The Big Sick/ U.S.A. (Director: Michael Showalter, Screenwriters: Emily V. Gordon, Kumail Nanjiani) — Based on the real-life courtship: Pakistan-born comedian Kumail and grad student Emily fall in love, but they struggle as their cultures clash. When Emily contracts a mysterious illness, Kumail must navigate the crisis with her parents and the emotional tug-of-war between his family and his heart. Cast: Kumail Nanjiani, Zoe Kazan, Holly Hunter, Ray Romano, Anupam Kher. World Premiere
An Inconvenient Sequel / U.S.A.,— A riveting look at both the escalation of the crisis and how close we are to a real solution. Directed by Sundance Film Festival alumni Bonni Cohen and Jon Shenk.
Mudbound/ U.S.A. (Director: Dee Rees, Screenwriters: Virgil Williams, Dee Rees) — In the post–World War II South, two families are pitted against a barbaric social hierarchy and an unrelenting landscape as they simultaneously fight the battle at home and the battle abroad. This epic pioneer story is about friendship, heritage and the unending struggle for and against the land. Cast: Carey Mulligan, Jason Clarke, Mary J. Blige, Rob Morgan, Jason Mitchell, Garrett Hedlund. World Premiere
Wind River/ U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Taylor Sheridan) — An FBI agent teams with the town's veteran game tracker to investigate a murder that ocurred on a Native American reservation. Cast: Jeremy Renner, Elizabeth Olsen, Jon Bernthal. World Premiere
A Ghost Story / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: David Lowery) — This is the story of a ghost and the house he haunts. Cast: Casey Affleck, Rooney Mara, Will Oldham, Sonia Acevedo, Rob Zabrecky, Liz Franke. World Premiere
The Discovery/ U.S.A. (Director: Charlie McDowell, Screenwriters: Charlie McDowell, Justin Lader) — In a world where the afterlife has just been scientifically proven—resulting in millions of people taking their own lives to get there—comes this love story. Cast: Jason Segel, Rooney Mara, Robert Redford, Jesse Plemons, Riley Keough, Ron Canada. World Premiere
The Little Hours/ U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Jeff Baena) — A young servant fleeing from his master takes refuge at a dysfunctional convent in medieval Tuscany. Cast: Alison Brie, Dave Franco, Kate Micucci, Aubrey Plaza, John C. Reilly, Molly Shannon. World
Trophy/ U.S.A. (Director: Shaul Schwarz, Co-Director: Christina Clusiau) — This in-depth look into the powerhouse industries of big-game hunting, breeding and wildlife conservation in the U.S. and Africa unravels the complex consequences of treating animals as commodities. World Premiere. (U.S. Documentary)
Long Strange Trip/ U.S.A. (Director: Amir Bar-Lev) — The tale of The Grateful Dead is inspiring, complicated, and downright messy. A tribe of contrarians, they made art out of open-ended chaos and inadvertently achieved success on their own terms. Never-before-seen footage and interviews offer this unprecedented and unvarnished look at the life of the Dead. World Premiere
Ingrid Goes West/ U.S.A. (Director: Matt Spicer, Screenwriters: Matt Spicer, David Branson Smith) — A young woman becomes obsessed with an Instagram “influencer” and moves to Los Angeles to try and befriend her in real life. Cast: Aubrey Plaza, Elizabeth Olsen, O'Shea Jackson Jr., Wyatt Russell, Billy Magnussen. World Premiere
Patti Cake$/ U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Geremy Jasper) — Straight out of Jersey comes Patricia Dombrowski, a.k.a. Killa P, a.k.a. Patti Cake$, an aspiring rapper fighting through a world of strip malls and strip clubs on an unlikely quest for glory. Cast: Danielle Macdonald, Bridget Everett, Siddharth Dhananjay, Mamoudou Athie, Cathy Moriarty. World Premiere
Roxanne Roxanne/ U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Michael Larnell) — The most feared battle MC in early-'80s NYC was a fierce teenager from the Queensbridge projects with the weight of the world on her shoulders. At age 14, hustling the streets to provide for her family, Roxanne Shanté was well on her way to becoming a hip-hop legend. Cast: Chanté Adams, Mahershala Ali, Nia Long, Elvis Nolasco, Kevin Phillips, Shenell Edmonds. World Premiere
