Reversal of Genre

Not only has “Reversal of Fortune” put Barbet Schroeder in the Oscar spotlight--as a nominee for best director--it’s been a significant turning point in his career. The filmmaker tells us he’s had some 35 offers since the film came out--and he opted for No. 35, “Single White Female.”

Though contracts are pending on the Columbia Pictures project, Schroeder says if all goes well he’ll soon begin casting for the film’s two female leads, both to be actresses under 30.

Scripted by Don Roos, the “Hitchcockian” project differs notably from the usual thriller.

“There is no male lead--this does not have a romance,” Schroeder says. “This will be a challenge, there is no question.”

The title comes from a newspaper ad that one woman runs and another woman answers.

“She is looking for a roommate, and she gets the roommate from hell,” Schroeder says. The plot ultimately has one woman attempting a make-over in order to imitate the other--”and then the complications begin.”