Tim Sullivan will be co-writing and directing a feature film based on The Doors co-founder Ray Manzarek’s bestseller The Poet in Exile. Sullivan optioned the film rights, with Manzarek involved as a producer and Gavin Heffernan and Liz Sullivan tapped to co-write the project.
Sullivan, who produced the unreleased documentary on The Doors of the 21st Century’s reunion tour, says the spirit of Jim and the 1960s live on in Ray Manzarek. “Ever since I first read Poet, I knew it would make an amazing film,” said Sullivan. “Ideals and dreams never die, but they often have a difficult time breaking through to new generations. That’s what this story is about, the perseverance of love and truth, as embodied in the deep bond and friendship between two incredible artists.”
The Poet in Exile is set to shoot in 2012 and will mark the first film on The Doors originated by a band member. Says Manzarek, “The number one question I get asked is, ‘Do you think Jim Morrison’s really dead?’ All I can say is, I personally have not seen or heard from Jim since he left for Paris 40 years ago. And I miss that guy. He was a poet. A Dionysus to my Apollo. A great performer, a shaman. And a damn good friend. The real Jim, the human Jim, always gets overshadowed by the Morrison myths and legends. But that’s the Jim I captured with the book and, along with Tim Sullivan, seek to capture with the film.”
The Poet in Exile Synopsis:
Manzarek’s novel explores the notion “what if” his former bandmate, the iconic rock and roll poet and legend Jim Morrison, did indeed stage his death in 1971 (as widely speculated), and now, 40 years later, contacts Manzarek from his hiding place in the Seychelles Islands to embark on one final journey of rock and roll rebellion.
More on Ray Manzarek:
American musician, singer, producer, film director, writer, co-founder and keyboardist of The Doors. Ray Manzarek first met Jim Morrison at UCLA where they both studied film. Forty days after graduation, they re-met by chance in Venice Beach, California, where Morrison sang Manzarek some songs he had written. Manzarek thought the songs were pure poetry and co-founded The Doors with Morrison right then and there. The rest is rock and roll history. Since the death of Jim Morrison in 1971, Manzarek has continued to chase the muse. As a musician, he has released several solo albums of both his own and in collaboration, including the current release Translucent Blues with jazz guitarist Roy Rogers. As filmmaker, he wrote and directed the noir mystery Love Her Madly (2004). As bestselling author, he has published several books, including Light My Fire, his memoirs of life with The Doors, the supernatural Civil War thriller Snake Moon and The Poet in Exile, the fictional account of a modern day reunion between himself and Morrison. As Manzarek/Krieger, Manzarek is currently on tour with fellow Doors band mate and lead guitarist Robby Krieger.
–Oct 10, 2011
