The past week have been a whirlwind of movies, film makers and movie stars at the Dallas International Film Festival. I tried to attend at least 2 movies each day, but with some of my chosen films playing at the Angelika Film Center in Plano, I fell a little short of my goal. If you don’t live in Dallas, Texas you might not understand that what looks like a 15 mile drive from Dallas to Plano, can result in an hour-long drive at the wrong time of day. And, as all my friends know, I don’t go ‘outside the loop ‘(LBJ Freeway). Even so, I managed to see several movies.

It Pays to Be Friendly in Elevators

I like to start conversations in elevators. I mean really… you are sharing this 60 second journey, you might as well be friendly. Right? This week it worked out well for me. Saturday, after the Red Carpet event at NorthPark Center for Soul Surfer, I went to the Angelika Film Center at Mockingbird Station to see Potiche. I rode the elevator with 3 young men who I had seen earlier at NorthPark. So I asked…

“Didn’t I see you guys at NorthPark earlier. You didn’t stay to see the movie?

No, our movie is playing here later tonight.

Really? You made a movie?

Yes. I’m  a director.  My movie,  Between Notes screens here tonight at 9:30. I hope you  come and see it, I think you will like it.

He gave me his card and told me to call him if I wanted to interview them for my blog. ( Me? Interview a real film director?) That was how I met Chris Grissom and Matt Brown the director and screen writer of Between Notes, one of my favorite films of the film fest.

I also met the producer of Robot and the cast and director of In the Land of Fireworks in the elevator of The Joule Hotel on my way to and from the DIFF Press Room in the penthouse.

Starbucks Might Not Be the Best Place for Interviewing Film Makers

I finally mustered up the courage to contact Chris and Matt for an interview about Between Notes. This was my first interview with real film makers and I think it went OK. Note to self: Don’t do video interviews in a Starbucks. I am currently transcribing my interview because the barista is screaming out orders for a non-fat/half caf, cappuccino in the background.

It was crowded (as are all Starbucks), so we sat in the corner. Amateur, that I am, I recorded the interview on my iPhone. Matt was sitting with his back to the window and he was totally in silhouette. If I can figure out iMovie, I will post the audio. Fortunately, they were both really nice guys and Mad Men fans too.

Hanging Out & Trying to Be Cool in The Pressroom

The DIFF Press Room  was located in the luxurious penthouse of The Joule Hotel in downtown Dallas. I picked up my press pass on Friday morning and learned that I could also borrow preview screeners of some of the movies.  This came in very handy, since many of the movies I planned to watch were scheduled at the same time.

One day, I was passing time between movies and stopped by the Press Room to hang out and try to be cool like the ‘real press’. While I was there emailing, Tweeting and Facebooking, guess who walked in, the Easy Rider himself, Peter Fonda. How cool is that? I completely missed the screening of Beautiful Boy, but when will I ever see Peter Fonda again?

So Many Movies, So Little Time

With more than 150 movies, documentaries and shorts playing in such a short period of time, there were bound to be some movies that I couldn’t see. I planned a schedule of all the screenings wanted to attend, but I still missed out on several excellent films. Despite my reticence to driving to from east Dallas to the historic Texas Theater in Oak Cliff to the Angelika  in Plano in one day, there was just so much to choose from. And watching films from Mexico, India and Ireland in the same day can be a bit confusing. Next year, I will plan my screenings with driving distance and language in mind.

I heard very things about the documentary, Miss Representation and two Irish films, Parked and The Runaway.  Also on my To See List: Beautiful Boy, Jess + Moss, The Presence and Lucky.

In the coming days, I will review a few of my favorites film from the film fest. Please check back with me.

I have finally arrived. I am officially a real  movie critic. I have a press pass to attend screenings at the Dallas International Film Festival!!!

The festival  will run March 31 – April 10, 2011 and feature more than 200 movies, shorts and documentaries. This year, DIFF will honor writer, producer and director Scott Z. Burns (The Informant, The Bourne Ultimatum),  Texas legend and Academy-Award winner Horton Foote (Tender Mercies).

