D'Works taps scribe for 'Bloodhound'

'Beethoven' scribe to pen another canine pic

By CLAUDE BRODESSER

DreamWorks has inked a deal in the high six figures against low seven figures with Amy Holden Jones -- scribe of pics including "Indecent Proposal," "The Relic" and "Mystic Pizza" -- to pen its animated "Untitled Bloodhound Project."

"Bloodhound" could be described as a "dog-out-of-water" pic, based on an original idea by DreamWorks co-topper Jeffrey Katzenberg. Storyline follows the exploits of a hip young bloodhound from the Ozarks while abroad in England. Through a stroke of luck, the quintessential American working dog winds up at an English manor with a family of royals, where he starts a new adventure-filled life.

While the William Morris-repped Holden Jones has plenty of experience with the canine pic -- she also penned the first of the "Beethoven" movies -- she said writing about man's best friend is actually a great help in writing well about man.

"Animals have very clear emotional lives," said Jones, adding, "It often helps you write about humans, because it reminds you to make their problems clear as well."

Pic will be overseen by DreamWorks humans, including head of animation Lance Young and creative exec Michael Lachance.