Is there similarity between Rebecca Schaeffer and Diana in Moonlight Mile? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

crystals · 04-01-2004, 01:16 AM

Just curious thought I would post this here . Don't know if this should actually be on the movie forum or not. I'll post this question on the movie forum in case I don't get any answers here. In Brad Silberling's semi-autobiographical film Moonlight Mile (2002) is the personality that the Diana character had that the Joe character described at all resemble who Rebecca was? Or, was that part of the film a work of fiction?

dandelion wine · 02-05-2005, 10:49 PM

From the IMDb:

Loosely inspired by writer/director Brad Silberling's own experience. He was dating actress Rebecca Schaeffer at the time she was killed by an obsessed fan in 1989.

crystals · 05-01-2005, 04:27 PM

Found some more info on this.

By industry standards, it’s a little early for Oscar-bait life-affirming fare to begin appearing in the theatres, but perhaps in an attempt to not be categorized as such, Moonlight Mile has arrived, full of all things heartwarming and award-ready. Moonlight Mile was written and directed by Brad Silberling (best known for directing City of Angels), who based the plot on his own experiences; in 1989, his fiancée, actress Rebecca Schaeffer (Patti Russell of the ’80s television series “My Sister Sam”), was murdered by a fan of hers, and in the aftermath of her death, Silberling and Schaeffer’s parents began a bit of a family mechanic.

Diana Floss, the fictionalized Rebecca Schaeffer is under the circumstances, not overly prominent in the film. Diana’s death is just the catalyst to bring Joe Nast (the Brad Silberling character, played by Donnie Darko and The Good Girl’s Jake Gyllenhaal) to become close with her parents, Ben and JoJo (Dustin Hoffman and Susan Sarandon), which is the center of Moonlight Mile.

source:
http://www.playbackstl.com/Current/NP/moonlight.htm

The dead woman , moreover, is described in terms which Silberling’s friend, the actor/writer/director Todd Field (In the Bedroom), says also describe Schaeffer.

source:
http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/s2.cfm?id=199712003

Apparently according to one site, the Berie character is based somewhat on Amy Brenneman.

Bertie is the one true fantasy character in the piece; she's whom I wish I had met after the murder. I hadn't met Amy when I wrote the first draft, but when I showed Steven Spielberg the film, he came out of the screening room saying, "Bertie's Amy! Bertie's Amy!" So I think yeah, she is in a sense.

source:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2003/02/0...nterview.shtml

04-01-2004, 01:16 AM	#1
crystals Member Senior Member Join Date: Feb 02, 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 1,829	Is there similarity between Rebecca Schaeffer and Diana in Moonlight Mile? Just curious thought I would post this here . Don't know if this should actually be on the movie forum or not. I'll post this question on the movie forum in case I don't get any answers here. In Brad Silberling's semi-autobiographical film Moonlight Mile (2002) is the personality that the Diana character had that the Joe character described at all resemble who Rebecca was? Or, was that part of the film a work of fiction?
	__________________ The man who lends a helping hand is the true hero. Last edited by crystals; 04-27-2005 at 03:49 PM.

02-05-2005, 10:49 PM	#2
dandelion wine ~ Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 20, 2003 Location: Behind the Couch Posts: 34,964	From the IMDb: Loosely inspired by writer/director Brad Silberling's own experience. He was dating actress Rebecca Schaeffer at the time she was killed by an obsessed fan in 1989.
	__________________ Fans of Jon-Erik Hexum Merry Christmas!

05-01-2005, 04:27 PM	#3
crystals Member Senior Member Join Date: Feb 02, 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 1,829	Moonlight Mile- Seperating fact from fiction Found some more info on this. By industry standards, it’s a little early for Oscar-bait life-affirming fare to begin appearing in the theatres, but perhaps in an attempt to not be categorized as such, Moonlight Mile has arrived, full of all things heartwarming and award-ready. Moonlight Mile was written and directed by Brad Silberling (best known for directing City of Angels), who based the plot on his own experiences; in 1989, his fiancée, actress Rebecca Schaeffer (Patti Russell of the ’80s television series “My Sister Sam”), was murdered by a fan of hers, and in the aftermath of her death, Silberling and Schaeffer’s parents began a bit of a family mechanic. Diana Floss, the fictionalized Rebecca Schaeffer is under the circumstances, not overly prominent in the film. Diana’s death is just the catalyst to bring Joe Nast (the Brad Silberling character, played by Donnie Darko and The Good Girl’s Jake Gyllenhaal) to become close with her parents, Ben and JoJo (Dustin Hoffman and Susan Sarandon), which is the center of Moonlight Mile. source: http://www.playbackstl.com/Current/NP/moonlight.htm The dead woman , moreover, is described in terms which Silberling’s friend, the actor/writer/director Todd Field (In the Bedroom), says also describe Schaeffer. source: http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/s2.cfm?id=199712003 Apparently according to one site, the Berie character is based somewhat on Amy Brenneman. Bertie is the one true fantasy character in the piece; she's whom I wish I had met after the murder. I hadn't met Amy when I wrote the first draft, but when I showed Steven Spielberg the film, he came out of the screening room saying, "Bertie's Amy! Bertie's Amy!" So I think yeah, she is in a sense. source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/films/2003/02/0...nterview.shtml