Producers Bogarting Bob Marley Doc, Says Director Jonathan Demme
- Posted on Sep 15th 2009 4:30PM by Liisa Ladouceur
- Comments (2)
An authorized documentary of Bob Marley is officially "on hold," according to the film's Oscar-winning director Jonathan Demme. The biography, tentatively titled 'Bob Marley: Stay With the Rhythm,' was supposed to be released next Feb. 6, which would have been the reggae legend's 65th birthday.
That now seems unlikely as reports surfaced that Demme was off the project in the middle of editing because of creative differences with the film's producers.
The situation is all the stranger considering Demme is no slacker when it comes to music documentaries -- he directed Talking Heads' 'Stop Making Sense' and 'Neil Young: Heart of Gold' -- or the legend-capturing department, having successfully made docs on Nelson Mandela and Jimmy Carter. Plus, he came on board this past May to replace the film's original director, Martin Scorsese, who apparently left due to scheduling conflicts.
Demme, in Toronto screening his latest doc, 'The Neil Young Trunk Show,' as part of the TIFF, tells Spinner he believes all is not lost. "It's not necessarily over, but it's been put on hold," he says. "Profound creative differences emerged in the course of the editing. I ended up with a film I adore but unfortunately my love is not shared by the people who paid for it. So we have all got our heads together to find the most positive way to deal with that impasse. I hope we do because I loved making it."
Here's hoping they get it sorted by May 11, 2011, the 20th anniversary of Marley's death.











Reader Comments(1 of 1)
Viragonianat 9-16-2009
C'mon people! Where's the ONE love here?
Did Scorsese really have scheduling conflicts? Cause Demme definitely didn't drop the ball, so what gives?
Bob Marley did so much & these A*holes can't finish his doc.? Just get back in there & do him justice! He deserves the best they've got to offer. Art=Life. Do it.
DocJahat 9-16-2009
Bob did so many great things, just edit it down to the first 100.