Joshua Marston will write and direct his next project, temporarily titled "The Iraqi Convoy Project," for Warner Independent Pictures.

Marston, who established himself with his debut feature "Maria Full of Grace," which dramatized drug-running, is turning his attention to another socially conscious topic: American truckers who have made a one-year commitment to drive goods for U.S. contractors through the Iraqi war zone because of financial hardships back home.

Cherry Road Films will finance the development of the project. Marston, whose plate was full with various projects, cleared his schedule after he discussed the idea with WIP's Michael Andreen and Tommaso Fiacchino from Cherry Road. The director quickly developed a six-page e-mail outlining his vision for a story.

Marston will be fictionalizing the material, creating a character-driven film within a bigger social context.

The writer-director is expected to begin working on the script immediately. Although there is no deadline for the script, the intent is to get the project done quickly because of the story's timely nature.

Paul Mezey, Marston's producer on "Maria," will produce the new project, along with Cherry Road, which has a two-year development deal with WIP. WIP head Mark Gill and Andreen will serve as the execs on the project.

Marston is repped by WMA and attorneys Andrew Horowitz and Sue Bodine.