Daniel Schechter heartbroken by Elmore Leonard’s absence from film festival

Director Daniel Schechter endured an emotional night at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) when he premiered his movie Life Of Crime because he keenly felt the loss of author Elmore Leonard, who died just weeks before the project was finished. The abduction comedy, based on the revered writer’s 1978 novel The Switch, debuted in Canada on Saturday (14Sep13) and Schechter reveals he was tinged with sadness as he walked the red carpet without Leonard by his side.
The late author is credited as an executive producer on Life of Crime, but didn’t get to see the final cut before his death last month (Aug13).
Speaking to reporters at the premiere, Schechter said, “He didn’t get a chance to see the film, which crushed me…
“Like a cruel joke, he had a heart attack and passed away two weeks later. But he heard the film got into TIFF, so it’s nice that he knew to some extent it was getting some love.”
Leonard suffered a stroke and died on 20 August (13), aged 87.
Life of Crime stars Jennifer Aniston as the wife of a wealthy businessman, who is kidnapped and held for ransom.