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"Museum" director going back to school


http://en.youth.cn   2007-05-08 15:22:00

Director Shawn Levy arrives at the American Museum of Natural History for the premiere of the movie "Night at the Museum" in New York, in this December 17, 2006 file photo. Levy will produce a big-screen adaptation of "The Overachievers," a nonfiction book about students obsessed with the college-application process. [File Photo: Reuters/Eric Thayer]

"Night at the Museum" director Shawn Levy will produce a big-screen adaptation of "The Overachievers," a nonfiction book about students obsessed with the college-application process.

Author Alexandra Robbins ("Pledged: The Secret Life of Sororities") recounted the lives of teens at a Bethesda, Md., high school who must contend with illness, physical deterioration, cheating, fanatical parents and emotional breakdowns. The book was published in August.

"I read the book while I was at the tail end of the 'Night at the Museum' shoot, and it really spoke to certain experiences I had had as a 16-year-old, virtually killing myself to get into Yale," Levy said.

"And I was kind of horrified to admit that I related to these kids. And there is something really unique about the culture right now where you have kids sacrificing the enjoyment of their youth to get to the next level. And the question is, what is the cost of ambition when you are 17 years old?"

The plan is to make a character-driven teen comedy a la John Hughes. The project is set up at Universal Pictures.

Levy will serve as a producer through his 21 Laps banner. As with any movie the company develops, there is a possibility he might direct.

He next directs "The Way Back" for Fox Searchlight, and is preparing "Hardy Men" with Ben Stiller and Tom Cruise.

By Borys Kit and Tatiana Siegel

 
source : Reuters     editor::
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