Casting JonBenet/ U.S.A., Australia (Director: Kitty Green) — The unsolved death of six-year-old American beauty queen JonBenet Ramsey remains the world’s most sensational child murder case. Over 15 months, responses, reflections and performances were elicited from the Ramsey’s Colorado hometown community, creating a bold work of art from the collective memories and mythologies the crime inspired. World Premiere
Chasing Coral/ U.S.A. (Director: Jeff Orlowski) — Coral reefs around the world are vanishing at an unprecedented rate. A team of divers, photographers and scientists set out on a thrilling ocean adventure to discover why and to reveal the underwater mystery to the world. World Premiere. THE NEW CLIMATE
City of Ghosts/ U.S.A. (Director: Matthew Heineman) — With unprecedented access, this documentary follows the extraordinary journey of "Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently"—a group of anonymous citizen journalists who banded together after their homeland was overtaken by ISIS—as they risk their lives to stand up against one of the greatest evils in the world today. World Premiere
The Force/ U.S.A. (Director: Pete Nicks) — This cinema verité look at the long-troubled Oakland Police Department goes deep inside their struggles to confront federal demands for reform, a popular uprising following events in Ferguson and an explosive scandal. World Premiere
ICARUS/ U.S.A. (Director: Bryan Fogel) — When Bryan Fogel sets out to uncover the truth about doping in sports, a chance meeting with a Russian scientist transforms his story from a personal experiment into a geopolitical thriller involving dirty urine, unexplained death and Olympic Gold—exposing the biggest scandal in sports history. World Premiere
The New Radical/ U.S.A. (Director: Adam Bhala Lough) — Uncompromising millennial radicals from the United States and the United Kingdom attack the system through dangerous technological means, which evolves into a high-stakes game with world authorities in the midst of a dramatically changing political landscape. World Premiere
Marjorie Prime/ U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Michael Almereyda) — In the near future—a time of artificial intelligence—86-year-old Marjorie has a handsome new companion who looks like her deceased husband and is programmed to feed the story of her life back to her. What would we remember, and what would we forget, if given the chance? Cast: Jon Hamm, Geena Davis, Lois Smith, Tim Robbins. World Premiere
NOBODY SPEAK: Hulk Hogan, Gawker and Trials of a Free Press/ U.S.A. (Director: Brian Knappenberger) — The trial between Hulk Hogan and Gawker Media pitted privacy rights against freedom of the press, and raised important questions about how big money can silence media. This film is an examination of the perils and duties of the free press in an age of inequality. World Premiere
STEP/ U.S.A. (Director: Amanda Lipitz) — The senior year of a girls’ high school step team in inner-city Baltimore is documented, as they try to become the first in their families to attend college. The girls strive to make their dancing a success against the backdrop of social unrest in their troubled city. World Premiere
Whose Streets?/ U.S.A. (Director: Sabaah Folayan, Co-Director: Damon Davis) — A nonfiction account of the Ferguson uprising told by the people who lived it, this is an unflinching look at how the killing of 18-year-old Michael Brown inspired a community to fight back—and sparked a global movement. World Premiere. DAY ONE
Machines/ India, Germany, Finland (Director: Rahul Jain) — This intimate, observant portrayal of the rhythm of life and work in a gigantic textile factory in Gujarat, India, moves through the corridors and bowels of the enormously disorienting structure—taking the viewer on a journey of dehumanizing physical labor and intense hardship. North American Premiere.
