Griot Pictures Hires Screenwriter Paris Qualles for “Chevalier”.
Looking to capitalize on upcoming Sophia Coppola pic, Marie-Antoinette, and recently released Phantom of the Opera, Griot Pictures Entertainment has retained screenwriter Paris Qualles (A House Divided, Tuskegee Airmen) through International Creative Management (ICM) to write “Chevalier”, based on the historical story of Le Chevalier de Saint-George, also known as The Black Mozart.
A confidant and music instructor to Marie-Antoinette, Saint-George was a superstar violinist and opera composer who influenced Mozart. He was also Europe’s fencing champion, an infamous playboy, and a military hero in the French Revolution.
Griot producers see “Chevalier” as the natural evolution in the recent explosion of period-piece fare. “Saint-George was adored by the French and British public as a music and fencing superstar, but he is only recently being re-discovered because much of his musical material was destroyed during the French Revolution, and later, by Napoleon’s regime.”
July 15th, 2005 at 9:37 am
I discovered Chevalier when I saw the PBS special on his life and accomplishments back in February 2004. I was utterly fascinated, being African-American and a lover of classical music and period movies, by this Afro-French Renaissance gentlemen. I knew nothing about him and only one of my friends had heard of him. I immediately went out and had Borders order all of his music on CD that they could find. I am so excited to learn that a major motion picture is going to be made about his extraordinary life. In my very humble opinion, I think the actor who played “Christophe” in the “Feast of All Saints” (based on book by Anne Rice) and has starred on Broadway in the play about the homosexual baseball player would be perfect as Chevalier (his name is Daniel Sunjata). Mr. Sunjata is bi-racial, athletic, handsome and extremely talented. He was nominated for a Tony award in 2003.
Thanks for letting me share…
Ms. Sheffield
September 8th, 2005 at 3:54 am
I belong to the association “Le concert de M de St George “in Paris France. This is an exiting event. I work with Alain Guede and manage the Versailles Chamber Orchestra which has recorded Saint-George and plays him often in concerts. We would like to know more about your different events and the future film.
all the best
December 14th, 2005 at 11:28 pm
I think you should hire Henry Simmons of NYPD Blue fame to play le Chevalier. He has the presence to do it and does not look distinctly bi-racial. Contrary to what we may think, Joseph Boulogne de Saint Georges was not cafe-au-lait; he was brown, statuesque and bore a commanding physical presence.
Malaika.