http://www.suntimes.com/output/pearlman/sho-sunday-fiveq19.html

Jonathan Demme makes movie with Neil Young

February 19, 2006

BY CINDY PEARLMAN

"He's Shakespeare reborn as a rocker." That's how Oscar-winning director Jonathan Demme describes the legendary Neil Young. The two collaborated on the concert flick "Neil Young: Heart of Gold," which opened Friday.

1. How did you decide to do this concert film?

I saw him in Philly in the early '90s with Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young. Then I saw him a few more times live and his tours blew my mind. Eventually Neil asked if I'd be interested in shaping a film for him. After I directed "The Manchurian Candidate," I was exhausted. At the same time, Neil was going into the studio with his "Prairie Wind" CD. It was time to make the movie.

2. But at the same time Neil had found out he had a brain aneurysm and was about to go into for brain surgery. With that diagnosis, why would Young choose to work on a film and CD ?

Neil is an unbelievable man. He goes to his doctor and finds out he has a brain aneurysm and needs major surgery. Instead of just stopping everything and feeling bad for himself, Neil goes back into the studio and works even harder. He writes songs, books surgery, goes into the studio in Nashville, cranks out eight songs, has brain surgery and then goes to finish his album. He prefers to say he had something on his mind during that period, and it was much more than the aneurysm. I find it really impressive because soon afterward we were planning the fillm.

By the way, he's perfectly all right now and still working harder than ever.

3. What was it like to show Neil the film for the first time? Do you get nervous?

Not really. Neil's a filmmaker and I trust him. I didn't just film his show and then send him home. I had an open-door policy, and he spent a week at my house while I was editing. That was a real joy for me to have Neil Young at my house.

4. Why has he lasted all of these years?

The simple answer is he just keeps cranking out great songs. He's Shakespeare. I adore his electric guitar stuff, and I love the way he plays the Nashville stuff. He keeps you guessing just enough. I mean, the man even did a punk album. He just always stayed on top of it. Also, I feel that he let his creativity guide him. He never made career moves, and I try to be the same way.

5. OK, now we're begging you for the ultimate concert film on Bruce Springsteen. You directed a few of his videos, and of course, he won an Oscar for singing "Streets of Philadelphia" for your film. Hint, hint!

Oh, believe me when I tell you that five or six years ago, I tried to get Bruce to do a personal documentary about Asbury Park as a place and a metaphor for American greed.

I would love to collaborate with him. It's impossible to mess up with that guy. Plus, he's a sweetheart and totally down to earth. So smart. So nice. Bruce has let me film some stuff at sound check. I shot him singing "Code of Silence" with a little handheld camera. It was an amazing performance that hopefully will surface someday.

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aber wen eurer meinug sollte ihn spielen !? wer kommt in frage.... ?!

Müssten ja mindestens 3.Personen sein. Bis 20 Jahre / 35/ heute.
Oder bis zur Born in the U.S.A.

Mir fällt grad auch niemand so ein.