MARA BROCK-AKIL, HUSBAND PACT WITH WEINSTEIN CO.: ‘Girlfriends’ duo to produce film for shingle’s urban banner
*The Weinstein Co. has signed husband-and-wife producing/directing team Mara Brock Akil and Salim Akil to a writing, producing and directing deal under its urban banner, Our Stories Films.
Their first project under the new pact will be a film about a woman who starts a business to investigate the mates of high-powered women after she herself is left at the altar. Mara Brock Akil will write the screenplay and Salim Akil will direct, reports Variety. The pair’s Happy Camper Prods. banner will produce.
As previously reported, Our Stories was created last year by the Weinsteins and BET founder Robert Johnson as the first label at a studio or mini-major devoted to releasing movies for black audiences. Our Stories president Tracey Edmonds said the shingle was attracted to the Brock Akil project because she offers "a smart, humorous but accurate perspective on modern-day singledom and dating."
The movie will reunite Edmonds with Salim Akil, who collaborated on her Showtime drama series, "Soul Food."
Mara Brock Akil executive produces and writes the ensemble sitcom "Girlfriends" as well as its spinoff, "The Game," both of which air on the CW. Salim Akil has directed numerous episodes of both series.
The Akils film is the second announced project on the Our Stories slate after "Who's Your Caddy?," a Big Boi vehicle about a rap mogul trying to gain access to a country club, which opens in July.
(Source: Electronic Urban Web)
