For more information:
Frank R. Scatoni
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"No Kill Date"

Venture Literary Sells Film Rights to THE MIRACLE OF ST. ANTHONY to Walden Media

On September 27, 2007, Frank R. Scatoni of Venture Literary sold the film rights to Adrian Wojnarowski’s The Miracle of St. Anthony to Walden Media.

Walden Media, Jordan Kerner’s Kerner Entertainment Company, director Sam Weisman and writer Josh Shelov have joined up to develop a feature film adaptation of the award-winning sports columnist Adrian Wojnarowski’s 2005 book The Miracle of St. Anthony, a gripping exploration in the year of the life of one of the nation’s most successful and prolific high school basketball coaches, the legendary Bob Hurley, Sr. This is the first project to be developed under Kerner Entertainment Company’s first look deal with Walden Media.

Kerner, who previously partnered with Walden Media on 2006’s Charlotte’s Web, will serve as producer. Sam Weisman (George of the Jungle, Mighty Ducks II) will direct as well as executive produce, with Josh Shelov (Green Street Hooligans and the upcoming Ten Bears with Warner Bros.) adapting Wojnarowski’s book. Wojnarowski will consult along with Hurley on the film.

The Miracle of St. Anthony is the inspirational true story of famed high school basketball coach Bob Hurley, Sr., and his St. Anthony’s basketball team, which for years has provided a beacon of hope for the school’s downtrodden Jersey City neighborhood. Now, Hurley, the hard-nosed, devoted coach who led St. Anthony to twenty-two state championships and two national championships, is about to face his most difficult challenge yet: transforming the toughest, least engaged and least prepared group of players he’s ever coached into champions, even as he fights to keep St Anthony’s doors open.

“Since starting Walden Media, we have been looking for an inspiring story that illustrates the transforming power of education,” said Walden co-founder and president Micheal Flaherty. “In his wonderful depiction of Bob Hurley, the students, parents, and teachers who have contributed to Saint Anthony’s national reputation of excellence, Adrian has given us that gift with his uplifting book. In addition to making a great film, we look forward to supporting it with a grassroots campaign that will honor other great coaches, parents, students, and teachers who have given so much of themselves to ensure that their students receive the quality education they so richly deserve.”
“It’s impossible not to be affected by this story, whether you’re a basketball fan or not,” said Weisman. “Walden is the perfect home for telling this incredible story, and I really look forward to working with their team as well as Jordan, Josh and Adrian.”

Added Shelov: “Spend an hour with Bob Hurley, Sr., and you’ll wish you could clone him. That’s a reasonable approximation of what our job is: to deliver Coach Hurley’s character around the world. I’m genuinely honored to be a part of it.”

To learn more about Venture Literary, visit: www.ventureliterary.com.
To learn more about about Walden Media, visit: http://www.walden.com/walden/index.php
To learn more about about Kerner Entertainment, visit: http://www.imdb.com/company/co0127668/