Samy Boy Pictures, adivision of Los Angeles-based financing and production company Samy BoyEntertainment, has finalised a first-look deal with Matthew Rhodes and JuddPayne's production outfit Persistent Entertainment.

Samy Boy will provide equityfinancing for selected projects of varying budgets from Persistent, which isrelocating to share office space with Samy Boy.

Linda Lichter of LichterGrossman Nichols Adler negotiated the deal on behalf of PersistentEntertainment.

The first project under thedeal is A Different Loyalty, adrama about the life of British spy Kim Philby's wife Eleanor that is currentlyfilming in Montreal, London, Malta, and Moscow.

Sharon Stone and RupertEverett star. The film was written by Jim Piddock (One Good Turn), directed by Marek Kanievska (Less Than Zero) and will be released domestically through LionsGate Films. Arclight Films has international sales rights.

"We feel that Matthew andJudd's sensibilities in choosing great scripts and talent mesh with ourinterest in creating commercially successful projects," Samy Boy chieffinancial officer Kevin Riley said in a statement.

Rhodes is currentlyexecutive producing Lasse Halstrom's drama An Unfinished Life for Miramax and Revolution Studios. The film starsJennifer Lopez, Robert Redford, Morgan Freeman, and Josh Lucas.

Persistent is also inpost-production on the Afghanistan-set drama September Tapes.

Earlier this year for SamyBoy signed an equity financing agreement with HSI Entertainment.

The first film under thatdeal - James Merendino's horror story Trespassing - stars Estella Warren and Ashley Scott and recentlyfinished principal photography in Louisiana.