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Perry Moore

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Perry Moore
OccupationFilm producer
Novelist
GenreFantasy
Children's literature
Notable worksHero

Perry Moore (November 4, 1971 – February 17, 2011)[1] was an American author, screenwriter, and film director. He was best known as the executive producer of The Chronicles of Narnia film series and the author of the award-winning book Hero (about a gay teenage superhero).

Early life

Moore was born on November 4, 1971, the son of Bill and Nancy Moore.[1][2] His father was a Vietnam War veteran who received the Bronze Star.[2] He grew up in Virginia Beach, Virginia,[3] and graduated high school from Norfolk Academy in 1990.[4] He graduated from the University of Virginia,[5] and later served as an intern in the White House.[2]

He worked on the production team for The Rosie O'Donnell Show, then joined Walden Media (a media production company created by conservative billionaire Phillip Anschutz to produce family-friendly movies, documentaries, and television programs).[6][7] He was the executive in charge of production for the film I Am David, an adaptation the Anne Holm novel North to Freedom.[7]

Film career

Moore is also the executive producer of The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.[8] Moore spent several years seeking the movie rights to the seven novels which comprise the Narnia books.[9] Moore's persistence proved critical for Walden Media in winning the rights. As the New York Times reported in 2005: "At the beginning of 2001, Perry Moore embarked on a forbidding quest. Mr. Moore, an executive with an untested movie company called Walden Media, dispatched an impassioned letter to the chief executive of the C. S. Lewis Company, seeking movie rights to the much-loved Chronicles of Narnia fantasy novels."[10] After a meeting of executives, a handshake sealed the deal for the rights.[10] Moore continued his role as executive producer with Prince Caspian (2008) and The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (2010).[11]

He co-wrote and co-directed (with life-partner Hunter Hill) the 2008 film Lake City, a drama that tells the story of a mother (Sissy Spacek) and son (Troy Garity) who reunite under desperate circumstances years after a family tragedy drove them apart.[12] He also co-directed a 2010 documentary about legendary children's book author and illustrator Maurice Sendak with partner Hunter Hill and filmmaker Spike Jonze.[7][13]

In early 2010, Moore said he and Hill were planning to co-direct a feature film to star actress Julianne Moore.[2]

Writing career

In addition to his work in production and development, Moore wrote The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe: The Official Illustrated Movie Companion.[9][14]

A longtime fan of children's literature and comic books, Moore's first novel, Hero, the first of a fantasy series about a group of modern-day superheroes, was published by Hyperion Books on August 28, 2007. The UK edition was published 8 May 2008. The young adult novel tells the story of the world's first gay teen superhero.[15][16] In May 2008, Hero won a Lambda Literary Award as the best LGBT Children's/Young Adult novel of the past year.[17] A television series is in the works with Stan Lee.[18] In 2009, Moore began writing a sequel to Hero.[2][19]

In February 2010, Moore said he was also at work on a new novel, Way of the Wolf, Book One: Fire.[2] The novel was about triplets who inherit superpowers and have to stop a villain from taking over the Earth.[2]

Personal life

Moore was openly gay[20] and lived in New York City with Hunter Hill (a writer for Paper magazine).

Death

Moore died on February 17, 2011, at the age of 39, of an apparent drug overdose at his home in New York City. His body was discovered by his life-partner Hill.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c Weichselbaum, Simone and Kemp, Joe. "'Narnia' Executive Producer Perry Moore Found Dead in SoHo Home After Apparent Overdose." New York Daily News. February 18, 2011.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Bertolotti, Nancy. "Interview With Perry Moore." Young Adult Library Services Association. February 10, 2010.
  3. ^ Nir, Sarah Maslin. "Meet Perry Moore, Caped Crusader for Gay Superheroes." The Sunday Times. May 2, 2008.
  4. ^ "Notable Alumnus Returns to Norfolk Academy." Norfolk Academy. February 10, 2006.
  5. ^ "Virginia Film Festival to Welcome Actors Sissy Spacek and Troy Garity For Opening Night Screening Of 'Lake City'." Press release. University of Virginia. October 7, 2008.
  6. ^ Leonard, Devin. "The Passion of Philip Anschutz." Fortune. April 16, 2006.
  7. ^ a b c "Perry Moore." All Movie Guide. No date. Accessed 2011-02-18.
  8. ^ O'Connor, Colleen. "God or Fantasy?" Denver Post. November 20, 2005.
  9. ^ a b Bamigboye, Baz. "Back in the Wardrobe Kids!" Daily Mail. October 28, 2005.
  10. ^ a b Manly, Loren. "The Stepson, the Billionaire and the Walt Disney Co." New York Times. November 6, 2005.
  11. ^ "Review: The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader." Variety. December 7, 2010; "Review: The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian." Variety. May 9, 2008.
  12. ^ Hartl, John. "Trip Home Turns Into Murky Reunion in Lake City." Seattle Times. December 11, 2008.
  13. ^ Gandert, Sean. "Spike Jonze Working on Maurice Sendak Documentary." Paste. December 10, 2008.
  14. ^ Moore, Perry. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe Official Illustrated Movie Companion. SanFrancisco: HarperCollins, 2005.
  15. ^ George Gene Gustines, "A Novelist's Superhero Is Out to Right Wrongs," New York Times, September 3, 2007.
  16. ^ Sarah Maslin Nir, "Meet Perry Moore, caped crusader for gay superheroes", The Times,May 2, 2008.
  17. ^ "Lambda Literary Awards Announce Winners." Press release. Lambda Literary Foundation. May 29, 2008.
  18. ^ Marcus, Bennett. "Is America's First Gay Superhero Coming to TV?" New York Magazine. May 22, 2008.
  19. ^ "Author Interview." PerryMooreStories.com. No date. Accessed 2009-07-28.
  20. ^ "An Unsecret Identity". MSNBC. 2007-08-13. Retrieved 2007-08-08. [dead link]

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