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Page 20 Thursday, February 3, 2005 The Westfield Leader and The Scotch Plains – Fanwood TIMES A WATCHUNG COMMUNICATIONS, INC. PUBLICATION FINDING NEVERLAND WRITER BASKS IN OSCAR GLORY INSIDE: BRIANA FALCO’S EXHIBIT; CARMELO TARTIVITA’S BOOK ScrScreenplayeenplay WWriterriter DDavidavid MMageeagee ofof SPSP FREEMAN’S MOVIE FEATURES ‘BUFFY’ AND ‘CARNIVALE’ STARS NNominatedominated forfor OOscarscar Get Outta By MICHELLE HELEN Le POIDEVIN “The last 72 hours (since the Os- Native Westfielder Returns Home Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and The Times car nominations were revealed) have The House SCOTCH PLAINS – Although been completely unreal,” he said. By CAROL F. DAVIS the screenplay for the Oscar-nomi- “There have been calls from the press, Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and The Times nated movie Finding Neverland is family, friends and it’s funny how To Film His Latest Thriller, Unholy The Pulitzer Prize and Tony the first he has ever written, it was you reconnect with so many differ- By MICHELLE HELEN Le POIDEVIN According to Mr. Freeman, “the film agreed to do the low-budget movie, Award winning drama, Proof, will enough to catch the attention and ent parts of your life in such a short Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and The Times deals with a grieving mother, Martha noting, “she’s an icon of the genre.” open on Friday, February 4, and admiration of the Academy of Mo- time and they’re all so happy for WESTFIELD – On Tuesday, a (Ms. Barbeau), trying to uncover the “It was a little bit of luck and a whole run for three weekends at the tion Pictures Arts & Sciences to earn you.” home on Hillcrest Avenue in Westfield terrifying secret that is jeopardizing her lot of fate having them agree to do the Cranford Dramatic Club. It’s the four-year Scotch Plains resident Soon, Mr. Magee will be flying to became the backdrop for Sam Freeman’s family. Along with her son (Mr. film,” he told The Leader/Times. story of relationships, both in love David Magee a nomination for Los Angeles to attend the Academy thriller, Unholy, which stars Adrienne Brendon), Martha becomes entwined “They’ve been amazing and fantastic and in math, by David Auburn. Adapted Screenplay. Awards Nominees Luncheon on Barbeau of HBO’s “Carnivàle” and in a conspiracy involving a fabled witch, so far.” Admission is $15, and perfor- Mr. Magee, who Monday, February Nicholas Brendon of WB’s “Buffy the Nazi occultists and the U.S. govern- “I believe that this terrifying and mances will be on Friday and Sat- was also nominated 7, where he will re- Vampire Slayer” fame. ment.” unusual tale, along with cult genre urday nights at 8 p.m. For infor- for Golden Globe ceive a certificate ac- Unholy is produced by Sky Whisper mation and reservations, call (908) 276-7611 or visit and Critics’ Choice knowledging his ac- Productions in The Bronx, where Mr. complishment. Freeman serves as Executive Producer www.cdctheatre.org. Ask about awards, explained their mini-subscriptions. how his golden Then, he will return with Joshua Blumenfeld. writing opportunity to Scotch Plains be- Mr. Freeman, Unholy Executive Pro- * * * * * * * had arisen during a fore jetting off to ducer and Scriptwriter, told The A presentation by Calvary Cho- Westfield Leader and The Scotch telephone interview London to attend rale, Works for Organ and Strings, Plains-Fanwood Times that he con- will be held on Sunday, February 6, with The Westfield the BAFTA (British ceived of the movie’s premise when he Leader and The Academy of Film at 4 p.m. at the Calvary Episcopal was “proofing through some paranor- Church, 31 Woodland Avenue in Scotch Plains- and Television Arts) mal websites.” Awards ceremony, Summit. Organist Nancianne Fanwood Times. “The film is inspired by an actual Parrella will perform with Arthur Both Nellie Bell- where he is also military document found discussing Fiacco on the violoncello and flower, who had nominated for an elements of Nazi witchcraft that were Victoria Drake on the harp. Al- optioned the play David Magee award for Adapted smuggled into small-town Pennsylva- though there is no formal admis- The Man Who Was Screenplay. Then, nia (Downington, changed to sion charge, there will be a free-will Peter Pan, and Mr. Magee had been it’s back to Scotch Plains and off to Dowington) following World War II offering. Call (908) 277-1547 for members of the 42nd Street Los Angeles for the Oscar ceremony by the U.S. administration,” said Mr. more information. WorkShop in New York, where he later this month. Freeman. All of the travel has made Mr. “It intrigued me,” said the 24-year- * * * * * * * staged his first play, Buying the Farm. Also on February 6, there will be old, “but it