USA 90Min.
Director: Gorman Bechard
Producer: Arthur Chang
Author: Gorman Bechard, Stephen Manzi
Cast: Terence Stamp, Francoise Surel, Eliza Dushku, Billy Zane, Illeana Douglas, William Mapother
A newly promoted book editor discovers a potential best seller, although unfinished, manuscript buried in her predecessor’s office. Moved by the passionate love story and drawing parallels to her own life, she embarks on a journey to find the author and the missing ending only to find an old loner who is still struggling to cope with the death of his wife twenty years prior. The two eventually form a close friendship, each drawing wisdom and strength from each other allowing him to write the final chapter on his romance with his wife before succumbing to cancer and inspiring her to find a lost love.

Viewer comment: With no screaming visual effects, no killing and no mayhem, this may not be the film for the romantically challenged. What is there is a story with a heart, characters motivated by feelings and passion. A timeless desire for togetherness is molded into two stories that are really one. Artistically crafted with a wonderful score, this is a picture for those who seek the best in people and it reminds us of what can be. I highly recommend this to those of us who still can connect with their heart.

THE KISS Genre: Drama, Comedy
Cast: Terence Stamp, Francoise Surel, Eliza Dushku, Billy Zane, Illeana Douglas, Steven Gilborn
Director: Gorman Bechard
Screenwriter: Gorman Bechard and Stephen Manzi
Production Company: Kingman Films International
Website: http://www.gormanbechard.com

Premise: Based on the famous Robert Doisneau photo, "Le Baiser de l’Hotel de Ville."

News: [ 4.Jan.02 ] Gorman Bechard updated his official website a few days ago, and he praised Eliza’s performance in ’The Kiss’

Looking back on the year that’s just past, there are a number of things of which I am quite proud:

...the performance from Eliza Dushku in my film THE KISS. She truly brought one of my favorite characters to life in the way I originally envisioned. (Also the original opening credit sequence for the film, shot by Chris Squires and myself in Paris, and edited by Lori Ball to an amazing Django-ish tune from Eric Bachmann...it was one of the things I’m most proud of in regards to this project...but more on that at some future date.)

Elizabeth Elmore of The Reputation (a band that wrote a song for ’The Kiss,’ she was the one who first mentioned the news of Eliza appearing in the movie) has also mentioned that the executive producer completely re-edited the movie on her mailing list.

[ 15.Nov.02 ] This is an old article that I’ve been meaning to post, but keep forgetting... it’s about Eric Bachmann, and it mentions that he’ll be scoring ’The Kiss’. It kinda plays into my conjecture over what ’The Kiss’ is about:

He’s also working on his second score, this one for a film titled The Kiss, starring Billy Zane and Terence Stamp. Written by novelist Gorman Bechard, another old Archers fan who became Bachmann’s friend, The Kiss tells a story based on the famous Robert Doisneau photo, "Le Baiser de l’Hotel de Ville." To recall the feeling of Paris in the ’50s, Bachmann will be scoring with the gypsy swing of Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli in mind. [ 19.Sep.02 ] Many thanks to Joshua, who emailed Gorman Bechard and confirmed that Eliza’s character in ’The Kiss’ is indeed Megan (ie. the cast listing on the IMDB is correct.) And FWIW, this article states that ’The Kiss’ is due out in theatres next spring.

[ 3.Sep.02 ] Gorman Bechard (director for ’The Kiss’) has updated his website:

September 1, 2000

It’s been a while, and I apologize for the delay in updates, but I’ve been living in Los Angeles (Santa Monica to be exact) for the past 4 months directing a feature film, and time, well...

It’s a romantic dramedy called: THE KISS.

We filmed in both LA and Paris.

It stars Terence Stamp, Eliza Dushku, Francoise Surel, Billy Zane, Illeana Douglas, Steven Gilborn, and a whole host of others...

Right, Vanessa’s Conjecture: I’m guessing that this film is based on the famous photograph ’Kiss by the Hotel de Ville’ taken by Robert Doisneau. (Half of Eliza’s fans would have that picture on their wall.) From the mailing list message by Elizabeth Elmore of The Reputation and what Gorman Bechard says on his site, it seems like the people involved in the project were all friends or acquaintances of the director. (That is a kickass cast though.) However, as it was an independent film, fans may never get to see it. But it is something interesting to keep an eye on.

[ 16.Aug.02 ] The website for ’City by the Sea’ has been updated again, with the cast bios. They list "independent film, The Kiss" as being on Eliza’s upcoming filmography. I’m still digging around for more info.

[ 13.Aug.02 ] I’ve received a few emails about this... the IMDB has been updated with Eliza starring in 2 new movies: ’It Was Always Me’ and ’The Kiss.’ I haven’t been able to find anything at all about ’It Was Always Me’ and I don’t generally trust the IMDB as a source for new info, as anyone can submit news to it. I would let that one slide until some other info pops up.

As for ’The Kiss’... I think this first came about from a post that Elizabeth Elmore sent to the mailing list of her official site (she’s the lead singer of The Reputation and they’re to record a song for the soundtrack):

Finally, in about a month we’re going into the studio to record a song for a new movie called "the Kiss" w/ Billy Zane (from Titanic), Eliza Dushku (Faith from Buffy), Illeana Douglas (from Ghostworld, Grace of my Heart, etc.) and Terrence Stamp (from the Limey). Our friend Gorman Bechard is directing it. Gorman Bechard’s official site mentions that he’s currently prepping for the movie, and they’re to shoot in LA and Paris. But he doesn’t mention anything about the cast.

And I haven’t been able to find anything about this movie anywhere else either. (The two places I’d trust most would be Variety and The Hollywood Reporter.) However, given that the info is from people high-up, it’s something to keep an eye on.

Elisa Dushku’s Movies :

The Kiss (2003)
Wrong Turn (2003)
City by the Sea (2002)
The New Guy (2002)
Soul Survivors (2001)
Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (2001)
Bring It On (2000)
Race the Sun (1996)
Bye Bye, Love (1995)
Fishing with George (1994)
True Lies (1994)
This Boy’s Life (1993)
That Night (1992)