Palm-Star Entertainment has teamed with Red Bird Cinema for 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 the screenplay. Film will be produced by Palm-Star’s CEO and co-founder Kevin Frakes, and Red Bird’s John Loar and Kevin Pollak, with their partners Buzz Bissinger and Tony La Russa acting as executive producer, along with Sriram Das and Palm-Star’s Chairman and co-founder Stephan Paternot.
3 Nights in August was heralded as “flat-out, one of the best books on the subject ever,” by author Mark Bowden (Black Hawk Down, Killing Pablo) and its author for, “a masterpiece of reporting and writing.” Bissinger was given historical access to the Cardinal’s manager, as well as his staff and team. Using a three game series between the Chicago Cubs and the St. Louis Cardinals in August 2003 as its backdrop, this New York Times Bestseller ultimately sheds unprecedented light on every aspect of baseball, through the eyes and strategic mind of five-time Coach of the Year Tony La Russa.
“Tony La Russa is considered to be one of the greatest managers in baseball history,” says Palm-Star’s Kevin Frakes. “We’re thrilled to be working with Tony, and Red Bird Cinema, to bring Buzz’s book to the screen, which brings a new insider’s view to America’s greatest pastime.”
Palm-Star Entertainment is an independent film company based in New York and Los Angeles, founded last year by Stephan Paternot and Kevin Frakes. Palm-Star is focused on developing literary driven properties and raises independent production financing for its smaller budgeted films. Last year, Palm-Star optioned Bret Easton Ellis’ international bestseller Lunar Park and completed production of its first two features, “Fifty Pills,” which recently premiered at the 2006 Tribeca Film Festival to rave reviews, and “Premium,” which premiered at the Miami International Film Festival.
John Loar, Kevin Pollak and Tony LaRussa recently formed Red Bird Cinema, with its sights set on producing several projects after successfully launching “3 Nights in August.”