also creeped me out.” After Michelle Helen Le Poidevin for The Westfield Leader and The Times An admirer of his work, Ms. Bell- Magee especially grateful that he re- a piano recital featuring Suburban flower offered The Man Who Was sides in a peaceful community like researching various websites on the HILLCREST HORROR...Outside a home on Hillcrest Avenue in Westfield, Sam topic, he said he “sat down and waited Freeman filmed scenes for Unholy. The Westfield native serves as the thriller’s Community Music Center’s Peter Pan to him to develop into a Scotch Plains. Executive Producer and Writer. Pictured, above, center, actress Andrienne Barbeau Crystl Baltazar at Burgdorff Hall screenplay and Finding Neverland “I’m very happy to be coming for ideas to come” to him for the Un- asks some questions about her script before running lines. Pictured, below, left, actor holy script. at 3 p.m. Single tickets are avail- was born. home to New Jersey after all of this,” Nicholas Brendon poses with Mr. Freeman, right. able for this performance, part of shared the Michigan native. Four As a screenwriter, most of his job Calling himself a icons such as Ms. Barbeau and Mr. the Sundays at Three Series, for was done before filming began. How- years ago, when he and his wife had “huge fan of ‘Buffy Brendon, is sure to guarantee a cre- $12 per adult and $6 per senior or ever, some of the scenes that in- their first son, they realized how the Vampire Slayer,’” ation like none other,” said Mr. Free- student. The hall is located at 570 cluded Dustin Hoffman were writ- “tough it was living in New York Mr. Freeman knew it man. “There has never been a genre Central Avenue in the Murray Hill ten in at the end, requiring him to e- City with kids,” so the couple, who would be a dream film like this before. Audiences will section of New Providence. For mail the director from Scotch Plains. is now expecting their third child, come true to have leave the theater scathed.” more information, please call (908) He also found himself in Mr. looked for a community outside of someone from the Other scenes in Unholy were filmed 790-0700. Hoffman’s backyard in London the city that would be ideal for their television show’s cast at Sam’s Farm in Springfield, in Staten * * * * * * * working on some of the scenes. family. starring in Unholy. He Island and Queens, N.Y. Piano soloists and accompanists, Mr. Magee noted that while pro- Mr. Magee received his Bachelor mentioned Mr. A graduate of Solomon Schecter Day ages 23 and over, are invited to duction on Finding Neverland of Arts degree in Theater Directing Brendon, who played School in West Orange and Tisch participate in the Andrew De wrapped in enough time to be re- and Stage Design from Michigan Zander on the series, School of the Arts at New York Univer- Grado Biennial Piano Debut leased last year, the fact that the film State University and his Master of to the casting direc- sity, Mr. Freeman realized “late in his Competition for U.S.-born or version of Peter Pan was being re- Fine Arts degree from the University tor, and was thrilled high school life” that he could combine naturalized citizens residing in the leased at the same time would have of Illinois, where he taught voice when the actor read his love of writing with his love of film Eastern seaboard. The semifinals conflicted with copyright issues. The and acting. He also studied at North- the script and decided and become a filmmaker. and finals will be held at Kean one-year delay, however, “couldn’t western University’s National High to sign up. While attending Tisch, he wrote the University in June 2005, and the have worked out better,” he noted. School Institute, the New York Art Mr. Freeman was script for The Peak, which was pro- two winners will have the opportu- Since the success of Finding Student’s League and New York especially honored duced in India. nity to perform in a New York City when Ms. Barbeau Neverland, Mr. Magee has found University’s Intensive Film Work- Continued on Page 19 debut concert in Weill Recital Hall himself among the Hollywood elite. shop. at Carnegie Hall. Monday, May 9, is the entry deadline. Obtain offi- When asked about his experience After doing voiceovers, Mr. Magee began recording audioplays for vari- cial rules and applications at at the Golden Globe ceremony on www.andrewdegrado.org or call January 16, he said, “It was all very ous books. However, when he real- Seven Westfield Women Steal Stage (973) 467-1348. surreal.” Attending with his wife, ized he could do a better job abridg- Pamela, who is a retired Emmy ing the literature, he tried his hand * * * * * * * Award-winning music director for at writing them and condensed 80 Through Monday, February 14, soap operas, he was excited when novels over five years.