Screenwriting Contests Discussion Forum 
Topic: The best kick-a$$ bio/flicks on Artists
I'm trying to jog my memory on the best films on singers or musicians, but I'm coming up with nothing.
I'm trying to write a script on a very complex life, so I need your help. I'm calling on all suggestions for my viewing pleasure.
My subject is complex in that he was ahead of his time. He danced with danger in a turbulent era and was often swayed by temptation. He wasn't a druggie or alcoholic, nor a weirdo. He was well liked by most, except when it came to his money and those who wanted to short-change him.
I have no intentions on writing another Shine, nor do I desire to write such a script.
With that said. . .
If you think you know of a film that could help me in the slightest bit, drop me a line.
AMADEUS is good. IMMORTAL BELOVED is interesting but flawed. There's a bio of Josephine Baker that's good, it's on video but I don't remember the title. A STAR IS BORN is fictional but good. Try also LADY SINGS THE BLUES about Billie Holiday, BACKBEAT about the Beatles is a good one, also THE DOORS one is odd but interesting. GREAT BALLS OF FIRE was disappointing but fun if you like that era. I know I'll think of more, it's a favorite genre. If you want to chat about this topic, I have recently written a biopic and would love to chat about it. miriam.queensen@gte.net
Oh, and --
LA BAMBA, THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY, and CHAPLIN (very good, ok he's not a musician, but it's still good). And HILARY AND JACKIE about Jacqueline Du Pre.
Author: N Smith
Posted: 07/25/00 11:48 AM
How about Byrd re: Charlie Byrd?
IMDb has an advanced search where you can put in music(jazz, etc.) as a key word and pull up a list of movies with music. Combine that with Biographies for genre and you should get a good list.
Author: David G
Posted: 07/25/00 12:09 PM
Amadeus might be the best. Purple Rain is a great musical.
La Bamba is interesting because it was so dark and you know they probably didn't have a whole lot of information from which to go on. Richie Valens was just a minor rock star who loved his mother and loved rock n'roll.
I liked Selena, with it's Star is Born fairy tale, but did any of you find it peculiar how they breezed over the part of the story where Jennifer Lopez goes to the dumpy motel where she gets killed. I get the feeling there's a real untold story there. Not a movie, just an untold story.
Okay, I thought of some more:
WHAT'S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT, about Ike and Tina Turner,
and WHY DO FOOLS FALL IN LOVE about Frankie Lymon.
I suppose I could go look in my video hound . .. but it's more fun to try to remember them. There was an absolutely horrible one about Henry Purcell that was so boring . . .
Miriam
Oh, and of course there's FUNNY GIRL and FUNNY LADY, about Fanny Bryce . . . and STAR! about Gertrude Lawrence. There was a movie about the dancer Isadora Duncan, starring Vanessa Redgrave, that I quite liked, I could look up the title . . . this will keep me up all night. Of course THE GLENN MILLER STORY, which wasn't very good.
Ok, I'll stop now.
Miriam et al,
I got What's Love Got to Do with It, and I'll check it out, once again...
Amadeus appears to be too old. I saw the movie, and thanks but it's not quite right.
La Bamba (saw it) was too low key. Valens, that is. This person was very charasmatic (sp), over 250 million people attended his funeral.
A Star is Born (I've Got to see) and the others.
I saw what's Love Got to do with it, and it A DRUGIE movie, so, even though I loved the movie, I can't really draw too much from it.
It's been years since I've see LADY sings the blues, another Druggie film, but I believe I'll get around to it, once again.
Thanks all, keep dishing out.
By the way, when I said A STAR IS BORN, I meant the Judy Garland one, not the remake.
I gather by "too old" you mean you don't want a period piece.
Don't neglect BACKBEAT, a quiet film about the early Beatles days which was quite good, more about the relationships between the fellas than anything else.
Good luck! If you don't see what you really want, it's probably because YOU have to write it!
Miriam
I believe (but am not certain) that there is a film about Scott Joplin called JOPLIN. He sounds like your cat -- visionary or madman, way ahead of his time, not one to dabble in drugs or alcohol (if memory serves). Made about 20 years ago, I think.
John
I really enjoyed Amadeus, Purple Rain, What's Love Got to Do With It, Why Do Fools Fall in Love, The Five Heartbeats (I think that's what it was called), Tap, and The Commitments.
