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Sounds promising with a good actor like Aaron Eckhart playing Dennis Wilson.
http://www.hollywood.com/news/aaron_eckhart_the_drummer_dennis_wilson_biopic/7877918

He actually looks quite a bit like Dennis Wilson. I actually remember thinking that when I saw The Dark Knight, so this should be cool.

Best actor in the world can't turn a shitty script into a good one.

So I'm guessing you read the script and it wasn't the best in the world.... What problems did you find with it?

Andrew's just flummoxed cos he failed t he audition…  ;D

Nope, but it's a family-backed and produced project, so I'm betting that no-one with the initials "Charles" and "Manson" will be mentioned, and that Denny's excesses will be toned down. Whitewash, in other words.

Here's the article from Variety:

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118044575

Eckhart in rhythm for 'Drummer'

Thesp to play Beach Boys drummer Wilson

By Andrew Stewart

Mon., Oct. 17, 2011

Aaron Eckhart has signed on to play Beach Boys drummer Dennis Wilson in helmer Randy Miller's indie music biopic "The Drummer."

Miller and Jody Savin, who were behind 2008's "Bottle Shock," are producing through their banner Unclaimed Freight Prods., along with music industry vet Brad Rosenberger. Savin wrote the script.

Eckhart, who recently landed the lead role in Lionsgate's "I, Frankenstein," had been in negotiations to play Wilson for several months. He will serve as exec producer and record his own renditions from Wil-son's solo album "Pacific Ocean Blue," released in 1977.

"We'd been trying to figure out who the right person would be to fill this role," Miller told Variety. "It's quite a demanding role so it had to be a great actor who could sing."

Pic, which is skedded to start shooting next year during late spring-early summer, chronicles the last six years of Wilson's life, before his death in 1983. "There's a discovery about Dennis with this film," Miller said. "Everybody knows Brian, but nobody really knows Dennis' music."

The filmmakers have secured an overall deal for rights to the music, with two of Wilson's children, Carl and Jennifer, co-producing.

Jonathan Gardner of Cohen/Gardner negotiated the deal on behalf of the producers, as well as CAA's Tracey Brennan and David Matlof of Hirsch/Wallerstein for Eckhart.

Thesp recently finished shooting the lead role as an ex-CIA agent in "The Expatriate" and stars with Johnny Depp in the upcoming "The Rum Diary." He's repped by CAA.

That stinks, the spector of Charles Manson and Denny's excesses are important features of Dennis' character and mind set during the POB era to his death. I'm guessing no Cocaine sessions scene with Brian or Brian even being in the movie because the family doesn't want that period of BW's life in a movie.

it can't be as bad as the Jim Henson script that was being considered the last couple years,that was so bad that the Jim Henson family bought the script just to make sure it doesn't get filmed..let's put it this way the script starts off with Henson being so sick just before dying  that he starts to hallucinate his muppets visiting him and they start to flashback with him and takes him throughout his life.. :brow :brow..by the way how could they not have the charles manson/drugs aspect of Dennis' life? that would make to movie boring if they took those out..there's nothing more to talk about other than the women he had been with and his songwriting...

I'm ecstatic this is really going to be made, and I had doubts it would ever make it this far. It'll be an indie character study, I think, and will unavoidably have to play sort of fast and loose with some facts. Don't know how I feel about re-recording that VOICE.

Wow, that sounds like a big mistake!

I'm surprised noboby has commented on this aspect yet:

"He will serve as exec producer and record his own renditions from Wil-son's solo album "Pacific Ocean Blue," released in 1977."  WTF?!?!?!
 
Worked out really well with the what-could-otherwise have been excellent Kevin Spacey bio of Bobby Darrin, "Beyond the Sea", didn't it?

If it is going to focus on the last 6 years of his life, how could it avoid showing his excesses?

Even if they don't use cocaine for early 80s maybe they will use hamburgers. But I think it would be cool to include songs from that era. I just hope its a cool movie, and Dennis' songs are heard by the masses! Hopefully better versions of his stuff the Stamos' Forever.

It couldn't. Or it would have to be a blatant lie, having no connection with reality at all.

I don't really see why the Manson connection should be avoided. The truth is out there for everyone to see/read, and it has been that way for decades. Moreover, it would honour instead of insult Dennis' persona to show his absolute refusal to talk about the Manson affair, where he could have benefited from that a great deal in financial terms when he was living rough. I respect him for that.

But well, I guess AGD is right. Although I can't for the life of me imagine a Dennis biopic, done 'Denny Light'. No way.

http://smileysmile.net/board/index.php/topic,9102.msg154432.html#msg154432

MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

wow, good call

I'm not sure what I'm more excited for, Dennis's film or Brian's film

I hope they fight each other at the 2014 Oscars

He will look just like this:

(http://img830.imageshack.us/img830/7845/dennisg.jpg) (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/830/dennisg.jpg/)

I don't like the idea of re-recordings done by actors. Didn't work in "Walk the line", probably (!) won't work in The Drummer. An exception is Great Balls Of Fire but only because Jerry Lee re-recorded the songs himself (there was talk that Dennis Quaid would record them before) and out-did his originals if I might say so

Why would you ever write a script (let alone raise money for a motion picture) on Dennis Wilson without Ed Roach and Jon Stebbins' help???

Flawed.

let's not complain until they actually start filming, because until then there's a good chance this movie won't actually be made.

Indeed "Aegir", THERE IS a chance that the film will not raise the funds needed to come to fruition.

