Valerie Davidson -- Sound-Editor / Designer ( The DaVinci Code, The Matrix, Shrek, Pirates Of The Caribbean, Flags Of Our Fathers)

"Beyond The Rain is sure to be a crowd pleaser ... the relationships, black and white, teacher-student, past mistakes and loves, Hollywood history and of course “OZ”. Tom, the retiring film professor and his young protégé Jazmine create a fun and engaging ‘buddy picture’ , showing us that age and race have no boundaries. The story seamlessly touches on many of life’s tribulations with a twist of fantasy making us laugh and cry. Paul Rich knows his craft and has written an enthralling heartfelt screenplay. Beyond The Rain feels like a timeless classic. I can’t wait to see it on the silver screen.”

Deborah Pratt (co-creator - "Quantum Leap," author of the new hardback book,
"The Vision Quest: Age Of Light" www.thevisionquest.com , writer-director of BBC's award-winning film, "Cora Unashamed")

"Every once in long while a screenplay comes a long that is filled with so much heart and pathos that it jumps from the page and touches you. Beyond the Rain is one of those stories, where time and love, lost dreams and paths not taken ring out in a simple love song of universality. It gives permission to let magic intervene for a second chance to do over the dreams stolen by fate for those who still believe in magic ...and the magic power of the movies. Paul Rich uses a well loved device based on the classic tale of Baum’s the Wizard of Oz to travel through time. . He tickles the viewers personal memories reminding them of how it felt to see into the imagination evoked by the wonders of Hollywood."

Veteran Writer-Producer Elaine Zicree (Lazarus Man, Sliders, Liberty Kids)

“Beyond The Rain is a romance in the old tradition – less about sex than about love, longing and possibility. It’s rich, complex characters pop off the page and the ever turning and twisting plot never fails to surprise and thoroughly satisfy. It’s what movie making used to be about: the human heart. It’s a film that must be made.

For the vast legion of moviegoers hungry for true romance, few directors understand the genre and know how to craft stories about hard won relationships … people who, however screwed up and goofy … are good at heart and genuinely feel for each other.This is the magic of Paul Norman Rich’s Beyond The Rain. He’s not second-guessing trends, he has simply taken a stand for a universal sentiment and the human heart … and placed his tale in a milieu as compelling as his characters.

Beyond The Rain is one of those rare stories about love – not just between people, but for beauties within the larger world that does not get sappy or make one feel manipulated. It feels real and conveys a sense of great possibility.

I’m an impatient reader but have read this piece several times and am still eager to see it in a theater.

As stated before, I believe I’m with the majority. Give me a romance I can believe in, and sweetheart, I’m all yours!”

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BIO – ELAINE ZICREE

Writing both individually and as a team, writer-producers Marc and Elaine Zicree have over 100 credits to their name, including standout series such as Lazarus Man, Sliders and PBS’s acclaimed Liberty’s Kids, a drama series about the American Revolution starring Michael Douglas, Walter Cronkite, Billy Crystal, Dustin Hoffman and Arnold Schwarznegger (earning a prestigious Humanitas Prize nomination). In addition, they have written numerous episodic dramas, MOWs and features for virtually every major studio and network, including pilots for NBC, ABC, and Showtime.

Elaine is currently in pre-production on the independent feature film CAESAR as writer-producer teaming with Napoleon Dynamite producer Chris Wyatt and Farscape director Peter Andrikidis.

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SLAMDANCE Film Festival – Screenplay Competition 2005 – Reader Coverage

“ A very sweet , moving story with wonderful characters and relationships … heartwrenching … the magical elements are fun and very imaginative.”

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Story Analyst Cynthia Zipser (formerly of CAA)

“ A wonderful love story with memorable characters, particularly the lead role of TOM SUMMERS as a complex and interesting man struggling with depression following retirement. It was effective how the harsh, present day world transitions back and forth with the past, a realistic suspension-of-belief fantasy using relevant excerpts from “The Wizard Of Oz” as a piece of genuine Americana that transcends time yet is still pertinent to today. Beyond The Rain has all the right elements: a tender heartfelt love story balanced with humor and pathos with interesting characters and “movie magic” sprinkled into the mix.”

© Copyright 2007 Beyond the Rain