NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 21: Celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain attends the "Treme" New York Premiere after party at Rouge Tomate on April 21, 2011 in New York City.
John W. Ferguson/Getty ImagesAn adaptation of chef-turned-author Anthony Bourdain’s best-selling book Bone in the Throat is one of a trio of high-profile projects on L.A.-based film and TV production banner Dignity Film Finance’s development roster.
Dignity president Maggie Monteith is prepping the projects to finance and produce later this year through her banner.
Lenny Beckerman (Uwantmetokillhim?) and Peter Heslop (The King’s Speech) will produce the Bone project.
Monteith’s company also has put into development the rom-com Closer to Fine, to be directed by Joshua Michael Stern (Swing Vote), and Spy vs. Stu, an action comedy to be directed by Herve Renoh (Coursier).
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“I am thrilled about the titles we have on our slate and the caliber of talent that are already attached,” said Monteith. “As we are actively putting together all the other components on these films, I am delighted to say that the process has been a pleasure and they are all coming together exactly how I envisioned.”
Beckerman first acquired the rights to Bourdain’s book, billed as a tale of murder, mayhem and the mob.
The wiseguy genre caper set in East London will be directed by Graham Henman, marking his feature helming debut. British-born Henman — best known for his auto and beer commercials for Chevrolet, Miller and Budweiser — also wrote the screenplay with Mark Townsend.
France-born Renoh will direct a project billed as a buddy-style action film about Victor, a world-class espionage agent who is on the hunt for an elusive arms dealer, and the contentedly average Stu and how their worlds collide. The original screenplay was written by Allie Dvorin, Keith Mitchell and Gren Wells (A Little Bit of Heaven). South African-based production house Film Afrika, headed by David Wicht, will be handling the physical production on the film.
Written by Stern, Closer to Fine is produced by Scott LaStaiti and details the story of a small-town lifestyle guru who is kidnapped and blackmailed into planning a wedding for a down-on-their-luck Southern family.
Dignity Film Finance aims to finance and produce between eight and 10 films a year in the $6 million to $15 million range.
Monteith’s resume boasts more than two decades on the distribution and marketing of more than 200 films including Godzilla, Men In Black, Jerry Maguire and The People vs. Larry Flynt.
Most recently, Monteith executive produced the Mickey Rourke thriller 13 and Dark Tide, with Halle Berry and Olivier Martinez, and produced The Experiment for Sony.
