Midnight Rider (film): Difference between revisions - Wikipedia

Line 67:

On May 18, 2013 it was announced that [[Open Road Films]], [[Randall Miller]] and Jody Savin planned to film a biopic based on the autobiography by [[Gregg Allman]], ''My Cross To Bear''. Miller was announced as the director and co-writer of the screenplay with Savin.

[[Open Road Films]] was announced as the US distribution partner early in the project before the script was written.<ref name=Open-Road>{{cite news|title=Open Road To Bring Gregg Allman Biopic To U.S. Theaters|url=http://www.deadline.com/2013/05/cannes-open-road-to-bring-gregg-allman-biopic-to-u-s-theaters/|accessdate=February 21, 2014|newspaper=Deadline.com|publisher=PMC|date=May 18, 2013}}</ref> This would be a substantial boost to the independent production as the distributor is owned by [[AMC Theaters]] and [[Regal Cinemas]] and thus represents the ability to directly distribute to approximately 31% of the nation's theaters.<ref name="Deadline 2011-3-7">{{cite news |last=Mike |first=Flemming Jr |url=http://deadline.com/2011/03/theater-chains-amc-regal-launch-distribution-venture-open-road-with-tom-ortenberg-at-head-111698/ |title=Theater Chains AMC, Regal Launch Distribution Venture Open Road With Tom Ortenberg At Helm |work=[[Deadline.com]] |date=March 7, 2011 }}</ref> Open Road Films Tom Ortenberg stated, “We are thrilled to have the opportunity to be a part of this movie. Gregg Allman’s story is fascinating and we are looking forward to working with Randall, Jody and Gregg to bring this project to theaters.” <ref name="THR 2013-5-18">{{cite news |last=Kilday |first=Gregg |url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/cannes-open-road-distribute-gregg-524968 |title=Cannes: Open Road to Distribute Gregg Allman Biopic |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |date=May 18, 2013 |accessdate=2014-08-26 }}</ref> Miller and Savin would produce along with their business partner Brad Rosenberger and work closely with Gregg Allman and his manager Michael Lehman, who would serve as executive producers.<ref name="Variety 2013-5-18">{{cite news |last=McNary |first=David |url=http://variety.com/2013/more/news/gregg-allman-biopic-set-1200483450/ |title=Gregg Allman Biopic Set |work=[[Variety (magazine)]] |date=May 18, 2013 }}</ref>

The name of the film was announced as "Midnight Rider: The Gregg Allman Story" on November 1, 2013,<ref name="Variety 2013-11-1">{{cite news |last=McNary |first=Dave |url=http://variety.com/2013/film/news/gregg-allman-biopic-1200785025/ |title=AFM: Gregg Allman Biopic to Shoot in January (EXCLUSIVE) |work=[[Variety (magazine)]] |date=November 11, 2013 }}</ref> and was followed with promotional artwork, a Facebook page, and casting calls using that title.<ref name="Indiewire 2014-11-12">{{cite news |last=Agular |first=Carlos |url=http://blogs.indiewire.com/sydneylevine/isa-of-the-day-the-exchange-brings-accident-to-afm-international-film-business-distribution |title=ISA of the Day: The Exchange brings 'Accident' and 'Midnight Rider: The Gregg Allman Story' to AFM |work=[[Indiewire]] |date=November 12, 2013 |accessdate=2014-08-27 }}</ref>

Line 77:

Randall Miller hired high profile PR Strategist Matthew Hiltzik, of Hiltzik Strategies, on Feb 27, to address the mounting negative press for the production.<ref name="THR 2014-2-27">{{cite news |last=Emery |first=Debbie |url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/midnight-rider-director-randall-miller-684266 |title='Midnight Rider' Director Randall Miller Working With PR Strategist |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |date=February 27, 2014 }}</ref>

On April 14, 2014 it became known that Miller and Savin were intending to restart filming in June.<ref name=dlhapr14/> However, the crew protests with a Facebook page started by IATSE National Board members Dan Kneece and Davide Alan Grove amongst others,<ref name="HuffPost 2014-4-22"/> William Hurt's separation from project,<ref name="William Hurt LA Times April 2014"/> Allman's lawsuit,<ref name="Variety 2014-5-13"/> and New York Marine's refusal to pay an insurance claim, and denial of ongoing insurance, further delayed the production.<ref name=Deadline2014-8-13/>

On August 12, 2014 Film Allman LLC filed a lawsuit against New York Marine Insurance in which the plaintifs contend that if they do not receive the 1.6 million dollar insurance payout for the interruption caused by the fatal train collision during filming, they would be unable to continue with the film production. They also revealed that they had rewritten the film script, and submitted it to the insurance carrier, to be about 1970's rock music in general, and not specifically about Gregg Allman. This revelation, along with Gregg Allman's undisclosed out of court settlement with Film Allman LLC, has raised substantial questions as to whether the production would still be considered a "Gregg Allman biopic", based on his autobiography, if they were able to attempt to restart filming.<ref name=Deadline2014-8-13/>

Line 84:

=== First day of Filming ===

On February 20, 2014 the film crew was transported an hour from Meddin Studios to a remote location for what was stated to be the first day of principle photography. The location they had permission to be on was on property secured by fencing and owned by [[Rayonier]] for mill operations. Running thru this property was CSX railroad property, which included the historic Doctortown railroad trestle in [[Wayne County, Georgia|Wayne County]]. CSX has claimed they denied the productions request to use their property however multiple emails back and forth between CSX and Rayonier will bring this into question. Underin the directioncoming of producer/directortrials. Randall Miller,As the crew prepared to shoot the last shot of scene #14 (one of twelve previous shots) involving William Hurt as Allman in a hospital bed on this live railroad trestle.

=== Train collision at the Doctortown railroad trestle ===

Line 91:

=== Attempts to Restart Filming ===

On April 14, 2014 it was reported that director/executive producer, RandallJay MillerSedrish inquired with the IATSE about filming in [[Los Angeles]] sometime in June 2014.<ref name=dlhapr14>{{cite news|last1=Yamato|first1=Jen|last2=Busch|first2=Anita|title=‘Midnight Rider’ Director Randall Miller Attempting To Move Forward With Film In LA Following Sarah Jones Death|url=http://www.deadline.com/2014/04/midnight-rider-sarah-jones-death-los-angeles-filming/|accessdate=April 15, 2014|newspaper=Deadline Hollywood|date=April 14, 2014}}</ref> However no discussionultimate decision had been made to film in LA nor had any attempt to find offices nor to hire personel.

On April 17 the [[International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees]] said they were notified by Unclaimed Freight Productions that they would begin pre-production "in a couple weeks", but that the company "did not ask for permission and was not granted permission to restart production". IATSE also stated, "As uncomfortable as this is, we cannot prevent them from starting up again. Whether or not they can get people to work for them is a decision that those people will have to make for themselves." <ref>{{cite news|last=Emery|first=Debbie|title='Midnight Rider' to Resume Production in Los Angeles, IATSE Says|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/midnight-rider-resume-production-los-696683|accessdate=17 April 2014|newspaper=hollywoodreporter.com|date=16 April 2014}}</ref> This was essentially a strike from the union workers against Unclaimed Freight Productions.