Mario Van Peebles has been tapped to direct “That’ll Be the Day,” the story of how Buddy Holly and other musicians of the late 1950s helped give birth to rock ‘n’ roll and influence the wider societal and cultural landscape, including the civil rights movement.
Music has been central to much of Van Peebles’ work, from his 1991 gangster movie “New Jack City” to his work on “Wu-Tang: An American Saga,” which he co-executive produced for Hulu. Van Peebles is currently writing a musical stage tribute to his father Melvin Van Peebles, to be performed at New York City’s Lincoln Center later this year.
“America’s tumultuous cultural melting pot has produced transcendent musical talent, including Buddy Holly, who was our first bad ass rock ’n’ roll nerd,” Van Peebles said in a statement.
His 2003 docudrama “Baadasssss!” pays homage to his father’s groundbreaking film “Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song.” His latest film,...
Music has been central to much of Van Peebles’ work, from his 1991 gangster movie “New Jack City” to his work on “Wu-Tang: An American Saga,” which he co-executive produced for Hulu. Van Peebles is currently writing a musical stage tribute to his father Melvin Van Peebles, to be performed at New York City’s Lincoln Center later this year.
“America’s tumultuous cultural melting pot has produced transcendent musical talent, including Buddy Holly, who was our first bad ass rock ’n’ roll nerd,” Van Peebles said in a statement.
His 2003 docudrama “Baadasssss!” pays homage to his father’s groundbreaking film “Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song.” His latest film,...
- 4/3/2024
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
“Don’t be such a dreamer,” says Bob (Esai Morales) to his younger brother, to which soon-to-be teen star Ritchie Valens (Lou Diamond Phillips), né Richard Valenzuela, quickly retorts, “My dreams are pure rock ‘n’ roll.” It’s the kind of blunt, overearnest exchange found in countless music-based biopics, but it also exemplifies La Bamba’s penchant for the cartoonishly archetypal. Indeed, everyone surrounding Ritchie is stripped of both nuance and agency as their roles in the film rarely extend beyond fueling or antagonizing the future icon.
Ritchie’s girlfriend, Donna (Danielle von Zerneck), the namesake of one of his biggest hits, is little more than a poodle skirt and a cheery smile, while his doting mother, Connie (Rosanna DeSoto), is the quintessential ultra-supportive parent. Bob is certainly the most fully fleshed out of this trio, but even most of his personal ups and downs are presented as being directly...
Ritchie’s girlfriend, Donna (Danielle von Zerneck), the namesake of one of his biggest hits, is little more than a poodle skirt and a cheery smile, while his doting mother, Connie (Rosanna DeSoto), is the quintessential ultra-supportive parent. Bob is certainly the most fully fleshed out of this trio, but even most of his personal ups and downs are presented as being directly...
- 10/16/2023
- by Derek Smith
- Slant Magazine
Colin Hanks, Diane Guerrero and hip-hop star Nelly have joined the cast of the Buddy Holly biopic “Clear Lake,” directed by Bruce Beresford.
“Clear Lake” tells the story of how Holly and other famous musicians of the late 1950s gave birth to rock ‘n’ roll while changing the trajectory of civil rights in America. The 22-year-old Holly tragically died in a plane crash outside Clear Lake, Iowa, on Feb. 3, 1959, along with Ritchie Valens, J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson and pilot Roger Peterson.
Hanks (“Fargo”) will co-star as Norman Petty, Holly’s brilliant but often controlling manager and producer. “Orange Is the New Black” star Guerrero has been cast in the role of Holly’s wife, Maria Elena Holly. Nelly, who is currently appearing on ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars,” will play Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Chuck Berry.
Variety reported on Oct. 8 that Ruairi O’Connor had been...
“Clear Lake” tells the story of how Holly and other famous musicians of the late 1950s gave birth to rock ‘n’ roll while changing the trajectory of civil rights in America. The 22-year-old Holly tragically died in a plane crash outside Clear Lake, Iowa, on Feb. 3, 1959, along with Ritchie Valens, J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson and pilot Roger Peterson.
Hanks (“Fargo”) will co-star as Norman Petty, Holly’s brilliant but often controlling manager and producer. “Orange Is the New Black” star Guerrero has been cast in the role of Holly’s wife, Maria Elena Holly. Nelly, who is currently appearing on ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars,” will play Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Chuck Berry.
