Given that Bryan Singer, the celebrated film director and 1984 graduate of West Windsor-Plainsboro High School, is directing the first Superman film in nearly 20 years, it’s entirely appropriate that he deliver the inaugural address at the dedication of the Christopher Reeve Theater and Dramatic Arts Collection, at the Princeton Public Library this Friday, November 18. Back in the 1970s it was the Superman movies that propelled the Princeton-raised Reeve into stardom. Now Singer is busy filming the newest one in Australia — he’s making the long flight home for the Reeve event.
But Singer and his work have plenty of other connections to his old hometown.
Singer began to show an interest in film as a teenager, shooting 8 mm home movies. After graduating from WW-P in 1984 Singer attended the School of Visual Arts in New York, where he directed a 25-minute, 16 mm film called “Lion’s Den,” and starring Ethan Hawke, the future film and stage star who was also a West Windsor resident and a 1988 alumnus of the Hun School.
In 1995 he teamed up with another friend from school, screenwriter Chris McQuarrie, Class of 1986, in the film “Usual Suspects.” It became Singer’s breakout film and McQuarrie won the Academy Award for best original screenplay.
Singer’s third feature film, “Apt Pupil,” starring Ian McKellen and Brad Renfro, featured bits and pieces of West Windsor-Plainsboro High School, including the green and gold colors, the Pirate as mascot, and at least one teacher’s name that comes up in some hallway conversation between classes: Susan Fiscarelli, who taught history at WW-P during Singer’s time.
The 1984 yearbook statement by Singer — mostly writing in Spanish — begins and ends with references to the movies. He thanks his friend Jeff for their trips to the movies, and he closes with a prophetic sign-off: “See you at the movies.” Given that the Reeve lecture is sold out, most of us will have to wait until his next movie comes out to get a glimpse of Singer’s latest work.
