What happens to a dream deferred?
Does it dry up
like a raisin in the sun?
Or fester like a sore–
And then run?
— “A Dream Deferred” by Langston Hughes
By Eva Trieger
SAN DIEGO — While screenwriter Michael Reaves may be a household name to “Star Trek: The Next Generation” fans, to those unaware of the genre, he is a man who has been afflicted with a most unfortunate disease, one that daily robs him of his facility to function. Reaves is battling Parkinson’s disease and since his diagnosis, his life has been anything but fiction. His cruel reality leaves him unable to speak and captive to both a wheelchair and an electronic voicebox.
You might think that has kept Reaves from creating new stories, but that’s where you’d be mistaken. His imagination is going full tilt and fortunately for Michael Reaves, he’s got a devoted group of fans and friends who want to see his next venture come to fruition. These supporters do not want to see Reaves’ dream deferred. To this end, actors have jumped aboard and are most eager to produce Blood Kiss. In addition, fans have responded to the Kickstarter campaign www.PledgeBloodKiss.com website which is raising funds with only two days left. The initial goal has been surpassed, but supporters are needed to make the dream a reality.
The cast is also somewhat surprising. Amber Benson, a previous on-screen vampire, comes to this film with a great deal of enthusiasm and experience. In her prescreen life Amber was born to a Jewish father and Christian mother. Her parents supported her choice of acting and singing career and she is recognized for having starred in Buffy, the Vampire Slayer. Amber is quite eager to film Blood Kiss with a relatively unknown actor, Neil Gaiman.
Gaiman is a well respected and prolific writer of graphic novels and several books (Sandman, American Gods) and short stories. He agreed to star in this particular film out of his friendship to Reaves. Gaiman has been described by peers as shy, however he reported that he has always been an avid reader. In an interview from Portchester, England, it was reported that, “he carried a book with him wherever he went: “Before weddings, bar mitzvahs, funerals and anything else where you’re actually meant to not be reading, my family would frisk me and take the book away.” He read books in a number of different genres, especially comics, and he was particularly drawn to science fiction and fantasy works. While preparing for his own bar mitzvah…Gaiman became entranced by religious and mystical Jewish writings.” Gaiman said he is more comfortable writing, but once he read Reaves’ Blood Kiss script, he knew he was going to act in the film.
Reaves is maintaining a blog to keep his fans up to date. In these entries he describes how his illness has impacted his creative energies and how he envisions producing Blood Kiss. He knows he’s got a great cast, and is quite confident in his production team as well. David Raiklen began composing at 9 years of age. This prodigy also taught at a number of universities in California and has been heavily involved in the industry in music and film. He has produced music for theater, dance, television and stage.
The Kickstarter campaign www.PledgeBloodKiss.com has received phenomenal attention and response, but the team welcomes more contributions and time is running out.
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Trieger is freelance writer based in San Diego. She may be contacted at eva.trieger@sdjewishworld.com