How in the hell did they afford the licensing for the music used in this movie? Seriously, a Beatles track? Had to have cost a small fortune - then they also used Dylan, the Stones, the Dead, CSNY - I just don't see how they did this without racking up a major, major budget.
Anyone who worked on the film, please reply...
This is a good question. I also wondered about the selling of a soundtrack. Wish we knew more.
shareWith good old fashioned product placement judging by the poster ;)
sharechristoddur1^
I was wondering the same thing!
Apparently, Bob Dylan gave his blessing and support to this film early on, which helped establish its credibility.
Also, Dr. Sacks (the movie is based on a true case history of Dr. Oliver Sacks) has connections with The Grateful Dead (who in fact gave the title to the movie) and other musicians due to his testifying with them before Congress regarding the benefits of Music Therapy.
Still in all...amazing these days that so many good tunes were able to be used in a movie and was quite a treat :)
"I can't stand a naked light bulb, any more than..a rude remark or a vulgar action" Blanche DuBois
A possible idea might be gleaned in some of the comments elsewhere mentioning the movie's "low-budget" and "made-for TV" look. Apparently so much was spent on music licensing, that there was probably not much else for the picture itself. I myself was one of the extras in the Dead concert, and wasn't paid anything beyond a free lunch. But I wouldn't have it any other way. I agree with many of the posters elsewhere that this is indeed the best picture of the year so far.
shareChesterfield_Invincible^
"I myself was one of the extras in the Dead concert, and wasn't paid anything beyond a free lunch. But I wouldn't have it any other way. I agree with many of the posters elsewhere that this is indeed the best picture of the year so far."
Very cool! I would like to hear more about your experiences as an extra in this flick :)
"I can't stand a naked light bulb, any more than..a rude remark or a vulgar action" Blanche DuBois
The concert scene was filmed at the Hammerstein Ballroom in the Manhattan Center (the old Manhattan Opera House) on 34th Street off 8th Avenue in New York on April Fools Day '10. The shooting lasted from 10 AM to 10 PM. Ever the professional, I stayed in character throughout the whole shoot, even when I thought I wasn't going to be on camera. You guessed it, while thinkng I wasn't on camera, I was pounding on the guard rail like a maniac in the first wide scene where Pucci and Simmons enter. You're able to see me down to the right, back to camera, light brown short-sleeve shirt and black suspenders ("braces" to my British friends) with my big shock of red hair....you can't miss me! I also feature in a few more quick shots, including one where I get "spooked" by a steadi-cam (don't ask me how or why---it was a long day---I'm surprised they kept that in!!!)
shareChesterfield_Invincible^
That's a great story!
And, next time I watch the movie (I for sure am going to order the DVD), I will have to keep a lookout for you ;) Thanks for all those great details. It must have been a blast :)
An old family friend, years ago, was an 'extra' in the 80's Tim Matheson movie 'Up The Creek' (a hack spin-off from Matheson's fame and character in 'Animal House'), on location in Oregon. My friend had his own Hot Dog concession stand and they wanted to use that in the movie, in the scenes by the river, before all the rafters take off. I think he was hired as an extra for something like a week's worth of shooting. He was paid a minimal sum plus free meals on set.
Out of that full week of shooting and after the edit, all you ever end up seeing of him in the film is his 'Hot Dog' stand sign in the background of some shots and once you see his hand giving someone a hot dog. He was in several other shots, but they were apparently left on the cutting room floor. You never know what is going to end up in the final cut. It was a very fun experience for him, though!
Take care and, again, thanks for the great story :)
denise1234 :)
"I can't stand a naked light bulb, any more than..a rude remark or a vulgar action" Blanche DuBois
Virtually everyone whose music was used in the film got a "special thanks" credit, which suggests that they got some good deals (through the connections other posters have noted). I also noticed, among those thanks, the name of a fellow critic at Boston Rock magazine in the early 80's, Julie Panebianco -- she's apparently gone on to do some music supervision for films, and that suggests that they had folks helping them with the rights negotiations.
Prepare your minds for a new scale of physical, scientific values, gentlemen.share
There's a union scale minimum, but otherwise music licensing is 100% up to the licensor. They could ask a million dollars, or one dollar, or anything they want. Factors include but are not limited to the movie's budget, distribution, projected gross, the people behind and/or in the movie, and the context and placement within the film. Obviously in this case the different licensors each decided they would effectively donate their music due to various factors cited above — ie; a no budget indi with negligible gross projections but an important message, plus in the Dead's case a personal relationship with the original story's author.
share