Trachtenberg, Wester, Pitts join Montecito project
Feb. 21, 2003

DreamWorks Pictures and Ivan Reitman and Tom Pollock's Montecito Picture Co. have rounded up Michelle Trachtenberg, Travis Wester and Jacob Pitts to star in the untitled Montecito project formerly known as "Ugly Americans." The film -- scripted and to be directed by Alec Berg, Jeff Schaffer and David Mandel -- is due to start production in April. The castings come eight months after Montecito acquired the project with the writers attached to direct for a pricey $3 million (HR 6/27). The now-untitled project follows the misadventures of five friends who go on a trip criss-crossing Europe following their high school graduation. The project will be shot in Europe. Reitman and Pollock executive produce with Montecito's Dan Goldberg, Joe Medjuck and Jacqueline Josephson handling producing chores. Production head Michael DeLuca is overseeing for the studio. Trachtenberg, well known for playing Sarah Michelle Gellar's younger sister on "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," is repped by ICM, manager Peg Donegan at Framework Entertainment and attorney Ira Schreck. Wester, repped by Innovative Artists and manager Steven Fenton, starred on the MTV series "Spyder Games." Pitts was last seen on the big-screen in "K-19: The Widowmaker."