News > Soderbergh Gets the "Girlfriend Experience"

Steven Soderbergh has been developing a project for himself to direct called "The Girlfriend Experience," which will revolve around the world of high class prostitution. The protagonist will be a $10,000-per-night call girl. According to Variety:

The title refers to a phenomenon in which wealthy men pay not just for the quality of a sexual encounter but also for a woman who will play the role of a perfect girlfriend. The arrangement apparently involves more intimacy than the usual prostitution relationship. Soderbergh, [Brian] Koppelman and [David] Levien interviewed numerous women and fixed on an interior look at a woman who makes $1 million a year in the business. 

Koppelman and Levien will write the screenplay. Soderbergh is expected by some to go with a non-professional actor, preferring the other kind of "pro" for the lead role. Production will take place this Fall over a quick, cheap 14 days. As was the case with Soderbergh's "Bubble," "Girlfriend" will be simultaneously released in theaters, on cable TV, and on DVD. Soderbergh made a deal a few years ago with HDNet to produce six low budget films for this unique type of roll-out, and "Girlfriend" will be the second.

It's hard to think of this project without Eliot Spitzer and "Kristen" coming to mind, though it sounds like this has been underway since long before that story broke. Soderbergh will be debuting his double Che Guevara biopics at Cannes next month, then he'll turn his attention to the Matt Damon-starring film "The Informant," before taking on "The Girlfriend Experience."

-David Morgan