John Wilson (conductor) "West Side Story". He wrote and directed his own pantomime during this period and he also conducted for many local amateur dramatic societies. Later he attended the Royal College of Music, first as a percussionist, and later studying composition and conducting. During this time won the institution's Tagore Gold Medal for outstanding academic excellence. In 2004 Wilson was appointed the music director for the Hollywood feature film "Beyond the Sea", a biopic of the life of Bobby Darin starring Kevin Spacey. In 2007 he conducted the BBC Concert Orchestra in a BBC Proms concert of British film music, followed in
Beyond the Sea (film) to give an accurate portrayal of the singer. Spacey also kept close relations with the Darin family as a means to know he would treat the film "with respect". He sent letters to that effect to Sandra Dee and son Dodd. Steve Blauner (who is portrayed by John Goodman in the film) also served as a historical consultant. Dodd originally considered Spacey's plan to sing his father's material a sacrilege, but eventually fell into sync with Spacey's deeply empathetic approach to Darin's life. Tom Epperson, who had struck up a friendship with Spacey while writing an early screenplay draft of