Sound man Tom Beach’s screenwriting career is getting a big boost, with a multi-million dollar feature in the can, a short attracting accolades on the festival circuit, and a handful of features poised to go into production in 2007.
With Adrienne Weiss and director Yefim Gribov, Beach adapted Ludmila Ulitskaya’s acclaimed Russian novel, “The Funeral Party,” into a film.
“?The Funeral Party’ explores the life and loves of a Russian immigrant artist in New York who’s dying, but it’s not about a guy on his death bed,” Beach said.
The international cast features Natasha Gregson Wagner, daughter of Natalie Wood and Robert Wagner.
Beach said “The Funeral Party” was the first American independent feature to shoot on the Arri D-20 HD camera.
Beach connected with “Funeral Party” producers Krysanne Katsoolis and Peter Kobidze through British director Simon Rumley, who directed Beach’s short script “The Handyman,” starring Greta Scacchi (“The Player”) and Bill Sage (“Mysterious Skin”).
Produced by Kaviar Kino and Ovie Entertainment, it wrapped in New York Nov 1.
