Frank Dillane (Heart of the Sea, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince) will star in Maestro from director Catherine Jarvis, whose screenplay is based on the acclaimed book of the same name by Peter Goldsworthy. Slated to begin lensing in spring 2014 in Northern Australia and Vienna, Austria, the film is produced by Daniel Harvey and Bow Street Films partners Joe Jenckes and David Dickson. Music Producer Craig Leon’s original music for the film will be featured alongside recordings by internationally renowned Chinese pianist Lang Lang, whose work was highlighted during the Beijing 2008 Olympic Opening Ceremony. The soundtrack will be released internationally by Deutsche Grammophon/Universal.
Set in the melting heat of tropical Australia and the rich concert halls of wintry Vienna, Maestro is a story of extremes. When Paul, a talented pianist (Frank Dillane), moves to an exotic outpost of 1960’s Northern Australia, he is forced to learn from the only piano teacher his father can find – the eccentric, enigmatic Herr Keller, a Viennese refugee with a shadowed past, known to the locals as ‘Maestro.’ The piano becomes a battle ground with volleys of Wagner and Hendrix alike thrown between the pair as Paul tries to make sense of his own identity and ambition to become a concert pianist while coming closer to the truth about the Maestro’s past.
Bow Street Films’ Joe Jenckes and David Dickson said, “We were immediately inspired by the universal themes brought to life in Catherine’s screenplay, particularly how she frames the story within this very powerful music. Frank’s amazing talent and screen presence coupled with Lang Lang’s unparalleled skill as a pianist will appeal to audiences worldwide.”
Casting is underway for the role of Herr Keller/’Maestro.’
Dillane was recently cast in writer/director Gerardo Naranjo’s untitled new drama alongside Dakota Fanning.
(Photo Credit: Andrew Lindsay)
