PRODUCTION BRIEFS: Thomas Vinterberg Returns; Greenwald, McTeer and Quinn in "SongCatcher"; "Beautif

by Kevin dreyfuss

>> Vinterberg Returns

According to Variety, Danish director Thomas Vinterberg has begun preparations for the English-language follow-up to his international breakout film "The Celebration." The new film under the Dogma 95 rubric, called "The Third Lie," will tell the story of a pair of identical twins through the years, and is based on a trilogy of novels by Agota Kristof. Vinterberg will direct from a script by himself and Mogens Rukov, with Canada's Alliance Atlantis Pictures producing.

>> Greenwald, McTeer and Quinn in "SongCatcher"

Writer-director Maggie Greenwald ("The Ballad of Little Jo") has begun principal photography on the indie feature "SongCatcher," shooting in Asheville, North Carolina. Set at the turn of the century, the movie tells the tale of a music scholar who is sent deep into the Appalachians to collect and record mountain folk songs, and begins to have misgivings about her life's work. Stars include Janet McTeer ("Tumbleweeds"), Aidan Quinn ("This is My Father"), the legendary musician Taj Mahal, and country music artist Iris DeMent. Ellen Rigas Venetis and Richard Miller ("Heavy") of ErgoArts produce.

>> "Beautiful" to Begin

Variety also reports that actress Sally Field is set to make her directorial debut next month on the indie film "Beautiful," about a woman obsessed with becoming a beauty queen. Minnie Driver ("Good Will Hunting") stars, and Hallie Kate Eisenberg (the little girl from the Pepsi and IFC ads), Joey Lauren Adams ("Chasing Amy") and Leslie Ann Stefanson ("The General's Daughter") are all in negotiations to join up. Destination Films will handle domestic distribution.

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