudhir Venkatesh book – the Columbia U. professor decided to make a crack-dealing gang in Chicago part of a research project. He
befriended the Black Kings and their leader and was invited to observe
close up. Venkatesh found a close-knit group whose corporate culture
was much like that of a successful legitimate business. Venkatesh was
given the job of calling the shots of the criminal enterprise for a day.
Venkatesh’s story made intially became part of Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner’s Freakonomics – I’m not sure if any of the list of doc filmmakers attached to the screen project with dramatize this story as well.
Paramount had Brewer attached to direct a biopic based on the life of singer Charley Pride (Howard).
