Alicia Keys in Black and White

Originally Published: March 23, 2005

Variety reports that Sony Pictures has hired The Motorcycle Diaries writer Jose Rivera to adapt Compositions in Black and White, based on the book by Kathryn Talalay, that’s being developed as a star vehicle for songstress Alicia Keys.

The book based on the real life of Philippa Schuyler. Alicia Keys will star as Schuyler, an American concert pianist and writer – as well as the interracial daughter of author George Schuyler.

Schuyler grew up a child prodigy whose extraordinary talents were developed by tutors in isolation from her peers. With an IQ of 185, she could read and write at the age of two-and-a-half, and began playing the piano at the age of three. By age four, she was composing and performed on the radio at age five. By 11, she toured the globe, and had over 100 piano compositions to her name by the age of 13.

As a young adult, white America lost interest in her, and Schuyler encountered the racial prejudice that she had been shielded from as a child protege and daughter of wealthy parents.

She spent much of the remainder of her life performing overseas. In spite of her worldwide fame, she was never invited to perform in the United States again.

Halle Berry will produce the film, but isn’t scheduled to appear.