It will be an exciting week of movies and Red Carpet events for me. tonight Legendary  movie star, Ann-Margaret ( Bye, Bye Birdie) will walk the Red Carpet at the premiere of her movie Lucky. This is my first time to attend press events, red carpets and to hang out with movies stars and film makers. The main thing I worry about is not how to watch 3 movies in one day or how to interview a film maker…no, I am worried about what I should wear. I’m thinking funky bohemian writer chick.

The Films

I made a list of the movies I definitely want to see  this week at DIFF and a few others of interest. Not all of them are Chick Flicks, but they look really interesting.  Of course, I want to see Ann-Margaret’s movie, Lucky which also stars Colin Hanks and Mimi Rogers.

Soul Surfer

Starring Dennis Quaid, Helen Hunt, Anna Sophia Robb, Soul Surfer is based on the true story of teen surfer Bethany Hamilton, who lost her arm in a shark attack and courageously overcame all odds to become a champion again through the love of her family.

Beautiful Boy

Michael Sheen, Maria Bello, star as a couple in a failing marriage, who learn that their son has committed a mass shooting at his university before taking his own life. After the tragedy, they have only themselves to turn to as they grieve, avoid the media’s relentless scrutiny and struggle with their own culpability.

Parked

I like Irish movies. At least the ones I have seen. They always seem to show a quirky slice of life that warms the heart. In Parked, Colm Meaney stars as  Fred Daly, a man who lives a quiet, lonely life in his car. Everything changes when Cathal arrives in a little yellow car and becomes his neighbor. Fred  makes a friend in Jules, but  he can’t tell her about his ‘mobile home’.

The Presence

Tom Provost directs Mira Sorvino and Shane West in a dark, romantic ghost story.  Mira Sorvino is a woman who travels to an isolated cabin where she is stalked by a ghost, played by Shane West. When her boyfriend unexpectedly arrives, the spirit’s haunting grows obsessive.

The Future

Sophie and Jason  are a young German couple who live in a tiny  apartment, have jobs they hate, and soon they’ll adopt a stray cat. Despite their good intentions, the couple is terrified of their looming loss of freedom, so they quit their jobs, and the Internet, to pursue their dreams.

Language of a Broken Heart

This movie was made right here in Dallas by director, Rocky Powell. It is the story of love-obsessed best-selling author on love can write eloquently about the subject, but can’t keep girls from leaving him. After he finds girlfriend cheating on him,  he returns to his hometown and his mother where he meets a free-spirited bookseller who teaches him to love being himself.

Potiche

French actress, Catherine Deneuve stars in  François Ozon’s film as Suzanne Pujol, a ‘trophy housewife’ (or “potiche,”) who steps in to manage the umbrella factory run by her tyrannical husband  after the workers go on  strike and take him hostage. Also starring  Gérard Depardieu.

Rainbows End

Another Texas movie, Rainbow’s End is directed by Eric Hueber. It tells the story of Country Willie Edwards and his band, The Cosmic Debris  launching  their first West Coast tour. On their first forray out of f Deep East Texas, the band enlists the aid of three individuals who have dreams of striking it rich in California.

By Day, By Night (De dia y de noche)

In this film from Mexico,  overpopulation in the future has caused humans to split into two groups. One group lives by day, while the other never sees the sun. One mother’s daughter goes missing and finds herself awake in the strange daylight. In Spanish with English subtitles

Robot

Starring the most beautiful woman in the world, Aishwarya Ra (Bride and Prejudice) Robot is a sci-fi movie from India about a brilliant scientist who builds a robot that can do all the things a human can do, and more. It feeds on electricity, but he cannot love. The doctor upgrades his creation with human emotions, which results in some unexpected and mind-blowing consequences.  In Tamil with English subtitles.

