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Editor, composer, director and producer John Ottoman has teamed up with film and music industry executive David Franco to develop a dramatic biographical film based on the life of world-renowned Italian composer Antonio Vivaldi.
The project, written by Kevin Lund and TJ Scott, had been in the making for a long time, starting 20 years ago when Ron Howard was set to direct. After many failed attempts, including with members of the famous Italian De Laurentiis film family in 2008, the project needed a new vision.
In 2018, Franco, the music producer of previous versions, took the script to Ottman, whom he considered the man “destined to bring Vivaldi to life.” “There is simply no talent better suited to craft this extraordinary story,” he says.
Ottman immediately went to work reworking the story with the writers, before the Covid-19 pandemic stalled the project once again. Now, he is finally back to normal. “After all these years, we have never been more confident. John gave it new life,” says scribe Scott. “His ideas and direction are truly inspiring.”
The jury is still out on whether Otomano will provide the music for the film. “He was also supposed to score ‘Bohemian Rhapsody,’ but I felt like he was going to date the movie. Instead, I used different elements of Queen’s music and now it’s timeless. That would be my approach for Vivaldi,” he says. “And I sure would love to see Brian May perform ‘Four Seasons’ for the closing titles.”
Much of Vivaldi’s work was mysteriously lost for more than 200 years, only to be rediscovered during the First World War. Today, Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons” is one of the most recognizable classical compositions, recorded and performed, in the world.
Vivaldi joined the priesthood to be commissioned to write music, much to the chagrin of his jealous rival and the church hierarchy. His first assignment was as musical director of an all-female orphanage orchestra, where he developed a secret romance with a teacher. The film will tell their story of forbidden love, deception and the transformative power of music.
Ottman, who won an Oscar for his editing of “Bohemian Rhapsody,” is represented by The Gersh Agency.
