The guys over at ShockTillYouDrop.com recently sat down and chatted with Melissa Rosenberg, who adapted Stephenie Meyer's acclaimed novel "Twilight" for the big screen. In the interview you can read right here, Rosenberg talks about how she ended up with the project and what challenges she encountered during the writing process.

Here is a quick snippet from the interview:

"It was less trimming the fat and more condensing it. There are a lot of conversations that play well obviously in the book, less so on the screen - the sitting and talking scenes, I mean. The essence of it, you distill it down to the essence of those character's emotional arcs and still hit the same points to move the story forward and stay true to the book."

Rosenberg's writing credits also include Anne Fletcher's 2006 surprise hit "Step Up." She also worked as co-executive producer on several episodes of television's "The O.C." and "Dexter."

"Twilight" is directed by Catherine Hardwicke and stars Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson. The flick opens nationwide Nov. 21, 2008.

Click here to read the fill interview at ShockTillYouDrop.com.

The folks over at ComingSoon.net learned Tuesday that Vin Diesel is directing a 20-minute prequel to his upcoming action flick "Fast and Furious." Trust me, I was surprised too when I first read it.

Although not much is known about the short, Diesel he would star alongside Michelle Rodriguez  and Sung Kang. Rodriguez starred in the first film of the series and will reprise her role in the fourth installment, which opens June 5, 2009. Kang starred in "The Fast and the Furious: Tokio Drift."

Diesel didn't comment on how and when the prequel would premiere once it's ready. 

In the upcoming big-screen sequel, Diesel and Paul Walker team up to take down a common enemy. Justin Lin si directing. Diesel will next star in Mathieu Kassovitz's action flick "Babylon A.D."

Did you know? This is not the first time Diesel moves behind the camera, and it also won't be the last. In 1997, he directed "Strays," and next year, he's expected to helm "Hannibal the Conqueror." I wonder if we ever get to see him direct himself in another "xXx" sequel...

• "Poltergeist" is the latest to go through the remake machine, and according to Variety, Stiles White and Juliet Snowden will write the script for MGM. The two also collaborated on the screenplays for Alex Proyas' "Knowing" and Martin Campbell's "The Birds."

• LatinoReview recently talked to Tyrese Gibson, who said he'll be involved in the upcoming big-screen version of "The A-Team." Now the question remains who he's going to play. B.A. Baracus, maybe? As far as I know, Ice Cube is also in the race to star in the role that once belonged to Mr. T. We'll see who wins the race.

• In a recent interview with The Sydney Morning Herald, Russell Crowe said he's eyeing the main role in a biopic about American comedian Bill Hicks, who died of cancer at the age of 32. Crowe will next star in "Body of Lies."

• Dean Cain, Conrad Janis, Stephen Lunsford and Walter Phelan are only a few to join Michael Emanuel's directorial debut "Maneater," a horror flick about an ex-FBI profiler and a sheriff who investigate mysterious murders. THR says the flick is based on a Native American legend.

Back in July we reported that Marcia Gay Harden, Juliette Lewis, Kristen Wiig and Zoe Bell all joined Drew Barrymore’s directorial debut “Whip It!,” and according to SlashFilm, Jimmy Fallon is the latest to board the project.

Based on the novel by Shauna Cross, the film centers on Bliss Cavendar (played by Ellen Page), a Texas teenager who finds a way of dealing with her misery after she discovers a roller derby league in Austin.

Fallon is apparently replacing Justin Long in the role of “Hot Tub Johnny,” an eccentric announcer. Long quit the project after splitting with Barrymore in early July.

It would certainly not be the first time Fallon starred alongside Barrymore. The two played the lead characters in Bobby and Peter Farrelly’s 2005 comedy “Fever Pitch.”

Fallon most recently starred in “Factory Girl.” He is also gearing up for NBC’s “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon,” which will replace Conan O’Brien’s show.

Joel and Ethan Coen’s latest comedy “Burn After Reading” hasn’t even premiered yet, but the brothers are already working on their next project at full speed.  

According to Variety, the Coens have recruited Michael Stuhlbarg and Richard Kind to star in “A Serious Man,” which is currently described as a “period black comedy.”

The story of the flick is set in 1967 and follows Larry Gopnik, a professor whose life starts to break down when his wife plans to leave him and his incompetent brother refuses to move out.

Stuhlberg plays Larry, while Kind stars as his brother. The role of Larry’s wife remains to be cast.

Joel and Ethan Coen also wrote the script for “A Serious Men.” Their next film, “Burn After Reading,” will open this year’s Venice Film Festival Aug. 27, 2008.

Stuhlbarg hasn’t had that much experience on the screen so far, Variety reports. Kind is known best for his role as Paul Lassiter on “Spin City.”

Who ever thought we would one day see a film that ridicules Michael Moore? Well, it's happening folks. From David Zucker, director of "Scary Movie 3" and producer of "Superhero Movie," comes "An American Carol," a comedy about an American filmmaker (known as Michael Malone) who's visited by three ghosts after he attempts to abolish the July 4 holiday.

The cast of the flick includes Kevin P. Farley, Kelsey Grammer, Trace Adkins, Leslie Nielsen, Chriss Anglin, Dennis Hopper, James Woods and Jon Voight. The first trailer for the film poppe up over at Yahoo! earlier today, and I have to admit I like what I've seen so far. The footage above is silly, sure, but it's also funny. "An Americal Carol" opens Oct. 3, 2008.

Enrique Rivero's Mexican drama "Parque vía" won top honors Saturday at the 61st edition of the Locarno Film Festival.

Winner of the festival's Golden Leopard, the film centers on a elderly recluse (Nolberto Coria) who struggles to reconnect with the outside world after living in an empty house for several years.  

The Special Jury Prize went to "33 sceny z zycia" ("33 Scenes from Life"), Malgoska Szumowska's drama about a young woman whose life slowly starts to fall apart after she learns her mother has cancer. Starring is German actress Julia Jentsch, whose credits include "Sophie Scholl: The Final Days" and "The Downfall."

Denis Côté took home the best director award for "Elle veut le chaos," a drama about a father who pushes his daughter into prostitution because he's unable to provide financial security for his family.

Meanwhile, Ilaria Occhini snatched the Leopard for best actress for her performance in Federico Bondi's "Mar Nero." Tayanç Ayaydin received the Leopard for best actor for Ben Hopkins' "The Market  - A Tale of Trade."

As for the public prize, it went to Garth Jennings' comedy "Son of Rambow," about two youngsters who attempt their to shoot their own action flick.

For the full list of winners at the Locarno Film Festival, click here to go to the official Web site.

Mandalay has secured the rights to develop a big-screen adaptation of Oni Press’ graphic novel “Julius,” according to Variety.

Written by Antony Johnston and drawn by Brett Weldele, the story of the graphic novel is a modern version of William Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar.”

The basic plot focuses on an East End gangster whose generals conspire to kick him off his throne.

F. Gary Gray is set to direct the adaptation. He previously directed “The Italian Job” and “Be Cool,” among others.

According to Variety, “Julius” is one of several Oni projects currently in development for the big screen. Others include “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World” and “Billy Smoke.”

Now it’s will be interesting to find out who’s going to jump into the lead role. Any suggestions?