‘Flow’ director hustles production deal

By Nicole Sperling

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) – On the eve of the
release of his first studio feature, the writer/director of
“Hustle & Flow” has signed a two-year production deal with the
film’s distributor.

Craig Brewer will develop projects for Paramount Pictures
and its Paramount Classics specialty division through his new
production company, Southern Cross the Dog, which he runs with
former studio executive Stephanie Allain.

Their first project under the deal is the previously
announced “Black Snake Moan,” starring Samuel L. Jackson and
Christina Ricci. The $13 million production will begin filming
in the fall in Memphis.

The deal is not limited to pictures Brewer writes and
directs. The two also might develop and produce other projects
with outside writers and directors.

“We think Hollywood needs a bit of a reboot, and we’re
going to invest in new talent and new ideas,” Brewer said.
“Stephanie has her finger on the pulse, and we think Paramount
trusts us to bring those types of people in.”

Brewer and Allain first joined forces with Paramount when
it bid $9 million for “Hustle & Flow” at the Sundance Film
Festival in January. Terrence Howard stars as a Memphis hustler
who dreams of becoming a rapper. Opening nationwide on Friday,
the R-rated picture was produced by director John Singleton (“2
Fast 2 Furious”), who financed it himself when no studio would
touch it. He will also produce “Black Snake Moan.”

The name of Brewer and Allain’s production company,
Southern Cross the Dog, refers to the famed W.C. Handy lyric
“I’m going down where the Southern cross the dog.” It’s a
reference to the spot where the Southern Railroad once met the
Yazoo Railroad in Moorhead, Miss.

“It’s a legendary crossroads, where longing for your best
self and creativity meet,” said Allain.

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter