"Shade" is set in the world of poker hustlers working the clubs and martini bars of Los Angeles. The tale unfolds as the hustlers -- Newton, Townsend and Byrne -- encounter "The Dean" (Stallone) and pull off a successful sting that results in their pursuit by a vengeful gangster.

RKO chairman and CEO Ted Hartley is producing with Hammond Entertainment's David Schnepp and Chris Hammond. Merv Griffin and Joe Nicolo will executive produce with actor Bo Hopkins, who also will appear in the film.

"It's been a long time since there has been a cool L.A. movie; we hope this film does for modern Los Angeles what 'L.A. Confidential' did for 1950s Los Angeles," Hammond said. He said that the producers plan to feature numerous local landmarks in the film, including the Argyle Hotel, the Magic Castle and the Roosevelt Hotel.

Hammond said the project takes its roots in an underworld that very much exists in Los Angeles today.

"There is a network of card hustlers and gamblers who use sleight of hand and card manipulation to get what they want," he said. "Damian is a former top-card 'mechanic' and is drawing on his own personal knowledge for this film."

Said Hartley: "I could not think of a better group of talented actors coming together on this RKO picture. I believe this will be the first of a number of truly exciting pictures that RKO will produce this year. We all fell in love with Damian Nieman's screenplay with its colorful cast of characters."

Cobalt Media Group's Peter Rogers and Ralpho Borgos will handle international sales for the film, which debuts on their sales slate at this month's Festival de Cannes.

- Craig Zablo (May 14, 2002)