But why wouldn't you complain??? You'd rather wait until the DW brand is sullied in a very public way before expressing distaste???

I'm guessing I know more about it than you do. Sadly, at this point, this film is not worthy of the Dennis Wilson legacy.

Nice call!

:lol Typical Beach Boys fans shitting all over a project thats in its infancy.

considering the quality of the filmmakers and actor it really is quite lol

No. There's nothing typical about my comments. I actually know about this project. You say that it's typical that someone would slam a BB project in it's infancy. Is it??? I say that following Stebbins' book, the POB/BAMBU reissue, and the DW BBC doc -- the DW "brand" is batting 1000. A magnificent and deserved Dennis Wilson film project would be the most incredible way to pay tribute to the 30th anniversary of his death. Amazingly, unlike the Beach Boys' constant string of career embarrassments/missteps, Dennis Wilson's career has gone from strength to strength. That will all end with a half-baked, whitewashed, "fictionalized" biopic. If you wanna know about Dennis Wilson, hang out with the people that actually spent time with him -- I'm talking the people HE had TIME for. There are only a few. I lay you odds the pictures they paint and the gamut of emotions they STILL feel won't be in this film.

It's always good to be critical about the important stuff.

it's a hollywood movie, not a documentary. 

Howie, you've just described why I'm not a fan of biopics. They take a real person, fictionalize his or her life, and try to cram the whole thing into some narrative -- and never really show you who the person was. It's just entertainment, rarely with any substance.

Let the music speak for itself.

A movie about any famous person will always have things/situations/elements dramatized, crammed in, and overblown. Many people have been drawn to The Beach Boys by shitty/shoddy Beach Boys biopics/tv-movies.....and that in itself is worth the movies IMO.

Dennis Wilson is batting 1000 among us fans, but he is relatively unknown to average Joe (or rather, his music is relatively unknown). I think a movie like this would shed a lot of light onto the the genius of Dennis, and allow many non-fans a window into the world of his music.

The project may suck. We fans may hate the movie, but many people, after watching, will probably look on Amazon and they'll order their very first copy of POB....a lot of people will be introduced to his music, and there's nothing wrong with that.

If it were more realistic it would have been called Requiem for a Dennis! wakka wakka wakka

I could not agree more, rab2591, however it's the music I'm worried about.

I really dislike music biopics where the actors do the singing (aside from Buddy Holly Story) because the actors never have that THING that the real person had so, ala Beyond The Sea or I Walk The Line: the average Joe might easily walk away from those films thinking "That Bobby Darin and Johnny Cash really weren't anything special were they"?

I'd hate for anyone to walk away from a Dennis flick thinking the same.

The film should be at least as good as the music.  Dennis represents one of the greatest rock-and-roll tragedies ever, and one of the most intriguing characters in its history. The substance within his music/soul/art is exactly why a DW film should be an incredible, horrific, and deeply moving experience. You'd have to purposely avoid his reality to miss that potential.

Val Kilmer in The Doors wasn't too shabby.

Very true!

Though, Kilmer did make Morrison look a bit ridiculous, but that might be more Oliver Stone's fault.

Your telling me that Jim did not dance trough a crowd with a microphone (chord still attached) singing not to touch the Earth?

Yes, he did, but he didn't do it with Kilmer's silly expression on his face or a bald Indian ghost gyrating shirtless in the audience, nor with the more traditionally garbed Indian ghost  standing on-stage.

But for the most part, original recordings of The Doors were used. Val did some concert sequences, but most of the time it was Jim Morrison singing. Val was amazing playing the part of Jim the person though. Oliver Stone made the movie pretty much a trainwreck, but Val Kilmer made the most of what he had to work with.

I was actually taking the piss!!

This morning I saw the headline about Eckhart from The Beach Boys on my facebook newsfeed. I was excited because a talented major actor is attached to the project, but the more I read the more apprehensive I become. Rerecording POB - yikes! What makes POB such a good album is how deeply personal it is. In fact, some of the songs are so personal they are hard to digest at first listen. I honestly believe another person singing those songs in the same arrangements would be an absolute disaster. It's a shame if the story gets too stretched too. Dennis' story is already so interesting and he was such a complicated and fascinating person that it doesn't need any extra dramatic treatment and at the same time not too much should be swept under the rug, because the warts and all story is pretty much already out there and has been for nearly 30 years. The film makers have a great opportunity here and the film itself could turn many people on to Dennis' music. This story has the potential to pull a lot of people in, so I hope it is done in a respectful and truthful way to both the man and his music.

Wait a second..... did I just blink or were you giving some form of praise to your all time favourite movie Andrew?

I would just rather see a dvd release with the best footage of him out there presented uncut. It would say so much more about Dennis. The last six years were not a happy time for Dennis as a person and by the middle of 1979 he had really completed his musical journey in any meaningful way save for perhaps the work he did with Brian and McVie. Still his best days were not the his final ones so unless there is a LOT of 1977 in there I cannot see this going too well.

A "best of" Dennis movie would be so much better than a biopic. Wouldn't sell as well though I'm afraid.

But if done right, this could get a LOT of impressionable younger folk into the band's music. I'm sure this will be exactly like all the other Beach Boy biopics where the really interesting stuff will be mostly ignored so they can use all the fun in teh sun surfing music to sell more soundtracks.

Hmmm, I'm thinking the opposite...this is going to be an indie flick, and those generally tend to be, how should I say, more "downbeat"?

why would we ever want dennis to finally get the music attention he deserves.  a straight to dvd documentary would be muuch better  :lol

For what it's worth I thought La Bamba was donre really well, with Ritchie Valens' vocals done by David Hidalgo of  Los Lobos. I also enjoyed The Doors and Ray. Still Crazy was great too!

