Hot off that discussion-dominating turn in The Canyons, Gus Van Sant has angled himself toward a new project — not another to helm, sadly, but executive produce. Resuming duties that had befallen him on Laurence Anyways and Howl — to name a pair of recent, notable examples — Variety tell us the American indie figurehead is throwing some of his weight behind a crime drama, The McKennas, co-financed by Union Entertainment Group.

Helmer Gary Lennon (Orange is the New Black) is following-up a little-seen debut, .45, with this title, which follows a recently widowed mob wife striving to maintain both kinds of family — the New York syndicate and relationship with three sons. The project is to begin rolling cameras at the start of 2014; leads are currently being sought.

If you’re more interested in his directorial oeuvre, be sure to give a look at the Regis Dialogue conducted by Scott Macaulay, an engaging, informative talk that, in its length, is the likes of which we don’t see nearly often enough. It’s somewhat unfortunate that the discussion was held in February of 2003, months before a few of his more indelible works — Elephant, Last Days, Paranoid Park, Milk — but it is, nevertheless, a fine run through the filmography which had been assembled up to that point.

Have a watch below:

Any interest in The McKennas, based on what’s available? What did you take from Van Sant’s discussion?

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