Nous Entertainment today announced that it is in pre-production on its flagship film, "Proud Mary," a biographical saga that chronicles a Baltimore family over seven decades, telling the true story of Mary Sharpe, a young, black, Christian orphan from Indiana and her eventual rise to becoming the Yiddish-speaking matriarch of a large Jewish family in 20th-century Baltimore. With race and abuse and the themes of redemption and hope at the core of the film, the story illustrates the cultural and social dynamics of 20th century Baltimore and its multi-cultural families.

The film will follow Mary Sharpe and her despair over the sudden loss of her family as a result of a train crash in rural Indiana. Eventually a twist of fate brings her to the Levine household in Baltimore, where over the ensuing years of her life, she rises to the role of Matriarch.

Rafael Alvarez – a Baltimore native, writer and producer known for his work on HBO’s "The Wire" – will co-writer on the screenplay.

"Mary’s story is infinitely strengthened by aligning with Baltimore institutions and natives who understand the unique history of – and opportunity for – Baltimore residents," said Nous Founder, "Proud Mary" writer and Baltimore-native, Adam Scherr. "We are honored that Mr. Alvarez will bring his expertise and authentic voice to the script and the story. Baltimore is a storied, complex city and it’s critical that our portrayal of this time and place is both genuine and uplifting."

In addition to including local voices into the script, Nous is committed to casting locally born Baltimore talent and filming on-location. The company has also selected Baltimore-based Living Classrooms as a philanthropic partner and will announce further details later this year.

Nous Entertainment LLC is an independent production company focused on the development, marketing and distribution of film and television programming aimed at balancing entertainment with issue-driven content. 

Learn more about "Proud Mary" at http://www.whatsnous.com/proud-mary/.