Posted: Sun., Feb. 6, 2005, 9:00pm PT

Power Up plugs into prod'n with 'Itty Bitty'

Babbit on board to write, helm

By Dana Harris

Babbit

A correction was made to this article on Feb. 10, 2005

HOLLYWOOD -- Nonprofit production shingle Power Up will make its feature debut with "The Quiet," starring Elisha Cuthbert, Camilla Bell, Martin Donovan and Edie Falco.

Jamie Babbit ("But I'm a Cheerleader!") wrote and will direct the pic, in which a high school girl finds a sense of purpose after joining a radical feminist group.

PowerUp will finance through private equity, with plans for a May production start.

Producers are Andrea Sperling and Lisa Thrasher, with Power Up founder Stacy Codikow as executive producer.

For the past four years, Power Up has developed, financed, produced and distributed films through its film grant program, awarding over $1 million via sponsorships and in-kind services from studios and production houses.

Babbit is in post on her second feature, "The Quiet." She also served as producer and director for the WB television series "Popular." In addition, she helmed episodes of "Nip/Tuck," "Gilmore Girls" and "Malcolm in the Middle."