New York-based Fire IslandFilms' Games People Play: New Yorkhas been picked up for distribution by the new production and distributionhouse FabiLuce Films and is scheduled for US release in March 2004.

Games People Play: NewYork is the first instalment in areality movie franchise conceived, produced, edited and directed by Fire Islandfounder and president James Ronald Whitney.

The series follows three menand three women as they take part in an uninhibited acting contest involvingpranks and risque challenges for a $10,000 cash prize.

Subsequent episodes areentitled Games People Play: Hollywood and Games People Play: The Bible Belt. FabiLuce Films will finance distribution for theentire franchise.

Whitney and Neil Stephensproduced the film, with FabiLuce Films president J David Luce and RichardReichgut serving as executive producers. Luce's partner Margaret Bastick servedas co-producer.

"Whitney is an ingenious,passionate and prolific film-maker. We are thrilled to be working with him andlook forward to bringing the critically acclaimed Games People Play: New Yorkto the theatres," Luce said in a statement.

"Whitney's film has brokenthe barrier for the reality programming genre and has set a brand new standardon reality movies."

Whitney started making filmsin 2000 and has completed five features in three years - the award-winningdocumentaries Just, Melvin and TellingNicholas, as well as The WorkingGirl.com.

Luce and Bastick will alsoco-produce Whitney's first narrative feature.