Variety reported on Oct. 8 that Ruairi O’Connor had been...
- 11/18/2020
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
“Driving Miss Daisy” director Bruce Beresford is directing a biopic on the life of Buddy Holly called “Clear Lake,” and the independent film has cast Ruairi O’Connor, best known for his role in the Starz miniseries “The Spanish Princess,” to star as the rock ‘n’ roll icon.
“Clear Lake” tells the story of how Buddy Holly and other famous musicians of the late 1950s gave birth to rock ‘n’ roll while changing the trajectory of civil rights in America, all leading up to “The Day The Music Died,” when Holly died in a plane crash outside Clear Lake, Iowa on February 3, 1959, along with Ritchie Valens, J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson and pilot Roger Peterson.
Rick French (“Not Without Hope”) is producing for Prix Productions along with Stuart Benjamin of Stuart Benjamin Productions.
The filmmakers on “Clear Lake” spent six months searching for its Buddy Holly, someone who both resembled...
“Clear Lake” tells the story of how Buddy Holly and other famous musicians of the late 1950s gave birth to rock ‘n’ roll while changing the trajectory of civil rights in America, all leading up to “The Day The Music Died,” when Holly died in a plane crash outside Clear Lake, Iowa on February 3, 1959, along with Ritchie Valens, J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson and pilot Roger Peterson.
Rick French (“Not Without Hope”) is producing for Prix Productions along with Stuart Benjamin of Stuart Benjamin Productions.
The filmmakers on “Clear Lake” spent six months searching for its Buddy Holly, someone who both resembled...
- 10/8/2020
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
Irish actor Ruairi O’Connor will play rock ‘n’ roll icon Buddy Holly in the biopic “Clear Lake” with a tentative production start date set for the spring.
O’Connor, who stars as a young King Henry VIII in the Starz miniseries “The Spanish Princess,” was selected following a six-month search by the producers and casting directors at Presser/Well Casting to find the right actor who both resembled Holly and could handle vocals and instrumentation on classic songs such as “Everyday,” “That’ll Be the Day” and “Not Fade Away.”
The BMG-backed “Clear Lake” will helmed by Bruce Beresford, who received Oscar nominations for the “Breaker Morant” script and for directing “Tender Mercies.” He also directed “Driving Miss Daisy,” which won the Academy Award for best picture. Producers are Rick French (“Not Without Hope”) of Prix Productions and Stuart Benjamin of Stuart Benjamin Productions.
“Clear Lake” tells the story of...
O’Connor, who stars as a young King Henry VIII in the Starz miniseries “The Spanish Princess,” was selected following a six-month search by the producers and casting directors at Presser/Well Casting to find the right actor who both resembled Holly and could handle vocals and instrumentation on classic songs such as “Everyday,” “That’ll Be the Day” and “Not Fade Away.”
The BMG-backed “Clear Lake” will helmed by Bruce Beresford, who received Oscar nominations for the “Breaker Morant” script and for directing “Tender Mercies.” He also directed “Driving Miss Daisy,” which won the Academy Award for best picture. Producers are Rick French (“Not Without Hope”) of Prix Productions and Stuart Benjamin of Stuart Benjamin Productions.
“Clear Lake” tells the story of...
- 10/8/2020
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
Driving Miss Daisy director Bruce Beresford has found his Buddy Holly for Clear Lake, an upcoming biopic about the rock ‘n’ roll icon.
Ruairi O’Connor, who stars as a young King Henry VIII in Starz’s miniseries The Spanish Princess, has been cast as Holly in the BMG-backed music biopic produced by Rick French of Prix Productions and Stuart Benjamin of Stuart Benjamin Productions.
Clear Lake will open with Holly’s teen years, then portray his 1958 Biggest Show of Stars tour with Clarence Collins, founder of Little Anthony & the Imperials, as they broke racial barriers by performing together across the U....
Ruairi O’Connor, who stars as a young King Henry VIII in Starz’s miniseries The Spanish Princess, has been cast as Holly in the BMG-backed music biopic produced by Rick French of Prix Productions and Stuart Benjamin of Stuart Benjamin Productions.
Clear Lake will open with Holly’s teen years, then portray his 1958 Biggest Show of Stars tour with Clarence Collins, founder of Little Anthony & the Imperials, as they broke racial barriers by performing together across the U....
