Producer Jane Startz has signed a first-look production deal with Miramax Films which will allow her to bring projects to the company to produce as well as serving as a consultant on various family entertainment projects.

Startz, who previously produced The Mighty for Miramax, is currently producing Ella Enchanted, a film of Gail Carson Levine's novel for the studio. She has also optioned Carson Levine's novel The Two Princesses Of Bamarre and Scott Russell Sander's Engineer Of Beasts under the new agreement.

Julie Goldstein, executive vice president of production and development, and Michelle Raimo, vice president of development, will oversee Ella Enchanted and Goldstein will oversee the other projects for Miramax. Michael Luisi, senior vice president of business affairs, negotiated the deal on behalf of Miramax, while James Janowitz and Roger Kass of Pryor, Cashman, Sherman & Flynn negotiated on behalf of Startz.

Startz is the co-founder and executive vice president of Scholastic Productions (SPI), the film and TV division of publishing giant Scholastic Inc. She produced the first two films from SPI - The Babysitters Club and The Indian In The Cupboard - before forming her own company Jane Startz Productions in 1997.