indieWIRE reports that Ryan Fleck’s award-winning short film, GOWANUS, BROOKLYN, will be expanded into a feature length film. GOWANUS, which played at both the Sundance and Tribeca Film Festivals, was a favorite of Chris & Diane’s when it screened at the 2004 Independent Film Festival of Boston. The film is about “Drey, a 12-year-old Brooklyn girl who discovers her teacher smoking crack after school and is compelled to investigate further.”
The feature would be called HALF NELSON, and already attached are Ryan Gosling and Anthony Mackie. It is hoped that Shareeka Epps, who starred in the short as Drey, might reprise her role in the feature. Fleck co-wrote the scipt with Anna Boden, who is producing along with Traction Media, the company behind the much-anticipated HARD CANDY.
Speaking of HARD CANDY, starring Chlotrudis Awards-winner Ellen Page, Lion’s Gate Films has recently announced a release date of December 23 for this controversial film. It’s later than I expected, but perhaps this means we’ll get to see it in Toronto!