"Elvis Costello: Mystery Dance" docu.

Pretty self-explanatory
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johnfoyle
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"Elvis Costello: Mystery Dance" docu.

Post by johnfoyle »

http://www.calliopemedia.co.uk/elvis-costello/

Elvis Costello

Calliope Media are co-producing a definitive documentary portrait of Elvis Costello with Les Films d’ici (Paris) and others. The project is in development with ARTE France and likely to be co-financed by the BBC, in collaboration with Universal Music and other partners with whom discussions are currently under way. The project has been in development for over a year and shooting will take place in November 2011 and during 2012. This will be the first authorised portrait of one of rock music’s most original writers and performers.


http://www.calliopemedia.co.uk/

Calliope Media was created in 2002 as a vehicle for productions by award-winning arts documentary film-maker Mark Kidel, and to explore other projects in music, arts and general documentaries for TV, DVD and theatrical release.


http://www.calliopemedia.co.uk/about-mark-kidel/

Image

MARK KIDEL

Mark Kidel is a film-maker and writer specialising in the arts and music, working mainly in the UK and France. He has been making films since the early 1970’s. He has written widely about music in a number of national dailies and weeklies.

Mark Kidel grew up and was educated in France, Austria, the UK and the USA. He then settled in the UK, where he started working as a film-maker and programme-maker at the BBC. Early successes (which are still occasionally broadcast) include “So You Wanna Be a Rock’n’Roll Star” (1975), a ground-breaking feature-length fly-on-the-wall chronicle of Southend Band The Kursaal Flyers, as they tried to break in to the big time, and a film sometimes thought to have inspired “Spinal Tap” and “Rod The Mod Has Come of Age” (1976), also feature-length, a ruthless and hilarious account of Rod Stewart in promotional mode, which has become something of a classic.

In the 1970’s Kidel also campaigned for broadcast TV’s support of struggling video artists, and commissioned new work from Peter Donebauer and David Hall. As Editor of the new BBC-2 arts programme ARENA (of which he was one of the founding producers) in 1976, he was responsible for programming the first compilation of video art on British television.

In 1976, Mark Kidel moved to Devon to take up a job with the Dartington Hall Trust. He also concentrated more on writing, mostly about rock music. He was the first rock critic of the New Statesman, a regular rock columnist in the Listener and wrote profiles of musicians for the Sunday Colour Supplements. In the early 1980’s he was a part-time lecturer in the Music Department of Dartington College of Arts as well as director of the Dartington Conference, which explored cutting-edge connections between the arts and sciences.

While in Devon, Mark Kidel co-edited (with Susan Rowe-Leete) “The Meaning of Illness” (RKP, London 1995), a series of essays on the relationship between psyche and soma ; “Learning by Doing” (Green Books, Hartland), a survey of Dartington’s experiments in education outside the classroom or lecture hall, and “Dartington” (Webb & Bower, Exeter 1993)

In the late 1970’s, early 1980’s and again in the 1990’s, Mark Kidel was a member of the Film Committee of the Arts Council.

During his time at Dartington, Mark Kidel started working with James Hillman, the psychologist and writer. A weekend seminar on “Animals in Myth, Dreams and Fairy Tales” led to the making a number of films in collaboration with Susan Rowe-Leete and James Hillman including the award-winning “Kind of Blue” a film essay on melancholia, “The Heart has Reasons” a film about the symbolism of the heart and heart disease and “The Architecture of the Imagination” , a ground-breaking series of five films about architecture and symbolism.

In 1982 Mark Kidel collaborated with Peter Gabriel on the creation of a world music festival, an idea which grew into the world-famous WOMAD festivals. His interest in world music led to making a film about WOMAD for Channel Four in 1987, and a subsequent series of films about African and other world musics including a prize-winning portrait of the Indian musician Ravi Shankar. Other notable musical films included “New York the Secret African City for the BBC’s ARENA strand – a film with the Yale Africanist Robert Farris Thompson, and “Le Paris Black” also for ARENA, an exploration of Paris’s 20th century romance wth all things African and African-American.

From 1987, and on leaving Dartington, Mark Kidel took up full time film-making again. He renewed his contacts with France, and was joint commissioning editor for the first day of broadcasts of LA SEPT (later ARTE France) on France’s FR3 channel. A significant proportion of Mark’s films are produced in France and not broadcast in the UK – notable the feature length film essay around the closure of the Hopital Laennec in Paris, “Les hopitaux meurent aussi” (A Hospital Remembers).

