October 21, 2008

Ne-Yo Helming Music-Driven Romantic Flick 'Venice Beach'

By Elisabeth Rappe (MTV.com)

Ne-Yo is taking no chances with his next movie - he's going to make sure it's a good one, even if he has to do all the work himself. According to The Hollywood Reporter, he's going to star, executive produce and write the soundtrack for the music-driven romance, Venice Beach.

OK, he's not doing all the work - Duane Adler (both Step Up and Save the Last Dance films) is penning the script, but it's all in the family since Ne-Yo's first role was in Adler's Dance sequel. And he'll be leaving the director's chair to Paul Hunter, who's in talks to helm the film. Hunter has directed music videos for such artists as Eminem, Britney Spears and Jennifer Lopez.

Venice reportedly centers on an 18-year-old woman from Manhattan Beach, California, who loses her older, musically talented sister in a tragic car accident. In her grief, she suppresses her own singing talent until she meets a talented musician-singer from nearby Venice Beach. The budding romance gives her the confidence to launch her own music career, which is met with anger and resistance from his friends and her family.

Ne-Yo will play the musical man from Venice Beach, and casting is presumably underway for which lucky lady gets to star opposite him.

Ne-Yo - who recently played down a feud with Yung Berg - is also keeping busy, as always, with music. Earlier this fall, he released Year of the Gentleman, and has been working with everyone from Usher to Whitney Houston on their latest records as well.