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Dec 18, 2009 7:37 pm US/Eastern
'Sins Of South Beach' To Be Made Into Film
MIAMI BEACH (CBS4) ―
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Mayor Daoud stands behind what he calls the truths in his book, Sins on South Beach.
CBS4 News
Miami Beach will once again gain notoriety for its drug wars and corruption. But this time, the scene will play out before cameras filming a movie based on a former corrupt mayor's account of those times in the mid-1980s.
A Florida company acquired the film rights for Former Miami Beach Mayor Alex Daoud's tell-all book 'Sins of South Beach'.
Cinepro Pictures/Philippe Martinez Productions, of Clearwater, plans to begin filming in September around Miami Beach film a feature length production of the confessional, memoir style book.
In it, Daoud, who was convicted of bribery charges, explores the corruption, greed, and money at the center of the drug wars in the 80's.
At a news conference announcing the movie project Friday, producer Philippe Martinez quipped that "finding people in South Florida to play corrupt politicians might be our biggest challenge."
Daoud also showed flashes of humor at the news conference. He said he has been prohibited from participating in casting for the movie. "They said I was too corrupt. I might sell the parts," Daoud said, laughing.
The news conference was held at the legendary Fountainebleau hotel. Daoud joked that he could take reporters on a tour of rooms in the hotel where he "scored" bribes. "This was a good hotel for me," a chuckling Daoud said. "I can tell you honestly, it brings back fond memories."
At one point in Friday's news conference Daoud choked up as he talked about his fall from grace, the friends that he had lost and those who stood beside him, even as he was convicted of betraying the public trust.
"The Sins of South Beach were, unfortunately suffered by so many people, not just me," Daoud said as tears coursed down his face.
"I had a double life. I was a corrupt politician by day and an honest human by night. It was a double edged sword," Daoud said in an earlier interview.
A candid, more reflective Daoud has talked about running Miami Beach during the drug wars in the 80's, which contributed to much of the dirty politics.
"The corruption is the biggest part of the book, and I name the names. It's pretty shocking these are real people," Daoud said.
Mayor Daoud stands behind what he calls the truths in his book.
"No one has sued me. No one has gotten a lawyer. No one has even tried to kill me. It's kind of shocking," said Daoud who includes himself on that list or corruption.
Daoud was indicted on 41 counts; a federal trial led to a conviction on bribery charges.
"It was a terrible mistake. Would I do it again? Absolutely not," admitted Daoud.
Now with his fans, Daoud says experience has made him is a different man, looking now a different Miami Beach. "We have lost a sense of community and the sense of family. Also, we have lost a sense of caring that I see in city government," Daoud said.
The movie version of Daoud's story will be filmed largely on location in South Florida, producers said. The project has a tentative budget of $15 million.
CBS4's Gary Nelson contributed to this report
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