Jennifer Beals is taking another shot at musical-based storytelling. Best known for Flashdance (from many moons ago), the L Word star now plans to produce and star in The Lord of Vinyl, an independent drama set in the world of jazz that – according to Variety – will be produced by Patrick Cunningham (Martha Marcy May Marlene).
According to the trade, the main character is a modern-day jazz lover who enters a relationship with Beals’ character, a postal worker trapped in a loveless marriage. But the plot turns on the discovery of a long-lost recording by jazz auteur Buddy Bolden. Considered by most to be the “godfather of jazz,” Bolden reportedly inspired the great Louis Armstrong before passing away in a New Orleans mental-help facility in 1931. Presumably a search for the lost recording will bring Beals and the as-yet-uncast male lead together.
The Lord of Vinyl will mark the directorial debut of Dennis Bartok, who will be working from his own script. Producer Cunningham recently earned a Spirit Award nomination for his contributions to Martha Marcy, and he has Starlet -- written and directed by Sean Baker -- at South By Southwest this weekend.
Beals, meanwhile, has juggled film and television work, appearing on Castle, The Chicago Code and Lie To Me while also joining Denzel Washington in The Book of Eli. It’s a sad reality that actresses her age probably do have to serve as producers on passion projects if they want to find meaty roles that are deserving of their time and talents. But on paper, Vinyl sounds like it could be an enjoyable journey, so let’s see where it takes us.
