The Laureate is a compelling story about a man for whom creativity is everything, falling under the spell of a woman who treats him poorly. Because she has become his Muse, his dedication to her becomes synonymous with his dedication to his art and becomes boundless as our story progresses.

The 1920s was a time of dramatic upheaval both politically and socially, especially in England where it was a gradual awakening after a century of the strictures of Victorian society. For many women, it was a time of pushing boundaries, not just in public life, but in their personal lives where the passions and power struggles of a relationship could be just as inspirational or dangerous. To dare sexually, culturally, emotionally, politically, and spiritually in the 1920s was to risk much. To dare as an independent woman, or worse, an independent and married one, was to risk everything.

At its core, The Laureate is a study of intense relationships: what created them, what can undo them, what they encompass, what they can alter, and what they can’t. I want to probe deeply into our characters and use all of my ablities to convey their passions in a way that will connect with audiences everywhere in a profound way.

Although The Laureate will be seen by some as a period art movie, it is not.  A love story is universal no matter the period, the times the characters live through and the circumstances of those times.  I plan to shoot the film in a modern way, and tell a story that is universal to all people regardless of their way of life.  It is story of wanting to be loved unconditionally and the consequences of that love.  We plan to use a young cast that will appeal to a younger audience while keeping the subject matter focused for all age groups.

A fresh approach to the ‘biopic-literary genre’ will be key here.  Robert suffered through shell shock and basic poverty, and I will not hold back in the telling of what these circumstances are like. I will show how Laura (someone who may not be likeable to an audience) might be seen by Robert as his true love and savior. The shooting style will come out of the characterisations and the story.

We plan to shoot at the actual locations where the events took place: World’s End (Islip), 35A St. Peter’s Square (Hammersmith, London), and the surrounding London area. I feel this decision will bring much realism to the story.  The Laureate is a film that will require broad brush strokes of primary colors and not just fine pencil strokes. The film has to resonate with a global audience, and not just a limited group interested in literature and scholarship. The way to do that is to keep things simple in the dialogue and acting, ensure that we have a visually stunning film and establish the fact that good and evil do not come in neat packages. At the conclusion of The Laureate, I hope to have succeeded in making the audience feel that they have been living alongside these characters.

New York  2011