Last Men in Aleppo/ Denmark, Syria (Directors: Feras Fayyad, Steen Johannessen) — After five years of war in Syria, Aleppo’s remaining residents prepare themselves for a siege. Khalid, Subhi and Mahmoud, founding members of The White Helmets, have remained in the city to help their fellow citizens—and experience daily life, death, struggle and triumph in a city under fire. World Premiere
RUMBLE: The Indians Who Rocked The World/ Canada (Directors: Catherine Bainbridge, Alfonso Maiorana) — This powerful documentary about the role of Native Americans in contemporary music history—featuring some of the greatest music stars of our time—exposes a critical missing chapter, revealing how indigenous musicians helped shape the soundtracks of our lives and, through their contributions, influenced popular culture. World Premiere
Tokyo Idols/ United Kingdom, Canada (Director: Kyoko Miyake) — This exploration of Japan’s fascination with girl bands and their music follows an aspiring pop singer and her fans, delving into the cultural obsession with young female sexuality and the growing disconnect between men and women in hypermodern societies. World Premiere
Gook/ U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Justin Chon) — Eli and Daniel, two Korean American brothers who own a struggling women's shoe store, have an unlikely friendship with 11-year-old Kamilla. On the first day of the 1992 L.A. riots, the trio must defend their store—and contemplate the meaning of family, their personal dreams and the future. Cast: Justin Chon, Simone Baker, David So, Curtiss Cook Jr., Sang Chon, Ben Munoz. World Premiere
A. Times/ U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Michelle Morgan) — In this classically styled comedy of manners set in Los Angeles, sophisticated thirtysomethings try to determine whether ideal happiness exists in coupledom or if the perfectly suited couple is actually just an urban myth. Cast: Michelle Morgan, Dree Hemingway, Jorma Taccone, Kentucker Audley, Margarita Levieva, Adam Shapiro. World Premiere
78/52/ U.S.A. (Director: Alexandre Philippe) — This is an unprecedented look at the iconic shower scene in Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho, the "man behind the curtain," and the screen murder that profoundly changed the course of world cinema. World Premiere
The Incredible Jessica James/ U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Jim Strouse) — Jessica James, an aspiring NYC playwright, is struggling to get over a recent breakup. She sees a light at the end of the tunnel when she meets the recently divorced Boone. Together, they discover how to make it through the tough times while realizing they like each other—a lot. Cast: Jessica Williams, Chris O'Dowd, Lakeith Stanfield, Noël Wells. World Premiere. CLOSING NIGHT FILM
Quest/ U.S.A. (Director: Jonathan Olshefski) — For over a decade, this portrait of a North Philadelphia family and the creative sanctuary offered by their home music studio was filmed with vérité intimacy. The family's 10-year journey is an illumination of race and class in America, and it's a testament to love, healing and hope. World Premiere
We live in a data world. Exactitude vs sampling and demos. One thing I've noticed about film studios and television networks is their lack of data. More succinctly, the lack of a direct relationship with their audiences.
They distribute their programming directly to cable companies or theathers. They sell tickets via sites like Fandango. DVDs, downloads and streaming are provided by the likes of Amazon, iTunes, Best Buy or Netflix. Consumer products sold by Toys R Us, Amazon and others. Everyone of these companies picking up lots of consumer data and email addresses that they do not share with the aforementioned industries (for the most part).
In most cases, studios and networks start from scratch each time they have new product that needs to reach their audiences.
From what I understand companies like Disney and News Corporation have initiatives afoot to pool data from all areas of their businesses. CRM systems are beginning to be implemented and used, but in general this is a massive hole that hurts their future.
I watch a lot of television. I see a lot of movies. I listen to a lot of music.
Access to that content in a place-shifted and time-shifted world has only increased the amount I spend with media.
I subscribe to Netflix, Hulu, and Spotify. I rent stuff off of iTunes. Use Amazon Instant Video's Prime Access. I use tons of "TV Everywhere" apps from HBOGO to Showtime Anytime. I rarely buy (though looks like I'll be buying Thom Yorke stuff for a while), but then again, I believe we will live in a future of access not ownership.
Most of these products deliver their content via streaming
Of course, streaming requires that you have a really fast mobile connection or wi-fi. And whether you believe it or not, we don't live in a completely wi-fi world yet. Data connections, while getting better, can be shotty depending on where you are: Try making a phone call or getting a data connection reliably on where I spend weekends, it will make you grind your molars. Oh, poor me, I know. #firstworldproblems.
That said, I love my tv, movies and music and want them when I want them.
My music service Spotify has a content sync functionality that deals with this issue. I choose the songs, playlists or albums I want synced offline, and when I'm taking my morning walk (where I think a lot and make mental lists of those that wronged me), the tracks don't cut out because of AT&T: "The nation’s fastest 4G LTE network. All backed by our 100% dedication to quality and service."
Simple. Easy. Totally useful.
I travel a lot. I am on a plane constantly. Gogo Inflight internet is great for e-mail, not awesome for web and non-existent for streaming media. It is getting better, but I have to download before I board to watch up in the air. Just one use case.
