Almost Famous auteur Cameron Crowe this Sunday invited you to go on tour with the Roadies for the Staton-House Band. Will you stick around for upcoming dates?
In quick (and shamelessly Showtime-y) fashion, Roadies first introduces us to tour manager Bill (played by Luke Wilson) as he unwittingly beds a bigwig promoter’s (very) young daughter — which is par for the course for the divorcé, production manager Shelli (Carla Gugino) later points out. The premiere revolves around the Staton-House Band’s tour stop in New Orleans, where we next meet Kelly Ann (Imogen Poots), an electrician on the cusp of...
In quick (and shamelessly Showtime-y) fashion, Roadies first introduces us to tour manager Bill (played by Luke Wilson) as he unwittingly beds a bigwig promoter’s (very) young daughter — which is par for the course for the divorcé, production manager Shelli (Carla Gugino) later points out. The premiere revolves around the Staton-House Band’s tour stop in New Orleans, where we next meet Kelly Ann (Imogen Poots), an electrician on the cusp of...
- 6/27/2016
- TVLine.com
Meet the men and women who work behind the scenes to make big concerts happen. Showtime's new series Roadies comes from the mind of Cameron Crowe, the former Rolling Stone reporter and writer-director of the modern-movie classics Say Anything…, Jerry Maguire and Almost Famous. His light touch and decades of insider experience make this the rare showbiz saga that's more quirky and heartfelt than shocking and grim. The first episode airs this Sunday, June 26th (and is also currently available on YouTube for free, in an tamer TV-14 version), but...
- 6/21/2016
- Rollingstone.com
For the past 27 years, director Cameron Crowe has specialized in making films about earnest, “uncool” people who live and die by their passions. From “Say Anything…” to “Almost Famous,” Crowe’s films focus on that feeling of intense love, for people, for places, and especially for music. His upcoming Showtime TV series “Roadies” continues with that theme by focusing on a makeshift family of roadies for the fictional rock group the Staten-House Band. Starring Luke Wilson as Bill the tour manager and Carla Gugino as Shelli the production manager, “Roadies” follows the road crew as their lives are about to change with the arrival of a financial advisor who wants to overhaul their latest tour. The pilot was just released online ahead of its June 26th premiere date for those who are just itching to see what Crowe’s next project looks like. Below, IndieWIRE has the five best Cameron Crowe-isms from the very first episode of “Roadies.”
Read More: The 20 Greatest Musical Moments In The Films Of Cameron Crowe
1. Music As Organizing Life Principle
Cameron Crowe began his career writing for Rolling Stone magazine as a rock journalist; his first cover story was on The Allman Brothers Band tour in which he not only interviewed the band, but the entire road crew as well. This period of his life served as inspiration for “Almost Famous,” Crowe’s love letter to rock ‘n’ roll, but it has also clearly inspired “Roadies,” as the series affectionately documents the people whose lives revolve around making sure musicians have everything they need to perform their magic. Bill and Shelli desperately try to maintain order in an industry that feeds off of disorder, dealing with annoying, violent childen, crazy stalkers, and even the occasional firearm. But they, and the rest of the large ensemble cast, do it because of the music.
2. Fandom, or How To Maintain Love In The Face of All Obstacles
One of the major subplots in the pilot involves Kelly Ann (Imogen Poots), a young roadie who’s leaving the tour to go to film school in New York on a half-scholarship. She says she can “no longer hear the music anymore,” and she thinks the longer she stays on the tour, her love for not just the Staten-House Band, but music in general will slowly fade away. Crowe’s work often features a protagonist who’s love is frequently tested by numerous obstacles, and “Roadies” is no different as Kelly Ann’s determination to leave heightens when she sees the road crew threatened by management. But eventually, that resolve slowly crumbles as she realizes the family she’s leaving behind.
3. Heart-On-Your-Sleeve, Inspirational Montages
Though montages are frequently used as cheap emotional gimmickry, the best one’s still always stand out. Luckily, the “Roadies” pilot has many montages, so if one reads as bland, there’s another one along the way that could reach its potential. There’s a montage of the indie folk band The Head and The Heart doing a soundcheck, another of the road crew hard at work for their next gig, and finally the cheesiest, but most effective montages of all features a character running towards what has been in their heart all along.
4. Honesty and Authenticity Above All Else
When the financial advisor Reg Whitehead (Rafe Spall) comes on the tour, he immediately fires a beloved old roadie (Ron White) for being under federal investigation for reselling items left in storage units by victims of Hurricane Katrina. Next, he gathers the crew to talk about branding, market potential, and keeping costs to a minimum. Naturally, this prompts a negative response from the crew who know exactly what it takes to keep everything afloat, but it inspires a tirade from Kelly Ann who smells that Reg isn’t even a music fan (he calls Mumford and Sons “The Mumford Sons”). She preaches authentic feeling that a band’s music can inspire as the only brand worth following. “You either love what you do or get the fuck out,” she says.
5. A Romance At The Center
Crowe loves romance about as much as he loves classic rock, so naturally there will be a romance at the center of “Roadies.” Though details are scant in the pilot, Bill and Shelli were once in a relationship that’s now long since over. Shelli is currently married to a production manager on the Taylor Swift tour, and Bill sleeps with twenty-somethings to numb the end of his relationship. But there are still sparks between them and all the bickering can’t conceal their true feelings. One can reasonably predict that they will be in each other’s arms soon enough.
