Fledglingproduction outfit Burnt Orange Productions is in development on its first threeprojects due to shoot this summer from directors Zalman King, Jamie Babbit andCarlos Carrera.

Headedup by producer and former AFI Conservatory vice chair Carolyn Pfeiffer, BurntOrange plans to produce eight or nine low budget titles in its first threeyears.

WMAIndependent, William Morris Agency's independent pictures division, will helpto obtain distribution deals and will advise in other areas such as financesourcing.

Thecompany has formed a close alliance with the University of Texas FilmInstitute, whichtrains film-makers in the digital medium and will providean opportunity for some to work alongside crews on the productions.

BurntOrange aims to produce in-house projects ranging from $500,000 to $1m indigital format and co-productions ranging from $1m-$3m, which will involvethird-party financing with outside talent in key creative roles.

AustinAngel takes a new twist on the Fauststory and centres on an ageing country singer who attempts to regain his souland protect his daughter's future.

ZalmanKing will direct from a screenplay by Rod Harris and Patricia Louisiana Knop.Pfeiffer will produce with University of Texas Film Institute supremo TomSchatz. King and Harris will serve as executive producers.

Dot centres on a deaf orphan who goes to live with whatappears to be a typical middle-class, American family and is treated as amisfit.

JamieBabbit will direct from a screenplay by Micah Schraft and Abdi Nazemian thatwas accepted on to the 2003 Sundance Institute Filmmakers Lab.

TheMarfa Lights is a coming-of-agedrama about honour, brotherhood and first love. University of Texas alumna andDepartment of Radio-Television-Film screenwriting lecturer Kathleen Orillionwrote the screenplay and Carlos Carrera is set to direct.

Carrera'smost recent picture was The Crime Of Father Amaro, Mexico's all-time biggest grossing picture and a2003 best foreign film Academy Award nominee.

TerrenceMalick and Will Wallace from Sunflower Productions will produce with EdPressman from ContentFilm and Pfeiffer and Schatz.

A host of industry veteranshas been seconded to the University of Texas Film Institute's advisory board,including Newmarket Films president Bob Berney, Palm Pictures chief ChrisBlackwell, Richard Linklater, Matthew McConaughey and outgoing MPAA chief JackValenti.