Age of the Dragons

This  is a re-imagining of Herman Melville’s classic Moby Dick, set in a mythical realm where Captain Ahab and crew hunt dragons for the vitriol that powers their world. Ahab’s obsession is to seek revenge on a great “White Dragon” that slaughtered his family when he was young and left his body scarred and mauled. Starring Danny Glover and Vinnie Jones

Those are just a few of the movies on my list. Stay tuned for reviews and other movie news from my adventures at the Dallas International Film Festival. Follow me on Twitter #DIFF

I participated the Hollywood Fantasy Movie Draft on Anomalous Material . It is like fantasy football, but for movies and much more fun. We  cast our movie, choose a director and either pitch an original screen play or a remake.

Last year, I pitched my epic love story starring Hugh Jackman and Viola Davis, An Unexpected Song. This time around I decided to do a remake of the classic Tennessee Williams play, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. I know how much we loved the 1958 version, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof starring Paul Newman and Elizabeth Taylor as Brick and Maggie. But, let’s face it…in 1958 the Hayes Commission was in full force and the raw emotion of Williams’ original play was edited down quite a bit.

With Martin Scorsese directing and Hollywood super couple (at least before the divorce), Ryan Reynolds and Scarlett Johanson in the lead roles, I think this new and fresh version of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof will be an Oscar contender. Check it out and let me know what you think.

Please go to Anomalous Material and  read the other fantasy movie pitches. There are some great stories there. If only Hollywood had our imagination!

Based on the original play by Tennessee Williams
Director: Martin Scorcese

Tagline: Family Secrets are the ties that bind.

Logline: Based on Tennessee Williams’ original play, this version of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof is not the sanitized version of the 1958 movie. The Pollitts are a wealthy family, lead by Big Daddy who rules his company and his family with an iron fist. When death is at the doorstep, lies and secrets come to light and threaten to tear the family apart.

This remake is a tense emotional drama that deeply examines the relationship between Brick and Skipper and its impact on Brick’s marriage to Maggie, the rest of the family and his relationship with his father. Also by transporting the family from the South to 1960′s Philadelphia high society puts Big Daddy in the position of being an outsider with the old money millionaires.

Like Liz Taylor and Richard Burton in Who Is Afraid of Virginia Wolfe, the pairing of Hollywood’s hot couple Ryan Reynolds and Scarlett Johanson will be a big box office draw, as well as cause lots of on-screen tension due to their real life martial situation.

Brixton Dean Pollitt–Brick (Ryan Reynolds)

People Magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive, Ryan Reynolds stars as Brick, a former college  star athlete, slacker and youngest son in the Pollitt family. Brick gets by on his  good looks and charm. Thanks to his family’s fortune he was able to hang on to his glory days with a job as a TV sports announcer. However, he is fired from the TV station due to his drinking.  Big Daddy intervenes and helps Brick get a job as a high school football coach.

An unhappy marriage, secrets about unresolved issues in his relationship with Skipper all contribute to Brick’s alcoholism.

Skipper (James Dean)

Hollywood icon, James Dean co-stars as Brick’s best friend and college room-mate. Skipper. Like Brick, Skipper comes from a wealthy Northeastern family. And like Brick, he is also the black sheep of the family. He has been kicked out of 2 previous schools due to “inappropriate behaviour” and complaints from other male students. Uneasy with his sexuality, Skipper feels an attraction to Brick, but is hesitant to act on it.(After all it is 1962)

Margaret Katz–Maggie (Scarlett Johanson)

The ultra-sexy Scarlett Johanson is the perfect young actress to play Maggie the Cat. Maggie is a poor girl from the wrong side of the tracks whose parents works in one of the Pollitt Paper mills. Maggie is a beautiful, smart and determined young woman who works as a waitress in a cafe near Penn State, scheming to marry a rich husband and escape her life of poverty.

Maggie meets Brick, the college football star and his friend, Skipper one night at the cafe. The three of them become inseparable. She falls in love with Brick and only Skipper stands in the way of  her plans to become the future Mrs Pollitt.