Read More: Cameron Crowe Apologizes For Casting Emma Stone As Allison Ng In ‘Aloha’
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Related stories'Roadies': Watch The First Episode Of Cameron Crowe's New Drama For Free Now'Homeland' Pushed to January: Executive Producer Explains Why That's NecessaryDaniel Craig Starring, Executive-Producing in Jonathan Franzen's 'Purity' for Showtime...
Read More: The 20 Greatest Musical Moments In The Films Of Cameron Crowe
1. Music As Organizing Life Principle
Cameron Crowe began his career writing for Rolling Stone magazine as a rock journalist; his first cover story was on The Allman Brothers Band tour in which he not only interviewed the band, but the entire road crew as well. This period of his life served as inspiration for “Almost Famous,” Crowe’s love letter to rock ‘n’ roll, but it has also clearly inspired “Roadies,” as the series affectionately documents the people whose lives revolve around making sure musicians have everything they need to perform their magic. Bill and Shelli desperately try to maintain order in an industry that feeds off of disorder, dealing with annoying, violent childen, crazy stalkers, and even the occasional firearm. But they, and the rest of the large ensemble cast, do it because of the music.
2. Fandom, or How To Maintain Love In The Face of All Obstacles
One of the major subplots in the pilot involves Kelly Ann (Imogen Poots), a young roadie who’s leaving the tour to go to film school in New York on a half-scholarship. She says she can “no longer hear the music anymore,” and she thinks the longer she stays on the tour, her love for not just the Staten-House Band, but music in general will slowly fade away. Crowe’s work often features a protagonist who’s love is frequently tested by numerous obstacles, and “Roadies” is no different as Kelly Ann’s determination to leave heightens when she sees the road crew threatened by management. But eventually, that resolve slowly crumbles as she realizes the family she’s leaving behind.
3. Heart-On-Your-Sleeve, Inspirational Montages
Though montages are frequently used as cheap emotional gimmickry, the best one’s still always stand out. Luckily, the “Roadies” pilot has many montages, so if one reads as bland, there’s another one along the way that could reach its potential. There’s a montage of the indie folk band The Head and The Heart doing a soundcheck, another of the road crew hard at work for their next gig, and finally the cheesiest, but most effective montages of all features a character running towards what has been in their heart all along.
4. Honesty and Authenticity Above All Else
When the financial advisor Reg Whitehead (Rafe Spall) comes on the tour, he immediately fires a beloved old roadie (Ron White) for being under federal investigation for reselling items left in storage units by victims of Hurricane Katrina. Next, he gathers the crew to talk about branding, market potential, and keeping costs to a minimum. Naturally, this prompts a negative response from the crew who know exactly what it takes to keep everything afloat, but it inspires a tirade from Kelly Ann who smells that Reg isn’t even a music fan (he calls Mumford and Sons “The Mumford Sons”). She preaches authentic feeling that a band’s music can inspire as the only brand worth following. “You either love what you do or get the fuck out,” she says.
5. A Romance At The Center
Crowe loves romance about as much as he loves classic rock, so naturally there will be a romance at the center of “Roadies.” Though details are scant in the pilot, Bill and Shelli were once in a relationship that’s now long since over. Shelli is currently married to a production manager on the Taylor Swift tour, and Bill sleeps with twenty-somethings to numb the end of his relationship. But there are still sparks between them and all the bickering can’t conceal their true feelings. One can reasonably predict that they will be in each other’s arms soon enough.
Read More: Cameron Crowe Apologizes For Casting Emma Stone As Allison Ng In ‘Aloha’
Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! Sign up for our Email Newsletters here.
Related stories'Roadies': Watch The First Episode Of Cameron Crowe's New Drama For Free Now'Homeland' Pushed to January: Executive Producer Explains Why That's NecessaryDaniel Craig Starring, Executive-Producing in Jonathan Franzen's 'Purity' for Showtime...
- 6/14/2016
- by Vikram Murthi
- Indiewire
Billy Bob Thornton's estranged daughter has been denied a retrial over the death of a child who was in her care.
Amanda Brumfield - Thornton's daughter from his marriage to first wife Melissa Gatlin - was in June found guilty of aggravated manslaughter in connection to the 2008 death of her best friend's one-year-old daughter Olivia Garcia, who fell from a playpen and hit her head.
The 32 year old, who was babysitting the tot, was acquitted of first-degree murder and aggravated child abuse charges.
Judge Reginald Whitehead rejected Brumfield's application for a retrial on Monday, declaring, "(The) defendant's motion for a new trial is denied."
Brumfield now faces up to 30 years in prison when she is sentenced for aggravated manslaughter in October.
Amanda Brumfield - Thornton's daughter from his marriage to first wife Melissa Gatlin - was in June found guilty of aggravated manslaughter in connection to the 2008 death of her best friend's one-year-old daughter Olivia Garcia, who fell from a playpen and hit her head.
The 32 year old, who was babysitting the tot, was acquitted of first-degree murder and aggravated child abuse charges.
Judge Reginald Whitehead rejected Brumfield's application for a retrial on Monday, declaring, "(The) defendant's motion for a new trial is denied."
Brumfield now faces up to 30 years in prison when she is sentenced for aggravated manslaughter in October.
- 9/1/2011
- WENN
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