Simon Beaufoy, who won the adapted screenplay Academy Award for “Slumdog Millionaire,” tells what went into writing See-Saw Film’s “A Special Relationship,” which depicts how Elizabeth Taylor’s close relationship with her assistant inspired her to become an HIV/AIDs activist.
Where did the initial idea come from for the script and how did it evolve?
From [Taylor’s] estate. … Everybody focuses on the tempestuous relationships, the many marriages, the whole Richard Burton love story, but nobody really knows what she spent over 30 years doing, which is raising money for people who had HIV and AIDS. She started at a time when it was a deeply unpopular thing to do, and received a lot of negative press for doing it. She didn’t care at all, of course, being the sort of woman she was. She saw a huge need to raise awareness and raise money for people who were in a terrible state.
Where did the initial idea come from for the script and how did it evolve?
From [Taylor’s] estate. … Everybody focuses on the tempestuous relationships, the many marriages, the whole Richard Burton love story, but nobody really knows what she spent over 30 years doing, which is raising money for people who had HIV and AIDS. She started at a time when it was a deeply unpopular thing to do, and received a lot of negative press for doing it. She didn’t care at all, of course, being the sort of woman she was. She saw a huge need to raise awareness and raise money for people who were in a terrible state.
- 11/8/2019
- by Paula Hendrickson
- Variety Film + TV
Star power is always a draw at the American Film Market, led this year by Rachel Weisz playing Elizabeth Taylor in See-Saw’s “A Special Relationship.”
It’s a roll of the dice for independently financed projects. A pair of Diane Keaton projects — “Book Club” and “Poms” — were major draws at the last two AFMs. “Book Club” went up for sale in 2017 was a major success with more than $100 million in worldwide grosses last year. “Poms,” which was unveiled a year ago, failed to get much traction with $16 million.
A select list of anticipated titles at the American Film Market:
Losing Clementine
Director: Lucia Puenzo
Producers: Sentient Films, Freckle Films
Key Cast: Jessica Chastain
Logline: The story follows world-renowned artist who, after flushing away her meds, gives herself 31 days to tie up loose ends before killing herself.
Sales: Sierra/Affinity
Geechee
Director: Dubois Ashong
Producers: Agc Studios
Key Cast: Andrea Riseborough...
It’s a roll of the dice for independently financed projects. A pair of Diane Keaton projects — “Book Club” and “Poms” — were major draws at the last two AFMs. “Book Club” went up for sale in 2017 was a major success with more than $100 million in worldwide grosses last year. “Poms,” which was unveiled a year ago, failed to get much traction with $16 million.
A select list of anticipated titles at the American Film Market:
Losing Clementine
Director: Lucia Puenzo
Producers: Sentient Films, Freckle Films
Key Cast: Jessica Chastain
Logline: The story follows world-renowned artist who, after flushing away her meds, gives herself 31 days to tie up loose ends before killing herself.
Sales: Sierra/Affinity
Geechee
Director: Dubois Ashong
Producers: Agc Studios
Key Cast: Andrea Riseborough...
- 11/7/2019
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
The British actress will play Elizabeth Taylor in a biopic examining her AIDS activism in the 1980s. Rachel Weisz will play Hollywood legend Elizabeth Taylor in UK-Australian production outfit See-Saw Films’ A Special Relationship, helmed by directors Bert & Bertie, and written by Simon Beaufoy. Aiming to give a new perspective on Taylor’s glamorous and scandal-ridden life, the story will be told through the lens of her friendship with her assistant Roger Wall, a gay man who grew up in poverty in the homophobic Deep South. Wall inspired her move into AIDS activism, where she famously persuaded then-us president Ronald Reagan to take the disease seriously, and set up a Dallas Buyers’ Club-style underground HIV drug network. “Audiences are clearly fascinated by the private lives of iconic Hollywood stars,” producers Iain Canning and Emile Sherman said. “There is no one more iconic than Elizabeth Taylor, and Simon Beaufoy has written.
Rachel Weisz will play Hollywood icon Elizabeth Taylor for female directing duo Bert & Bertie and UK-Australia producing powerhouse See-Saw Films in A Special Relationship.
Slumdog Millionaire scribe Simon Beaufoy has written the screenplay, which chronicles Taylor’s journey from actress to activist through the lens of her friendship with her assistant Roger Wall, a gay man who grew up in poverty in the Deep South.
Beaufoy’s script was drawn from hours of interviews with those close to Taylor. Alongside being an Oscar-winning actress whose iconic roles included Who’s Afraid Of Virginia Woolf and Cleopatra, and a vibrant public figure who was married eight times to seven men, Taylor was a social activist who became one of the first major celebrities to vocally join the fight against HIV/AIDS in the 1980s.
Producers are See-Saw Films’ Iain Canning and Emile Sherman (The King’s Speech). Executive producers are See-Saw...
Slumdog Millionaire scribe Simon Beaufoy has written the screenplay, which chronicles Taylor’s journey from actress to activist through the lens of her friendship with her assistant Roger Wall, a gay man who grew up in poverty in the Deep South.
Beaufoy’s script was drawn from hours of interviews with those close to Taylor. Alongside being an Oscar-winning actress whose iconic roles included Who’s Afraid Of Virginia Woolf and Cleopatra, and a vibrant public figure who was married eight times to seven men, Taylor was a social activist who became one of the first major celebrities to vocally join the fight against HIV/AIDS in the 1980s.
Producers are See-Saw Films’ Iain Canning and Emile Sherman (The King’s Speech). Executive producers are See-Saw...
- 10/28/2019
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.