I want the ability to sync the movies or tv I want to watch within Netflix or Hulu (or any service) for mobile usage when I don't have good coverage or none at all. I would even pay extra if I had to. And don't give me content protection excuses. It's relatively simple.
When speaking to my friends at these services the answers are:
Not worth it, mobile connections and wi-fi will get better before we can get rights
Users have't asked for it
Just another set of rights we need to get and it can be cost-prohibitive
And content guys?
They can't stand rental
Want us to buy more
Haven't totally accepted the access economy as they speak of revenues past
Downloading is dying, "streaming won", and yet we are in a no man's land of not always being connected (at least for bandwidth hogging media).
"In a world" (say it in a movie trailer voice) where I have to watch live TV, use a DVR, multiple VOD services and my Slingbox to get all the video I want: if I could have just one functionality it would be offline syncing of selected video content.
So, Netlfix, Hulu, HBO, Amazon, Showtime and others, whaddya say?
"It's good to be in something from the ground floor. I came too late for that and I know. But lately, I'm getting the feeling that I came in at the end. The best is over." - Tony Soprano
If you read my newsletter, you know I love the current golden age of television. That all started with what I think is the greatest show ever, The Sopranos. A story that used the mafia to reflect on aspects of american life.
Actor James Gandolfini was the star of that show. A guy I saw well over 100 times in my neighborhood, TriBeCa, over the years. He lived there. Sadly he passed away yesterday.
I'm on my 6th time around watching the series in full. The creator, David Chase, is a clearly a genius. The acting and stories are phenomenal. But Gandolfini was beyond words. He could convey in a look, or a movement, in pure physicality what words can never get across. From rage to guilt to love to sympathy in one scene. Many say he was playing a version of himself or just a stereotype. No. That was pure talent and emotion. On par with the greatest artists, musicians and other exceptionals we so rarely see. Every nuance of that role was something special. Again, the show was about the mob, yes. But it also wasn't. It was about life, family, marriage, appetites, greed, guilt, happiness, good, evil, compromise, addiction and every human emotion that's part of all our experiences. I recommend that you watch it again at different periods of your life because you take different things away each time.
Even with all it had going for it - the actors, the scripts, and more - James Gandolfini took it to another level. He was a genius. Very sad to hear of his passing and my condolences go out to his family, friends and fans. We lost a truly unique and great one yesterday. - JH
Some deranged individual walked into a Colorado movie theater showing The Dark Knight Rises and murdered and wounded innocent people. Press reports have the death toll at 13 and over 70 injured. The tragedy is unspeakable and all of us are grief stricken for the victims and their loved ones. We're also scratching our heads at another event that defies all that's right in the world.
After the shock, what happens in these events is sadly inevitable. Leaders step up and politicize it. False reports of political associations. Discussions mount on whether Hollywood instigates this kind of violence. Who knew about this maniac and when? News reports that frighten us.
Though I do hope that this brings up yet another conversation on assault weapons. Do you really need an assault rifle to hunt with?
What happened to crazy?
Hear me now.
Sometimes crazy is just crazy. Evil is just evil.
As one of my favorite societal truthtellers Chris Rock once said:
"Everybody wants to know what the kids was listening to. What kind of music was they listening to? Or what kind of movies was they watching? Who gives a fuck what they was watching? Whatever happened to crazy?"
This guy wired his apartment to blow and it would have taken out his entire neighborhood. There is no explanation but crazy. Those people exist in the world. They are not the majority. They are few and there's no shot we're going to change the way we live because of crazies.
Here were hundreds of people staying up late to see the most anticipated movie of the summer. To have fun, to experience wonder. To see something they likely followed since childhood. A superhero re-made by the finest Hollywood has to offer. Christopher Nolan is pure and simple, a genius. One of the greatest filmmakers of our lifetime. Christian Bale, since he was a child prodigy, an amazing acting talent.
And now, some nut tried to stop all that.
Well, don't let him.
I ask of you, get up, rise, go see "The Dark Knight Rises" this weekend. I've been trying for two weeks to get tickets on Fandango and every show, every theater is sold out. Not a Batman fan? Not your thing? Then see any movie.
Me and Movies
2012 has not been my year. On a personal front, I've been figuratively "punched in the face" a few times with health issues plaguing me and loved ones. One bad thing happening after another. I wouldn't walk under any scaffolding with me right now. Sometimes you just hit a bad streak.
