TIGHT GENES

Seven pairs of Hollywood brothers and sisters-including Minnie and Kate Driver, John and Rick Dahl, and Edward and Brian Burns♪have teamed up on projects ranging from Rushmore to Red Rock West to American Pimp

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The Siblings

Even in Hollywood, where show business is often the family business, the current crop of siblings seems unrivaled. John and Rick Dahl, 42 and 35, who once had a rock band in Montana, are now famous for making Red Rock West and The Last Seduction. “We have the same sick sense of humor,” says John. They’re currently at work on a film version of the TV series It Takes a Thief for Universal. Paul and Chris Weitz, 33 and 29, whose parents are designer John Weitz and actress Susan Kohner, wrote their first screenplay, says Chris, “for a laugh, and suddenly we realized we could do it for a living.” After writing Antz, Paul directed and Chris produced American Pie for Universal.

Edward and Brian Burns, 31 and 30, used to share a paper route on Long Island; now they have a development deal with Columbia TriStar Television. Ed, who wrote, directed, and acted in The Brothers McMullen, doesn’t let his star status get in the way: “As teenagers we fought every day, but now Brian is involved in everything I do.” Kate Driver, 30, stopped producing commercials in London to team up with her actress sister, Minnie, 28. “We decided to develop projects and find great female characters for Minnie.” So far they’ve made At Sachem Farm, with Rufus Sewell, and Slow Burn, with James Spader. Owen and Luke Wilson, 30 and 27, arrived from Dallas with Bottle Rocket in 1996. After that, Owen acted in Armageddon, Luke acted in Hbme Fries, Owen cowrote Rushmore, and Luke appeared in it.

Identical twins Allen and Albert Hughes, 26, made Menace II Society at 19 and Dead Presidents at 22. Their documentary, American Pimp, was shown at Sundance this year. Producers Suzanne and Jennifer Todd, 33 and 29, have three films going: Idle Hands for Sony and, for New Line, The Boiler Room (a Team Todd production) and the Austin Powers sequel, The Spy Who Shagged Me. “We have such a similar sensibility,” says Suzanne. “We agree before we even have to talk about it.”

KRISTA SMITH