Since 1988, he has worked as a documentary, arts and music consultant to Channel Four, United, and BBC Wales, as well as producing and directing many films in the UK and France (see Mark Kidel Films). He worked closely with Third Eye Productions and Rosetta Films in London, Les Films d’ici and Agat et Cie in Paris. In 2002, he set up Calliope Media as a vehicle for his own productions but continues to work with other producers in the UK and the rest of Europe.

Since 1989 Mark Kidel has been based in Bristol, where he lives with his wife and occasional collaborator Susan Rowe-Leete, his son Sam and his daughter Anna.

Mark writes for Arts Desk -

http://www.theartsdesk.com/index.php?op ... &Itemid=30



http://www.lesfilmsdici.fr/accueil.htm
Last edited by johnfoyle on Fri Oct 16, 2015 2:43 am, edited 9 times in total.
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migdd
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Re: 'a definitive documentary portrait of Elvis', Nov '11

Post by migdd »

Hmmmmmm . . .
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Re: 'a definitive documentary portrait of Elvis', Nov '11

Post by MOJO »

Cool... Any mention and any connection with Robert Farris Thompson is OK by me.
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Re: 'a definitive documentary portrait of Elvis', Nov '11

Post by krm »

"Early successes (which are still occasionally broadcast) include “So You Wanna Be a Rock’n’Roll Star” (1975), a ground-breaking feature-length fly-on-the-wall chronicle of Southend Band The Kursaal Flyers"

DOes anyone know anything more about this? This is the first time I have ever heard of such a topic.
johnfoyle
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Re: 'a definitive documentary portrait of Elvis', Nov '11

Post by johnfoyle »

"Early successes (which are still occasionally broadcast) include “So You Wanna Be a Rock’n’Roll Star” (1975), a ground-breaking feature-length fly-on-the-wall chronicle of Southend Band The Kursaal Flyers"

DOes anyone know anything more about this? This is the first time I have ever heard of such a topic.
This video has some extracts-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-x-tcQWYQA

More info-

http://www.timeout.com/film/features/sh ... re/3567/8/

It was repeated on BBC4 in 2006.
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Re: 'a definitive documentary portrait of Elvis', Nov '11

Post by Paul B »

Kidel also made a very good doc about RobertWyatt for BBC4 a few years back, Free Will and Testament. I hope he does well with Elvis.
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Re: 'a definitive documentary portrait of Elvis', Nov '11

Post by sheeptotheslaughter »

Sounds like a Friday night on BBC 4 programme, if they haven't scrapped it be then.

Maybe Elvis Costello night.

21.00 This doc
22.30 Elvis at the bbc


Lovely if it was on one of the main channels though.

There are some great music programmes on BBC 4, Really enjoyed a couple recently on
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Harry Worth
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Re: 'a definitive documentary portrait of Elvis', Nov '11

Post by Harry Worth »

sheeptotheslaughter wrote:Sounds like a Friday night on BBC 4 programme, if they haven't scrapped it be then.

Maybe Elvis Costello night.

21.00 This doc
22.30 Elvis at the bbc
:D :lol:
Would be worth looking forward to - perhaps he could do a "Songwriters Circle" show as well? [Nick Lowe is doing one on 30 Sep by the way]

Please, someone tell me Alan Yentob is not going to be allowed anywhere near the documentary. I was hunting out my Grandad's service revolver during the Imagine he did on Ray Davies!
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Re: 'a definitive documentary portrait of Elvis', Nov '11

Post by Neil. »

It does sound very BBC Four, for an Elvis night.

The only other slot I can imagine for it is an Arena special on BBC Two.

Imagine... ah, maybe it could be Alan Yentob after all!
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Re: 'a definitive documentary portrait of Elvis', Nov '11

Post by Paul B »

It would turn up on BBC4 if they've put up a portion of the money. I'm guessing it would be longer than an hour as EC has a lot of history. The main thing would probably be a DVD release, then TV, rather like the George Harrison doc at the moment. A big question would be how much trust and freedom Elvis and his people give to Mark Kidel. Kidel is a good filmmaker but artists, especially ones that rarely allow docs, do tend to believe (not without foundation) that a doc will be what people return to in future years and so makes their reputation for posterity (not to mention the DVD market). I also wonder doubtfully whether Cait would be interviewed, let alone Bebe. I don't think there's any danger of Yentob appearing, bless 'im. In summary, I'd say reserve judgement.
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Re: 'a definitive documentary portrait of Elvis', Nov '11

Post by johnfoyle »

Thanks for that Paul.

Thanks also for the copies of your Mose Allison and Steve Winwood documentaries you sent me back along , as offered in this thread -

http://www.elviscostellofans.com/phpBB3 ... f=2&t=8501


Elvis seems to have changed his mind since this interview last Oct. -

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2010/oc ... -tim-adams

(extract)


Recently, he says, the BBC wanted to make a documentary about the strange journey of his career, but he wasn't convinced. One of the oddest things, he says, was that they had no real footage of him playing until about 1989. "All the Top of the Pops stuff before that they didn't trust anyone to play their own instruments. I mean, there is a certain kitsch appeal to that, but not much."

