The Accompanist

I create my art, especially with filmmaking, from a very personal space. In my most recent feature film, The Accompanist, the idea was born as I sat at the grand piano at a local ballet studio where I play piano for ballet classes. I grew up trained as a classical pianist and wanted a vehicle to not only be able to use my original piano music for the score, but to tell the story of gay love against the backdrop of classical ballet and classical music. I felt the LGBTQ community has been underserved as far as complex gay stories that show gay love realistically with all its angst and beauty. I wanted to show a story that was real, and also show the world of classical ballet more realistically, not what audiences see in Hollywood films. Particularly, I wanted to show the complexities, both good and bad, of gay male relationships. Mixing in a bit of magical realism, family drama, and in this film, Jason's (the lead character) relationship with his teenage children, I wanted to evoke a dramatic and compelling story full of tragedy and hope. I also wanted to portray not only domestic abuse, but the beauty of gay male love and of family love as well. Jason needs to be honest with his children about his sexual identity, and also he needs to be honest with himself about his love for Brandon, a troubled ballet dancer. Being able to send people back in time with his music only adds to the mystery and suspense of the story.
In my own life, the story has many parallels, not only the dance and music aspects, but as far as my experiences as a gay male. I was married to a woman for many years and have four beautiful, amazing children. However, when my wife divorced me several years, that put me on a path to explore my sexuality, especially in terms of gay male relationships. I had several relationships with men and learned a lot about myself and my sexuality, and I was most recently married to a man for almost seven years. I had to have that difficult and awkward talk with my children, particularly my youngest who was only ten at the time, and explain that their Dad preferred to be with men and to also introduce the man I was with to my children and family. Fortunately, my family embraced my relationships and accepted me for who I am in terms of my sexuality. I have interwoven many of these personal themes into The Accompanist and hope that the film not only entertains audiences, but also helps to shed light on more realistic portrayals of gay male relationships, the intricacies of family dynamics, and the beauty of classical ballet and classical music.
I was fortunate to be able to film at the ballet studio where I play piano and used local ballet dancers and teachers in the film. I also filmed in my local community where I live in Venice, California. I feel proud that the story and the production has evolved into a 93-minute film that shows not only the complexities of gay male relationships, but the complexities of family life as well. Being able to also show the beauty of classical ballet through class and audition sequences using local ballet dancers and teachers from the ballet studio adds to the realism of the film.
Whether I tell a story through a documentary short film about an employment preparation center in in South Central Los Angeles seen by hundreds of thousands of viewers on KCET public television, where I worked as a counselor, or the story of the great actor-artist Michael Chekhov and his professional teaching partner George Shdanoff, whom I studied acting with when he was in his 90s, in the award-winning film From Russia to Hollywood: The 100-Year Odyssey of Chekhov and Shdanoff, or my recent 20-minute multiple award-winning short film, Designated Caretaker Redux, I always try and bring myself as an artist, front and center, and my life experiences in a very personal way to tell a compelling story that will touch audiences.
The Accompanist, a fantasy/drama gay love story with magical realism and classical ballet and classical music as the backdrop, reflects my vision in the theme of the film "using the healing power of art to unite and celebrate who we truly are." I'm very proud of my diverse cast and the portrayal of the gay male experience through realistic, fully-realized, complex characters, and shining a light into gay relationships covering such areas as domestic violence, sex, career ambition, love and connection.
My lifetime goal is to use the vehicle of film and my passion for film and storytelling to elevate people's consciousness through my art.

Thank you for reading my Director's Statement and I very much appreciate your consideration of my film in your festival.

Warmly with much love,

Frederick Keeve