Broke* is a feature-length documentary film written and directed by Will Gray. The film is an autobiographical account of Gray's attempt to break into the music business. Broke* features appearances by Kelly Clarkson, Seth Godin, John Legend, Buddy Miller, Isaac Slade of The Fray, and Don Was.
| Broke* | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Will Gray |
| Written by | Will Gray |
| Produced by | Will Gray |
| Starring | Will Gray |
| Narrated by | Will Gray |
| Cinematography | Stacey Schroeder |
| Edited by | Stacey Schroeder |
| Music by | Will Gray Ben Kesler |
Release date |
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| Country | United States |
Synopsis
editBroke* begins two years in the past, at the beginnings of Gray’s independent journey, recording demos in the basement of his friend's home. The demos come to the attention of producer T Bone Burnett who asks to meet and listen to more of Gray’s music.
Despite these auspicious beginnings, frustrating meetings with a New York record executive fail to produce an acceptable deal, so Gray decides to set out on his own as an independent artist. The film follows his struggles to establish a fanbase, manage bookings and cancellations, and all of the other exhilarations and frustrations of independent music making. Broke* features interviews with recording industry insiders about new paradigms for the music business.
Cast
edit- Will Gray, himself
Remainder of cast listed in alphabetical order
- Lee Bailey, owner, EURweb
- Bobby Bare Jr. of the record label 30 Tigers
- Lonny Bereal, HitClub Entertainment
- The Candles
- Chopmaster J
- Kelly Clarkson
- Trent Dabbs
- Will Dailey
- Jim “Rocky” Del Balzo, Jim Del Balzo Management
- Bob Donnelly, Attorney
- The Fieros
- Seth Godin
- Mike Grimes, co-owner of The Basement
- Ali Harnell, Sr. Vice President of AEG Live
- Damien Horne
- Hymns, Independent Artist
- Joonie, HitClub Entertainment
- Steven Ivory, music journalist
- Nathan Johnson
- Nathan Lee, independent artist
- John Legend, Columbia Records
- Nicholas “Aqua” McCarrell
- Ian McEvily, Manager, Rebel One Management
- Buddy Miller of New West Records
- Catherine Moore, Director of the Music Business Graduate Program at Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development
- Danara (Schurch) Moore, Columbia Records
- Emily Hope Price, Independent Artist
- Ian Quay, A&R and Label Manager, StarTime International
- Justin Roddick, owner, 12th & Porter (a Nashville night club)
- Audrey Ryan of Folkwit Records
- Isaac Slade, Epic Records
- Andy Smith of the band Paper Route
- Beka Tischker, Manager, Advanced Alternative Media
- Don Was
Reception
editNewsday called Broke* "a pretty accurate, sometimes wrenching, portrayal of what up-and-coming artists go through to advance their career."[1] It was selected for presentation at the PhilFM (Philadelphia Film and Music) Festival,[2] and at the Nashville Film Festival, where it was awarded the "Special Jury Prize for Most Original Vision" in the Gibson Music Films/Music City Competition.[3]
References
edit- ^ Gamboa, Glenn (20 October 2011). "CMJ recap: 'Broke*' documentary, DOM". Newsday.
- ^ "Broke*". PhilFM. Archived from the original on 27 December 2011. Retrieved 19 January 2012.
- ^ "2011 Festival Award Winners". Nashville Film Festival. Archived from the original on 2012-02-07.