Feature Film To Be Made About Jeff Buckley

Critically acclaimed singer/songwriter Jeff Buckley will be documented in a biopic that will chronicle his career from its early stages to his death at age 30.

Writer-director Brian Jun, whose Steel City was recently nominated for the grand jury prize at the Sundance Film Festival, will write and direct the film. It will be produced by Buckley's mother, Mary Guibert, and Finding Neverland executive producer Michelle Sy.

Buckley was adored by critics following the release of his Grace debut album in 1994. Unfortunately, just as his career was taking off, he drowned in Memphis, Tenn. on May 29, 1997 while he was working on what would become the posthumously released Sketches (For My Sweetheart The Drunk).

Guibert, who was married to the late singer/songwriter Tim Buckley and controls the rights to her son's songs, has been approached many times in regards to filming his life story. In a message posted on Buckley's website, Guibert notes that she was adamantly opposed to making a feature film about her son because he "would have had nothing to do with a feature film made about his life — were he alive, today."

Guibert says that she eventually changed her thinking because "the fact that Jeff is no longer with us means that anyone can make a film or write a book about him without anyone's permission or participation." This almost occurred last year when writer-producer Train Houston secured the rights to Dream Brother: The Lives And Music Of Jeff And Tim Buckley from music journalist David Browne.

"I did not want someone else to be in control of how the script was written and on what information that script was based," says Guibert, who adds that films like Ray, Walk The Line and Finding Neverland restored her faith in Hollywood biopics.

Guibert assures fans that the film will be an accurate portrayal of Buckley's life and will show both the good and the bad since she believes that Jun isn't one to manipulate or sugarcoat facts.

"I have seen from his filmmaking that he has the courage and the skill to do this [the film] the way it should be done," she says.

The film isn't close to production and no casting decisions will be made until a script is completed this fall.