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A stilted period piece about a hood torn between his life of crime and the kind beauty with whom he falls in love, A New York Heartbeat is equal parts affected hardboiled posturing and starry-eyed schmaltz.

In 1959 Brooklyn, Spider (Escher Holloway) and his low-level crew — who all speak in New Yawk accents as phony as their second-rate West Side Story mannerisms — steal $10,000 from a crime boss (Eric Roberts). While escaping with the loot, Spider saves Tamara (Rachel Brosnahan) from a gang of bullies, suffers a severe beatdown for his heroism, and is promptly taken by Tamara back to her apartment, where she tends to his wounds and, via a series of cornball glances and charged touches, warms his heart.

Spider finds himself debating whether to ...

Adam (Aj Buckley) accesses the online chat site 'looking at yo and is attracted to the girl on the site. He likes her moves and music. He notices Mac (Gary Sinise) approach and thinks he's going to enter the lab. Adam liked the way she said his name with her French accent. When he goes back in he finds the girl being strangled by a hooded killer. Don't know why Adam switched from the site so many times when he saw Mac, since if Mac was going to enter the lab he'd have seen him and his computer was facing inwards, so he still would have had time to switch to something else. He was hiding what he was doing from Mac, yet it's Mac who he has to run to, informing him of what he's witnessed. What's this silent thing Flack (Eddie Cahill) and Jo (Sela Ward) have got going?...

Upright Citizens Brigade co-founder Matt Walsh is set to direct High Road, a comedy about a fugitive part-time weed dealer and his 16-year-old fellow escapee. (Doogie?) Starring in the flick are Horatio Sanz, Rob Riggle, Abby Elliott, Lizzy Kaplan, Kyle Gass, and Zach Woods — also known as my dream party guest list. [THR]

Undercover Jewel Nia Vardalos will write and star in Happy Mother’s Day, which centers on four road-tripping suburban moms. Let’s hope things don’t end like this. [Variety]

Elsa Pataky (Snakes on a Plane) and Joaquim de Almeida (24) will join the cast of The Fast and the Furious...

Welcome to a Friday edition of The Casting Couch where we find out about all the casting news in tinsel town. Apparently, Ari Gold is setting himself in less than Ari Gold fashion with a small indie project. Sandra Vergara, the real-life sister of the hot Spanish chick on modern family is lining up a role in Fright night while another indie project gets two stars attached. Lastly, Time Allen apparently is contractually obligated for a Toy Story 4 if that ever happens.

>> Deadline New York reports that Thomas Jane and Jeremy Piven are going to star in I Melt With You. Mark Pellington (Henry Poole Is Here) is directing this low budget film. The film will start shooting in early August in Northern California. The story “follows the interconnecting lives of four men.” Glenn Porter wrote the screenplay from a story he and Mark Pellington conceived. The budget is said to be under $1 million dollars.

Escher Holloway ("When a Stranger Calls") and Sarah Habel ("Whip It") have signed on for the independent gangster crime drama "A New York Heartbeat" says The Hollywood Reporter.

Set in 1957 New York, Holloway plays a young gang leader who blunders into the nest of a notorious gangster and makes off with a suitcase full of money.

Beaten and left for dead, he is taken in by a sheltered young woman (Habel) who hides and looks after both him and her invalid, exiled crime lord uncle.

Tjardus Greidanus and Laura Davis will produce. Shooting kicks off this month in Pittsburgh.

Escher Holloway and Sarah Habel join A New York HeartbeatEscher Holloway and Sarah Habel have signed on to star in the indie gangster crime drama A New York Heartbeat from filmmaker Tjardus Greidanus, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Set in New York in 1957, the movie follows Spider (Holloway), a young gang leader who blunders into the gambling nest of a notorious gangster, makes off with a suitcase full of money and is beaten and left for dead. He is taken in by a sheltered young woman named Tamara (Habel), who hides him along with her reclusive, bedridden uncle, an exiled crime lord.

Production begins this month in Pittsburgh.

Escher Holloway and Sarah Habel will star in the indie crime drama "A New York Heartbeat" from filmmaker Tjardus Greidanus.

Set in New York in 1957, the movie follows Spider (Holloway), a young gang leader who blunders into the gambling nest of a notorious gangster, makes off with a suitcase full of money and is beaten and left for dead. He is taken in by a sheltered young woman named Tamara (Habel), who hides him along with her reclusive, bedridden uncle, an exiled crime lord.

Greidanus (HBO's "First Look" preview series) is producing with Laura Davis. Shooting begins this month in Pittsburgh.

Holloway, repped by Apa and Evolution Entertainment, appeared in the feature "When a Stranger Calls." He also has roles in the upcoming comedies "The Secret Lives of Dorks" and "Getting That Girl."

Repped by Apa and Fuel Filmworks, Habel recently appeared on the series "CSI: NY," "Cold Case" and...

A pair of Whedonverse alumni -- Julie Benz and Fran Kranz -- are among the latest actors to land pilot roles. Benz will star in ABC's drama "No Ordinary Family," while Kranz has signed on to NBC's comedy "Friends with Benefits."

Others joining the pilot game are Christina Chang, Adrianne Palicki ("Friday Night Lights"), Jason George ("Grey's Anatomy"), Mehcad Brooks ("The Deep End"), Jaime King, Alexandra Breckenridge and Peggy Lipton.

"No Ordinary Family" will star Michael Chiklis and Benz as a husband and wife who discover they have superpowers. Benz will play a scientist who develops a gift for super speed, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Benz, a veteran of Joss Whedon's "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Angel," was a regular on "Dexter" for four seasons and is currently in the midst of a guest arc on "Desperate Housewives."

Chang ("CSI: Miami," "24") has also joined "No Ordinary Family" as...

Julie Benz ("Dexter") will star opposite Michael Chiklis in the pilot of "No Ordinary Family," ABC's drama. In other casting news - Jaime King and Mehcad Brooks have joined ABC's hourlong "Generation Y," Fran Kranz is in NBC's comedy "Friends With Benefits," Adrianne Palicki ("Friday Night Lights") and Bryce Johnson will play in Fox's drama "Midland," Alexandra Breckenridge has joined Fox's "Traffic Light" comedy and Peggy Lipton and Escher Holloway are in the ABC drama/comedy "Cutthroat." "Family" follows the typical American family. Jim (Michael Chiklis) is a once aspiring artist now a police artist, leading a family who come to realize that they have new "abilities."...

"Dexter" alumna Julie Benz has been tapped to star opposite Michael Chiklis in ABC's drama pilot "No Ordinary Family."

In other pilot castings, Christina Chang also has come aboard "No Ordinary Family," Jaime King and Mehcad Brooks have joined ABC's hourlong "Generation Y," Fran Kranz has landed a role on NBC comedy "Friends With Benefits," Alexandra Breckenridge has come aboard Fox's comedy "Traffic Light," "Friday Night Lights" alumna Adrianne Palicki and Bryce Johnson are set for Fox's drama "Midland," and veteran Peggy Lipton and Escher Holloway have been added to ABC's dramedy "Cutthroat."

"Family" revolves around a typical American family led by Jim (Michael Chiklis), a once aspiring artist-turned-police artist, who suddenly finds themselves with new "abilities."

Benz, who recurs on ABC's dramedy "Desperate Housewives" this spring as a lap dancer taking up residence on Wisteria Lane, will play Jim's wife, a gifted scientist who develops a power for superspeed.