I think the real question is: who will be playing MIKE LOVE?????

That dude from the mini-series "an american family" who was scary good as the lovester.

Yeah.  Casting of the rest of the Beach Boys and inner circle will be interesting.  But you know, if the focus is on the last 6-8 years, there is a LOT of story to be told.  Relationships, The Harmony, Beachboys, Movie, solo career, not to mention the lows.  I wonder if there will  be a bit of background in the first 10 to 20 minutes, like the yuounger Dennis hanging with Steve McQueen, racing sports cars. 

1977 Mike would be just about 40, right?

That guy from the mini series might just do.

Though, I dunno: Michale Shannon maybe??

It'd be a great (and somber) ending, if they went the whole movie without explaining who Dennis Wilson was (not explaining he's a Beach Boy (even though it's obvious)), and then as he is passing away play a bunch of flashbacks of recording with the boys, him with Murry, him surfing, him recording Pet Sounds - all in the span of 20 seconds - with the instrumental of Holy Man playing in the background.

It would be fantastic if they solely focused on what Dennis accomplished (and not what his brother accomplished - Brian has a biopic coming out soon, too!). Just sayin.
_______

In response to Jon and Eric;

I do see ya'lls point on this one, however, we do have documentaries like 'The Real Beach Boy' (which is by far the best documentary I've ever seen) to show us the heart and soul of his music. This is a Hollywood movie; and personally, I'd rather not see Eckhart mouth the words to Dennis' songs. Whenever I put on POB I have a face I put to that music, and I'd rather it not get skewed in with Eckhart lol.

Well, in a way, this movie can avoid the Walk The Line pitfalls because Dennis wasn't out there doing shows as a solo guy. So, they can avoid those stupid, overly worshipful concert re-enactments. Dennis rehearsing/recording, drumming with the Beach Boys (which is about all they have to pull from) would make sense for Eckhart to do his own singing.

I just hope they toss in a good dramatization of the 1979 Lovester/Dennis Universal Amphitheater face-off. Oldsurferdude can be wheeled in down the red carpet at the premiere for this one!

I personally think that the movie will be a good thing as it will expose many younger people to Dennis' work - kids who wouldn't have even considered listening to Ray Charles & Johnny Cash started doing just that after Ray & Walk The Line.

The movie will only be as good as the fake beards!

Wow I thought I was the only one who thought that, that version of Great Balls Of Fire really cooks!  8) BTW Ol' Jerry needs another 'better' bio movie while he's still around to see it!

Better be careful with that scene, or a lawsuit will occur.

Shouldn't this whole movie be scared of a lawsuit?

Unless they plan on there being no Mike (or "Mike" character) in the flick, I'd find it hard to imagine him signing off on any such thing.

From what I understand, Dennis and Mike weren't exactly the best of buds from 77 - 83

Looking back on a lot of the music bios of the last few years, band members don't get a lot of coverage and I think this will be the case here.

An example.

Scene: Various group members in late 70s fake beards, and managers sitting around a table in discussing Dennis and his wayward ways and then the Mike character saying something like 'Fire him'. A legal minefield!

or the safe Hollywood way.

Scene: Dennis character with a drinking buddy on a boat saying something like 'those b@stards have fu*ked me over and fired me!' Who he means is left open.


I am sure this movie will play it safe and not risk any lawsuits.

The remaining Beach Boys should all see this movie together or even play a short set before the movie. Also do the same thing with Brian's movie premiere.

I like that idea.

It would be a thoughtful and smart approach.

A movie like this will probably only bring up awful and painful memories for Mike, Brian, and Al.

I have an issue with 'The Beach Boys', 'thoughtful' and 'smart' being used in one topic!

^^^


This movie is essentially not an 'indie' if it has Aaron Eckhart in it, which means it might well be a whitewash. Of course, it's called 'The Drummer', which would imply The Beach Boys feature in some respect. But you have to respect Brian's problems, which may mean 'The Cocaine Sessions' are excluded, and Mike's itchy dialling finger to Ambulance & Chaser L.A might preclude some testy moments like Shawn Love. You might just get Dennis losing it onstage and Carl being the main advocate of sanity, being his brother, but depending on timing that might ignore his own problems in the 77-78 period - instead of fixing the ragged band of the early 80's, he did just quit after all. It's too soon to know.

I guess I should have just been honest and used the words HOW TO AVOID BEING SUED!

  ;)

Quite a interesting movie could result on the Dennis behind the Beach Boys. The music and story of the band has been told many times in movie and print but how many know or knew who had the first solo album, had a probable hand in the writing of YASB or by the early 80s, why a singer in one of the greatest vocal groups could barely sing?

I mentioned Dennis and his buddy on the boat before. We have all seen the clip from EH of Dennis laughing while under sail (I think during his obit) I can just picture another scene of that drinking buddy asking 'is it true you wrote YASB?' and Dennis saying nothing and letting off that laugh.

May be a ok movie without hardly another Beach Boy in it!

Yeah, but you remove the fact that Dennis was a Beach Boy and the music he wrote, and his voice: what are you left with for a movie?

Aside from those who knew him and loved him, we appreciate Dennis as a Beach Boy and the author/singer of such great music. Aside from all that, his story (especially the years this movie intends to cover) might be pretty rough going.

