Famed, influential Memphis ’70s rock band Big Star looks to be ready for their close-up via the feature-length documentary The Big Star Story, currently in the early stages of production.
About the film, the filmmakers say, on their MySpace site, “The Big Star Story will trace the origins and history of the legendary band, Big Star, from the early ’60s with lead singer Alex Chilton sky-rocketing to stardom at the age of sixteen with The Box Tops … to the serendipitous meeting of Chilton and local Memphis musicians, guitarist Chris Bell, drummer Jody Stephens, and bassist Andy Hummel … and onto their dissolution after the lack of record sales and the tragic death of Chris Bell in 1978.
“The Big Star Story will explore the resurrection of the originators of the power pop sound and the band’s reforming to record their first album in over 30 years in 2005. The story of Big Star is unique in the history of rock-and-roll and both devoted fans and complete neophytes will be moved by this incredible story served with an achingly beautiful and generation-defining soundtrack of teenage angst and longing.”
For more information on the film, go to the film’s MySpace site. For lots of pics of the film production, go here.
At the Ardent Studios Web site, a seven-plus-minute, behind-the-scenes clip of the film can be seen here.
The Big Star Story is being directed and produced by Danielle McCarthy.