A relic from the author's Hollywood days:

Roll Over Beethoven, the oft-optioned but never produced screenplay by Gene Ayres, originally written in 1987, has become an underground Hollywood legend. First optioned that same year by South Pacific Pictures in New Zealand ( from an age before Peter Jackson rediscovered Tolkien), it worked its way to Hollywood, and was there repeatedly optioned by visionary independent producers who understood that there are many people who can understand the difference between Bach and Beatles, and appreciate both. The studios never got it. It had to be for the teens and tweens (and thus rock rules), or it was relegated to the geezer pile, in other words, of no interest. Despite the success of Amadeus, classical music always fit into that category. It couldn't possibly be for both audiences, although my entire Boomer generation of educated, Middle Class people related to and loved and listened to both kinds of music, in my case every day.

Conceived in the vein of This is Spinal Tap meets Some Like it Hot, Roll Over Beethoven is a romantic comedy about a reclusive classical pianist who, due to financial circumstances, finds himself filling in with a famous but over-the-hill rock band, whose leader has gone over the top. Zaniness, misconception and romance are the inevitable result. The original lead was set for Dudley Moore; later it became Robert Downey, Jr. Financing was in place. Regrettably, both had other plans.

This screenplay is available on request. A book version is under contemplation.