HOLLYWOOD, CA - DECEMBER 07: Actor/Producer David Paladino at the ‘Fools On The Hill’ Pre-Release Party hosted by Fete Group and InkTip at cafe entourage on December 7, 2011 in Hollywood, California.

Los Angeles, CA — BlackBelt Productions and founder David Paladino are now working in association with Lucky Day Studios and Michael Forman to bring Sweet Summer to the screen.

Sweet Summer is a novel by Academy Award-Winning writer William Kelley (Witness). Kelley, along with Rick Baker, adapted the novel into a moving and poignant screenplay about a young, passionate, Irish Catholic who is assigned to the all black Air Force boxing team in the late 1940’s. The team journeys through the deep south to fight for the Armed Forces championship in New Orleans.

Based on Kelley’s real life experience, Sweet Summer delivers a coming-of-age story of love and self-discovery, honor and courage. A hard hitting boxing road trip that brings together the ferocity of Raging Bull and the sweetness of To Kill a Mockingbird.

Source: (prgenie.com)

Last month David returned from Toronto, Canada where he was part of the team scouting locations for the upcoming film, freedom for joe, penned by Lee Burns. (Freaky Friday, Just Like Heaven, and Clean) David is a co-producer on the film and will be playing Brian Taylor, best friend of the lead Joe, played by Burns.

FFJ is a co-production between Michael Pollack of Kerry Kimmel & Pollack and Awareness Entertainment’s Founder and President, Lee Burns, who also joined forces on a two other films. John D. Schofield (Jerry Maguire, As Good As It Gets, Ali, etc.) is also producing while Stephen Bridgewater is directing.

Current attachments  include respected industry veteran, Robert Patrick and Beth Riesgraf from TNT’s Leverage.