James L. Brooks is not the only one with a set in Adams Morgan: “Adams Morgan: The Movie,” an independent film written and directed by Paul DeVeaux and produced by Robert Epstein, dotes on the love affairs of 20-somethings portrayed against the backdrop of the neighborhood over a Halloween weekend—yes, there are drag queen races, one of DeVeaux’s fondest memories. “We were at a rooftop party some 15 or 20 years ago, and you see these guys in high heels sprinting down the street—one of the funniest things I’ve ever seen,” DeVeaux says.

The romantic comedy, reminiscent of DeVeaux’s weekend debauchery in Adams Morgan back in the day (the early '90s), revolves around three couples. Richard and Shelby are settled, happily married, and tragically boring—the sex is lackluster. After nine months together, Tonya and Lance are at the make-it-or-break-it point—he’s too immature. And after hooking up—hey, you gotta test out the goods first—John and Audrey are out to see if their personalities mesh.

Of course, Adams Morgan, in all its glory, is a character too. Nowadays DeVeaux's a family man, but in his 20s he spent countless weekends hanging out in bars and restaurants up and down the strip. "It's a tiny little area but you've got El Salvadoran food, Indian food, drag queens—you can do that—it depends on what kind of mood you're in," he says.

DeVeaux's day job—he is an attorney—makes him a filmmaker by night ("Adams Morgan" is his first). After months of work, DeVeaux showed his script to film producer and Oscar winner Russell Williams, whom he met through Epstein. “He read my script and he pretty much cut it to shreds,” DeVeaux says. Which gave him the impetus to dive on with the project.

Bottom Line Saloon, one on-set location that was once an infamous hangout for rugby players in DeVeaux's days, is now home to a bunch of kickball kids. In his ode, DeVeaux fills the set with rugby players, long gone out of style. “Bottom Line was where you always went after practice on Thursdays and after games on Saturdays. Nothing better after winning a rugby game like having a cold beer or 6 or 7,” DeVeaux says. Especially a rugby game where your current girlfriend, your ex, and the new girl you would prefer to date all show up. Now there's a situation.

"Adams Morgan" premiered in front of a small audience at Bottom Line in January and will be shown at the 2010 DC Shorts Film Festival in September. It's currently being submitted to various independent film festivals. A red carpet premiere is expected in D.C. in the spring.

Image by Hatton Slayden

Thus was announced this morning by Mayor Adrian M. Fenty and execs from Columbia Pictures. No title has been revealed (IMDB lists only "Untitled James L. Brooks Project"), but with Reese Witherspoon, Owen Wilson, and Paul Rudd inked and Brooks directing, sure sounds like a romcom!

Oh yeah, and there will be summer jobs for kids!

From the press release:

The production will bring several qualified DC students on board in conjunction with the Mayor’s Summer Youth Employment Program and the Centralized College Internship Program, providing on-the-job training in film industry functions such as production, locations, art, and accounting.

...The film, slated to spend 14 weeks in pre-production, principal photography, and post-production in the District this summer, will hire over 100 local crew and several hundred local extras. This unique partnership between the District and Columbia Pictures is one of many initiatives aimed at expanding the city’s base of qualified film professionals to serve the growing film industry in Washington, DC.

...The film is written and directed by James L. Brooks and produced by Brooks, Paula Weinstein, Laurence Mark and Julie Ansell. Brooks added, “I had the privilege of filming Broadcast News in the DC area, and no matter how long or hard the day was, on my drive home, I could always look forward to the beauty of the city. It is, to me, the great city of the world. I couldn’t be more excited to be able to work here once more. I am especially grateful to the Mayor and his Film Commission for doing the heavy lifting in allowing us to come.”

UPDATE, 1:10 P.M.: Some more (unreliable) info from the IMDB comments: "the movie is called, "How Do You Know?" and the quick synopsis is..Rudd will play the part of a businessman vying for Witherspoon's affections, while Wilson is slated for the role of a professional baseball pitcher out to steal her heart." Another says "Looks like it will be a baseball movie...Reports today says Owen Wilson was sitting in the Texas Rangers bullpen during their spring training against the Colorado Rockies."