The last chapters of Jon's book, the end of the Dennis BBC special with Ed at the marina: it's just sad, tragic stuff. I just hope these filmmakers have a real concept.

It's like that Bukowski movie "Factotum" It sucked (in my opinion) because when you take away Bukowski's words, his language, his writing, all you're left with is an unpleasant drunken wreck of a person doing unpleasant things for 90 minutes. Not that I'm even remotely equating this description with Dennis. I just hope they don't wallow in all the bad stuff and understand why Dennis is so loved by his fans and those who knew him....

Therefore, I really hope the other Beach Boys are in it.

Several ideas spring to mind that are interesting and should be in the movie that can not be challenged surely.

Motor racing with McQueen.
Manson family.
The Ladies. He knew a few!
Run-ins with Murry.
Solo work.
Raising heck.
Feelings toward the 'travelling jukebox'.

....the list could go on.

Putting Dennis aside for a minute. We have had movies on artists hitting the big-time, falling down then rising again. The '27' club in some cases did not live long enough to justify a movie. Perhaps the time has come to see a artist who passed 27 but went down hill and did not make it up the other side?

From Rolling Stone
http://www.rollingstone.com/movies/news/aaron-eckhart-cast-as-dennis-wilson-20111017

By Matthew Perpetua
October 17, 2011 12:15 PM ET


Aaron Eckhart has been cast as Beach Boys drummer Dennis Wilson in The Drummer, a film based on the life of the late musician. Eckhart, who has been in negotiations for the role for several months, will also serve as executive producer for the film and record his own versions of tracks from Wilson's 1977 solo album, Pacific Ocean Blue.

Photos: Random Notes
The Drummer is currently scheduled to begin shooting in late spring. The movie will focus on the last six years of Wilson's life as he struggled with alcoholism, leading up to his death by drowning in 1983.

I was going to make another topic, but it seems like it might be able to fit in here. My question is, when did Dennis start drinking heavily? I mean, he wasn't an alcoholic his entire life, was he? I'm just wondering if there is a specific point where we can say that he became totally out of control. Did it first start to get really serious during the Australian tour in 1978?

If you're right about Dennis descending into serious alcoholism around the 78 Australian tour, it would be funny because he's quite obviously the most together guy on stage in any of the Australia clips.

Bruce Greenwood was a wonderful "Dennis" I think, even though Summer Dreams had so many faults. He just captured the soul. But I´m looking forward to this, what with all the cred Aaron Eckhart has, and he was excellent in Rabbit Hole.

I agree with Jo about Bruce Greenwood. Although I think don't think he was very good for the early years. He always seemed to old. But I think he was great for the 1983 period. Even with the terrible fake beard.  ;D

Seriously! If they don't allow the actors to grow real beards I will be pissed! Fortunately for Dennis, you can start with the long hair and beard and then trim it....damn those horrible TV movie beards!

As a wannabe director myself, I've always envisaged a DW movie of my own. I've always thought opening with River Song - with Dennis on piano surrounded by a mass choir belting out the tune - before then, post credits, fading to a quiet street in Hawthorne, as suddenly we see a young Dennis rocketing down the road in a sports car. Oh, and it would DEFINITELY feature Charles Manson at some point. How could you not...?

I think it was way before then - Certainly the life of the rock n roll band and Dennis' athletic consumption would mean he was drinking heavily, if not quite alcoholic levels, around '71 or something. After all, he busted his hand whilst on the lash, right? You might be able to point to Murry's death as the start of the spiral also, but I don't know enough.

The ONLY biopic ever worth watching!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4yzjtnj8Y3U

Need to re-watch the director's cut with the full SMiLE parody scene.

If it only contains the last six years of his life, then there will be no Manson, unless they use flashbacks.
If you check the Manson boards you will notice how many Manson movies are currently in limbo. It seems no backers want to touch the subject these days.

Manson boards????

Jesus, I'm a naif!  :o

At least he is taking drumming lessons for the part and can grow a real beard! ;D

http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment_movies_blog/2011/10/aaron-eckhart-is-beach-boy-dennis-wilson-in-the-drummer.html

Did anyone ever mention John Corbett as Dennis?  That guy always reminded me of Dennis.  Much More than Harvey Dent.  (or was it Harvey Bent?)

Harvey Dent? Don`t you mean Nick Naylor, the cigarette spokesman?

deleted

A few people have mentioned that Dennis's downfall started around Murry's death. But he was still together enough to do his part in The Beach Boys, as far as recording and touring. But it seems to me that he took a rather dramatic turn around the POB era. I think it may have been Jon Stebbins who said that the Dennis of 1979 had almost zero amount of attention and focus in the studio. But wasn't he recording Bambu up to that year? Hmm, perhaps I just answered my own question.

Yeah he had periods of heavy drinking and substance abuse, even going back to the '60's...he also had periods of sobriety and healthy living up to '75 - '76 and even the first part of '77. A downward spiral began in late '77 -'78. By 1979 there were full blown alcoholism and substance issues, and from there he never regained control for more than a couple of days at a time.

I've known lots of people like that: been in bands with a few, and it's a truly painful thing to have to witness. People slam the Beach Boys for not doing more, but it's a tough situation because if the person does not want help (or even recognize the problem) then you have the choice of being an enabler or the bad guy.

Not any fun.

http://www.hollywoodtoday.net/2011/10/18/millersavin-make-music-movies-cbgb-the-drummer/

“The soundtrack will feature Dennis’ music from Pacific Ocean Blue as well as previously unreleased Dennis Wilson music and music from the Beach Boys,” adds Rosenberger.