Buford Dean Pollitt–Big Daddy (Jeff Bridges)

Oscar winner, Jeff Bridges plays Big Daddy. Born into poverty in rural Alabama, Buford  grew up traveling the rails with Dean, his hobo father. His father died, leaving the 13-year-old  boy to work in local paper mills until he goes into the Navy. After leaving the military, he moves to Philadelphia and built his fortune in northern  paper mills. Despite being a multi-millionaire, BD (aka Big Daddy) is not readily accepted into Philadelphia high society. He married Idahlia Stanton to establish himself with the other wealthy families in the city.

A hard and unscrupulous man, Buford cares little for anyone but himself. He does have a soft spot for his favorite son, Brick.

Idahlia Stanton-Pollitt–Big Mamma (Katherine Hepburn)

The great Katherine Hepburn stars as Big Mamma. Ida Stanton is the daughter of one of Philadelphia’s  oldest and most prestigious families. She met the young handsome BD (as he was known then) Pollitt and was dazzled by his bad boy ways and Southern charm. Ida had an independent and rebellious spirit, so against her father’s wishes, she married the handsome Southerner with the mysterious past.

Ida is not ignorant to her husband’s infidelities and other faults, but she loves him and is fiercely loyal.

Buford Dean Pollitt Jr. — Gooper (Bill Pullman)

The oldest Pollitt son and the father of 4 children, Gooper constantly seeks his father’s approval. A successful  New York attorney, Gooper looks after the family’s legal and business interests. With a combined wealth of more than $8 million (that’s 1962 dollars), Pollitt Industries consumes so much of his time, Gooper gave up his partnership in a prominent NY las firm.

May Pollitt–Sister Woman (Francis McDormand)

Francis McDormand, who  is so wonderful in capturing quirky and interesting characters will play May Pollitt, Gooper’s wife. May and Gooper have 4 children under the age of 10 and another on the way. With a tendency towards listening at keyholes and pettiness, the ever pregnant May is intent on providing heirs to the Pollitt family fortune.

Setting: The Pollitt family estate in Philadelphia, PA. The summer of 1962.

Synopsis: Big Daddy and Big Mamma have returned after 6 weeks in Baltimore, where Big Daddy was undergoing tests  in Johns Hopkins Hospital.  What he thought was a spastic colon, turns out to be  pancreatic cancer. His prognosis is terminal, with weeks, if not days to live. The Pollitt sons Gooper, Brick and their wives returned to the home during their father’s hospital stay. Tonight, they gather to celebrate their father’s 65th birthday.  Dr. Baugh delivers the bad news to the sons about their father’s health. Dr. Baugh has not told Big Daddy and Big Mamma about the cancer yet. Gooper and May want to secure the inheritance and control of the Pollitt estate before Big Daddy finds out the bad news.

With Gooper and May’s  four “no neck monsters” running around the house, Maggie’s childlessness brings up even more  bitterness and anxiety about her failing marriage. Maggie and Brick’s lack of children is a matter of gossip and conjecture with the family and no wonder since Maggie sleeps in the bed and Brick on the sofa.

Read the full movie pitch on Anomalous Material

Today is Blog Action Day. A day on which thousands of bloggers, worldwide focus on a specific subject of concern. This year the subject is water… a basic element of life. But not every has access to clean, safe drinking water. Did you know…Nearly 1 billion people lack access to clean water, which causes a litany of struggles, diseases and even death? Or that some scholars attribute the conflict in Darfur at least in part to lack of access to water.

Jean de Florette

A war over water...That is why I chose Jean de Florette and Manon of the Spring for Blog Action Day.  The French classic movies star Yves Montand as Cesar Soubeyran (Le Papet) and Daniel Auteuil as his nephew Ugolin;  greedy land owners who covet a neighboring  farm. In order to bankrupt the farm’s owner, Jean de Florette  (Gérard Depardieu), Le Papet and Ugolin block up the only  source of water for the Florette farm.

