Press release: Production begins on Paul Weitz drama starring De Niro and Paul Dano

NEW YORK, March 8th, 2011 – Production has begun, on East Coast locations, on a Focus Features drama from Academy Award-nominated writer/director Paul Weitz. The as-yet untitled film stars two-time Academy Award winner Robert De Niro and is based on Nick Flynn’s 2004 memoir entitled Another Bulls—t Night in Suck City. Focus CEO James Schamus made the announcement today.

Mr. De Niro has been joined in the cast by Paul Dano (There Will Be Blood), Spirit Award winner Dale Dickey (Winter’s Bone), Emmy Award nominee Lili Taylor (Six Feet Under), Olivia Thirlby (Juno), and four-time Academy Award nominee Julianne Moore (Focus’ The Kids Are All Right). Mr. Weitz and Andrew Miano, both of the production company Depth of Field, are producing the film with Corduroy Films and with Mr. De Niro’s Tribeca Productions. The executive producers are Tribeca’s Jane Rosenthal and Meghan Lyvers, Caroline Baron, and Depth of Field’s Kerry Kohansky.

Declan Quinn (Rachel Getting Married) is the cinematographer on the film, and Emmy Award winner Sarah Knowles (Warm Springs) is the production designer. Focus executive vice president, production and development Kahli Small and creative executive Christopher Kopp are supervising the project for president of production John Lyons.

The dramatic feature tells the story of a young writer, Nick (portrayed by Mr. Dano), who takes a job at a homeless shelter – where one night he discovers his long-absent father Jonathan (Mr. De Niro) seeking a bed. Ms. Moore portrays the writer’s mother Jody; and Ms. Thirlby portrays Denise, a worker at the shelter.

Mr. Schamus said, “Nick’s memoir was emotional, ruefully funny, and powerfully moving. Paul’s movie looks to honor Nick’s experiences – and his father’s. We are privileged to be working with these filmmakers and talent to tell this story.”

Mr. Weitz commented, “I’ve been working on this script for seven years, gone through 30 drafts, and I feel extremely lucky to be making this draft, with this cast, at this studio.”

Mr. Weitz was an Academy Award nominee, with his brother Chris, for adapting Nick Hornby’s novel About a Boy into the film of the same name, which they co-directed. Paul Weitz’ other films as writer/director include In Good Company and American Dreamz.

Focus Features and Focus Features International (www.focusfeatures.com) comprise a singular global company. This worldwide studio makes original and daring films that challenge the mainstream to embrace and enjoy voices and visions from around the world that deliver global commercial success. The company operates as Focus Features in North America, and as Focus Features International (FFI) in the rest of the world.

In addition to Mr. Weitz’ project, the Focus Features slate includes Kevin Macdonald’s Roman epic adventure The Eagle, starring Channing Tatum and Jamie Bell; Cary Joji Fukunaga’s romantic drama Jane Eyre, starring Mia Wasikowska and Michael Fassbender; Joe Wright’s adventure thriller Hanna, starring Saoirse Ronan, Eric Bana, and Cate Blanchett; Mike Mills’ comedy/drama Beginners, starring Ewan McGregor and Christopher Plummer; writer/director Dee Rees’ contemporary drama Pariah, which world-premiered at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival; John Madden’s espionage thriller The Debt, starring Helen Mirren, Sam Worthington, and Jessica Chastain; and Lone Scherfig’s romance One Day, based on the bestselling novel, starring Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess.

Focus Features is part of NBCUniversal, one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. NBCUniversal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment television networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, and world-renowned theme parks. Comcast Corporation owns a controlling 51% interest in NBCUniversal, with GE holding a 49% stake.