One that got away - I'll have to wait until Oct. 21

I had planned to see, and was very excited and very much looking forward to, a movie called "All Together Now," which chronicles the Cirque Du Soleil show that was built around Beatles music, called "Love," and made with Paul, Ringo and Yoko's blessing. "Love" was screened at the Woodstock Film Festival Friday night.

We can all see "All Together Now," Oct. 21, when it comes out on DVD. Read more about the Cirque Du Soleil show by clicking here and you can read about the movie by clicking here




And this looks like fun, contained on the DVD, along with the 84-minute documentary:

‘All Together Now’ documentary (84:00)

Bonus Features:

“Changing The Music” 22 minutes: An in-depth look at the decision to rework and remix the Beatles music for the show

“Music In The Theatre” 9 minutes: A look at the process of creating the LOVE show’s unique audio design in the theater

“Making ‘LOVE’” 10 minutes: A backstage pass to explore the design of LOVE, including the art direction, costumes, props, screen imagery and the use of The Beatles’ voices in the stage production and soundtrack.



My next posting will explain why I missed this movie, but here is a little bit from the director, with whom I spoke last week:

Adrian Wills had worked for Cirque before working on this film, and actually, when he started shooting this movie, there was no movie, which worked to his advantage.

- "We went in under the radar."

- "It was kind of clandestine, that is why the film is so intimate."

- "When you are making a Cirque Du Soleil film, they really don’t care about you, they have a huge show to put out. You are kind of an annoyance, you have to figure out a way so they don’t know you are shooting."

- The interview with Ringo Starr was 16 minutes long - only 9 minutes longer than when I had him on the phone this summer, before his show at Bethel Woods - and 12 minutes of that were used in the film.

- "The whole film was an insane challenge."

- "The film is crafted on moments and interviews and we really picked the times we would go in and talk to people, and be at places."

- "My first reaction was, 'oh my God, it’s a film with The Beatles and Cirque Du Soleil.' "

- Wills had 90 minutes with Beatles producer George Martin and his son, Giles, the duo in charge of the music aspect of "Love," and George Martin discussed the last time he saw John Lennon.

- The spirit of George Harrison was strong, Wills said - "You really got the feeling they were doing this for George."




I haven't seen this movie, but I have heard the CD of the music used in the show and it is mind-bending, psychedelica, pure Beatles post-"Revolver" weirdness. The Martins layered songs, removed tracks, so, for example, some songs now only have a vocal track, or this instrument or that instrument, or there are crazy segues that are just so, well-Beatles-esque.



And this is sacred territory for me. The Beatles album, "1962-66," the red one, where they are looking over the hotel balcony, was my doorway into rock 'n' roll in 6th grade. These guys, for me, mark the spot where it all started, and The Beatles are a big reason why I write about music for a living today.



Speaking with Ringo on the phone for five minutes earlier this year was a holy experience. I was shaking before, during and after. So I really can't wait for this DVD to come out.



Bravo, boys!!