David Crosby, John Prine docs acquired by Sony Pictures Classics

The films take an inside look at both artists

Rocker David Crosby and country singer/songwriter John Prine are the subjects of two new documentaries that Sony Pictures Classics (SPC) has acquired. David Crosby: Remember My Name was produced by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Cameron Crowe. The tentatively titled John Prine: Hello In There was co-written by Zachary Fuhrer and Patrick Doyle, produced by Doyle and directed by Fuhrer.

SPC’s rights for the Crosby film include North America, The Middle East, Scandinavia, India, South Africa, Benelux, Turkey, Australia, New Zealand, Asia and Latin America while the Prine film rights are worldwide. First time director A.J. Eaton is credited on David Crosby: Remember My Name which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in the U.S. Documentary Competition.

A revealing and deeply personal documentary exploring the life and creative renaissance of music icon David Crosby. A cultural force for over fifty years, Crosby faced uncertain future after the 2015 dissolution of Crosby, Stills and Nash. Racked with health issues and personal obstacles, Crosby forged a new path at the age of 77. With unflinching honesty, self-examination, regret, fear, exuberance and an unshakable belief in family and the transformative nature of music, Crosby shares his often-challenging journey with humor and bite.

“I couldn’t be happier that Tom and Michael acquired our film,” Crowe states. “I’ve always admired their work. With their extraordinary track record and passion for independent cinema, SPC is the perfect home for our film. We are looking forward to sharing David’s inspiring story with his loyal fans and legions of new ones.”

Currently in post-production, John Prine: Hello In There tells the story of the iconic singer/songwriter who has notoriously been very mysterious to much of the public. Prine broke through with an album he wrote as a mailman in the Chicago suburbs, and went on to create some of the strangest, funniest, most surreal and most enduring songs of our time including “Angel from Montgomery.” The movie began filming Prine as he prepared to release his first album of new songs in 13 years, and follows him throughout a remarkable resurgence that has taken him from Radio City Music Hall to the Songwriters Hall of Fame. With the complete support of the Prine family, the filmmakers conducted extensive interviews with Prine’s friends and peers; including young songwriters he helped shape, such as Sturgill Simpson, Jason Isbell and Margo Price.

“Spending time with John Prine over the last year, we’ve learned that he is just as insightful — and hilarious — in everyday life as he is in his songs,” Doyle states. “From playing at pubs in western Ireland to the Ryman Auditorium, there is nobody better at spellbinding a room. For the last 50 years, he’s been a voice for the overworked, underpaid and forgotten, and our current political times have made his songs even more relevant. He is a Johnny Cash-level talent we are lucky to still have performing, and he was kind enough to let us in on his life: making breakfast at home in Nashville, preparing for the biggest show of his life at Radio City and more. Zach and I couldn’t be happier to work with Tom Bernard, Michael Barker and the Sony Pictures Classics team on what we want to be the definitive portrait of an American songwriting legend.”

A theatrical release is planned for the Prine film. No word on how the Crosby film will be distributed.

Buddy Iahn
Buddy Iahn

Buddy Iahn founded The Music Universe when he decided to juxtapose his love of web design and music. As a lifelong drummer, he decided to take a hiatus from playing music to report it. The website began as a fun project in 2013 to one of the top independent news sites. Email: info@themusicuniverse.com