Sundance Grand Jury Prize nominee Twenty Feet From Stardom, a music documentary directed by Morgan Neville and produced by Caitrin Rogers and the late Gil Friesen, will have an advance screening at ‘Oscar Outdoors‘ on June 6, followed by a Q&A with Neville and the cast.
After a successful launch last year, the Academy will continue golden statue themed series of outdoor movie events, hosting a regular line-up of events at the Academy Hollywood campus.
“Twenty Feet From Stardom” traces the plight of the pop background singer, performers who often work without credit on recordings and performances, living in the shadows of superstardom. It starts with the Phil Spector girl groups of the late 1960’s, highlighting their diverse roles in the work of artists from Lou Reed to the Talking Heads to the present day.
Through intimate interviews, filmmaker Morgan Neville (Shakespeare Was A Big George Jones Fan: Cowboy Jack Clements Home Movies), explores why these performers languished in obscurity. The movie includes rare archival footage and boasts intimate interviews with the likes of Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Wonder, Mick Jagger and Sting.
Darlene Love recounts her heartbreaking effort to rise from the depths of obscurity to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Merry Clayton, a backup singer for Ray Charles, and Claudia Linnear, one of the original Ike and Tina Turner ‘Ikettes’, reveal how they had to fight for recognition. Young singer Judith Hill (presently a finalist on this season’s ‘The Voice’), describes her struggle as her solo career challenges her love of performing.
Columbia records will release the soundtrack for ‘Twenty Feet From Stardom” June 18. The film opens theatrically June 14.
The open-air Academy campus is located at 1341 Vine St. (between DeLongpre Ave. and Fountain Ave., and Vine St. and Ivar Ave). Tickets are $5.00, $3.00 for students with I.D. cards, and children are FREE! Tickets go on sale May 22 and seats are unreserved.
Lawn chairs, picnic baskets, beer and wine are permitted. The campus grounds open at 6:30 and the film starts at 7:30.
www.oscars.org/outdoors (310)247-3600
http://rooftopfilms.com/