He'd prefer to tell the story through his own famous lenses. He's working on a memoir, which is progressing slowly ("every day I write the book" would be stretching it, he suggests). "I have lots of sketches," he says. "But it won't be an exhaustive kind of thing. I really liked Bob Dylan's book. It may have been fantastically exasperating for the kind of fan who wanted the map reference for the 'Gates of Eden', but it told the story of how he became himself and how he became himself again."

In looking for a way to structure it, he is half-thinking about using the songs he has written as chapters. That, though, may present problems of its own. "Many people build a career on just one or two songs," he says, with a degree of pride and self-mockery. "I have 400 of the fuckers."



Dare I ask, Paul was there any talk in the 'documentary community' about this project being offered around etc?


Similarly, and since you'll probably be way too modest to tell us about it , I'm looking forward to your Scrapheap Orchestra documentary - it sounds fascinating!



http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressr ... tml#panel1
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Re: 'a definitive documentary portrait of Elvis', Nov '11

Post by Paul B »

Hi John, I've not been in the right places lately to hear any chatter about this and I'd never dared suggest a doc the couple of times I've met Elvis, though I'd love to be in Kidel's position! Whenever I've suggested EC to the BBC in years before they've said anyone in his position would want too much control. BBC impartiality rules mean the subject of a doc can have no control over it - other than of course what they let you film and what they say in interview - but you generally undertake to 'listen' to their comments when you show them a near finished cut. The position might be well be different when it's funded from a variety of sources. However you often you do listen to comments - Winwood for example asked me to use the song Can't Find My Way Home from the Blind Faith Hyde Park concert instead of another one I was using because he had an attachment to the song, was rightly proud of it and felt it represented the best of their work. I found that quite touching, obliged and the film was better for it.

Perhaps the reason I've not heard anything about the EC doc is as you rightly point out I've been mired in a scrapheap with an orchestra. We're cutting the doc now. It went very well, the BBC Concert Orchestra played the 1812 Overture on scrap violins made from waste pipes, bassoons from golf clubs and hoovers, percussion from cement mixers, beds and car bonnets etc in the Proms at the Albert Hall in July and got a standing ovation, for effort as well as for sound no doubt but it was actually great. Still a way from finishing the film but it'll go out on BBC4 November-ish.

What I did discover from my forays into the classical world is that EC is not overly highly regarded there, still thought of as pop dabbler. He's a way to go yet then.
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Re: 'a definitive documentary portrait of Elvis', Nov '11

Post by johnfoyle »

Perhaps the reason I've not heard anything about the EC doc is as you rightly point out I've been mired in a scrapheap with an orchestra. We're cutting the doc now. It went very well, the BBC Concert Orchestra played the 1812 Overture on scrap violins made from waste pipes, bassoons from golf clubs and hoovers, percussion from cement mixers, beds and car bonnets etc in the Proms at the Albert Hall in July and got a standing ovation, for effort as well as for sound no doubt but it was actually great. Still a way from finishing the film but it'll go out on BBC4 November-ish.

Besides wondering what , if anything , has happened with the Costello documentary ( perhaps the sad situation with Ross stopped proceedings) , it's good to report that forum member Paul's Scrapheap Orchestra documentary is on BBC4 tonight.

http://www.lincolncollege.ac.uk/news/bb ... -orchestra

(extract)

The Documentary is to be broadcast on BBC4 on a number of occasions during the week commencing 11th December. These will include some or all of the following:

Sunday 11th Dec 9.30pm (also to be shown on BBC HD)

Monday 12th Dec 12.30am

Wednesday 14th Dec 7.30pm

Thursday 15th Dec 2.00am

(Check the schedules).


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvan ... eview.html
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Re: 'a definitive documentary portrait of Elvis', Nov '11

Post by Natasha »

Paul B wrote: What I did discover from my forays into the classical world is that EC is not overly highly regarded there, still thought of as pop dabbler. He's a way to go yet then.
I've worked at a classical music radio station, have met some peple in the classical world and, yes, I noticed that too.
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Re: 'a definitive documentary portrait of Elvis', Nov '11

Post by johnfoyle »

Interesting update on this !

http://www.calliopemedia.co.uk/elvis-costello/

Calliope Media are co-producing a definitive documentary portrait of Elvis Costello with Les Films d’ici (Paris) and others. The project is in development with ARTE France and will be co-financed by the BBC, in collaboration with Universal Music and other partners with whom discussions are currently under way. The project has been in development for over a year and shooting started in May 2012 during Elvis’s UK tour. This will be the first authorised portrait of one of rock music’s most original writers and performers.
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Re: 'a definitive documentary portrait of Elvis', Nov '11