Talking 'truly' unreleased music or Bambu. Anyone?

Close your eyes and lean back...visualize a metal container of ham-open the can and remove the cold meat.  Position it as sitting up with the pointed part on top-then place a hat (or turban) on the top of the ham. This will take care of the Myke Luhv part of the movie. :p

Bruce Dern as oldsurferdude??

Honestly what is your beef with Mike Love? Granted he isn't the greatest person in the world and can be a jerk at times, but why do you always got to trash the man excessively all the time when everybody here knows you hate him. Let go of your anger and just join into conversations constructively with the awesome SMiLE box about to come out. ;)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8Tw0_tXIfQ (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8Tw0_tXIfQ)

There's no need to disrespect Bruce Dern. 8)

Damn, that scene could easily be Stamos having to suffer OSD backstage somewhere!

OldSurferDude is somewuht of a troll, but I don't mynd him. From what I can tell, he only averages 3 anti-mike love posts a month, and the rest of his posts are on-topic....this compared to Phil Cohen's daily onslaught of bullshit is quite nice. So he's really not a troll I guess, just a guy with a serious bent towards one of rock-n-roll's greatest lyricists.

Actually, his OSD's dislyke of Mike Love makes me appreciate Mike Love that much more. ;D

And let's not forget that OSD is the real thing when it comes to Beach Boys fans!

The man walked in and plunked down his cash for a first- run, brand new, sealed copy of Sunflower in 1970 and was not afraid to love it.

For that fact alone, we should all bow down and kiss his feet!

Besides, thanks to him I can't happen upon sight of a canned ham without bursting into laughter!  

OSD is all good in my book  :)

Don't remind me of Phil Cohen's glory days on the smile sessions thread where AGD was rightly pissed at the crap he was saying non-stop. :lol

"myke luhv" should be put in the profanity filter to automatically be censored to "mike love".

Thanks, Eric. Post of the hour!

Gracias!

Now toss on your copy of Summer In Paradise and give me 20!  >:D

Yeah, I bought it man. How about I eat 50 eggs and skip SIP.

That'll do!

Just be sure to have Student Demonstration Time cranked on a loop!

Pssst, I beg you not to tell a soul about this(cause I'll deny it)-SDT is my fave Myke vocal of all time.  :tiptoe

This deserves a board-wide group hug!!!

Not kidding!

Brother Theodore!!  ;D I love that guy. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AbaeNRZJm-I&feature=related  :lol

Speaking of whom, PC is currently banned from no less than three MBs - here, the Hoff and Imwan. That's no mean achievement.  ;D

By the end of the year he will be banned from the internet, and ranting at the local library or soapbox. ;D

Thanks. The bill for cleaning a mouthful of tea from my laptop, wall and bookshelf will be coming your way shortly.  :lol

 :lol

Your welcome :lol

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/08/aaron-eckhart-rum-diary-frankenstein_n_1082057.html

new interview with Aaron Eckhart where he discusses a little about 'The Drummer'

Brigham Young? Are you a fan of Mitt Romney?

I don't know. I'm studying for two movies right now -- "I, Frankenstein" and "The Drummer," which is about Dennis Wilson of The Beach Boys -- so I am sort of underwater right now. I am trying to figure out how to play the drums and piano, and to be a monster.

Tell me more about studying to be a Beach Boy.

I don't know how many people know this, but Dennis Wilson, the drummer for The Beach Boys, was at the end of his life and he died young after having finished his second solo album. His first solo album came out this soulful, dark personal piece of music that was highly acclaimed by the critics of the time.

After Brian Wilson started going into his malaise, Dennis had to take over song-writing duties and came to realize he was a good songwriter. The movie is about his journey and it is financed by the guy who produced his album, so we have all of Dennis' unreleased music. It's a big challenge and I am sort of freaking out, because it is going to be a lot of work, including learning to play the piano and the drums and sing.

Is someone going to have to kick you in the balls again?

No, thank the Lord, because Dennis' range is down there.

Thanks for the update!

I'm looking forward to it.

Greg Jakobsen ??!?

That's really clever

Switch those initials around and you've got it.

OK... well that gives me a glimmer of hope that it won't be a complete snow job. Just a glimmer.

Andrew, so you think JWG will treat this endevour with respect? Jon, have you been asked to help out? Same goes for Ed?

No

That thud you just heard ? My hopes, hitting the floor.

youd think the producers would use the 'Real Beach Boy' book as some sort of reference point

but i just dont get it - how can you make a movie about the life of DW without consulting the author of the definitive book about his life and close friend?

Jon, would you ever offer your services as some sort of consultant on the movie, or is it a case of "if they dont ask, im not offering"

Using the book as a reference would seem likely. I contacted the producers last year when the film project was first announced... but I got no response.

a bit strange.  Jon, I read your book and have it at home but it has been awhile and I don't recall right now...did Guercio and Dennis' children participate/cooperate in your book?  They certainly know of your work and knowledge of the subject matter, can't believe they would have anything but positive feelings about it.

Don't worry - I believe the producers are in the process of lining up John Stamos for artistic direction....  ::)

Heh heh heh!  :hat

They've been very complimentary about both the book and the documentary. Guercio helped me with both, and I've always had a good relationship with Dennis' ex-wives and his sons. I think the filmmakers have their own direction they want to pursue...or something like that. I can only guess because no one has really told me anything.

But, of course; if they start talking to you they leave themselves open to having to pay you a fee, or risking a lawsuit over the content of their screenplay

 :lol

How unintentionally offensive.

