June 12 2006

Angela Robinson and Alex Martinez Kondracke have sold their pitch “Mi Casa, Su Casa” to Walt Disney Pictures. The Latino comedy is about a family that has to deal with culture clash. Kondracke will direct, as well as produce with Robinson and Mario Iscovich. LouAnne Brickhouse and Josh Simon are shepherding for the studio. 6/12

In animation news: First, Lionsgate has acquired the North American distribution rights to the CG family comedy film “Happily N’Ever After.” Robert Moreland wrote the script for the revisionist take on a familiar fable that has Cinderella (“Ella” in this version) leading a resistance force against evil-doers being marshaled by her evil stepmother. Sarah Michelle Gellar, Sigourney Weaver, Freddie Prinze Jr., George Carlin, Wallace Shawn and Andy Dick lend their voice talent to the project. Paul J. Bolger directed. John H. Williams produced, while Ralph Kamp and Louise Goodsil (Odyssey Entertainment) executive produced with Rainer Soehnlein (BFC Berliner Film Companie).

Second, Leon Benvenuti and Steve Rudnick have sold their CG animation pitch “Mayfly” to Paramount Pictures/Nickelodeon Films. The family film will be about the unlikely friendship between the titular insect – that has a very short lifespan – and a tortoise – which can live up to a century. Julia Pistor will produce the project. 6/12

Stephen Herek has been hired to write and direct “Einstein’s Children” by Gold Circle Films and Thunder Road Films. Based on the autobiographical book “A Smile as Big as the Moon” by Mike Kersjes, the drama is about a teacher of "special needs" kids who gets his students into NASA’s Space Camp, despite the fact that the program is normally for gifted students. Paul Brooks and Basil Iwanyk are producing, while Scott Niemeyer and Norm Waitt are executive producing. 6/12