Alan Ball lines
up all-star cast in directorial debut

Out writer-producer Alan Ball announced that casting and financing are in place for his long-awaited feature film directorial debut. The film is as yet untitled but, written by Ball, was inspired by the Alicia Erian novel Towelhead and is described as the story of Jasira, the daughter of a Lebanese-American father and an American mother who struggles with identity and sexual issues in Texas during the Gulf War. Ball is quoted in Variety about the project saying, "To me, it's a story of personal courage, claming responsibility to be who you are at a very early age and without proper role models to guide you."

Newcomer Summer Bishil has been cast to play the young girl. The film, which will star Aaron Eckhart, Toni Collette, and Maria Bello, will begin shooting in Los Angeles in mid September. (The Advocate)