Script File

PRISONER OF HEAVEN

PRISONER OF HEAVEN is the unbelievable but true story of Nicolo Paganini – the legendary Italian violinist and composer who is considered to be the greatest musical performer to have ever lived. Paganini had a charisma on stage that induced hysteria among the masses; modern day historians call him the first “rock star.” And not unlike a rock star, Paganini’s lifestyle was contaminated with sex, drugs, illness, gambling and scandals all resulting in a short prison sentence and near financial ruin. Accordingly, because the public considered him to be in league with the Devil, his place in music history was forever tainted and, to this day, he is virtually unknown.

Although Paganini’s life itself was fascinating, it was what happened after he died that is truly strange and unbelievable. For 56 years following his death (one year shorter than his actual life span) his embalmed body was transferred across Europe, tossed aside in empty cellars, ditches and private homes… hidden from authorities by loyal friends and fans because the Catholic Church denied his proper burial. Paganini is known among scholars and historians to be a man with an amazing gift akin to Beethoven and Mozart, but tragically, in his lifetime, he was sentenced as a villainous outcast, a “Prisoner of Heaven."

To this day, Paganini’s posthumous adventures remain one of the most mysterious and historic travesties in the annals of mankind and is even listed in "Ripley's Believe it or Not."

PRISONER OF HEAVEN is a period piece but, yet, it is also a modern fable of how the gift of genius can exalt as well as destroy, how passion can consume with unwavering force, and how public figures can be victims, not only of society, but also of themselves…

  • Douglas Rappaport
    Writer
  • Project Type:
    Screenplay
  • Genres:
    Historical, Drama, Biopic, Period Piece
  • Number of Pages:
    121
  • Language:
    English
  • First-time Screenwriter:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
  • Scriptmatix True Story Screenplay Contest

    June 1, 2023
    1st Place
Writer Biography - Douglas Rappaport

Douglas Rappaport began his artistic journey as a classically trained violinist and composer, studying at leading conservatories across the U.S. and Europe. His academic path led him to graduate work at Yale University, followed by an Advanced Studies Certificate in Film and Television Scoring from the University of Southern California. He further honed his craft at Goldsmiths College, Guildhall School of Music & Drama, and the London International Film School, among others.

Douglas’s storytelling has been recognized across multiple mediums. He was commissioned for a paid writing assignment by director David Winkler, and his historical epic, Prisoner of Heaven, won the Scriptmatix True Story Screenplay Contest. His novel, Reckoner, earned third place at the BookFest Awards, while Dead People was named a finalist in the Script2Comic Contest.

Now based in Rhode Island, Douglas continues to craft screenplays, novels, and stage plays that explore the fault lines of identity, memory, and truth—unearthing resonance from complexity and beauty from the margins—all under the singular creative brand that is Douglas Rappaport.

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