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Wednesday
14Oct2009

Van Sant, Ellis Tackle Double Suicide Bio-Pic

DateWednesday, October 14, 2009 at 5:03AM
Well, this sounds like the happiest place on Earth: Gus Van Sant and Bret Easton Ellis will team up to write a film about double suicides. I remember reading the Vanity Fair article about artists Theresa Duncan and Jeremy Blake, who killed themselves in separate incidents back in 2007 under mysterious and obviously sad circumstances.

Variety says that Van Sant is not linked to the film as a director, but is right now only serving as a co-writer with the usually depressing and evocative Ellis on a project that doesn't need much of Easton's trademark nihilism.

The position of the Vanity Fair story, which is serving as the inspiration for the script, is that Duncan and Blake had become increasingly paranoid that they were being harassed by Scientologists. It's not the first such case of alleged abuse by Scientologists, though I have no idea if that specifically will come into play in the screenplay or the movie or if the name of the religion will be omitted or something.

Duncan took her life on July 10, 2007, her body found by Blake on the floor of their Manhattan apartment after an overdose of Tylenol PM and alcohol. A week later, Blake was reported by an anonymous 911 caller as being seen walking into the Atlantic Ocean.

Certainly, it's a fascinating story, although it would no doubt be easier to digest if it were fictional. There remains the issue of the epilogue. Do you just frame it as a modern Romeo & Juliet or does it probe into the mystery? There's obvious potential here, but man...this could be a tough watch.

AuthorColin Boyd | | in , | Print ArticlePrint Article | | CommentPost a Comment |

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