Butler's Script Sale of the Week...
December 2nd, 2001
A few projects to keep an eye on this week: historical drama TRIPOLI, the remake of 70's blaxploitation pic, CLEOPATRA JONES, the first-time scribe war drama, LIGHT OF PEACE, and the remake of the Jimmy Stewart classic HARVEY.
My pick this week is the news that X-FILES goddess Gillian Anderson has optioned the rights to the novel THE SPEED OF LIGHT by Elizabeth Rosner.
Anderson plans to adapt the novel herself and then to make her directorial debut with the project. On top of all that, Anderson used her own money (rare, that) to option the book.
THE SPEED OF LIGHT concerns siblings and housemates Julian and Paula Perel whose late father was a survivor of Auschwitz. Julian is a shy recluse and Paula an adventurous opera singer. When Paula heads to Europe for auditions she leaves Julian in the care of Sola, their Latina housekeeper. Sola, herself the victimized witness of a Mexican holocaust, helps Julian to slowly come out of his shell. Meanwhile, Paula decides to return home when she discovers a horrible secret about her father's time in the death camps.
I've not read THE SPEED OF LIGHT but most reviews refer to it as a powerful and moving story. It's told through the voices of all three main characters, which could prove a challenge when adapting it for the screen.
But it seems a challenge is exactly what Anderson is looking for. I think she deserves the utmost respect for not only taking this project on, but for doing it all herself. Ol' Scully's got balls I tell ya. While most ex-TV stars might whine about there not being any good projects worthy of elevating them to cinema stardom, Anderson's shaping her own destiny.
She's written and directed an episode of THE X-FILES ("All Things") so she's got a bit of experience there. More importantly, she seems to be genuinely passionate about THE SPEED OF LIGHT. I'd really love to see this project succeed and wish Anderson the best of luck. I hope she finds that there is indeed life after THE X-FILES.
Maybe David Duchovny should take a cue from his old partner ...
-- Edward Butler
My pick this week is the news that X-FILES goddess Gillian Anderson has optioned the rights to the novel THE SPEED OF LIGHT by Elizabeth Rosner.
Anderson plans to adapt the novel herself and then to make her directorial debut with the project. On top of all that, Anderson used her own money (rare, that) to option the book.
THE SPEED OF LIGHT concerns siblings and housemates Julian and Paula Perel whose late father was a survivor of Auschwitz. Julian is a shy recluse and Paula an adventurous opera singer. When Paula heads to Europe for auditions she leaves Julian in the care of Sola, their Latina housekeeper. Sola, herself the victimized witness of a Mexican holocaust, helps Julian to slowly come out of his shell. Meanwhile, Paula decides to return home when she discovers a horrible secret about her father's time in the death camps.
I've not read THE SPEED OF LIGHT but most reviews refer to it as a powerful and moving story. It's told through the voices of all three main characters, which could prove a challenge when adapting it for the screen.
But it seems a challenge is exactly what Anderson is looking for. I think she deserves the utmost respect for not only taking this project on, but for doing it all herself. Ol' Scully's got balls I tell ya. While most ex-TV stars might whine about there not being any good projects worthy of elevating them to cinema stardom, Anderson's shaping her own destiny.
She's written and directed an episode of THE X-FILES ("All Things") so she's got a bit of experience there. More importantly, she seems to be genuinely passionate about THE SPEED OF LIGHT. I'd really love to see this project succeed and wish Anderson the best of luck. I hope she finds that there is indeed life after THE X-FILES.
Maybe David Duchovny should take a cue from his old partner ...
-- Edward Butler
Comments
Only logged-in members can comment. You can log in or join today for free!
Advertisement