Going to the movies has always brought me great joy. I can have the worst day and yet when I walk into a theater and those lights go down and the picture starts, for few hours I drift off into another world. Completely displacing any bad thoughts and problems with fantasy, emotion, fun and laughter.
Movies have often healed me.
MySpace, Saving Private Ryan, Goodfellas and Avatar
A few years ago I was President and Chief Product Officer of MySpace. I joined at a time of complete turmoil. The business, product and audience were plummeting. Someone asked me what it was like during that period and I could only answer in movie terms. It was like the opening scene of "Saving Private Ryan" mashed up with "Groundhog Day". Every single day.
Weeks into my job I got a call from Jim Gianopulos, Co-Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of Fox Filmed Entertainment, which like MySpace at the time, is owned by News Corp. He invited me over to the studio lot for lunch. For 90 minutes I raddled off questions about movies at an alarming rate and Jim rolled with it. Specifically, I couldn't shut up about Avatar. It was still 7 months away from being released but I had heard so much about it and wanted to know more.
Later that day I got a call from his office: "Jim has set up a screening of Avatar for you tomorrow, bring whomever you like."
Wow! With all that was going at MySpace I was thrilled. I took as many of the staff as I could and we made our way over to the studio.
I still remember what it was like. We walked down a dark stairway and hall into the basement of one of the buildngs which eventually led to a small, private screening room. The walk reminded me of the one in Goodfellas when Henry Hill takes his date, Karen, through the back entrance of the Copacabana.
As we piled into our seats Jon Landau, the producer of the movie, welcomes us and begins to run through 45 minutes of footage. I remember the first 3D scene of the fictional planet "Pandora". I just yelled out loud, "No F*cking Way". Jon showed us other scenes with raw special effects and tons of other cool stuff. For a fan, it was an unforgettable experience. And for those 45 minutes and much of the rest of the day. I forgot about the stresses.
On that day, a movie healed me.
My Eye Sight and Prometheus
Recently, I had a 3 month bout with double vision brought on by diabetes complications. I'm all right now. But for those 90 days I could barely see. That meant almost no movies or television, two of my greatest passions. But on June 8, 2012 I woke up and it was almost all gone. I could see again. What did I do? What was my first instinct? I called up one of my closest friends and movie-going buddies and went to the opening of Prometheus. I loved that movie. What it said. The questions it asked. The world it created. How it looked. Amazing.
On that day, a movie healed me.
Mom, Me and Ted
When I returned home late that night I got the worst news of my life. My mother called and told me she had lung cancer. I was in shock. From elation to sadness within minutes. Weeks later I'm with her in Los Angeles as she undergoes treatment. Anyone that has gone through this knows you have good days and bad days. Not just the patient, but the family. On one of those bad days I needed a break. I went down to Santa Monica's 3rd Street Promenade with two friends and saw Ted. For 106 minutes, I forgot the sadness. I laughed so hard I missed a ton of the lines and had to see it a second time. After that, I felt great for hours and begged my mom to see it, which she did and loved.
On that day, a movie healed me.
And my mother, with all she's going through, still pushes herself to see around two movies per week. Clearly, that's where I got it from.
Take Back Your Weekend
Warner Bros is in a tough position. They have pulled ads, press events and no public box office comments for the time being. It's a tough call for a studio that's grieving for the victims and in a no-win situation. Especially in this environment of finger pointing. But The Dark Night Rises is still in theaters as are many other wonderful films. Thousands of creative people worked to bring you this magic. Don't miss it or any movie you want to see.
A monster was on the prowl and tried to take happiness from us. That's not going to happen.
Movies deliver a sense of wonder. Go have some fun, forget about your problems. Honor those innocent souls that wanted nothing more but to fall into an entertaining fantasy world for a few hours.
If only for today, let the movies heal you.
You Have My Persmission To Republish Without Edit - @JasonHirschhorn
I watched a lot of movies when I was kid. Still do. My tastes tended to be slightly darker. This will be a regular feature. Enjoy my friends...
Over The Edge (1979)
Families move to a new development in the suburbs of Denver called New Granada. But city planners are late in building recreational resources for the kids. What happens? Drugs, sex, vandalism, Van Halen, Cheap Trick, death, anarchy and juvi. It was Matt Dillon's first time on screen and apparently Kurt Cobain's favorite movie.
