Also Planning A Biopic On Beach Boys Drummer Dennis Wilson
Randall Miller and Jody Savin, the duo behind the 2008 wine world comedy “Bottle Shock,” are shifting their gaze from Napa Valley to the grimy streets of 1970s New York City for their next film.
Variety reports Savin will direct and co-write with Miller a currently untitled film about the early days of American punk rock that will center around the famed club CBGB. The film will follow “the real-life story of Hilly Kristal’s CBGB club and its impact on the underground music scene, highlighting artists like the Talking Heads, the Ramones and Blondie.” Yes, we’re definitely interested. It shouldn’t need to be said, but CBGB was the epicenter of punk rock and new wave and was a rite of passage to play the venue for many bands over the years. It closed in 2006.
And while this would be the spot where we would worry about the prohibitive cost of music licensing and how it might affect the film, no need to worry here as Brad Rosenberger, former senior VP of Warner Chappell Music, will produce and help to secure music rights. But this isn’t the only music-related project on the horizon for the duo.
Variety also notes that the duo will be working with Rosenberger on “The Drummer: The Story of Dennis Wilson of the Beach Boys.” Wilson was not quite as famous as his brothers, but the late drummer and songwriter led a very interesting life. He briefly rolled with Charles Manson, battled an alcohol addiction and released a single solo album, “Pacific Ocean Blue,” which has become a cult favourite.
The CBGB film is gearing up to get in front of cameras next summer while we presume the Dennis Wilson project will follow. It will be interesting to see how far along the Wilson picture gets considering how careful — and litigious — his siblings are about the family legacy and the Beach Boys. But either way, these are two music projects we’re going to be keeping a close eye on.