When  hunch-backed, city dweller, Jean de Florette inherits property from his mother he moves his wife and young daughter Manon to a small farm in Provence. What he didn’t know was  his neighbor, Cesar Soubeyran had his eyes on the farm. Not for the land, but because the Florette farm had its own water source. A spring.  Which made it the most valuable piece of property in the area. Without this precious water, crops wouldn’t grow and the farm was worthless.

Determined to make a success of his little farm, Florette stays. He makes the arduous  trip to the village well, carrying precious water for his plants and his family. Praying for rain, hoping for water and watching his crops die, Florette doesn’t give up. Not until his attempts to find water eventually kill him.

Manon of the Spring

Years after her father’s tragic death, the grown up Manon learns of the  Soubeyran’s treachery. When she accidently discovers the source of not only her father’s spring, but the underground water source of the entire village, she is enraged to learn that her father  worked himself to death for lack of water. Manon blocks the spring and the village is waterless. Now the tables are turned.

Tempers flare, fortunes are threatened and secrets are soon revealed. This family’s whole existence depended on water. And but for the selfish desires of a rich neighbor, they would have had enough water to survive and even flourish. That is the core on which this year’s theme for Blog Action Day focuses: Water is the source of life and a basic human right.

How Can You Help?

charity: water is a non-profit organization bringing clean and safe drinking water to people in developing nations. 100% of public donations directly fund water projects.  You can help us build wells. A freshwater well costs $5,000 and can serve an average of 250 people with clean, safe drinking water for 20 years. Just $20 serves one person with clean, safe drinking water. Donate.

I am joining my fellow bloggers for Blog Action Day, an annual event that unites the world’s bloggers in posting about the same issue on a single day – October 15. Last year, more than 13,000 bloggers participated from 152 countries. In order to raise awareness and trigger a global discussion about an important issue that impacts people around the world.

This year, the topic is WATER. Daily,  almost a billion people on the planet don’t have  clean, safe drinking water. Access to clean water is not just a human rights issue. Water is a global issue, and it affects all of us.

Come back on Friday, October 15th for my contribution to Blog Action Day, Jean De Florette and Manon of the Spring .
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Welcome back for the exciting, romantic conclusion to my fantasy chick flick, An Unexpected Song, starring Hugh Jackman, Viola Davis, Sophie Okenedo and Emily Blunt. Directed by J.J. Abrams.

Act 2: Summers By The Sea

Over the next 10 years, Miriam raises Allegra alone. No longer able to travel and work long hours as a reporter, Frank Kennedy helps her publish her gothic romance novels to support her family.

Young Allegra is curious about her father and knows he must be white because of the way she looks. Allegra loves music and asks Miriam for piano lesson. One day in a record store she hears one of Duncan’s recordings and begs her mother to buy it for her. Allegra sees an ad on TV about an upcoming concert by her favorite artist. Her grandfather surprises her with front row center seats.

Miriam’s 2nd novel tells the story of Miriam and Duncan’s marriage and their life London. Duncan is understandably upset that he was not told about his daughter, until Miriam explains Chloe’s deception. Duncan and Chloe never married. In fact, he broke up with her and started to work on his own music until his contract was over with the orchestra.

In the years that follow, Duncan tours as a solo artist, while Miriam works on her ‘real’ novel. They are one big happy family now. Especially when Miriam becomes pregnant with their son at the age of 46. Complications arise, the baby dies and Miriam cannot have any more children. Duncan is inconsolable and starts drinking. His work suffers and he and Miriam argue constantly. Refusing to raise her daughter with a drunk, tells Duncan he will never be the man she fell in love with until he plays the kind of music that makes him happy. Only then can he be his own man and free himself of his guilt.

Miriam leaves Duncan and takes her daughter back to New York to finish her book. Realizing how much the loss of his parents as well as his son has affected, Duncan sobers up and starts composing a musical. A clean and sober Duncan heads to New York with the completed score of Happily As Long as It Last in hand hoping get it produced on Broadway and that Miriam will take him back.

