To break into the film business can take decades, but a local actress-cum-producer had the vision to develop a project that may find critical success in theaters next spring – only five years after she started.
Tracey Becker, who has lived in Hoboken for 10 years, was acting in a theater company on 42nd Street in Manhattan in 1997 when she thought that one of the group’s plays, "The Man Who Was Peter Pan," might make a good feature film. She and Nellie Bellflower, also a member of the company, optioned the rights to Allan Knee’s play, then recruited another actor in the company to write the film script.
The result was "Neverland," a touching story about the life of J.M. Barrie, the successful London playwright who authored "Peter Pan." In the late 19th century, Barrie, already a noted writer, befriended a family whose patriarch and matriarch later passed away. As a result, Barrie adopted their five boys.
Becker came to New York from Florida in 1986 to take classes at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. Eventually, she realized that the only way to make it in the entertainment business, besides becoming a top actor, was to get involved on the production end.
After she and Bellflower got the script from young writer David Magee, they went to a film agent, who arranged a meeting with producer Richard Gladstein ("Ciderhouse Rules," "Bourne Identity"). Miramax acquired the project, and director Marc Forster ("Monster’s Ball") was attached.
Johnny Depp, who was on Becker’s "dream list" of stars, will play Barrie, and Kate Winslet will play the boys’ mother, whom Barrie came to know before she died.
Production began in Britain on Friday, June 14.
Big fun
Becker will have a big year, as she and her husband, Joe Falzarano, who co-owns Big Fun Toys on Washington Street, are expecting their first child in August. Becker expects her other baby – "Neverland" – to be released some time next spring.
Becker met Falzarano, who also is involved in TV producing, in the 1980s when she was working as a waitress at Caroline’s comedy club where he was the entertainment director. She began acting in local theater groups.
"I realized that a lot of the plays we were working on lent themselves to film," Becker said.
Becker said besides following Barrie’s adventures with the four boys (they were cut down from five for the film), "Neverland" will look at "how they came to inspire Peter Pan." The boys were the inspiration for the Lost Boys in the famous play, and one of the boys was named Peter in real life. Becker said that Barrie paid the real Peter to use his name.
"There are elements of fantasy in it," Becker said. "The character of Barrie has a very vivid imagination in the film, and we see his ideas come to life in his head."
Becker said that she’s glad to be involved in the production end of movies, and that there are two other projects she’s working on right now: a period piece about Mary, Queen of Scots, and a coming-of-age comedy about Deadheads.
"The hardest part is letting go," she said. "In effect, I gave birth to this film. Giving it to other people to see it realized is hard. My goal someday is to be involved from start to finish."
Becker and Falzarano were planning to visit London for a few days to watch the shooting, and to squeeze in one last trip before their baby arrives.
Not Bruckheimer
Even though "Neverland" is a quality film rather than an action-adventure blockbuster, Becker foresees big things for it. She says that it will be a movie that families can see together.
"There’s this one scene, with the little one, Michael – I hope it makes it to the movie," she said. "It’s the most charming thing. It makes you cry."
She added, "The writing was so beautiful. I’m just so proud of the fact that I had a vision and that it’s being realized by such an amazing group of people."
Becker said that there’s enough of a film community on the East Coast that she doesn’t foresee having to move to Los Angeles. She will continue to work out of her new production company in New York, Beachfront Properties, which incorporates the "B" and "F" in her and her husband’s last names, as does Big Fun Toys.
"I love the community of people and the community of artists here," Becker said of Hoboken. "It’s a very supportive atmosphere and very collaborative atmosphere."
And undoubtedly, at this time next year, the film "Neverland" will be a big topic of conversation in that community.