Movie Article

Re-Pete Performance

Checking in with ''Project Greenlight'''s first winner -- After surviving his experience on HBO's making-of-the-movie docuseries, Pete Jones is now working on an indie comedy

By Scott Brown | Jul 11, 2003
Matt Damon, Pete Jones, ... | 'RILEY' UP Jones (lower right), with ''Project Greenlight'' honchos Ben Affleck, Chris Moore, and Matt Damon, starts shooting ''Doubting Riley'' in August
Image credit: Project Greenlight 2002: Greg Gorman
'RILEY' UP Jones (lower right), with ''Project Greenlight'' honchos Ben Affleck, Chris Moore, and Matt Damon, starts shooting ''Doubting Riley'' in August

There is life after ''Project Greenlight,'' and ''Stolen Summer'' writer-director Pete Jones is living proof. Actually, he's filming proof: The harried auteur of the HBO talent search's first season is hard at work on an $800,000 indie comedy called ''Doubting Riley,'' about a straight-acting gay Chicagoan whose dubious sibs won't believe that he bats for the other team. ''I hope it's a comedy,'' Jones says meekly. Aiming for an Oct. 3 Sundance submission deadline, he'll begin shooting Aug. 18 with a cast of Windy City locals -- except for two name actors he's wooing for the lead roles (and declines to identify). Jones turned down some attractive offers for behind-the-scenes coverage of ''Riley.'' ''I loved my 'Greenlight' experience, but this time I'd like to make a film without anybody watching. I imagine that doesn't seem too crazy.''

Originally posted Jul 09, 2003 Published in issue #718 Jul 11, 2003 Order article reprints