The incredible true story of how Queen Camilla’s blind, autistic nephew became a musical phenomenon is told in a new short film coming to Los Angeles this August.
Moving drama Key of Genius shows how Parker-Bowles family prodigy Derek Paravicini was shaped into a world class concert pianist despite his challenges.
A music teacher breaks through to the boy and unlocks his talent, figuring out that Derek’s combination of ailments have resulted in perfect pitch and an encyclopedic memory that allows him to perfectly perform any piece of music after hearing it just once.
Now, years later, he’s a touring musician playing leading venues around the globe with a fanbase of half a million social media followers. But the film takes him back to when he was five-years-old and that first encounter with life-changing music teacher, Adam Ockelford, played by Gavin Stenhouse. Blind actor Cannon Wood plays young Derek (both pictured, above)
Key of Genius is written and directed by the concert master violinist of the Santa Monica Symphony, Daniel Persitz, who says: “At its heart, this is about a teacher who recognizes untapped potential in an unlikely student, and together they connect through the language of music – growing and learning from one another emotionally and artistically. It’s a story of perseverance, trust and overcoming seemingly impossible obstacles.”
Starring as Derek’s mother, Mary Ann Parker Bowles, is West End theatre actress Lauren Samuels, fresh off the lead role as Elphaba in the national US stage tour of Wicked. This film reunites her with another LA based Brit, Key of Genius executive producer Sandro Monetti, who directed Lauren in her previous US stage show, Die Hard Xmas.
For its LA premiere, Key of Genius has landed the coveted closing night spot at the Oscar qualifying Hollyshorts Film Festival on Saturday August 16 at 7.30pm at the fabled Chinese Theatres in Hollywood. Tickets: Key of Genius | 21st Annual HollyShorts Film Festival
It will also screen a week later at Vidiots in Eagle Rock, Los Angeles on Aug 23 at 3pm as part of the Los Angeles Diversity Film Festival. Tickets: Tickets for Los Angeles Diversity Film Festival – FilmFreeway
The acclaimed short film is already getting Oscar and BAFTA buzz and a full length film could follow as a feature length version was written by the late, great David Seidler, who as Oscar winning screenwriter of The King’s Speech was no stranger to royal projects.
Incidentally, having the Queen as his aunt isn’t the only impressive part of Derek’s lineage. He is also the great-grandson of novelist W Somerset Maugham and great-great-grandson of charity founder Dr Barnardo.
But now he’s making a big name for himself and that fame is growing as Key of Genius takes his story to the big screen.
