Writer/Director TIMOTHY SCOTT BOGART gets into the groove with SPINNING GOLD; the incredible story of his father Neil Bogart and the rise of Casablanca Records. A fun-filled and fascinating exclusive interview covering every aspect of Neil’s story and the making of this film from Tim’s front-row seat to it all as Neil’s son.
One of my fave films of the year, this is the story of legendary music producer and founder of Casablanca Records, Neil Bogart. For all the youngsters out there, this is the man who created and shepherded some of music’s greatest legends – Donna Summer, KISS, Gladys Knight, George Clinton, The Isley Brothers, just to name a few. Making Tim uniquely qualified to tell this story is that he is Neil Bogart’s son.
Written, directed, and produced by Tim Bogart, SPINNING GOLD stars some of today’s hottest music stars playing the icons who inspired them (and singing their most popular songs) – Grammy and Golden Globe nominee Wiz Khalifa as George Clinton, Jason Derulo as Ron Isley of the Isley Brothers, Pink Sweat$ as Bill Withers, Grammy Award nominee Tayla Parx as Donna Summer and multi-Grammy winner Ledisi as Gladys Knight.
Also starring in SPINNING GOLD, among others, is Tony Award nominee Jeremy Jordan as Neil Bogart, Michelle Monaghan as Beth Weiss Bogart, Jay Pharoah, Dan Fogler, Jason Issacs as Al Bogatz, Lyndsy Fonseca as Joyce Biawitz, Chris Redd, Casey Likes as Gene Simmons, comedian/actor Sebastian Maniscalco.
SPINNING GOLD. It’s got a good beat and you can dance it!
With award-worthy production values, SPINNING GOLD is visually exciting and period-perfect in hair, make-up and costuming covering several decades. But one of the real joys of SPINNING GOLD is the story structure as the film is written as if Neil Bogart himself was telling his life story and breaking the fourth wall. As many already know, and as you will see in the film and hear Tim talk about here, Neil Bogart was the consummate showman and storyteller which makes this approach to the film pitch perfect. As Tim and I discuss, a surprise move is his casting. Opting to go for the essence of now well-known musicians and singers at the start of their careers, Tim shied away from doing a “look-alike mimicry” in look and sound and introduces us to some fresh casting ideas. And what about the sound, most notably hit after hit after hit? All of the songs were recorded fresh for the film by the actors portraying each character. (And be on the lookout for one of the most inspired recording sessions depicted on screen as Tayla Parx transforms from LaDonna Gaines into Donna Summer with “Love to Love You Baby”.) The soundtrack is your own personal Top 40 jukebox!
In this exclusive interview, you can hear the joy and the passion in Tim’s voice as he discusses the film and his own long journey in bringing his dad’s story to life, from Neil’s early days as the son of an immigrant growing up in New York to the most successful independent record company of all time and founder of Casablanca Records. Enlightening and entertaining, Tim and I cover all aspects of the “making of”:
- why tell this story?
- figuring out the story itself, the time period to cover, and the approach
- interviews with people who knew Neil Bogart during this time period of the 50s through the 70s
- the songs. With a catalogue like Casablanca’s and the artists that Neil shepherded and discovered, the sky was the limit musically. How do you pick and choose and the reasons for each song included?
- songs that informed the narrative and the characters
- underlying score of composer Justin Gray
- which artists to include in Neil’s journey
- casting, casting, casting and the decision to cast based on essence of the characters and talent versus mimicry
- designing the visual tonal bandwidth and the period visual tones with cinematographer Byron Werner
- lighting, staging and camera fluidity, and use of color
- costuming, hair, and make-up
- and so much more!
TAKE A LISTEN. . .
by debbie elias, exclusive interview 03/16/2023
