Eli California Richbourg

1970 - 2013
Eli California Richbourg, formerly of Colchester, Vermont, died suddenly as the result of a cerebral arteriovenous malformation (cerebral AVM) in Paris, France on March 20.  He was 42.  After graduating from Colchester High School in 1989, Eli received a degree in art history from Yale University and then went to Hollywood to work in the movie industry. A longtime collaborator of director Joel Schumacher, Eli worked in various capacities on Batman Forever, Batman & Robin, A Time to Kill, 8MM, Flawless, Tigerland, Bad Company, Phone Booth, Veronica Guerin, Phantom of the Opera, The Number 23, Blood Creek and Trespass.  At the time of his death Eli was working with Ubisoft, a French video game company, developing films based on the Assassin's Creed and Splinter Cell video games.  He was also independently engaged in a variety of production and screenwriting projects, including his screenplay of the Andy Dougan book Dynamo: Defending The Honour Of Kiev, set for production by Pathé, Riviera Pictures, and Flynn Picture Co. and The Shot, his original screenplay written for Michaël Fassbender and set for production by Pathé and Riviera Pictures. His fees for Dynamo and The Shot established Eli among the highest compensated screenwriters in France. Furthermore, Eli was attached to direct a project called Sham in Ireland in the summer of 2013, which he had co-written with Barry McEvoy. Eli had moved to France to pursue his passion for bicycle racing and his love of the French language.  Eli was also an avid surfer and talented artist; his early days in Hollywood included creating many of the paintings featured in the film How to Make an American Quilt. Eli is survived by his wife, Gaelle, and 22-month old son, Paul, both of Paris; his father and stepmother, Lance Richbourg and Elaine Segal of Burlington, Vermont; his mother, Barbara Rodarte of Palm Springs, California; and his brothers, Luke Richbourg of New York City and Rodrigo Rodarte of Los Angeles.  A fund has been set up to help support Paul's education.  Email richbourgmemorial@gmail.com for instructions on giving.