New WSOP Flick: Documentary About 2005 World Series of Poker

Hollywood, which hasn't produced a decent movie about poker since "Rounders" in 1998, is giving it another shot.

According to the Hollywood trade paper "Variety," director Gil Cates Jr. is working on a documentary film about the 2005 World Series of Poker (WSOP) which is to be titled "Pass the Sugar."

The 2005 WSOP was won by Joe Hachem, a Lebanese poker player who moved to Australia and famously shouted "Aussie, Aussie, Aussie" at the top of his lungs when he won the crown.

Cates is apparently in some kind of poker phase, as earlier this year his feature film about poker titled "Deal" was released. "Deal" starred Burt Reynolds, Bret Harrison and Shannon Elizabeth and bombed at the box office.

"Pass the Sugar" will be Cates' sixth directorial effort in film.

In additon to "Deal" he directed "Life After Tomorrow" and "A Midsummer Night's Rave," among other movies.

He also has directed for television and served as a producer and actor.

Cates is the son of film producer Gil Cates Sr. and the brother of actress Phoebe Cates.

"Pass the Sugar" is being produced by Tony Hachem and Catilin Murney and being financed by an Australia production company called Stack Exchange, "Variety" reported.

Tony Hachem, also a pro poker player, is the brother of Joe Hachem and manages his brothers' business affairs.

Among the celebrity poker players who will be featured in the documentary are Jen Tilly and Jose Canseco, it reported.

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Thomas Somach, www.pokerhelper.com