- 10/8/2020
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
Driving Miss Daisy director Bruce Beresford has found his Buddy Holly for Clear Lake, an upcoming biopic about the rock ‘n roll icon.
Ruairi O’Connor, who stars as a young King Henry VIII in the Starz mini-series The Spanish Princess, has been cast as Holly in the BMG-backed music biopic produced by Rick French of Prix Productions and Stuart Benjamin of Stuart Benjamin Productions.
Clear Lake will open with Holly’s teen years, then portray his 1958 Biggest Show of Stars tour with Clarence Collins, founder of Little Anthony & the Imperials, as they broke racial barriers by performing together across the U....
Ruairi O’Connor, who stars as a young King Henry VIII in the Starz mini-series The Spanish Princess, has been cast as Holly in the BMG-backed music biopic produced by Rick French of Prix Productions and Stuart Benjamin of Stuart Benjamin Productions.
Clear Lake will open with Holly’s teen years, then portray his 1958 Biggest Show of Stars tour with Clarence Collins, founder of Little Anthony & the Imperials, as they broke racial barriers by performing together across the U....
- 10/8/2020
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Driving Miss Daisy director Bruce Beresford is set to direct Clear Lake, the Buddy Holly biopic.
Ray and La Bamba producer Stuart Benjamin has also boarded the project developed with the Buddy Holly estate. Clear Lake will open with Holly's teen years, then portray his 1958 Biggest Show of Stars tour with Clarence Collins, founder of Little Anthony & the Imperials, as they broke racial barriers by performing together across the U.S. in 1958.
While also following Holly's musical ties with Little Richard, Dion, Lavern Baker and other pop music pioneers, Clear Lake will bridge to Holly meeting his future ...
Ray and La Bamba producer Stuart Benjamin has also boarded the project developed with the Buddy Holly estate. Clear Lake will open with Holly's teen years, then portray his 1958 Biggest Show of Stars tour with Clarence Collins, founder of Little Anthony & the Imperials, as they broke racial barriers by performing together across the U.S. in 1958.
While also following Holly's musical ties with Little Richard, Dion, Lavern Baker and other pop music pioneers, Clear Lake will bridge to Holly meeting his future ...
- 5/15/2020
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Driving Miss Daisy director Bruce Beresford is set to direct Clear Lake, the Buddy Holly biopic.
Ray and La Bamba producer Stuart Benjamin has also boarded the project developed with the Buddy Holly estate. Clear Lake will open with Holly's teen years, then portray his 1958 Biggest Show of Stars tour with Clarence Collins, founder of Little Anthony & the Imperials, as they broke racial barriers by performing together across the U.S. in 1958.
While also following Holly's musical ties with Little Richard, Dion, Lavern Baker and other pop music pioneers, Clear Lake will bridge to Holly meeting his future ...
Ray and La Bamba producer Stuart Benjamin has also boarded the project developed with the Buddy Holly estate. Clear Lake will open with Holly's teen years, then portray his 1958 Biggest Show of Stars tour with Clarence Collins, founder of Little Anthony & the Imperials, as they broke racial barriers by performing together across the U.S. in 1958.
While also following Holly's musical ties with Little Richard, Dion, Lavern Baker and other pop music pioneers, Clear Lake will bridge to Holly meeting his future ...
- 5/15/2020
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
Blu-ray Release Date: Sept. 9, 2014
Price: Blu-ray $29.95
Studio: Twilight Time
Lou Diamond Phillips is Ritchie Valens in La Bamba
The 1987 music-filled biographical drama La Bamba tells the brief, ultimately tragic, but uplifting story of pioneering rock star Ritchie Valens, born Ricardo Valenzuela in Southern California’s San Fernando Valley.
Portrayed in the movie by Lou Diamond Phillips, Valens would have three hit songs before dying at the shockingly young age of 17 in the infamous plane crash that also killed Buddy Holly and J.P. (The Big Bopper) Richardson. Valens’ short life—particularly with family and friends in a vibrant Mexican-American community—and obsessive love of music are the focus in La Bamba, directed with warmth by Luis Valdez (Zoot Suit). Valens’ music is performed with crackling energy by the sensational Los Lobos.
Twilight Time’s edition of the film, its Blu-ray debut, contains the following features:
Special Features:
-Isolated Score...