"THE WRESTLER," "THE BOXER," "THE HELP," "THE ARTIST,"… and now, the Dennis movie — "THE DRUMMER."  What's up with these movie titles??  If Spielberg were starting his career now, the studio would force him to make, "THE SHARK."

Which, incidentally, is the exact title (translated into Swedish) that Jaws has in Sweden.

That's funny!  If Lucas were new to the game, would 20th Century have made, "THE JEDI"?

Vera Farmiga to play Fleetwood Mac singer in The Drummer

The Oscar nominated actress joins Aaron Eckhart in the Beach Boys film and will play singer-songwriter Christine McVie. W2 is co-financing the project and represents international sales.

Production is set to commence in Southern Georgia on Jun 15 to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the Beach Boys.

Randall Miller will direct from Jody Savin’s screenplay, which chronicles the last six years of Beach Boys drummer Dennis Wilson’s life. Wilson and McVie had a passionate relationship and served as each other’s muses and confidants.

Farmiga will use her classical piano training in the production and will sing. “She has a number of duets with Eckhart in the film,” Miller said.  The combination of Aaron and Vera will be pure magic.”

For his part, Eckhart is deep into drum training and is also learning piano fundamentals and undergoing vocal training.

Miller and Savin are producing through their Unclaimed Freight Productions label along with Brad Rosenberger, the former svp of Warner-Chappell Music Group who brought the project to the filmmakers.

Gerry DeKlerk and Irene Nelson of Rampart Films serve as executive producers alongside Jim Guercio of Caribou Records and W2 head of sales Julie Sultan.

http://www.screendaily.com/news/production/vera-farmiga-to-play-fleetwood-mac-singer-in-the-drummer/5037189.article

Thanks for the post!

They're picking some pretty good actors. Let's hope the screenplay has the same quality.

Good News..

She's pretty hot, strange she's playing Christine McVie ;D

Interesting…

 :brow

A "number of duets"...? Hope they don't force it to be another Walk The Line.

Well, I'm wondering what the duets are based on, whether there's anything historically accurate about them.

Other than Baby Blue, did McVie contribute to any other Dennis sessions? Did Dennis lend his voice to any of hers?

Is there something previously unknown in the vaults (Fleetwood Mac's, Jimmy Guercio's or BRI's) that these might be based on, that we don't know about yet?

I mean, remember when this showed up:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5iMiOJZyOnM

(And, after all, only a handful of folks knew about the Bambu motherlode before that was unleashed…)

Or is this movie going to be a gooey romance type movie, with Travolto/Neutronbomb-type musical interludes?

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/beach-boys-aaron-eckhart-vera-farmiga-drummer-fleetwood-mac-285905

http://collider.com/vera-farmiga-the-drummer/141556/#more-141556

"Eckhart is also executive producing The Drummer, which is slated to begin production in June. Wilson’s children are onboard as co-producers, so one assumes the film will be taking few—if any—artistic licenses."

Tenuous, in the extreme, I know, but I hold on to optimism every now and then!

Pretty sure you meant to say "Love Surrounds Me", not "Baby Blue".  :)

...Well, we know Dennis made various recordings which have remained in Christine's private collection.  I don't suppose there's any chance they've been in touch...?

Cheers,
Jon Blum

Many thanks, you're right!   Nappy addled again !   ;D

I've been told there's quite a bit of later unreleased Dennis Wilson material, including duets with Christine.  This news is interesting, since it might be linked to some effort to get the rights to that stuff and get it out as part of the soundtrack, or have the songs rerecorded for same.  I must repeat I have NO -- repeat NO -- insider knowledge to that effect. But it's interesting that they're going out of their way to put duets in there.  It makes me think there's a likely connection, or at least that they have access to this stuff.

I'd like to believe this too. However, I also recall what happened last time the producers of a bio-pic project had access to the original material.

You saying it might not happen? A little Phil Cohen-like cloud covering the sun in Farnham today?   ;D

Look on the bright side – even if someone makes a hash of the biopic, we might get around a Sea of Tunes-style series of 100 CDs of Dennis outtakes…  :D ;D :D

:lol

Three words: An American Family.

I wish Brian would make a video of himself watching and reviewing "An American Family" with full BW profanity and no handlers.

Chloe Grace Moretz and Rupert Grint are joining helmer Randall Miller's "The Drummer," an indie music biopic about Beach Boys drummer Dennis Wilson.
Moretz is in final negotiations to play Wilson's daughter Jennifer, who is co-producing the film, along with her half-brother Carl. Grint will play Stan Shapiro, a mail room intern at William Morris, who befriended Wilson during the last few years of the musician's life.

Thesps join previously announced Aaron Eckhart as Wilson and Vera Farmiga, who signed on to play Fleetwood Mac singer-songwriter Christine McVie.
Slated to begin lensing June 15, "The Drummer" centers on the last six years of Wilson's life, before his death in 1983.

Miller is producing with scribe Jody Savin through the pair's Unclaimed Freight Prods. Music industry vet Brad Rosenberger, who brought the project to the filmmakers, also produces.

Repped by WME and 3 Arts, Moretz will appear this summer in Tim Burton's "Dark Shadows" for Warner Bros. "Drummer" marks the first major deal for Grint since "Harry Potter" ended last year. He's repped by Gersh and Untitled Entertainment.

