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'Green' is golden for Cassavetes

A constellation of stars is lined up for the $4.5 million film "The Sky Is Green," centered around the 1980s music scene in L.A. Pic marks the feature directorial debut of writer-director Xan Cassavetes, daughter of late indie filmmaker John Cassavetes and sister of filmmaker-thesp Nick Cassavetes.

Thesps on board are Vince Vaughn, Steve Buscemi, Saffron Burrows, Michael Rapaport, Barbara Hershey, Mia Kirshner, Seymour Cassel and Ione Skye.

Rick Ross and Marshall Persinger will produce the pic, which is being line-produced by Patty Long.

The coming-of-age drama concerns a successful record entrepreneur (Vaughn) amid the rise and fall of the West Coast hip-hop scene during the late 1980s. Story focuses on his life and work, the success of his startup label and his own chaotic downfall, which leads him to rediscover his roots and love of music.

American dream in L.A.

"When writing the script, I wanted to capture this idyllic time in Los Angeles when being successful was about being an artist," said Cassavetes. "A time when you could fulfill the American dream, be creative and still keep your integrity. The film is really a compassionate look at someone grappling to find his own maturity in a town that worships eternal youth."

U.K.-based production and financing shingle IAC Films will handle worldwide sales on the film, which is being financed by private equity. Shooting is skedded to start this April in Los Angeles. Pic's soundtrack is expected to feature original music by Mos Def, Fatlip, Madlib, Shock G from Digital Underground and the J Davis Trio as well as original hits from the era.

Founder of Shrine

Cassavetes formed and fronted the L.A. hardcore band Shrine in the early 1990s and has directed several musicvideos and the shorts "Salmon for Three" and "Dust," shown on the Independent Film Channel.

Ross co-founded the early hip-hop record label Delicious Vinyl.

Persinger moved into producing with "Amos and Andrew," "Higher Learning," "Still Breathing" and, most recently, the Emmy-nominated "Wild Iris," starring Gena Rowlands and Laura Linney.

© 2002 Reed Business Information © 2002 Variety, Inc.