Vivendi set to 'Boogie' with Stokes

Film unit acquires rights to hip-hop dance film

By MICHAEL JONES

Vivendi Entertainment has nabbed all rights to Chris Stokes' hip-hop dance film "Boogie Town," currently lensing with Marques Houston in the lead. Vivendi will release theatrically in the summer.

Stokes and Houston worked together on the hip-hop themed "You Got Served," a sleeper hit released by Screen Gems in 2004.

Set in a near-future New York where dancing is outlawed, "Boogie Town" follows the rise of illegal "battle dancing" in the underground world of the title.

Thesps Brenda Song and Vanessa Simmons join Houston. Choreographer Shane Sparks ("So You Think You Can Dance") sets the dance numbers.

Vivendi Entertainment has been quietly ramping up its release efforts. It will unspool Aaron Woodley's drama "Tennessee" on Friday and has the anthology pic "New York, I Love You," comprised of short films directed by Scarlett Johansson, Natalie Portman and Brett Ratner, among others, set for a limited release in February.