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15 February, 2005
Frey pens MTV's 'Prep'
By Dave McNary
HOLLYWOOD -- Paramount and MTV Films have tapped James Frey to script the adaptation of “Prep,” MTV's production of Jake Coburn's dark tale of New York City's prep schools. “Prep,” set in the world of elite Manhattan prep schools, centers on a young man who's seduced by what's portrayed as Gotham's uninhibited party lifestyle. Over the course of a weekend, he reconciles with a girlfriend while trying to save her younger brother, who has been targeted by a local gang. Frey is best known for his memoir “A Million Little Pieces,” which detailed his attempts to overcome addictions to alcohol and crack cocaine. He's adapting “Pieces” into a screenplay for Warner Bros. with John Wells and Plan B producing and Lawrence Dunmore directing. Frey is developing a TV pilot for 20th Century Fox and has written another book, “My Friend Leonard,” a sequel to "A Million Little Pieces" that's due to be published in June. Benderspink partners Chris Bender and JC Spink are exec producing “Prep” with Coburn's manager, Dave Brown. Paramount VP of production Pamela Abdy and Eben Davidson are shepherding the project for the studio while MTV Films VP Heather Parry is overseeing for the shingle; Jill McElroy, who brought “Prep” into Benderspink, is co-producing. Coburn's next novel, “LoveSick,” will be published in September by Dutton. The deal for “Prep” is the latest move under Viacom co-prexy Tom Freston and newly installed studio chief Brad Grey to aim Paramount toward younger, hipper audiences by taking advantage of the MTV brand. MTV also is developing an untitled heist project with Sean Combs and action-drama “Locked and Loaded,” with Jim Sheridan directing rapper 50 Cent.
15 November, 2004
MTV Films preps for 'Prep'
By Dave McNary
HOLLYWOOD -- MTV Films has decided to go to “Prep,” optioning film rights to Jake Coburn's dark tale of New York City's prep schools for MTV and Benderspink to produce for Paramount Pictures. “Prep” is aimed at providing a glimpse into the life of a prep school kid seduced by what is portrayed as Gotham's uninhibited party lifestyle. As he tries to leave that life behind, the protagonist finds himself thrust back into that world to save the brother of the woman he loves. Project's aimed at evoking similar themes to those of “The Outsiders.” Benderspink partners Chris Bender and JC Spink are exec producing with Coburn's manager, Dave Brown. Coburn and Brown met while students at Brown U. and reunited in Los Angeles after Coburn's novel had been published. His next novel's entitled “LoveSick.” Paramount VP of production Pamela Abdy and Eben Davidson are shepherding the project for the studio while Heather Parry and Carrie Beck will oversee for MTV. “Prep,” Coburn's first novel, focused on the subculture of urban prep school gangs and their attendant drug use, sex and violence. Coburn, who wrote the novel at the age of 24 as a part of a three-book deal with Dutton, grew up in Manhattan's Upper West Side and attended several prep schools. Jill McElroy brought “Prep” into Benderspink, which is in post-production on “The Ring 2” for DreamWorks and “Monster-in-Law” for New Line. It's in production on “A History of Violence” for New Line and in pre-production on “Just Friends” for New Line and “Red Eye” for DreamWorks.
The Hollywood Reporter
15 November, 2004
Benderspink, MTV 'Prep' Par project
By Borys Kit and Liza Foreman
Benderspink and MTV Films are teaming up to explore the party life of a prep school for Paramount Pictures. The project, "Prep," is based on Jake Coburn's 2003 novel that centers on privileged prep school teens with too much money and too few morals. The protagonist tries to leave that world behind but is thrust back in when he tries to save the brother of the girl he loves. No writers are yet attached to adapt the project. Benderspink's Jill McElroy brought producer Dave Brown and the novel into the company. MTV Films will act as producers, while Benderspink’s JC Spink and Chris Bender along with Brown are exec producers. Overseeing the project for MTV Films are Heather Parry and Carrie Beck. Pam Abdy and Eben Davidson are supervising for Paramount. Benderspink is in postproduction on “A History of Violence,” “Monster-In-Law,” and “The Ring 2,” is shooting “Red Eye” and is in production on “Just Friends.” The company has a first-look deal at New Line. MTV Films’ upcoming slate includes “Aeon Flux,” “The Longest Yard” and “The Warriors.” It also was one of the producers of “Napoleon Dynamite.”
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