Hi Friends -
Don and Sheena spent the last 3 years of their life working on this film
about the real-life Paul Green School of Rock, based here in Philly -- a
program so awesome it makes me totally jealous that I got stuck with
boring jazz band and cello lessons as a teenager. Here's a link:
http://www.schoolofrock.com/
Meanwhile, "School of Rock", became a hit / cult favorite / etc etc
So you can see, its kind of depressing / ironic / etc etc that a film which
stole its entire premise from the real life thing [yes, there is a
lawsuit pending] makes millions of dollars while the real thing is on
the verge of being taken out of screening barely a week into is release.
Help Don and Sheena out! And please, pass this message along.
-m.
---
Dear Friends,
This weekend, our film, ROCK SCHOOL, opened on 32 screens in 8 cities,
and almost no one showed up. Saturday night, Don and I got a call from
the head of the studio, and he was less than hopeful about the life span
of this film. Well, we don't believe that for a second, especially not
after only two days, and not before it opens in our hometown. We spent
every ounce of our energy, every dime in our banks, to make this dream a
reality. We got picked up, and since that time, got nothing but rave
reviews. Just look at all of the press out there, talk to people who
have been to advanced screenings, and you will hear that this is a great
film that deserves to be seen.
Help us show the big studios that there's a market out there for more
than just blockbusters. We thank everyone for their love and support. We
thank everyone for going to our premieres and advanced screenings.
Unfortunately, it's not enough. We need you to go to the theaters. We
need you to send this email to your friends, get a group together, and
buy a ticket for ROCK SCHOOL this weekend. The studio and theater owners
will pull out of we don't put butts in the seats this weekend. If you
can go out, and bring three friends, we know they'll enjoy it, and then
maybe they'll bring three friends to another screening. We really need a
grass roots campaign to start, and we can¹t do it without you.
Please visitfor theater locations:
http://www.rockschoolthemovie.com/
All our love,
Sheena and Don
--
Don Argott
Producer/Director of Photography
9.14 Pictures
― maria tessa sciarrino (theoreticalgirl), Monday, 6 June 2005 17:35 (twenty years ago)
i saw a performance by the kids in conjunction with the seattle international film festival last week. paul green is a douche of the highest order. he couldn't stay off stage for half a song, and constantly needed attention focused towards him. the kids are capable of counting into the song by themselves. they dont need paul standing up there, counting "one two three four" and waving his arms like a conductor. at times, it appeared as if he thought of the performance as being by paul green and the jordanaires. having not seen the film, i would assume that paul is a failed musician and is now living his dreams of grandeur through the kids. that's just a guess on my part, but it would go a long way toward explaining his actions.
that being said, just because he's a gigantic douche doesn't make the film unworthy. it might just make it that much more compelling.
― Peter Trahms, Monday, 6 June 2005 18:13 (twenty years ago)
about 5 years ago someone from VH1 sent a film crew to tape the PGSR kids, for a news segment. the footage then "disappeared" and resurfaced in the form of black's movie.
dont get me wrong, i love the movie but hey, if the idea was lifted from VH1's footage without crediting the source, that blows.
― maria tessa sciarrino (theoreticalgirl), Monday, 6 June 2005 18:13 (twenty years ago)
dude, whatever you want to do is up to you. i am not "acting suprised" about the theft but you've construed it as such. this lawsuits been in the works for the last 3 years, so whatevs. im just trying to help my friends who worked on this film.
― maria tessa sciarrino (theoreticalgirl), Monday, 6 June 2005 18:28 (twenty years ago)
eight months pass...