You’ve heard of The Reader? Well, Paul Gross’ production company Whizbang Films has optioned the story of another reader, Clarence Brazier, who learned to read at the age of 93. Gross’ partner Frank Siracusa says Brazier’s century-spanning tale came to their attention through a 2006 article in The Globe and Mail. ‘We thought it was an amazing story.’

Siracusa says the project will hinge on finding the right scribe. ‘We’re trying to find somebody who can take a story that unfolds over 100 years and make a compact story with dramatic punch without making it melodramatic. We want to make a feature,’ he says.

Brazier, now 102, spent most of his life in the northern Ontario town of Timmins. His father, a farmer, was blinded by an explosion while clearing tree stumps from his newly acquired land. At age five, young Clarence became his father’s eyes. By age seven, he was practically running the farm.

His remarkably active life never included reading, even though he worked in local politics and ran the farmers’ union. His wife covered for him. It wasn’t until her death, after 64 years of marriage, that Brazier realized he needed to read in order to remain active in the world.

Siracusa says development on the as-yet-untitled project is underway, with researchers conducting interviews. A crew recently returned from filming Brazier’s 102nd birthday party.