The Parallax View (1974)
Warren Beatty stars as a journalist trying to expose a dark, shadow organization that recruits political assassins (and patsies). Born out of the deserved and obvious paranoia following the assassinations of the Kennedys, MLK and others. I love a good conspiracy movie. Beatty is great here.
Bugsy Malone (1976)
I love gangster movies. But give me one where the gangsters are kids dressed up in suits, carrying whipped cream-filled machine guns, starring Jodi Foster and Scott Baio, with music by Paul Williams and directed by Alan Parker. Done. Awesome. Big part of my days spent indoors.
The Warriors (1979)
"Warriors, come out and playee-yay." As Jay-Z would say, "What more can I say?" Gangs in NY try to unify and then all hell breaks loose when their leader gets one in the coconut. The Warriors, a small gang, are wrongfully accussed and fight all night to get to safe ground. Favorite parts? The narrating DJ throughout the movie. We only see her mouth and mic. And of course the colorful uniforms of each gang. The names and dress remind me of the gangs of the five points in Scorcese's "Gangs of New York". Starring lots of unknowns and a few actors that tried to kill Eddie Murphy in 48 Hours.
The In-Laws (1979)
For me, hands-down, one of the funniest movies ever made. Peter Falk as a wackadoo CIA agent who enlists a dentist (and soon to be in-law) Alan Arkin into an intricate plot to get a Latin dictator. Pure genius every minute. And it doesn't hurt that there is a "Mr. Hirschhorn" character. One of my all time favorite movies.
Logan's Run (1976)
Fun, slightly cheesy 70's sci-fi. Hot future people of the 23rd century live in a world of pure pleasure. Only problem is you have to die young. Those that don't want to, well, they "run". Logan is a policeman who chases those runners. Until he becomes one himself. Good grilled cheese. Can watch this 100 times.
The Long Good Friday (1980)
Bob Hoskins stars as London's prime gangster. But forces are out to get him and things are not going his way. He has 24 hours to fix it. Love the accents, Helen Mirren as his girlfriend and the cameo by a young Pierce Brosnan at the end.
Executive Action (1973)
Way before Olive Stone's "JFK" this film guessed at the why and how of the JFK assassination. Starring Burt Lancaster and a bunch of old recognizable codgers as the conspirators. Another of the great paranoid 70's conspiracy movies. My Dad loved this one.
The Little Girl Who Lives Down The Lane (1976)
Jodi Foster was so prolific an actress in the 70's it's really hard to compare to anyone else these days. Especially at her young age. This is a freaky little film about a little girl living alone in a New England town. Where are her parents? Well, lots of weird, disturbed and curious neighbors want to know. Just saw this again on the MGM HD channel.
Thief (1981)
The 80's had lots of style. Good and bad. A lot of the good came from director, Michael Mann. This film stars James Caan as a top notch thief taking down scores and buying watches, houses, cars and clothes. Until the local mob wants a piece of him. Great vibe. If you liked the recent film with Ryan Gosling, DRIVE, notice how much of that vibe comes from this film. Can't forget that Jim Belushi is in a good supporting role either!
I love movies. Post Thanksgiving/Christmas is when I get in around 15. Gets me warmed up for The Sundance Film Festival. Here are a few cool trailers I spotted. Hoping the movies are as good. Enjoy. - JH
Rampart (Millenium Entertainment)
Garbo: The Spy (First Run Features)
The Heir Apparent: Largo Winch (Music Box Films)
Incendiary: The Willingham Case (YOKEL)
Shame (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
Chronicle (20th Century Fox)
Footnote (Sony Pictures Classics)
Corman's World: Exploits of a Hollywood Rebel (Anchor Bay Films)
At 39 years old, I'm still a pop culture kid. I love media, entertainment and technology. I can't sit still when I discuss them. It's not only a hobby; it's been my job for 15 years. That love is rooted in my admiration for the creativity and art that propels all forms of the industry. Music, television, movies, video, games and apps: all of it and more. I tend to explain things or compare them in those terms.
My favorite movie is Goodfellas and one of my favorite lines is when Ray Liotta, as Henry Hill, says, "As far back as I can remember, I always wanted to be a gangster."
