Editor, composer, director and producer John Ottman is teaming with film and music industry executive David Franco to develop a dramatic biopic based on the life of world-renowned Italian composer Antonio Vivaldi.
The project, written by Kevin Lund and TJ Scott, has had been long-gestating, beginning 20 years ago when Ron Howard was set to direct. After many unsuccessful attempts, including with members of the famous Italian filmmaking De Laurentiis family in 2008, the project needed a new vision.
In 2018, Franco, the music producer on previous versions, brought the script to Ottman, who he saw as the man “destined to bring Vivaldi to life.” “There’s simply no talent more suited to craft this remarkable story,” he says.
Ottman immediately got to work re-shaping the story with the writers, before the Covid-19 pandemic stalled the project once again. Now, it’s finally back on track. “After all these years, we’ve never been more confident. John breathed new life into it,” says scribe Scott. “His ideas and direction for it are truly inspiring.”
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The jury’s still out on if Ottoman will score the film. “I was supposed to also score ‘Bohemian Rhapsody,’ but I felt it would date the film. Instead, I used different elements from Queen’s music, and it’s now timeless. That would be my approach for Vivaldi,” he says. “And I’d sure love to see Brian May perform the ‘Four Seasons’ for the end titles.”
Much of Vivaldi’s work was mysteriously lost for over 200 years, only to be rediscovered during World War I. Today, Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons” is one of the most recognizable, recorded and performed classical composition in the world.
Vivaldi joined the priesthood to be commissioned to write music, much to chagrin of his jealous rival and church hierarchy. His first assignment was that of music director of an all-female orphanage orchestra where he developed a secret affair with a teacher. The film will tell his story of forbidden love, deceit and the transformative power of music.
Ottman, who won an Oscar for his editing of “Bohemian Rhapsody,” is represented by The Gersh Agency.
