Kevin Spacey: Bringing Back Bobby Darin Derek Isetti

Kevin Spacey has long been known for his acting ability both onstage and on the big screen. With Beyond the Sea, his more latent talents are given a chance to shine as well.

As producer, director, star and writer of the film, it’s a wonder that this remarkable man was able to survive the process, let alone find it to be an enjoyable experience. But what becomes evident as soon as one sees the film is that it was truly a labor of love. I had the opportunity to chat with Spacey at The Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills about what kind of mindset is required when mounting such huge project.

“The hardest part was making sure you got enough sleep," Spacey says. "There were nights around 11:30 p.m. when I thought, ‘boy, have I bitten off more than I can chew!' I would shoot all day long, then I’d go to dailies, then at 9 p.m. I would go to dance class. I’m not a professional dancer, but I wanted so much to infuse the film with that kind of energy and to show the versatility of Bobby Darin.”

Spacey was smart enough to surround himself with some of the best crew in the business, and while his own name is above the title, it certainly became a collaborative effort.

"I had an incredible group with me -- everybody stuck by us," Spacey states. "That loyalty and dedication was what got me out of bed everyday. All of the difficulty in raising the money disappeared once we started shooting. My production designer was my right-hand soldier. There were so many people I could turn to on a daily basis. I was so determined that this not become a vanity production once people became aware of how many hats I was wearing. Andy Patterson had to come to me and say, ‘Kevin, you’re not shooting enough close-ups of yourself.’ I told him I was fully aware of that. I regretted it a bit in editing, but I wanted all of the characters around Bobby to be developed and real. I was so happy to have a group around me that became my co-directors on the film. It kept it from becoming a one-man show.”

In retrospect, it wasn’t the shooting process itself which proved to be the most difficult. Raising the money to fund the film in the first place was one of Spacey’s largest obstacles. Many projects concerning the life of Bobby Darin had been tossed around over the years, but producers always seemed reticent.

"There were a couple of things I would consistently hear, and the logic behind it would always escape me. I would generally hear, ‘well, it’s a terrific story, great music, we think you’d be great in it, but how many people have really heard of Bobby Darin?’ And I would say, 'what difference would it make?' The logic was that people would only go to biopics if they already knew everything about them. But why should that matter? That argument is never brought up for a fictional character, but only for people who actually lived. Audiences go to movies because they are good so they can discover who the person is. You’ll find out who he is in this movie.”

When dealing with biographical subject matter, there is always the issue of obtaining the family’s permission and approval. Darin’s former manager and friend Steve Blauner was once quoted years ago as having said that Darin’s voice alone would never be allowed to be used in a film version of his life. Blauner’s opinion changed, however, after agreeing to meet with Spacey.

“It was only when I got the money for the film in 2003 that I contacted them (the family). I figured they had gone through enough false hope about this movie happening over the years," Spacey states. "Now we’ve become very close. They got behind the film so much, yet never told me I couldn’t do or say certain things. They said, 'we trust you. Go make your movie. Go make your film.' Now they’ve seen it and they are very happy.”

In a way this film is a testament to life’s cyclical nature. As a child Spacey would sing to Bobby Darin’s records, and now as an adult he embodies the singer on film. A child’s fantasy became a reality in today’s world because Spacey never lost touch with the awe and inspiration he drew from “the coolest cat who ever walked the face of the Earth.”

“My mother loved Bobby Darin. I was introduced to Bobby’s music when I was very young. I also feel that because he died so young that his legacy has been greatly dissipated. He has slightly become the forgotten one. I wanted to do this movie so that maybe we could help remind people who he was. I’ve always thought that his story was worth telling, and I hope that all of the effort we have put into this movie will help put the spotlight back on him.”

It is only fitting that Kevin Spacey, at the height of his career, is able to pay tribute to a man whose music has given him so much.

Beyond the Sea opens in Los Angeles and New York December 17.