True Life Drama 'Fruitvale' Is The Weinstein Company's First Buy At Sundance

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by Kevin Jagernauth
January 21, 2013 5:17 PM
3 Comments

When Harvey Weinstein makes a move, people pay attention. And while he only landed in Park City yesterday, it didn't take long for him for him to make his first buy.

The Weinstein Company have snatched up the rights for the true life drama "Fruitvale," beating Fox Searchlight, Focus Features and Paramount for the rights. Featuring Octavia Spencer and "Chronicle" star Michael B. Jordan, and produced by Forest Whitaker, the film tells the story of the hours leading up to New Year's Day in 2009, when the 22 year-old Oscar Grant was pulled off a rowdy BART train at the Fruitvale station, and was shot in the back, dying from his wounds. However, cell phone footage captured the entire event, leading to the sentencing of Officer Mehserle to two years in prison.

The film has been building buzz in Utah, with the hot ticket movie "making everyone cry." Harv forked over a reported $2.5 million for Ryan Cogler's feature debut, and while no date is set yet for the movie, we figure it would be a factor in the 2013 awards race for the distributor. [IndieWire]

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More: Fruitvale, Sundance Film Festival, The Weinstein Company

3 Comments

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KBC | January 21, 2013 7:01 PMReply

Hope Weinstein will pay for the riot after the premiere...
Knative | January 21, 2013 9:42 PM

Racist.
Rebecca | January 21, 2013 6:58 PMReply

Yay Michael B. Jordan and Forrest! It's nice to see them recognized.