New Spike Lee film starts shooting

Shooting begins this week in Rome's famed Cinecitta movie studios on Spike Lee's "Miracle at St. Anna," a fact-based World War II drama whose stars include James Gandolfini, John Leguizamo, Derek Luke, Michael Ealy, Omar Benson Miller and Laz Alonso.

Adapted from the critically-acclaimed book of the same name by its author, James McBdire ("The Color of Water"), "Miracle at St. Anna" tells the story of four members of the all-black 92nd Army division trapped behind enemy lines in an Italian village who battle besieging Nazi troops with help from the locals.

Lee's production company, 40 Acres and a Mule, is co-producing the $45 million, independently financed film with producers Roberto Cicutto and Luigi Musini. Shooting will also take place in villages close to the actual Tuscan locations of the real-life saga. The film is scheduled for release in 2009.

-- GENE SEYMOUR

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