HOLLYWOOD, CA (August 2006) – PalmStar Entertainment is developing Peter Biskind’s (Easy Riders, Raging Bulls) industry expose Down and Dirty Pictures: Miramax, Sundance, and the Rise of Independent Film into a feature length comedy. Ken Bowser (“Easy Riders, Raging Bulls”) is attached to direct and British comedy writer Dean Craig (Frank Oz’ “Death at the Funeral”) will pen the screenplay. Film will be produced by Palm-Star’s CEO and co-founder Kevin Frakes. Executive Produced by PalmStar’s Chairman and co-founder Stephan Paternot, Sriram Das and Gary Kaplan, Vivek Tiwary of Tiwary Entertainment Group.

Down and Dirty Pictures is a highly entertaining saga about the independent film movement in the 1990’s and the filmmakers and people associated in this small world. Biskind’s focus is Sundance Film Festival founder Robert Redford and Miramax’s co-chairman Harvey Weinstein who are instrumental leaders in the independent film world.

Says Biskind, “Behind the cameras with the giants of the indie film scene in the 90’s was almost as exciting as what was in front of the cameras. It’s a subject that demands to be made into a feature film.”

Bowser adds, “Down and Dirty Pictures was so obviously a movie that I was a little amazed when we managed to snatch up the rights before the studios moved in. It’s outrageous, insane, passionate and hilarious; you couldn’t make these guys up. They’re like offensive linemen rampaging across the fields of Sundance sacking anyone who gets in their way, while the handsome movie star owner of the stadium smiles benevolently down on his charges. If that’s not a movie I don’t know what is.”

PalmStar Entertainment is an independent film company based in New York and Los Angeles, founded last year by Kevin Frakes. PalmStar is focused on developing literary driven properties and raises independent production financing for its smaller budgeted films. Currently, PalmStar is developing a feature film adaptation of 3 Nights in August, written by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Buzz Bissinger (Friday Night Lights, Shattered Glass). Actor and writer Kevin Pollak (“Usual Suspects”) will adapt to screenplay. Last year, PalmStar completed production of its first two features, “Fifty Pills” and “Premium”. “Fifty Pills” recently premiered at the 2006 Tribeca Film Festival to rave reviews. The film directed by Theo Avgerinos, stars Kristen Bell (“Veronica Mars”), Lou Taylor Pucci (“Thumbsucker”), Michael Pena (“Crash”) and John Hensley (“Nip/Tuck”). “Premium” directed by Pete Chatmon, premiered at the Miami International Film Festival and stars Zoe Saldana (“Pirates of the Caribbean 2”), Hill Harper (“CSI:NY”), Dorian Missick (“The Manchurian Candidate”), William Sadler (“The Green Mile”) and Frankie Faison (“In Good Company”).

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By: Variety

PalmStar Entertainment has optioned Bret Easton Ellis’ latest novel, Lunar Park, says Variety.

Lunar Park is Ellis’ most autobiographical work, in which the author-narrator is a narcissistic, self-pitying drug fiend who gets a shot at redemption when movie star Jayne Dennis, an old flame, offers to marry him. The deal is that he must now connect with Robby, the son he has shunned for 11 years.

Lunar Park will be the fifth of Ellis’ novels to be adapted to the big screen. Less Than Zero, American Psycho and The Rules of Attraction have all been released, and Glamorama is in development.

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December 7th, 2005 (Hollywood, CA) Bret Easton Ellis’ new international best-seller LUNAR PARK has been optioned by PalmStar Entertainment, an independent production company based in New York and Los Angeles.

In Lunar Park, Ellis spins a story of his own contentious and haunted real life, is the author’s latest novel to receive rave reviews around the world and is listed as the New York Times’ 100 Most Notable Books of the Year. Author to bestsellers Less Than Zero, The Rules of Attraction, American Psycho and Glamorama, Lunar Park will be the fifth of Ellis’ novels to be adapted to film. Ellis’ first book, Less Than Zero (1987) was filmed for Fox, American Psycho (2000) and The Rules of Attraction (2002) were released by Lions Gate Entertainment and Glamorama in development.

Less Than Zero established Ellis reputation as one of publishing’s brashest young writers, but it was American Psycho that earned him the term “controversial” and shot him to literary stardom. From the moment it was published by Knopf in 1998, the book attracted condemnation from womens’s groups and religious conservatives. The film version had a rocky start, with various directors and stars attached as the publicity increased over the book. Ultimately green-lit by Lions Gate, American Psycho was directed by Mary Harron and produced by Ed Pressman and starred Christian Bale, Chloe Sevingny, Reese Witherspoon, Jared Leto and Willem Dafoe. With a budget of less $7 Million, the film went on to earn over $50 million worldwide for Lions Gate including videocassette and DVD sales.

“We believed in Lunar Park so strongly that we put in a pre-emptive bid the very next day after it came to us”, said Kevin Frakes, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of PalmStar Entertainment. “We were in a bit of a battle, but it was personal for our company and we went the extra mile to close the deal”. PalmStar has been fielding interest from producers, directors and writers, but are taking their time in packaging the project.

“Lunar Park is the most personal book I’ve written even if on the surface it reads like a thriller. It took a long time to complete and PalmStar has known about the book from the beginning. And they witnessed the usual complaints, anxieties, and excitement that occur when you’re completing a novel.” Concedes author Bret Easton Ellis. “Now it’s their turn to move through that process.”

About PalmStar Entertainment

Based in New York and Los Angeles, PalmStar Entertainment was founded in 2004 by Kevin Frakes, an NYU Film and Yale MBA graduate. The Company co-produces and co-finances low budget independent films and has recently completed production on its first two feature films: 50 Pills starring Kristen Bell and Lou Pucci and Premium starring Zoe Saldana, Hill Harper and Frankie Faison. For more information please visit the site: www.palmstar.com

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