DeaconEntertainment producer Damon Lee, whose credits include the comedy UndercoverBrother, has signed afirst-look deal with Focus Features.

Focus presidentof production John Lyons and vice president of production Kahli Small will workclosely with Lee to develop such Deacon projects as the comedy Holidaze, written by Richard Murphy. Focus willhold worldwide rights to the Deacon titles.

Separately,Deacon is developing Lost Boys Of Sudan with Outlaw Productions at Paramount Pictures, to bedirected by Brad Silberling, and Ralph with Imagine Entertainment/Urban Entertainment atUniversal.

Lee is also setto produce Whitebreadwith New Redemption and Diesel Debutante with Urban Entertainment, both at New Line Cinema.

Prior to formingDeacon earlier this year, Lee was president of Urban Entertainment, where heproduced Undercover Brother.

He most recentlyproduced Saladin K Patterson's short film One Flight Stand, starring Aisha Tyler, which played atSundance Film Festival and the American Black Film Festival and will debut onHBO in January.

"Damon has a great track record for comedies with breakoutpotential, and extensive relationships with talent dedicated to bringingAfrican-American stories to the screen," Focus co-presidents David Linde andJames Schamus said in a joint statement.

"We're lookingforward to making movies with him for both the Rogue and Focus labels."

"Focus is where the mostexciting voices in filmmaking today are bringing their movies," Lee added. "I'mthrilled to be setting up shop at a company that is open and receptive to thekinds of films I'm looking to make."

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