Well, "I always wanted to be a rock star!" I suspect that singing your song in front of thousands of fans that sing it back to you is the ultimate rush.
As fate would have it, I didn't follow through on that one (and a lot of other things, see: astronaut). But since an early age I've been a rabid music fan. As someone once said, "Without music, life is a journey through a desert".
On a daily basis I think I've heard the greatest song ever and yet without fail some other artist comes along with a tune to knock it off the pedestal. When I hear it for the first time I get those chills induced by its simplicity, complexity or perfection. A feeling you've heard it before (because it's so great) even though you hadn't.
This is the story of how I got the chills about 10 months ago and wanted everybody else to get them too.
I was president at MySpace at the time and we were planning the launch of our music product in the UK. The marketing team was working with a few bands on the branding campaign. They filmed some video segments about what songs moved them when they were coming up. One handpicked by the music team stood out: Florence + The Machine, an English artist that was new to me but established in the U.K.
The lead singer, Florence Welch, has a voice that few possess. A very human gift that seems supernatural. One of the songs that moved her was from her youth: En Vogue's "Don't Let Go". The minute I heard her voice, I got those chills. I played it about 50 times that day. Over and over like a mental patient. So many times in fact, I thought my co-president, Mike Jones (we shared an office), was going to strangle me. I was drowning out the sounds of his favorite artist at the time, Girl Talk.
A few weeks later I was sitting at home watching Sundance Channel and I dozed off. I was awoken by a voice that just so happened to be Florence + The Machine.
I was up until about 3 AM that night, replaying each song on my DVR, continually amazed by how eclectic the music was (there is actually a harp on almost every song) and how exciting she was to watch.
Florence + The Machine are not easily categorized. I hear Kate Bush and Mary J. Blige. I hear dance, house, rock, gospel, r&b amongst other influences and yet they are unique.
And Florence herself? By now, I've watched many interviews with her and she's so sweet and polite. But then when sings... WOW! Look out! Her voice seems to lift her off the floor. It's a powerful weapon, one that overtakes her during her performances. What many artists call "the zone". It's awesome to witness.
After watching her on the rough cuts from the MySpace campaign and then on television, I went to YouTube for every live performance and music video I could find and ultimately fired up iTunes to download her album. I tweeted links and shared videos on Facebook. Just another typical daisy-chained media experience of today's fan.
From that moment on, every conversation I had, business or otherwise, included "You have to hear this new (at least to me) artist I love."
The first person I mentioned this to was president of MySpace Music, Courtney Holt. Of course, he knew them (He should, he runs a friggin' music company). His team was an early supporter of the band. And as luck would have it he was on his way to see them perform at Coachella over the weekend. On Monday, he walked into my office and said something to the effect: "J, from the second stage tent, they stole the festival. Best performance of the weekend."
At this point, I'm rooting for them. They are my home team now. The mission is to help them break in America.
I've been known to obsess about ideas and the only cure is to fulfill a vision. It's like the character Kyle Reese says of The Terminator: "Listen, and understand. That terminator is out there. It can't be bargained with. It can't be reasoned with. It doesn't feel pity, or remorse, or fear. And it absolutely will not stop, ever, until you are dead." Of course, "dead" in this case meant something more mischievous and positive.
Fast forward a few weeks later when Courtney and I were having dinner at BOA Steakhouse in Los Angeles with an old friend, Van Toffler. Van is President of MTV Networks Music Group. I've known him for about 10 years, from when I was Chief Digital Officer of MTV Networks and we've remained pals ever since. He is a smart, fun, loyal and down-to-earth guy. More importantly, he has a child like passion for music (and movies). Bring up Gov't Mule or Warren Haynes and kiss at least an hour goodbye while he froths at the mouth.
The two of them talked me into a shot of Patron, which I almost never do. Not that I have a problem expressing myself without a shot, but with one, it was on. I was going in for the kill and wasn't subtle about it. The conversation went something like this:
Me: "You know what I would do if I was president of MTV?" (Courtney starts to crack up knowing my "smooth tendencies".)
Van: "What that's Beavis?" (His nickname for me as he rolled his eyes having heard this from me at least twice a month for years.)
Me: "I would book a relatively unknown (in the U.S.) band to perform on the VMAs. One without a hit yet."
