Best friends succumb to unchecked lust, jilted boyfriends beg for mercy and straight women check out sapphic dalliances in Roberto Benabib's San Francisco-based Little City.

Jon Bon Jovi follows his starring role in John Duigan's Leading Man (not yet picked up for U.S. release) as catalyst Kevin, whose indiscretions in love set the plot in motion. Josh Charles, Joanna Going, Penelope Ann Miller, Annabella Sciorra and Jo Beth Williams round out the cast. "It's about smart, educated and entirely unambitious people content to work as bartenders and taxi drivers and waitresses, with a lot of free time to dwell on their emotional lives," says Benabib.

A longtime TV writer/producer who's had development deals at Warner Brothers and Castle Rock, Benabib originally set up Little City at Fine Line as a $6 million feature. When the project stalled, reportedly due to cast approval and scheduling issues inherent in moving forward with an ensemble piece at that budget level, Benabib's agent, Vision Arts' Scott Schwartz, called indie producer Beau Flynn in L.A. Flynn's two-year-old Bandiera Entertainment has so far produced Johns and House of Yes. Flynn says Bandiera ultimately got City made for a cool $2 million secured from L.A.-based foreign sales giant I.E.G. in exchange for worldwide rights. Little City's intensive four-week shoot kicked off September 16 in San Francisco. I.E.G. is selling rights.

Cast: Jon Bon Jovi, Josh Charles, Joanna Going, Penelope Ann Miller, Annabella Sciorra, Jo Beth Williams. Crew: Producers, Beau Flynn, Stefan Simchowitz, Jeffrey L. Davidson, Ron Wechsler; Executive Producers: Matt Salinger, Michael Sayles, Cindy Cowan; Associate Producer, Jane Gurtiza; Screenwriter/Director, Roberto Benabib; Director of Photography, Randy Love; Production Designer, Don De Fina; Casting, Mary Vernieu; Editor, Sloane Klevin. Contact: Beau Flynn, Bandeira Entertain-ment, 176 North Swall Drive, Beverly Hills, CA 90211. Tel: (310) 657-1444, Fax: (310) 657-0345.

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Liar - Josh Pate & Jonas Pate
Little City - Roberto Benabib
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The Second Wife - Michael Steinberg
Shopping For Fangs - Quentin Lee & Justin Lin
The Sticky Fingers of Time - Hilary Brougher
Whatever - Susan Skoog