Price: Blu-ray $29.95
Studio: Twilight Time
Lou Diamond Phillips is Ritchie Valens in La Bamba
The 1987 music-filled biographical drama La Bamba tells the brief, ultimately tragic, but uplifting story of pioneering rock star Ritchie Valens, born Ricardo Valenzuela in Southern California’s San Fernando Valley.
Portrayed in the movie by Lou Diamond Phillips, Valens would have three hit songs before dying at the shockingly young age of 17 in the infamous plane crash that also killed Buddy Holly and J.P. (The Big Bopper) Richardson. Valens’ short life—particularly with family and friends in a vibrant Mexican-American community—and obsessive love of music are the focus in La Bamba, directed with warmth by Luis Valdez (Zoot Suit). Valens’ music is performed with crackling energy by the sensational Los Lobos.
Twilight Time’s edition of the film, its Blu-ray debut, contains the following features:
Special Features:
-Isolated Score...
- 8/27/2014
- by Laurence
- Disc Dish
As BroadwayWorld reported earlier this summer, Grammy-winning producer Stuart Benjamin, along with Concord Music Group, is in the process of developing a new musical based on the Stax Records music label, with book by Matthew Benjamin and sights on a 2016 Broadway bow. Now according to the Hollywood Reporter, Evergreen Media Group which is currently suing Concord for publishing rights to the music is working with Robert Gordon to adapt his book 'Respect Yourself' into both a film and musical on the same subject. Morgan Neville has signed on to produce the project.
- 8/13/2014
- by BWW News Desk
- BroadwayWorld.com
Just last month, Concord Music Group announced that it was developing a Broadway musical about the iconic music label Stax Records, which launched the careers of such soul artists as Otis Redding, Isaac Hayes and Booker T. & the Mg's amid the racial tension of the civil rights era. Stuart Benjamin, the Academy Award nominated producer of Ray, is co-developing the musical, and the plan is to launch by spring of 2016. Is it possible though that the producers lined up the wrong rights to make this happen? That's what a lawsuit filed by Tony DeRosa-Grund's Evergreen Media
read more...
read more...
- 8/11/2014
- by Eriq Gardner
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Right off the heels of Academy Award Nominated Producer Stuart Benjamin acquiring his post-apocalyptic suspense film, ‘Something in the Dark’, writer Ryan Toyama sells another high-concept horror script. This time he teams up with the producers of ‘Captured’ (2013), Jp Ouellette and Dylan Matlock, to bring his newest project, ‘Do Not Watch’, to the big screen.
While specific plot details are tightly under wraps, ‘Do Not Watch’ aims to turn found footage horror on its … Continue reading →...
While specific plot details are tightly under wraps, ‘Do Not Watch’ aims to turn found footage horror on its … Continue reading →...
- 1/16/2013
- by HorrorNews.net
- Horror News
A new Broadway musical based on the life of late R&B legend Ray Charles has been postponed until 2011. "Unchain My Heart", produced by Charles' longtime collaborator Stuart Benjamin, was expected to begin previews this October, but producers have been forced to push back the launch until spring 2011 due to "logistical reasons".
The play, starring Brandon Victor Dixon as the iconic singer, will now open at New York's Shubert Theater instead of the Barry Theater. Charles, who died in 2004, was played on the big screen by Jamie Foxx, a role that won the star an Oscar.
Additionally, "Unchain My Heart" will feature choreography by Kenneth L. Roberson with associate Edgar Godineaux, music supervision and arrangements by Rahn Coleman, orchestrations by Harold Wheeler and music direction by Shelton Becton.
The play, starring Brandon Victor Dixon as the iconic singer, will now open at New York's Shubert Theater instead of the Barry Theater. Charles, who died in 2004, was played on the big screen by Jamie Foxx, a role that won the star an Oscar.
Additionally, "Unchain My Heart" will feature choreography by Kenneth L. Roberson with associate Edgar Godineaux, music supervision and arrangements by Rahn Coleman, orchestrations by Harold Wheeler and music direction by Shelton Becton.
- 7/10/2010
- by AceShowbiz.com
- Aceshowbiz
London, Mar 13 – A new musical ‘Unchain My Heart’ based on Us musician Ray Charles is set to open on Broadway in November.
Stuart Benjamin, the man behind 2004 movie ‘Ray’, has produced the musical.
It was originally staged at the Pasadena Playhouse in 2007 with the title ‘Ray Charles Live! A New Musical’.
Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Suzan-Lori Parks has written a book to accompany the show, reports the BBC News.
Jamie Foxx had won best actor at the Academy Awards for playing the late musician in ‘Ray’..
Stuart Benjamin, the man behind 2004 movie ‘Ray’, has produced the musical.
It was originally staged at the Pasadena Playhouse in 2007 with the title ‘Ray Charles Live! A New Musical’.
Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Suzan-Lori Parks has written a book to accompany the show, reports the BBC News.
Jamie Foxx had won best actor at the Academy Awards for playing the late musician in ‘Ray’..
- 3/13/2010
- by News
- RealBollywood.com
New York – A musical celebrating Ray Charles is headed for Broadway this fall."Unchain My Heart" will open Nov. 7 with preview performances beginning Oct. 8.Producer Stuart Benjamin said Thursday the show would feature a book by Suzan-Lori Parks and direction by Sheldon Epps. Casting will be announced.Benjamin worked with the late singer for 15 years and produced "Ray," the hit movie about his life starring Jamie Foxx. Parks won a Pulitzer Prize for her play "Topdog/Underdog."An earlier version of the musical called "Ray Charles Live" was produced at California's Pasadena Playhouse in 2007.Copyright 2010 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
- 3/12/2010
- backstage.com
Stuart Benjamin, a producer of the 2004 pic Ray, which helped Jamie Foxx win an Oscar, will bring Ray Charles’ life to Broadway in the fall.
Unchain My Heart, The Ray Charles Musical, featuring the music of Ray Charles with a book by Suzan-Lori Parks, will come to Broadway, with Sheldon Epps directing the production.
Set during Charles’ last live recording session, the musical “explores the strength, humor and musical genius of this legendary figure.” Unchain My Heart will feature some of Charles’ best-known hits including.
Casting will be announced at a later date, with previews set to begin October 8, with an opening on November 7.
For more information, visit www.UnchainMyHeartOnBroadway.com.
Unchain My Heart, The Ray Charles Musical, featuring the music of Ray Charles with a book by Suzan-Lori Parks, will come to Broadway, with Sheldon Epps directing the production.
Set during Charles’ last live recording session, the musical “explores the strength, humor and musical genius of this legendary figure.” Unchain My Heart will feature some of Charles’ best-known hits including.
Casting will be announced at a later date, with previews set to begin October 8, with an opening on November 7.
For more information, visit www.UnchainMyHeartOnBroadway.com.
- 3/12/2010
- by Tambay
- ShadowAndAct
A federal court judge has dismissed a copyright infringement lawsuit against The Walt Disney Co. filed by Oscar-nominated producer Stuart Benjamin and three others, finding the movie Sweet Home Alabama was not based on their screenplay, Rescue Me.
In his 22-page decision issued Dec. 12, U.S. District Court Judge George Schiavelli ruled that while there may have been some limited access to the Rescue Me screenplay by Disney executives, no "substantial similarities" between the two scripts exist.
"The general stories of 'Rescue Me' and 'Sweet Home Alabama' are similar only at the most abstract level," Schiavelli wrote. "Abstract story ideas, such as those here, are not copyrightable."
Benjamin, a producer on the Oscar-winning film Ray, along with Alise Benjamin, John Schalter and Sheldon Cohn sued Disney in 2005, claiming that the 2002 movie starring Reese Witherspoon was an unauthorized adaptation of their screenplay.
The lawsuit alleged that the film's producer Stokley Chaffin and writer C. Jay Cox had access to the script via a tracking system in place at Chaffin's production company.
In his 22-page decision issued Dec. 12, U.S. District Court Judge George Schiavelli ruled that while there may have been some limited access to the Rescue Me screenplay by Disney executives, no "substantial similarities" between the two scripts exist.
"The general stories of 'Rescue Me' and 'Sweet Home Alabama' are similar only at the most abstract level," Schiavelli wrote. "Abstract story ideas, such as those here, are not copyrightable."
Benjamin, a producer on the Oscar-winning film Ray, along with Alise Benjamin, John Schalter and Sheldon Cohn sued Disney in 2005, claiming that the 2002 movie starring Reese Witherspoon was an unauthorized adaptation of their screenplay.
The lawsuit alleged that the film's producer Stokley Chaffin and writer C. Jay Cox had access to the script via a tracking system in place at Chaffin's production company.
- 12/19/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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