IWP and STARZ! Pictures Announces Start of Production On JOE AND MAX

Original Film Stars Til Schweiger (DRIVEN), Leonard Roberts (HE GOT GAME), Richard Roundtree (SHAFT), David Paymer (STATE AND MAIN) and Peta Wilson (“La Femme Nikita”)

Film Helmed by Award-Winning Director Steve James (HOOP DREAMS)

Beverly Hills, Calif., May 8, 2001 – STARZ! Pictures, in association with Motion Picture Corporation of America (MPCA) and International West Pictures (IWP), commenced principal photography on JOE AND MAX in Berlin, Germany on May 7. The heartrending film traces the dramatic real life rivalry and unlikely lifelong friendship between the greatest heavyweight boxing champions of their time, “The Brown Bomber” Joe Louis and German Max Schmeling. Convincingly hyped as political “enemies” by two countries on the brink of war, the fighters privately became close friends.

JOE AND MAX stars an impressive cast highlighted by acclaimed European film star Til Schweiger (DRIVEN, INVESTIGATING SEX) who will play the famed German pugilist Max Schmeling, and Leonard Roberts (HE GOT GAME) in the role of boxing legend Joe Louis. Rounding out the cast are Peta Wilson (“La Femme Nikita”, A GIRL THING) as Max Schmeling’s actress wife Anny, Richard Roundtree (SHAFT, SEVEN) as Louis’ longtime trainer Jack Blackburn, Siena Goines (IN THE WEEDS) as Louis’ wife Marva, and 1993 Academy Award® nominee David Paymer (STATE AND MAIN, MR. SATURDAY NIGHT) as Schmeling’s longtime friend and manager Joe Jacobs.

The film will be crafted by an outstanding group of collaborators: director Steve James (HOOP DREAMS, PREFONTAINE, PASSING GLORY); executive producer Mike Karz (FIRST DAUGHTER, GEPPETO) and producers Brad Krevoy (JUNGLE 2 JUNGLE, DUMB & DUMBER), Kelli Konop (BEETHOVEN’S 3RD & 4TH, K-911) and Klaus Rettig (INVESTIGATING SEX). Jason Horwitch (FINDING GRACELAND) wrote the original script for JOE AND MAX.

JOE AND MAX will be shot entirely on location in and around Berlin, Germany and at Studio Babelsberg, where extensive and detailed sets have been constructed to re-create the look and feel of late 1930s New York. Since 1912, Babelsberg has been the home to stars and movies that evoke memories of a long and important film history: METROPOLIS, DIE NIBELUNGEN and Marlene Dietrich in the film BLUE ANGEL. Recently added to that impressive list are ENEMY AT THE GATES and Roman Polanski’s upcoming THE PIANIST.

In Louis and Schmeling’s first fight on June 19, 1936 at Yankee Stadium, the white crowd actively turned against Louis and rooted for Schmeling as he quickly gained the upper hand. The two heavyweights battled in a harsh and intense fight with Schmeling finally knocking out Louis in the 12th round. Louis emerged emotionally scarred, his loss a devastating blow to the morale of black America. After winning perhaps the greatest upset in boxing history, Schmeling returned to Germany, the toast of the country; for the Nazis, the victory was proof of Aryan supremacy. Back in the U.S., Louis trained hard for a rematch. Anti-German sentiment was growing in the U.S., while ironically Schmeling was troubled by the growing persecution of Jews in Germany.

By their June 22, 1938 rematch, white and black Americans were united behind Louis, but the atmosphere was tense. Hitler’s propaganda had successfully painted Schmeling as a Nazi and a racist, neither of which was true. The fight was relentless and brutal, and Louis immediately took control knocking out Schmeling after only two minutes, four seconds in the first round. Schmeling was rushed to the hospital, and pandemonium erupted across New York for America’s newest hero. Louis visited his opponent in the hospital, where the two men came to realize the extent to which each had been manipulated by their respective governments and the press. All either man wanted was to become the heavyweight champion, but unfortunately, as Schmeling pointed out to Louis, “It was never just you and me in the ring.” In spite of being portrayed as bitter enemies, they recognized the ironic similarities in their situations, identified with one another, and as result, forged an unlikely life-long friendship. Louis reigned as heavyweight champion from 1937 to 1949, the longest in any division in boxing history, retiring in 1951 after a failed comeback against Rocky Marciano. Louis died on April 12, 1981. Schmeling briefly returned to boxing in 1947-48 before retiring at 43. He later had a successful business career with The Coca-Cola Company. The 95 year-old Schmeling lives in Germany.

About STARZ! Pictures and Starz Encore Group LLC

STARZ!® regularly plays never-before-seen STARZ! Pictures® films that feature some of Hollywood’s most outstanding talent. Upcoming STARZ! Pictures include ONE OF THE HOLLYWOOD TEN starring Jeff Goldblum and Greta Scacchi premiering on June 24. Recent STARZ! Pictures include: BRUNO directed by and starring Shirley MacLaine, Kathy Bates and Gary Sinise and RELATIVE VALUES starring Julie Andrews.

Starz Encore Group LLC (Starz Encore), currently celebrating its 10th anniversary, is the largest provider of cable and satellite-delivered premium movie channels in the United States. Starz Encore owns 15 domestic channels and currently counts approximately 88 million pay units. Starz Encore offers up to 14 channels of the Starz Super PakSM, which comprises STARZ!®, EncoreSM, ActionSM, MysterySM, BLACK STARZ!®, WesternsSM, STARZ! Family®, Love StoriesSM, True StoriesSM, STARZ! Theater®, WAM!®, STARZ!® CinemaSM and, to be offered in 2002, STARZ!® ComedySM and STARZ!® KidzSM. Additionally, Starz Encore has the only low priced movie pak for price-sensitive consumers, the Encore Movie PakSM, featuring up to seven theme channels. Find programming information on the Web at www.starzencore.com. Starz Encore is a wholly owned subsidiary of Liberty Media Group (NYSE: LMGa and LMGb).

About MPCA

MPCA has produced over eighty motion pictures including DUMB & DUMBER, BEVERLY HILLS NINJA, KINGPIN, JUNGLE 2 JUNGLE, 3 STRIKES, THE SUBURBANS and THE ELIAN GONZALEZ STORY which recently aired on the Fox Family Channel. Brad Krevoy also served as a producer on last year’s smash hit ANNIE on ABC. Future projects include PAVEMENT, BORDERLINE and THIRTY WISHES.

About IWP

Gemini Film is part of the Cologne-Gemini Group, one of the leading, independent film production entities in Germany. With companies such as Cologne Film, Cologne Sitcom and Talent Network Media, the group operates successfully in the German market. Gemini Film is the company that handles all international productions. It develops and produces a broad range of films from theatrical releases and TV-movies, to mini-series and documentaries. Together with European and U.S. partners the company has completed over 35 co-productions in the last ten years. As of the beginning of 2001 Gemini Film has partnered with CFB - Commerz Fonds Beteiligungsgesellschaft, a subsidiary of the German Commerzbank Group to launch IWP International West Pictures, a private media fund that will invest € 45 m this year in internationally profitable productions.

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