Beck Denies Involvement In Directors Death

09th December 2007 | by Aidan Williamson

Scientology has been drawn into another murky scenario after member, Beck, has been forced to deny allegations that he was involved in the death of Film-maker Theresa Duncan and her boyfriend.

E-mails have surfaced which claim that Beck was to star in the director's movie “Alice Underground” which was to be about two New York prep-school girls who kidnap a rock star, after he confides in them that he wants to leave the Church of Scientology.

In the e-mails to a friend, Duncan claims that “Beck and I met repeatedly to discuss the film.” and “...he wanted to leave the cult desperately.” He went on to tell friends later that Beck had backed out from the project after growing fears as to the repercussions from the Church. Owing in part to the collapse of the once buzz-worthy film, Duncan lapsed into a depression and was found dead by a drug overdose in July of 2007.

A week later, her boyfriend Jeremy Blake walked into the waters off the coast of Rockaway Beach. He left a suicide note. Friends and family of the couple said they were being followed and harassed by members of the Scientology faction up until their deaths.

Beck has refuted the allegations that his actions led to their deaths by saying “That's ridiculous. Totally false. We never met to discuss the film. I did explain to her I wasn't looking to act right then, and with the album, tour schedule, and a baby on the way, it wouldn't be feasible... Had we been closer and discussed anything as personal as religion, I would have only had positive things to say about Scientology.”

Somewhat casting doubt on the situation is the fact that he and Blake worked together on his 2002 album “Sea Change”, with artist Blake assisting on the design of the album's cover.

Added to that is an interview the singer carried out with Italian daily newspaper Corriere Della Sera which quotes him - when asked about an upcoming movie project - back in 2003 as answering [translated from Italian] “It will be full of energy and full of characters: some kind of Alice in Wonderland set in the 70s. It still doesn't have a title. The director is a friend of mine and it will be her directorial debut. But I trust her. We will begin shooting in [Autumn].”

The couple Theresa Duncan and Jeremy Blake in happier times.

Comments

Beth

commented 12 months ago

Even if the story about Beck backing out of the film is true, it's irresponsible to claim he was "complicit" in Duncan's death. People suffer setbacks all the time. She could have done her film with somebody else. And even if, as she seems to have believed, a widespread conspiracy was set on her film being made, that doesn't mean the conspirators directly caused her death. To assume so reveals a simplisitc view of suicide, a lack of comprehension about the influences and motivating factors involved in taking one's own life.

fruggle

commented 12 months ago

Beth is right. I think you need to use a dictionary more often, because those words you are using don't mean what you think they mean. Another example: it doesn't make sense to refer to Duncan's "latest movie." She made one (animated) film. That's it. Also, I don't think "Alice Underground" was every "buzz-worthy." There were reports on talks about it in the industry papers. If you read the "Vanity Fair" article clearly, you would see that suicide WAS confirmed by the examiner. Why would the fact that Blake and Beck worked together on "Sea Change" cast doubt on Beck's claims that he wasn't going to act in Duncan's movie? And if Beck's Italian interview is indeed talking about "Alice Underground," why wasn't the movie made? That was 2003 and he said shooting was beginning in the autumn.

Aidan Williamson

commented 12 months ago

Thanks for that guys, we have made the relevant alterations.

Bill

commented 12 months ago

Alice Underground was not made because the proposed budget was considered too high; this was to be a studio funded project, not an indie film. Commercial viability was the ultimate bottom line and deal breaker.