Van: "I assume you have a band in mind, genius?" (Sarcastically, of course)
Me: "Florence + The Machine"
He knew whom the band was and MTV was playing their video a bit. I spent the next few minutes like a preacher spewing the gospel. I swear I heard Courtney continually saying "go tell it" before he detailed his Coachella experience. Van then calmly sent himself an email about it via his Blackberry. That was it for the night.
But this was a mission and I wasn't about to leave it there. I'm not going to lie, for the next few months I tortured Van Toffler. I mean that in the best sense of the word "torture". I called. I emailed. I sent notes. I told other people to call, email and send notes. All in all, well over 50 times. I would end conversations that had nothing to do with it: "What's up with Florence, are we good?" Florence, Florence. Florence.
It reminded me of another of my favorite movies, Wall Street. I was Bud Fox trying to bag the elephant in Van's Gordon Gekko. I can't find the clip from the movie. Some damn DMCA notice probably forced it down... But Gekko says of Fox: "This is the kid, calls me 59 days in a row, wants to be a player. There ought to be a picture of you in the dictionary under persistence kid". For the record, Charlie Sheen and Michael Douglas unfortunately do not resemble either of us.
In May, Van called with some promising news. "I'm going to London in July to see Florence play live. If we dig it, she's on the show." The ball was rolling. He invited me to join him along with MTV's head of music and talent, Amy Doyle, and producer Jesse Ignjatovic but I had plans I couldn't get out of easily. This moron (me) now clearly regrets that decision.
The show was set for July 15th in London, her hometown. The band had a sell-out headlining gig at the Somerset HouseSummer Series. A venue that is not only breathtaking but as the show's promoter, Raye Cosbert (who also happens to be Amy Winehouse's manager), told Van: "...is older than your country."
Van promised that he would email me throughout the show with updates:
Update 1: "At her show now, miss ya, u should be here"
Update 2: "A few new songs early. Noel Gallagher next to us."
Update 3: "Done. When she dances and sings her ass off, it's magical."
The next day I emailed him to say that the song "Dog Days are Over" would be a great one for her to perform on the VMAs. It just so happened it was now being featured in promos for the new USA Network show, Covert Affairs, as well as the movie Eat Pray Love.
He was already ahead of me: "Yes it is, we're booking her today to do that song thanks to you."
About a month ago, Van was in Los Angeles at Soho House meeting with the band's manager, Maired Nash, to discuss the show. Out of the corner of his eye he sees Courtney walking over. He introduces them. Courtney then stands there and stares at Van with a big grin. They both explain how their friend was a huge fan and obsessed with getting the band on the show and how it had all led up to this. He called me later that week and jokingly said: "Beavis, truth be told, had our buddy not been there, they wouldn't know who the hell you are or what you did." Of course, I know that's not true. One of Van's many great traits is that he's always been one to give credit where credit is due.
Does it matter that the manager or band knew what I did? I'll admit it, yes it does. I'm a fan no different than any other. It made me feel pretty great.
I want to be very clear that at the end of the day, Florence + The Machine were booked on the VMAs for no other reason beyond their talent and MTV's belief in them. The VMAs have a history of featuring bands that have not broken yet. For example, they did just that last year with the first U.S. television performance by Muse. Today, there are more ways to expose fans to new music than ever before, and even so, MTV is still a kingmaker.
I'm proud (and really excited) to have played a small part in helping to get an artist I was passionate about on a show that a lot of people watch.
Up until now, their debut album, Lungs, has sold about 115,000 copies in the U.S. Her video "Dog Days Are Over" was nominated for four awards, including video of the year.
She recently said: "For this song to be recognized at such an iconic event is a total dream... Dog Days symbolizes apocalyptic euphoria, chaotic freedom and running really, really fast with your eyes closed. I hope to somehow encapsulate those things in my performance."
The 27th annual MTV Video Music Awards will be broadcast live from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday, September 12, at 9 p.m. That night, Florence + The Machine will crush it. They will undoubtedly leave the artists and fans attending, as well as those watching, with those chills. It's an important night for the band and they will break in America. When that is done: mission accomplished.
And that is what Goodfellas, music, chills, social media, DVR, tequila, torture, Wall Street, persistence, The Terminator, and the MTV Video Music Awards have to do with me and Florence + The Machine.