Beach Boy's Story Coming to the Big Screen

[Joshilyn Hoisington]

I've actually been thinking about writing a "pilot" episode for an HBO type series, not directly about the Beach Boys, but heavily based on them.  It's sort of like if Entourage was set in 1965 and Vincent Chase was a hip musical leader of a huge band.  Sice it would be so hard to tell the Beach Boys story and do it justice, I figured why not just sort of homage the whole time period.

[Jonas]

Nice one, Josh. Thats something I would definitely be interested in...something I wish I could work on myself tbh.

[XY]

Is it possible to keep Leaf totally out of this project?

Yeah..he sucks. And he's a horrible director. Just bad. 

Some people seem to have a problem with David Leaf...why???
I think the SMILE docu is really good and I read on the boards that Al Jardine, Mike Love, Marilyn Wilson etc... were asked to be a part of this film, but refused. So it's really not David Leaf's fault, isn't it?

[Rocker]

@Jasper: I guess it's because he (Melinda too) likes to blandish some thing about Brian like the drugs or make the other BBs look like "parasites". I agree that "Beautiful dreamer" is a great film and I think it's also great that Leaf is involved in the movie but he shouldn't be the only producer imo...

[XY]

@Rocker: OK. But "Beautiful Dreamer" has a well balanced view on the drug-topic IMHO. Brian talks about the amphetamines, marihuana, sandwiches etc... he took and how he wrote "California Girls" on LSD. On the other hand, there are Voose and Parks saying that drugs are the biggest red-herring in BW history. I think they and Melinda just want to point out that the main problem at that point weren't the drugs, it was the undiagnosed illness.

[SG7]

I think I should write the movie. 

You are going to have to write me as Marilyn then 

"Brian! Why a sandbox? Who are all of these weird people in our house? Your doing drugs other then Asprin? Noooooooooooooooooooooo!!!"

There my audition piece. You dig 

[Jonas]

Well, im directing, and you get the part!

[SG7]

 

[Dancing Bear]

@Rocker: OK. But "Beautiful Dreamer" has a well balanced view on the drug-topic IMHO. Brian talks about the amphetamines, marihuana, sandwiches etc... he took and how he wrote "California Girls" on LSD. On the other hand, there are Voose and Parks saying that drugs are the biggest red-herring in BW history. I think they and Melinda just want to point out that the main problem at that point weren't the drugs, it was the undiagnosed illness.

The drugs issue is the only thing one can't possibly blame on 'the parasites' (Rovell sisters and the Beach Boys). Call it a big red-herring (haha) and the field is clear for some good old bashing of the usual villains.

[Alex]

As long as Mike Love is vilified then I'll be happy.

[sherryluvsbrian]

Has anyone heard anything about the movie?

[Rocker]

I just looked through "Catch a wave" by Peter Ames Carlin again yesterday and I still think they should use this great book for the movie. Only they should start with the rooftop-reunion (of course using the original footage) and not with the Landmark thing, and then fade back to the early days, just like Peter did in his book.

[jmc]

Just on looks alone, I have always thought two of the Baldwin brothers (Alec and Billy) could pull off playing Brian (Alec) and Dennis (Billy), especially Alec.  Unfortunately, now Alec is too old to play a young Brian.  Perhaps an older Brian. 

I just looked through "Catch a wave" by Peter Ames Carlin again yesterday and I still think they should use this great book for the movie. Only they should start with the rooftop-reunion (of course using the original footage) and not with the Landmark thing, and then fade back to the early days, just like Peter did in his book.

I agree.  By far the best book to use as a reference guide for a movie on Brian and his life.

[endofposts]

It's going to be Leaf's book, I'm sure, because he's the one that's the latest to try to get it made.  It would be best to use as many books and articles as possible for sources, but that won't be done, because it would get too expensive.  It will be interesting to see how well Leaf does if he manages to get the financing.  He's never directed a non-documentary film before, so it's impossible to tell how well he would do just from that standpoint. 

