Osment makes move 'Forward' in Bel-Air film
(Hollywood Reporter - 232 words - Mon., Nov. 29, 1999) By Zorianna Kit

Haley Joel Osment, the boy who spooked audiences in "The Sixth Sense," is in final negotiations to star opposite Kevin Spacey in Bel-Air Entertainment's "Pay It Forward."

The drama is expected to begin shooting in Arizona and Los Angeles in mid-February with director Mimi Leder at the helm.

Written by Leslie Dixon from a novel of the same name by Catherine Ryan Hyde, "Pay It Forward" tells the story of a physically and emotionally scarred social studies teacher (Spacey) who assigns his class to think of an idea for world change and put it into action. One of his students, a boy (Osment) whose single mom is struggling with alcohol, takes the assignment to heart by committing random acts of kindness and hopes his idea will catch on. The female lead, the role of the mother, will likely be the next cast.

Warner Bros. will co-finance the project and distribute the film, which is being produced by Bel Air's Steven Reuther and Tapestry Films' Peter Abrams and Robert Levy. Jonathan Treisman executive produces. Bel Air's executive production vp Alex Schwartz is overseeing the project for the company.

Osment, repped by Coast to Coast Talent Group's Meredith Fine and attorney Bill Soble, next stars in the indie feature "I'll Remember April." He starred in the features "Bogus" and "Forrest Gump" and was a series regular on "Murphy Brown" and "The Jeff Foxworthy Show."

Bel Air will 'Pay' next Spacey pic
Leder helming; Hunt eyed for role

By MICHAEL FLEMING, November 23, 1999

NEW YORK - Kevin Spacey is in final talks to star for Steve Reuther's Bel Air in "Pay It Forward," a film to be directed next year by Mimi Leder.

Based on a novel by Catherine Ryan Hyde, story centers on an unusual trio: a teacher who is physically and mentally scarred from child abuse (Spacey), his student and the student's mother. Spacey is the first to be cast, but Bel Air is out to top actresses to play the mother, with Helen Hunt among those mentioned. Warner Bros. will release the film.

Leslie Dixon ("The Thomas Crown Affair") adapted the novel, which draws its unusual title from a system of goodwill implemented by the young student as a way to improve the world. If a person does you a good deed, you pay it forward by doing something nice to someone else.

Having come up with the system when challenged by his teacher to change the world, the kid tests his system by taking in a homeless person, and the boy's mother, herself emotionally scarred, heads right to the school to complain to the teacher. They develop a relationship. All the while, a journalist tries to figure out the origin of the pay-it-forward system of good deeds, which is transforming a gritty little town. The story is gritty but uplifting.

"It's so difficult to find a movie that shows optimism that isn't forced," said Reuther, who hopes to start production in mid-February. "Each of the characters is a real, flawed human being, and Kevin was our first and only choice for the role," said Reuther.

Spacey is coming off a Tony-nominated Broadway run in "The Iceman Cometh" and a critically acclaimed performance in the Sam Mendes-directed "American Beauty." His Trigger Street Prods. just produced "The Big Kahuna," a project which took root at Lion's Gate. Spacey and Danny DeVito star as salesmen at an industrial lubricants convention in Wichita, Kan.

  Leder, Bel Air going 'Forward'
By Zorianna Kit --Thurs., Aug. 19, 1999

"Deep Impact" helmer Mimi Leder is set to direct "Pay It Forward" for Steve Reuther's Bel Air Entertainment. The project is gearing up for casting.

Based on the yet-to-be published novel by Catherine Ryan Hyde, "Forward" is the story about relationships among a dysfunctional single mother, an emotionally scarred teacher and a child who comes home from school with an assignment to come up with an idea that will change the world.

The boy creates the notion of doing a favor for someone in advance, which will ideally result in that person doing another favor for someone else, also in advance.

Leslie Dixon, who wrote MGM's "The Thomas Crown Affair" and "Mrs. Doubtfire," adapted the novel to a screenplay. Her script attracted Leder's attention.

The project originally was acquired by Bel Air through Jonathan Treisman, who will executive produce. Peter Abrams and Robert Levy of Tapestry Films will also produce. "Forward" will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros.

Leder, repped by CAA, recently signed on to direct "Radio Loco" for Paramount-based Mutual Film Co. (HR 7/6). A veteran TV director ("ER," "L.A. Law"), Leder directed DreamWorks' inaugural feature "The Peacemaker." This year, she was presented with the Franklin J. Schafner Alumni Medal from the American Film Institute.

THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER
Wednesday, September 16, 1998

Bel Air Entertainment has signed "Mrs. Doubtfire" screenwriter Leslie Dixon to adapt "Pay It Forward," a soon-to-be published novel by Catherine Ryan Hyde about the relationships among a dysfunctional single mother, an emotionally scarred teacher and a child who may provide the vision to make the world a better place.

Dixon's credits also include the upcoming "The Thomas Crown Affair," "Look Who's Talking Now" and "Outrageous Fortune."

"We are fortunate that Leslie is committing to this material," Bel Air Entertainment chairman Steven Reuther said. "It is a very important project for Bel Air, and Leslie's passion to write the screenplay gives me tremendous confidence that this will be a Bel Air film next year."

"Forward" was acquired by Bel Air through Jonathan Treisman, who will serve as executive producer. The film, which will be distributed by Warner Bros. worldwide, will be produced by Peter Abrams and Robert Levy of Tapestry Films.

-Dana Harris Dixon going 'Forward' at Bel Air

"PAY IT FORWARD" is the story of Trevor McKinney, a twelve-year-old boy who comes home from school with an extra-credit assigment for his Social Studies Class:"THINK OF AN IDEA FOR WORLD CHANGE AND PUT IT INTO ACTION." Trevor's idea of "Paying it Forward" becomes a social movement which actually changes the world, for the better, and forever.

The film option for this project was purchased by Warner Brothers for Bel Air Entertainment, headed by producer Steven Reuther (Face/Off, The Client, Dirty Dancing, The Rainmaker, Pretty Woman, Boys on the Side), where it is now in development as a feature film. Screenwriter Leslie Dixon (Mrs. Doubtfire and The Thomas Crown Affair) has adapted the book for the screen.

Print rights on the novel have been purchased by Simon & Schuster, to be edited by editor in chief Michael Korda and vice president and senior editor Chuck Adams. The book will be released in February 2000.

A second novel has also been purchased by Simon & Schuster, "Walter's Purple Heart." It is optioned for film as well.

This page will be updated with news as it becomes available.