Film Synopsis
When The Music's Over is a feature length documentary in production, the producers of this film have a 15 year relationship with Janson Media, Amazon Prime and PBS television distributing our award winning documentaries and half hour travel series.
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This film will be a historical document about this moment in our history for many years to come.
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SYNOPSISY SUMMARY:
This film is about the music community and the brotherhood of a rock band during these historic times. What is lost, what is gained, what is learned. The obstacles, the the challenges, the opportunities and the perseverance.
What drives these musicians to keep going? After years on the road and paying dues, is this a career ending moment... or a moment to seize an opportunity?
An entire global industry shut down. With the financial impact of losing your livelihood, the momentum and creativity is in jeopardy. How to stay together, stay creative when you can't do what you love to do; Performing your songs to a live audience. The energy exchange between fans and artists. The roar of the crowd. What keeps a rock band together and enduring during these times? The friendships, the focus and the personal struggles of being told you cannot do what you are born to do; play live rock music. From up and coming bands to 40 year legacy acts in the business, the similar impact effects all levels of the music industry.
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With thought provoking insight into the life of a performing musician during these times, viewers will hear personal stories from SAMMY HAGAR and MICHAEL ANTHONY of Van Halen, KEVIN CRONIN of REO Speedwagon, ROB WILSON of The Gin Blossoms, RICK SPRINGFIELD, JIM ADKINS of Jimmy Eat World, EDDIE TRUNK of SiriusXM Radio, Legendary Producer EDDIE KRAMER of Jimmy Hendrix, Kiss, The Stones, The Beatles and more. Interviews about their history, how they got started, playing in the early days and how this shutdown has effected their lives personally and professionally.
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THE STORY:
The film follows the compelling story of Tempe Arizona based rock trio The Black Moods. It is March of 2020. After 15 years in the trenches, building a fan base nationwide, living on the road touring and recording, the band is bringing Rock and Roll back. Notching four hits on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Charts with their breakout album release "Sunshine," the title track hits #16 on the charts with national airplay on big market radio stations. The band opens a national tour for Whitesnake with more big name acts on the horizon to sign them as supporting act, finally seeing their efforts pay off, dreams come true and national recognition of their upbeat style of Rock and Roll to a wide audience. Then... the pandemic hits the live music industry. They are told to pack it in and come home and cancel all tour plans for the new top 20 charting record.
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Where to they go from here? What happens now. Unable to tour the new hit record "Sunshine", they have to figure out what is next and how to survive.
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As a global pandemic cancels all tour plans, The Black Moods get back into the studio and make a new record, trying to keep the momentum going. Sammy Hagar and The Circle have canceled their summer tour, Rick Springfield cancels his tour with Chicago. REO Speedwagon was set to bring their 40th anniversary tour to packed arenas. Jimmy Eat World scrapped a global trek across Asia and Australia.
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How do these stories interconnect. The impacts of a pandemic on the music industry, the backstage workers, the fans and the musicians who put everything on hold waiting for the day that the music returns for all of us.
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The Back Story:
Growing up in a small Missouri town, population 600, The Black Moods singer/songwriter Josh Kennedy set out for Tempe Arizona 15 years ago with music dreams and a chance meeting with his teen rock hero Rob Wilson lead singer of The Gin Blossoms. Promising himself at 13 years of age he would one day play guitar for that band, the band that inspired him to become a songwriter. Then at 21 he found himself onstage, guitar in hand with The Gin Blossoms! That experience led him to form The Black Moods (named after a Jim Morrison line) and set out on a Rock and Roll journey that brought him and his bandmates, best friends of 15 years, to crack Billboard top 20 with their third record "Sunshine."
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Now, how will the live music experience change in the post pandemic area?
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About The Production:
Filmed on location in Missouri, Mexico, Los Angles, South Dakota, and Tempe Arizona. Cameras have been on a cross country road trip back to the band's hometown, witnessing recording new songs with legendary producer Eddie Kramer over Zoom, and with Johnny K. in Tempe, to a seated socially distance shows in a small fishing village in Mexico. Interviews with legendary performers Sammy Hagar, Michael Anthony, Kevin Cronin and Rick Springfield tell their story in a rich interwoven history of music, creativity, rock legendary and hopeful looking forward to the return of live the performance.
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Distribution:
Using existing relationships and track record, the producers of the film are looking at placement with Amazon Prime Video and PBS television broadcast nationally. Second tier streaming outlets are also under consideration (Vudu, Tubi, Epix etc) along with film festivals. Netflix and Hulu will also be attempted but that has limited chances of placement.
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Release date target is end of 2021, early 2022.
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Budget:
The producers are looking for Executive Producer / investor partners to raise a minimum of $50,000 to complete the film. Though many interviews have been filmed, future expenses include post production editing, 3D animation sequencing for the opening titles and segments of the film, color grading and color finishing, audio mixing and "sweetening", closed captioning, additional travel expenses, marketing and distribution.
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About the Director
Jeremy Simmons graduated with a degree in Media Arts from the University of Arizona and has been working in television ever since. Producing/filming/editing the long running family travel series Travel With Kids airing on PBS nationally and Amazon Prime Video. Also producing Carry On Finding Hope In The Canyon which won the Phoenix Film Festival and streams on Amazon Prime. With over 25 years experience in production and distribution, When The Music's Over is a passion project to tell the story of live rock music during these times.
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