[exposedbrain]

as anyone heard anything else about this? i suggest Paul Thomas Anderson (Boogie Nights, Magnolia) direct a trilogy each part covering a different decade. he seems to me to be the only director who could handle something like this. he's really good at juggling characters and weaving story lines, he is from Los Angeles and is probably a Beach Boys fan (he makes good use of God Only Knows at the end of Boogie Nights)

[brianc]

100% agree. If it's anyone but a master filmmaker like Anderson, you can bet it will be garbage and clich'd.

God help us if that Brett Ratner guy gets the gig. I heard his name bandied around. What a total square, and lame filmmaker to boot.

[egamipeaks]

If Paul Thomas Anderson did it, it would be so amazing. But biopics almost always suck. I doubt he would do it. Scorcese would be cool too.

[brianc]

Just the year of "Smile" would be enough. The backstory is clear, and what came later is implied by the end of the "Smile" year.

[Pretty Funky]

Just the year of "Smile" would be enough. The backstory is clear, and what came later is implied by the end of the "Smile" year.

Great concept. The BB career has for better or worse been covered on the small screen and of course much is brushed over or missed by time constraints. A brief period would make great viewing but may generate only limited interest from non fans unfortunately.

[donald]

Someone mentioned Beautiful Dreamer.   Thanks!!!!!   I'd somehow forgotten  about that one as I was going through my BB DVDs recently.  I'm going to get that back out an watch it again ..........haven't seen it since it was released.


Anybody know where one can find the bio channel film that was shown a few years ago?  I had most of it on tape but have no idea where it might be now.

[brianc]

I think the "Smile" saga, if done right, could have the largest appeal. Plus, so much actual dialogue and day to day action has been captured in the interviews, the articles and news clippings. Also the amount of talking captured on the session tapes. Often times, movie dialogue sounds like it was written around interview stories from years later, whereas the "Smile" saga was well-documented and unearthed.

It would not be hard to recount how the Beach Boys got to be so big by 1966. While Brian is working on "Smile," archival footage could be used from "Beach Boys in London" to show what they are doing. Marianne Faithful recounts their biggest hits and career history in the first three minutes. In fact, use that clip for the opening credits. When "Beach Boys in London" gets to the part where it zooms in on that news clipping that reads: "What is Brother Brian Doing Back at Home?," then you cut to Brian conducting the "Fire" sessions. Begin saga.

Anyway, I'm just saying...

[Pretty Funky]

Anybody know where one can find the bio channel film that was shown a few years ago?  I had most of it on tape but have no idea where it might be now.

All on youtube if you can be bothered.

Heres part one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_KtqKVOSUk

[Dancing Bear]

I think the "Smile" saga, if done right, could have the largest appeal. Plus, so much actual dialogue and day to day action has been captured in the interviews, the articles and news clippings. Also the amount of talking captured on the session tapes. Often times, movie dialogue sounds like it was written around interview stories from years later, whereas the "Smile" saga was well-documented and unearthed.

It would not be hard to recount how the Beach Boys got to be so big by 1966. While Brian is working on "Smile," archival footage could be used from "Beach Boys in London" to show what they are doing. Marianne Faithful recounts their biggest hits and career history in the first three minutes. In fact, use that clip for the opening credits. When "Beach Boys in London" gets to the part where it zooms in on that news clipping that reads: "What is Brother Brian Doing Back at Home?," then you cut to Brian conducting the "Fire" sessions. Begin saga.

Anyway, I'm just saying...

Yeah it's doable.....

After Leaf's and Mike's funerals.

[brianc]

I don't think David Leaf would block directors like Martin Scorcese or Paul Thomas Anderson from directing with whatever vision they choose, so long as it's factual. David Leaf is a very sensible guy, in my opinion. He's been encouraging and helpful to directors, with regards to Brian, through the years.

As for Mike, well... who knows. He had his version, with his director, John Stamos. Maybe he'd allow Brian's story to be told from that POV in a biopic.

[Dancing Bear]

Yeah. Just imagine Scorcese, first day of shooting. Take one of Brian writing and directing the H&V rant in Wally Heider's. David Leaf just storms into the set, halts the proceedings, takes a good breath, and says:

"Martin oh Martin..... Sources, please?"