Who Am I?

Allegra asks her grandpa, Jerry why he didn’t want her mother and father to be married. Was it really because of his race? And if so, did he love her, even though she was partially white. Jerry explains about the times and how things were different then, but he loved his grand-daughter dearly, not matter what color she was.  Allegra returns to rehearsals with a new vigor for her role.

Happily As Long As it Last: A Musical by Duncan St. James

The musical version Miriam and Duncan’s love story is about a young couple, Mimi and Jamie who come from different backgrounds, but find love despite all obstacles.

Epilogue

Months later, the show opens on Broadway and as she takes the stage, Allegra see her parents (the older Miriam and Duncan) holding hand in the audience. Still happily in love after 30 years of marriage.

The Making of the Perfect Chick Flick

The Cast in My Perfect Chick Flick

An UnExpected Song

What do you think? Would you pay to see this movie? And not just because Hugh Jackman will have long hair, dripping wet and love-sick in Italy.

Note to  J. J.  Abrams:  Contact me. I think this movie would be a big hit.

An Unexpected Song

You never know where love will find you

Directed by J.J. Abrams
Music: Stephen Sondheim
Title Song: Andrew Lloyd Webber

I chose J. J. Abrams to direct my movie because he thinks outside the box on stories that we think we have seen before. Just look at the way he completely turned  the  Star Trek franchise into something exciting and fresh.

J. J. also works well with strong female characters. I wanted to make a chick flick like one of the Tracy-Hepburn films. Two strong people who fall in love based on their personalities, not because of their looks (although, I admit, Hugh is very easy on the eyes).

The Basic Plot

The love story between American journalist, Miriam Richards and British pianist, Duncan St. James is told in a non-linear fashion through flashbacks and as their daughter read the books written by Miriam and  listens to the music composed by Duncan.

Allegra will not only learn about the deep love between her mother and father, but will witness some of the events in their lives, as she finds herself in the story as an observer at various times in her parents story. She will be seen randomly as a waitress in a jazz club or a passerby on a busy street, or the clerk at a store. It has some elements of the Never Ending Story, in that the flashback scenes are seen through the eyes of the person telling the story. In that way, you are getting different views of the same story.

The movie will span 35 years in the lives of Miriam and Duncan, from their first meeting in New York City through the many events that make up their lives. Marriage, birth, death and Love.

Allegra St. James is in rehearsals in the starring role on Broadway, in a musical written by a composer with a string of hit shows. During rehearsals, she has difficulty getting emotionally involved in her role. She doesn’t understand her character’s motivation and how she could sacrifice so much for love. The composer, (who we learn later, is her father) suggests she read the source material, a series of novels by an American journalist, (who we later learn is her mother).

During her reading of the novels, An Unexpected Song, Summers By the Sea and the songs in her father’s musicals, such as Happily As Long As it Last; Allegro learns the story of her parents first meeting in New York City 35 years ago:

Act 1: An Unexpected Song:
A Novel by Mimi Richards

It’s December 1974. Miriam Richards is an investigative journalist for the New York Review magazine. Recently returning from Germany and Vietnam investigating a story about heroin addiction in returning Army veterans, Miriam is a hard-working reporter who does whatever it takes to get her story.

The magazine’s editor, Frank Kennedy (played by Richard Jenkins) calls Miriam to his office. He is playing classical music on his 8-track tape deck. The Arts And Entertainment reporter is out on maternity leave, when an interview with the biggest name in classical music is visiting New York City. Duncan Scott St. James, a classical pianist with London’s Symphony Orchestra. A prima dona, with a reputation for never giving interviews, St. James is rumored to be in New York to talk about becoming the Conductor with the New York Philharmonic. An interview with him would be a big story for the magazine.