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118051474

There's an unreleased duet of Dennis and Karen doing "Here comes the sun" and according to Jon Stebbins (IIRC) it deserves it's unreleased (and unbooted) status. Dennis/McVie material would be interesting because it would be even later in his life when he didn't have the chance to record whenever he wanted to like it was when the Beach Boys still had Brother studios

Rupert Grint? Oh hell no.

Is that the kid from harry potter?

I always thought he was one the more likeable people in those movies

The Dennis produced Here Comes The Sun track only features Karen's "vocal"...Dennis doesn't sing on it. IMO the track is fairly mundane and the vocal is awful.

wow good cast!  chloe moretz is as up and coming as it gets!! and there's nothing wrong with Ron either. 

and man, mr. doe must be seriously scared if american family has jaded his views with this sort of talent involved.  obviously there'll be some factual issues and i can already hear him scoffing during the movie, but the more we hear about who is involved, the surer i am that this will at least be a quality film. 

this is grade A talent involved, and it's great that a beach boys movie is getting this sort of care.  and attracting the level of actors it is.

EXCITED.

Maybe it will just be some scenes of Dennis and Christine sitting around at a piano in her house or someplace playing and singing for the hell of it.

I've no idea if such moments ever happened but it wouldn't be too far out there for a bunch of movie-folk to imagine they did.

If they DID occur I'm sure AGD can provide us with exact dates, times, etc!  ;D

Dennis and Christine recorded together. I saw one of their 2" reels on a shelf in the control room of Track Record (Tom Murphy's studio). This was a long time ago...maybe 1980-ish.

So... 'the last few years' of Denny's life stretch back to 1970/71, which is when he & Stan first met. Now you see why I'm seriously concerned about this project (over and above the Stamos factor) ?

This is a family backed and sanctioned project, covering the last few years of Dennis' life (when DW had been divorced from one of the producers for several years): I'm willing to bet that the drugs, drink & womanizing will be considerably played down. I cannot see this being a quality product. i can see it being another muddled calamity. Hope to be proven wrong, I really, really do.

I hope you're proven wrong also. To me it's got '3 out of 5 in Empire magazine' written all over it.

Although re the re-recordings, I was initially sceptical when i first heard one of the Foo Fighters was going to be adding vocals to a DW song and look how that turned out: bloody brilliant!

I don't think it will happen as none of the Brian movies ever came out.

It'll happen. It will be alright, if a bit inaccurate. It will be a blockbuster hit with a soundtrack that goes number 1 on the Billbored top  100 and the smileysmile.net forum will be flooded with teenage fan girls who think dEnnIs Is SoOoooOoo hAWt

Been at the catnip again, eh Garfield ?

OK I just laughed out loud.

I think I'm going to ignore this when it comes out, just as I did when that Gainsbourg biopic came to the theaters in 2010.

Also, no slick re-recordings of POB/Bambu material please. An actor imitating DW's unique style of singing may cause major embarrassment anyway...

i would just go in with the mindset that it's not going to be factually correct.  It's still gonna be a hollywood movie, so there will be liberties taken. 

You want factually correct? Read a book (NOT the BW autobiography, of course). I'm looking forward to an entertaining look at an interesting personality and awe-inspiring talent.

Ah thanks for refreshing my memory !

With respect, 'befriended Wilson during the last few years of the musician's life' is perhaps just another way of saying 'was friendly with Wilson during last years of his life', and it's only a press release after all. I mean, I wouldn't read too much into that one line as evidence of gross factual inaccuracies throughout the movie!


^^ seems to have the right idea. I'm also excited about this. At least the cast is looking strong at this point.

lol why wouldn't it happen

Because tons of movies get "green-lit" each year and some go as far as into deep pre-production yet still fail to materialize.

script done, money in place, casted lead actors, supporting roles, great cast.  and yeah some don't, like 1% at this point.  poor reasoning

My favorite movie (Amadeus) was rife with inaccuracies. Didn't effect that it was a great movie which turned in some amazing performances.

Do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of the Variety issue that comes out once a year when different producers/directors/starts etc are openly pushing their various projects to the studios and various distributors! Just how many of these projects see the light of day??? We're talking FINISHED films as well as fully cast, scripted projects with posters (trailers even) and the whole shebang. Last time I looked at this issue I was like "Wow, Rambo 5 is coming out"?

Production is set to commence in Southern Georgia on Jun 15 to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the Beach Boys.
SOUTHERN GEORGIA!
Unless Dennis visited Oliver Hardy's Birthplace , I cant think of any reason they would be filming in South GA. I've lived here my whole life, only thing down there is heat and pine trees!

That is extremely common practice in Hollywood and in television production - Everywhere looks like somewhere.

ha do yourself a favor and follow movies more than some annual issue of Variety.  You're talking ideas of movie people that they wish they could do.  Movies probably without scripts, casts or anything.  Just something they're trying to pitch to studios.  And rambo 5 is a great example.  No real script, no producers, no cast (besides stallone), and no directors.  

The production company doing The Drummer is independently owned and run BY THE DIRECTOR/WRITERS of the movie.  All of their movies are made outside of the studio system.  This movie already has funding, a great cast, a finished script.  The only thing they will need is distribution, which is something they would get after the film has runs in the festival circuit (granted they make a good/marketable movie).

I'm not saying this is guaranteed, but you're talking like it most likely won't happen.  The only reason it wouldn't is if perhaps Eckhart walked away, but the way it seems he's been throwing himself into it, i don't see that happen.  In fact, i think he sees this as an opportunity to stretch his acting muscles and maybe get awards.  Another thing is maybe they'll run out of money, but a cast of aaron eckhart, vera farmiga, rupert grint and chloe moretz would have no problems getting funds if needed.  and do be honest, this cast also tells me that they've been given some good money to make this movie.

i saw this summary on the production company's website.

