Frigate Bay Films Develops Rights to “Miles and Me”

A Story of Friendship, Jazz, and The Genius of Miles Davis

Frigate Bay Filmworks, Inc. has purchased the rights to the book and screenplay “Miles and Me” by writer, poet and long-time Miles Davis confidant, Quincy Troupe. The screenplay tells the story of the relationship between the two men, while exploring the life and operatic death of Davis, considered by many to be the single most innovative influence in jazz history.

Davis’ life and music is a landmark of the 20th Century. “Miles music is the whole scope, passion, evolution, conflicts of the century,” said Rudy Langlais, president of Frigate Bay. “Miles Davis was the ‘birth of cool.’”

“The film is inspired by Fellini’s “8 ½” in its depiction of an artist of singular talent and legend, unyielding in his creative and personal life” said Langlais. “Miles rose to legendary heights, even as he faced the death of his greatest collaborator, Gil Evans (with whom he created ‘Sketches of Spain’) and his closest friend, novelist James Baldwin. And ‘Miles and Me’ is also the story of the great friendship that developed between Troupe and Davis.”

It’s a friendship that began 15 years ago when Langlais, then editor of Spin magazine, assigned Troupe to interview the jazz great for the magazine. That assignment led Troupe to a collaboration with Davis on his autobiography and to Troupe writing “Miles and Me,” his recollections of his experiences with Davis during the writing of the autobiography.

Troupe’s screenplay tells the sweeping story of that tumultuous time with Davis (in the tradition of “Round Midnight”). Frigate Bay is currently looking for that right match of director and subject.

The Frigate Bay/Troupe agreement was negotiated by Lizbeth Hasse of Creative Industry Law, San Francisco, on behalf of Frigate Bay and Victoria Cook of Frankfurt, Garbus, Klein and Selz, on behalf of Troupe.

About the writer of “Miles and Me”
Quincy Troupe is the author of 15 books, including seven volumes of poetry, the latest of which is “Transcircularities.” He was appointed California’s first official poet laureate by Gov. Gray Davis.

Troupe is the recipient of two American Book Awards. Troupe received the prestigious Peabody Award for co-producing and writing the seven-part radio series, “The Miles Davis Radio Project,” aired on National Public Radio. Troupe edited “James Baldwin: The Legacy” and was the co-author with Davis of the best selling “Miles: The Autobiography.” His children’s book, “Little Stevie,” based on the life of Stevie Wonder, was published by Houghton-Mifflin.