Miriam is a serious journalist and not willing to waste her time interviewing some “English piano player”. She refuses the assignment. Frank is a huge fan of St. James’ and he desperately, wants this story on the cover of his magazine. Frank makes Miriam an offer she can’t refuse. Knowing that she dreams of going to Paris to write her novel, Frank offers Miriam 3 months paid vacation if she can get the St. James interview. She accepts the deal. A couple of quick questions and she would be off to the travel agency to book her flight to Paris.

When Duncan checks into New York the hotel with girlfriend, Chloe Winston, Miriam is waiting in the lobby to get the interview, which he rudely declines. Miriam is irritated and decides to do what she does best…investigate. Late one night, Miriam spots Duncan leaving the hotel, without Chloe. She follows him to a West Side Jazz club. Taking a seat in the back of the dark club, to her surprise, Miriam sees Duncan on stage playing Jazz on the piano and singing Nat King Cole songs.

After watching him for a few nights, Miriam confronts Duncan at the club with her story about the fancy British pianist singing the blues a sleazy New York Jazz club. They sit and talk, drinking scotch while Duncan tells her his story and why he doesn’t do interviews. [The adult Allegra is the waitress] As the scotch takes affect, he loses his British accent and he reveals his love of American Jazz and his long-hidden desire to compose and play something other than classical music. He had been put on a path years ago to be a ‘serious’ musician by his family and could not change now. He tells her the story of his childhood in Australia.

After a few drinks, Miriam tells him about her long-held dream of going to Paris writing novel, similar to Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun. Duncan tells her to forget Paris; it’s too noisy to write. She should go to Italy to Amalfi Coast.

Over the next few days, Miriam and her friend Patty take Duncan to some of the cities best music clubs. As their friendship develops, they talk openly with one another about their childhoods, his guilt over the death of his parents, their family’s expectations of them and their dreams of living their own lives. Eventually, he agrees to do the interview, on the condition that she not mention his childhood in Australia. She hesitates, but agrees. Duncan returns to England with Chloe the following week. Miriam goes to Detroit to work on a story about corruption in the labor unions.

The Romantic Part

Summer comes and Miriam considers Duncan’s advice and books a trip to Positano, Italy on the Amalfi Coast. After a few weeks in Italy, Miriam sends Duncan a postcard telling him that she took his advice. Back in London, Duncan is arguing with his manager and Chloe about his career path and an upcoming world tour, when receives the post card from Miriam. On a whim he packs a bag and heads to the train station.

Duncan finds Miriam sitting at a cafe,  drinking an espresso. She is pleased and surprised to see him. [The 12-year old Allegra is playing with other children nearby] The pensione is full, so she invites him to stay a few nights until his room becomes available.

Over the next few days, their friendship becomes closer and more intimate and one rainy evening, after a romantic dinner and lots of Chianti, as walk the narrow streets of Positano, Duncan kisses Miriam. She is upset runs back to her room. A dripping wet Duncan pounds on the door, asking for an explanation. Miriam explains about her father’s views and the prejudice against interracial couples in America. “But we’re not in America, we’re here….just you and me and what’s to stop us from loving each other”.

Duncan and Miriam spend an idyllic 3 months, in love, calling each other pet names Mimi and Davie. She writes her novel and he composes his music. At the end of summer, Duncan asks Miriam to marry him, but she declines, telling him it would never work. She leaves the next morning while Duncan is swimming, leaving him a note with a quote from his favorite musical, Fiddler on the Roof: “A bird may love a fish, but where would they build a home together?”

Miriam returns to New York to discover she is pregnant. Afraid to tell her father about her affair with a man not of her race, she tells her best friend, Patty who advises her to forget about other people’s opinion and tell Duncan about the baby. When Miriam finds the courage to call him, Chloe answers the phone. Chloe lies to Miriam,  telling her that she and Duncan are to be married. Feeling betrayed, Miriam decides not to reveal the father identity and to her raises the baby by herself.

No. That is not the end. Part 2 is coming up on Saturday. What so you think so far?