Post by Jack of All Parades »

That is good news. Looking forward to viewing this.
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Re: 'a definitive documentary portrait of Elvis', Nov '11

Post by Man out of Time »

johnfoyle wrote:
"shooting started in May 2012 during Elvis’s UK tour"
As noted at the time, there were cameras in the auditorium at the Birmingham Symphony Hall show on 15 May. They were at the same height as the stage, but quite a way back into the hall. When Elvis went "walkabout" through the audience during "She" he got quite close to the camera on the right hand side of the hall.

Did anyone notice filming at other shows on the tour? Thankfully there were none at the RAH for Russell Crowe's "contribution...."

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Re: 'a definitive documentary portrait of Elvis', Nov '11

Post by verbal gymnastics »

Jack of All Parades wrote:That is good news. Looking forward to viewing this.
Absolutely.

And this seems to clarify the point about the cameras at the Birmingham show.
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Re: 'a definitive documentary portrait of Elvis', Nov '11

Post by johnfoyle »

A comment I posted at the original link telling of our interest , including a link to this thread etc , has been deleted by a moderator. So there goes, I suppose, a 'we talked to some fans etc.' aspect to this project.
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Re: 'a definitive documentary portrait of Elvis', Nov '11

Post by johnfoyle »

The French co-producers of this have posted some information -

http://www.lesfilmsdici.fr/en/films-pro ... tello.html

ELVIS COSTELLO
Directed by : Mark Kidel

Year : 2013

Elvis Costello is one of the uncontested geniuses of the rock world. 33 albums and dozens of hit songs have established him as one of the most versatile and intelligent songwriters and performers of his generation. This film, assured exclusive access to the musician’s rich archive and with the full participation of his record company, will be a definitive portrait of a major music icon.

Technical sheet

Author : Marc Kidel

Producer : Les Films d'Ici - Laurent Duret / Arte France

Partners : BBC, d'Arte France, Sacem, CNC

Length : 1 x 90' , 1 x 52'


This would seem to indicate it will be a two-part presentation, a hour and a half followed by nearly an hour.

Director Mark Kidel's bio now mentions this -

http://www.calliopemedia.co.uk/about-ma ... short-bio/

Projects for 2011-2012 include films about the painter and architectural artist Brian Clarke, and portraits of the American composer John Adams and British musician and songwriter Elvis Costello.
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Re: 'a definitive documentary portrait of Elvis', 2013

Post by Paul B »

Thanks for that John, my inclination would be that they'll complete two versions of the film, one 90 min and one 52 min (latter being length of an hour slot on commercial TV). The longer version would be for more indulgent broadcasters - presumably including BBC as they're a co production partner - and DVD. In any event, greatly looking forward to what Mark Kidel comes up with.
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Re: 'a definitive documentary portrait of Elvis', 2013

Post by johnfoyle »

I wonder what happened to this? Perhaps Elvis 'under the radar' work with The Roots has confounded the producers, making them think it'll be impossible to keep up with Elvis!
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Re: 'a definitive documentary portrait of Elvis', 2013

Post by johnfoyle »

In a random poke around in the various links relevant to this I find this Tweet from the director -

https://twitter.com/Rivers47/status/309986154856460288

mark kidel ‏@Rivers47

In Nashville, land of Dolly Parton hairdos, to film interviews with Emmylou Harris and T-Bone Burnett for Elvis Costello documentary

11:17 AM - 8 Mar 13
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Re: 'a definitive documentary portrait of Elvis', 2013

Post by sweetest punch »

johnfoyle wrote:In a random poke around in the various links relevant to this I find this Tweet from the director -

https://twitter.com/Rivers47/status/309986154856460288

mark kidel ‏@Rivers47

In Nashville, land of Dolly Parton hairdos, to film interviews with Emmylou Harris and T-Bone Burnett for Elvis Costello documentary

11:17 AM - 8 Mar 13
Seems like this project isn't burried after all.
It is possible that this documentary comes out this winter, but I can imagine that this will be released next year, in celebration of Elvis's 60th birthday. And maybe that's also the right time to bring out a career spanning "Best of" (boxset).
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Re: 'a definitive documentary portrait of Elvis', 2013

Post by Jeremy Dylan »

I can attest from experience that these kind of films can take quite a time to put together. Between coordinating the schedules of all the artists you want to interview, tracking down the various archival material, the quagmire that is rights clearances... I could see them spending another year on this easy.
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