There is an unquenchable, timeless, and fairly universal quest for an understanding of how the world of Rock n Roll ticks.  The Drummer is the story of this inimitably talented but perennially disparaged man, the only true surfer of The Beach Boys and one of the truly original voices in Rock & Roll history.

It's Savannah, Georgia where they'll be filming. Might be a good time to check out the beaches there this summer.  ;D

There's a bit of a film industry goin' on in GA these days -- Clint Eastwood and Justin Timberlake were filming at The Globe (a pub and local nexus for Celtic musicians) in Downtown Athens today.

i'm sure it's pretty cheap to film there.  especially opposed to california beaches

Dennis standing in Southern Georgia!
http://georgiaproductionfinance.com/the-drummer.htm

"Last of the Mohicans" took place near where I'm from in the Adirondack Mountains in upstate New York, but it was apparently shot in Virginia.

Actually, almost all of LAST OF THE MOHICANS (the 1992 version) was shot in North Carolina.

Production companies go where the tax incentives are best. For about two years (2008 - 2010), Michigan had the best incentives (unlimited 42% return) and dozens of major films ended up being shot in the state, creating quite a bit of revenue. In 2011, the newly-elected governor quickly capped the tax rebates to 25 million per year which, theoretically, could be gobbled up by one film budgeted around 60 million. Subsequently, almost no major films are scheduled to be shot in the state.

Right now, it looks like Georgia is offering a 30% rebate on any budget over $500,000 with no caps. This is why a story set in California like THE DRUMMER is being shot in Georgia.

But in Georgia the Ocean is on the wrong side!!!

No problem - just shoot all the sunset scenes at daybreak!

They might be shooting interiors. Home, office, studio..

Asheville, NC

Yep, visited Chimney Rock Park there (where some of the more picturesque scene were shot) a few years back; a truly beautiful area.

Good segment, other than the glaring mistake!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flIs2NiA3jM&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Aaaaaaaaa hahahaaaa ahaaa  :lol

My wishes exactly! "Whale Music" comes to mind as a BW-inspired book/movie... Although that was more an allegory or a paraphrasis, and this "Drummer" movie has a bio profile that's gonna be hard to get rid off. Inaccuracies will be pointed at.

(http://screencrave.frsucrave.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/Two-Face-The-Dark-Knight-3-11-10-kc.jpg)

Well, Brian DID play drums on Funky Pretty, right? ;P

Wow... that news report was like a really bad dream for me.

That was dire - the glaring mistake was the high point...

After watching that I can see why Andrew would be worried.

What, you don't think Two-Face, Ronald Weasley and a child super hero/creepy obsession of 4chan's /b/ can do Dennis Wilson justice?  :)

Ummmmmmmm... wasn't the movie supposed to commence shooting in June last year ?

Somewhere, Dennis Wilson just pissed himself laughing...

where'd you read that?  they didn't even have a cast yet, did they?

Did Dennis have a teenaged daughter?

Watch the recent YoTub video. Aaron Eckhardt, Rupert Grint and Chloe Moretz are in it. And it's being filmed in Georgia. Because Georgia is in California.


At one or more points in time, yes.

I knew it was coming, as soon as I typed it.  ::)

You mean /tv/

sorry i was referring to agd saying it was supposed to film last june

Eh, those are just /b/tards that found a better place, I think.

Rolling Stone article that regurgitates more of the same: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/rupert-grint-and-chloe-grace-moretz-sign-on-for-dennis-wilson-biopic-20120321


So is this gonna happen in California or Georgia?

Maybe both.

Since the tax incentives are good in Georgia, they may wish to shoot as much there as possible. However, they may realize that there are exterior locations that can't be replicated there so some filming will be done in California as well. This is not unusual in the film business; often a film may be shot in multiple states or even countries even when the story takes place in one location.

Damn, if only I read this thread a week ago, I would've made the same joke.

Worth a thread in itself but will keep it under 'The Drummer' thread! ;D

http://www.nationalledger.com/pop-culture-news/fairly-legal-star-sarah-shahi-busy-194529.shtml

THE BIG SCREEN SCENE:

 "The Drummer" biopic of Beach Boy Dennis Wilson is moving closer to its planned mid-June production start.

 And with Aaron Eckhart in the title role, casting forces are now focusing on who will play the rest of the group. Brian Wilson will be portrayed as he was when the creative genius of the family was at his most overweight and withdrawn, suffering emotional upheavals.

 Cousin Mike Love will be seen as the transcendental meditation-loving, business-minded member of the group whose clashes with the wayward, fast-living Dennis reached the point of a physical fight on stage. And Carl Wilson will be seen as the affable family member who could smooth things over with audiences by cracking a joke or two.

 To see Brian Wilson today, in shape and talking normally as he prepares for a summer of fun, fun, fun with The Beach Boys 50th Anniversary tour (along with fellow original band mates Love and Al Jardine), it's hard to believe he's the same person. It's hard to believe he's the last surviving Wilson brother. Nobody would have predicted that back in the early '80s, when "The Drummer" is set.

Did they forget about Al?! Who is playing Al?!?!  I demand a BB movie where Al more than 3 lines!

Ah, and Bruce too.

Warwick Davis will be portraying Al.

Warwick had better roles in the past.  :-\ But I see the joke. Haha.  :-D