Meet The Cast of An UnExpected Song

This is the cast of my fantasy chick flick, An Unexpected Song, directed by J. J. Abrams. I took part in Anomalous Material Fantasy Movie Draft . My goal for this movie was to create a romantic movie, a chick flick that both women and men would enjoy. I picked some of my favorite actors and actresses for my project.

I am sick and tired of what passes for chick flicks these days. Jennifer Aniston, Kathrine Heigl and Gerard Butler are single-handedly ruining the genre with the crappy movies they have released recently. Come on, Hollywood! What’s so hard about making an entertaining movie with intelligent characters and a little romance? Here is my pitch for a my fantasy Hollywood movie: An UnExpected Song.

Sophie Okenedo and Willow Smith star as Allegra Lorraine St. James,  the bi-racial daughter of Miriam Richards. Like her father, Duncan St. James, Allegra is musically gift. She has a beautiful singing voice an plays guitar, cello and piano. She is extremely intelligent and has her mother strong-willed nature. Allegra is ambitious and has plans to be a Broadway star with or without the help of her parents.

Being raised  in New York City until age 12 and later in London, Allegra struggles with  conflicting views about of  her racial and cultural heritage and where she belongs in the world, as a Black woman, an American, a Brit or as an artist.

Viola Davis stars as Miriam  Richards,  an investigative journalist for a well-respected magazine, similar to Time. She is one of the first African-American reporters to work at the magazine and she works hard to be the best. Still single, in her late-30’s,  Miriam has had a few serious relationships, but with her  fear of abandonment and independent spirit she doesn’t see marriage in her future. All of her energy is spent on her work.

Of course, the luscious Hugh Jackman will star in my movie. He will portray Duncan Scott St. James the gifted classical pianist. Can’t you see Hugh and his long, flowing locks playing a grand piano. yeah, baby!

Born in a rural area of Australia as Jamie Scott. Jamie was the only child of older parents. His mother, a former school teacher who loved music, home schooled young Jamie when he wasn’t helping his father on the farm. Their home was filled with love and music from his mother’s piano or the record player, playing American blues, jazz and Broadway show tunes.  Feeling isolated, from kids his own age, a 15-year-old Davie begs his parents to drive him to town for a dance. On the way home, there is a car accident, which kills both his parents. He blames himself for their death.

The sullen and petulant, teenage Davie is sent to live with his wealthy uncle, Charles in England, where they call him by his given name, Duncan Scott St. James. Uncle Charles sends Duncan away to boarding school, where he excels at sports and music, but is also tormented and bullied by the posh boys for his Aussie accent and his humble beginnings. Duncan eventually loses his accent and never talks about his family.

Emily Blunt has a supporting role as Chloe Winston, Duncan’s on-again, off-again girl friend.  Chloe is a wealthy British aristocrat and supporter of the arts, who wants to help Duncan further his career and eventually become the symphony’s conductor. She enjoys the attention and power she has garners as a patron of the arts.

As the head of the London Classical Music Society, she also likes being accompanied to charity and other posh events by the handsome pianist. Bu she does not approve of Duncan’s interest in Jazz or other popular music, which she considers crass and common.

Danny Glover is the perfect actor to play, Jeremiah  (Jerry) Richards,  Miriam’s father. He lives with her in her NY town home. Jerry’s wife dies when Miriam was 10 years old and he raised her as a single father. Born in Chicago, the son of a factory worker and a housemaid, Jerry was the first person in his family to attend college. He is now a Law Professor at Columbia University in New York City. He is very involved in local politics and the Civil Rights movements. His strong views about racial pride were drilled into his daughter Miriam from a very early age.

Jennifer Hudson rounds out my cast, starring as Miriam’s best friend, Patricia (Patty) Belvins. Patty owns a small cafe left to her when her grandmother died. She worked hard and turned the shabby luncheonette into one of New York’s most popular Soul Food cafes. She is smart, witty, and has wisdom beyond her 25 years.

Stay tuned tomorrow for the plot of An UnExpected Song.