Hoosier Lacrosse

From Press Release:

Steve Rash has signed on to direct Crooked Arrows, an underdog sports comedy set in the rapidly growing sport of lacrosse.

Set on an upstate New York reservation, Crooked Arrows centers on a 30-year-old of mixed-blood who must postpone his casino-building dreams to coach the inept local Native American high school lacrosse squad against the prep school league in which he used to star. Returning to his roots of this Indian-inspired sport turns out to be a journey of self-discovery for the coach and of pride for his charges.

Written by Virginia native Todd Baird, the project was developed by producers Mitchell Peck and Adam Leff, who have joined forces with J. Todd Harris. The trio is finalizing financing and sponsorships for a late summer shoot in the northeast. Co-producers are Jacques Vroom III and Marc Marcum.

Rash sparked to the script immediately upon reading it. “My son played lacrosse at Lawrenceville prep school and I have Native American ancestry, so the story spoke to me on both levels. It’s also a compelling and contemporary underdog sports movie in aunique setting,” said Rash.

“Steve is the perfect filmmaker for this movie,” said Harris. “He has a great range of experience and has proven particularly adept working with young actors. We’re lucky to have him,”

“Lacrosse is the fastest growing sport in America,” said Peck. “I played growing up in Virginia and it’s been a dream of ours to tell a lacrosse-based story. Crooked Arrows will be the first mainstream lacrosse movie out of Hollywood.”

The producers have established a presence with the lacrosse community, having won
endorsements from the Major League Lacrosse (MLL), National Lacrosse League (NLL), US Lacrosse and LaxFestUSA. Additionally, producers are planning to announce endorsements from numerous high-profile professional lacrosse players, as well as top college and prep school coaches. Integrated marketing discussions are also underway with leading lacrosse equipment manufacturers and other sports-related brands.

Rash’s credits date back to the hits The Buddy Holly Story and Can’t Buy Me Love. More recently, Rash has been directing highly popular sequels for Universal Pictures franchises Bring It On and American Pie. He just wrapped Road Trip II for Paramount. Leff and Peck co-wrote and executive produced the environmental comedy Bio-Dome.

Leff also co-wrote The Last Action Hero and PCU. More recently Leff executive produced the documentary Valentino: The Last Emperor slated for release this spring. Peck is preparing Priest for production this summer at Screen Gems. Harris, one ofHollywood’s more prolific independent producers, recently had Bottle Shock in release and is prepping Piranha 3D with The Weinstein Company.