By MCN Editor editor@moviecitynews.com
MICHAEL PITT TO STAR IN DIRECTOR ROBINSON DEVOR’S YOU CAN’T WIN
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Adaptation of Classic Underground Novel Set to Begin Shooting in Late April
New York, NY (April 18, 2012) – Parts & Labor’s Lars Knudsen and Jay Van Hoy and producers Robert Scarff and Zach Sebastian announced today that they are partnering to produce YOU CAN’T WIN. Acclaimed helmer Robinson Devor (ZOO, POLICE BEAT) will direct, with Michael Pitt (BOARDWALK EMPIRE, LAST DAYS) set to star and also produce. The screenplay, which is adapted from Jack Black’s 1926 autobiographical novel of the same name, is co-written by Devor, Pitt, Barry Gifford and Charles Mudede, with whom the director partnered on ZOO and POLICE BEAT.
Principal photography will begin in Seattle later this month.
Based on the autobiography of Jack Black, YOU CAN’T WIN chronicles the journey of a man from childhood through an adult life spent mostly on the road, freight-hopping across the western United States and Canada. The film tells the heretofore untold story of the Yegg Brotherhood, a loose confederation of hobos, bums, tramps, and travelling criminals riding the rails in turn-of-the-century America. An introduction to an authentic piece of forgotten American history, YOU CAN’T WIN is a story about the excitement of adventure, the suspense of risk and reward, the hopelessness of incarceration and addiction, and the hope of love, self-worth and recovery.
Devor made his feature film directorial debut with THE WOMAN CHASER. In 2005, his second feature film, POLICE BEAT premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. His last feature film, the controversial but celebrated documentary ZOO, premiered at Sundance in 2007 and went on to play at Cannes in the Director’s Fortnight section.
Founded in 2004, Parts & Labor is a New York based film production company, whose previous film projects include Kelly Reichardt’s OLD JOY, Aaron Katz’s COLD WEATHER, and Mike Mills’ BEGINNERS. The company is currently producing DIRTY WHITEBOY, which will star Michael K. Williams (THE WIRE, BOARDWALK EMPIRE) as late hip-hop artist Ol’ Dirty Bastard.
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