Let's imagine a documentary about Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers... That's now a reality with "Runnin' Down A Dream", a film by Peter Bogdanovich.
On April Fool's Day 1974, Tom Petty hopped into a van with his bandmates, including future Heartbreakers Mike Campbell and Benmont Tench, to pursue dreams of rock and roll stardom. Ten Miles outside of town the van broke down. And the world paid no mind. But the cameras were already running. That moment in Heartbreaker history and many others were caught on film well before Tom Petty was a household name. Still an unknown outside of his home region, Petty was fronting the band Mudcrutch, which would only gradually evolve into the Heartbreakers. The music itself was the only sure sign of what was to come. These remarkable early years, and all that would follow, are at the center of a new documentary by legendary director Peter Bogdanovich ("The Last Picture Show").
"Runnin' Down A Dream" includes performances from the 30th anniversary concert at the O'Connell Center on September 22nd, 2006, rare television footage, never before seen interviews from the archive, clips from Bogdanovich's discussions with such Heartbreaker friends and family including Eddie Vedder, Stevie Nicks, Rick Rubin, Jeff Lynne, and many more musicians, friends and collaborators who came into the band's orbit over the years.
"Runnin' Down A Dream" focuses not only on the Heartbreakers' inspiring ride to the top but the story of what they did when they got there, as artists, as a band and as people. Bogdanovich's film explores many of the underlying reasons for the band's unmatched capacity not only to endure but to thrive. Gritty, exuberant, infectious: "Runnin' Down A Dream" tells the Heartbreakers' story as never before, revealing the combination of unwavering talent, artistic vision, and sheer persistence that has made their thirty-plus-year run possible.
In addition to tracking the Heartbreakers over their decades together, "Runnin' Down A Dream" also follows Tom Petty's solo adventures and his time as a Traveling Wilbury alongside George Harrison, Bob Dylan, Jeff Lynne and Roy Orbison. A celebration of what can happen when artists are given the chance to explore the depths of their own talent, "Runnin' Down A Dream" is the story of an artistic victory unlike any other.
Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers released their debut album in 1976. Since that time they have sold more than 50 million records and remain one of the biggest touring acts in the business. Despite the scale of their success and the creative range of their work, the Heartbreakers maintain a reputation as a rock-and-roll band, always true to the music's original inspiration. Between the Heartbreakers' recordings and his solo work, Tom Petty has received 18 Grammy nominations. Honored with lifetime achievement awards including Billboard's Century Award, MTV's Video Vanguard Award, and induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Tom Petty, with the Heartbreakers at his side, has achieved the status of legend among his fellow musicians and listeners worldwide.
Peter Bogdanovich has earned a reputation as one of American cinema's great filmmakers. In addition to his work as a director, Bogdanovich has received acclaim as an author, a critic, a screenwriter, a documentarian, an actor, and a historian. His films, including "The Last Picture Show," "Paper Moon," and "Mask," have been Oscar-winning landmarks. "The Last Picture Show" is a National Treasure as declared by the Library of Congress. Viewers know him for his recurring role and directing work on "The Sopranos." Film historians and movie buffs alike know him for his monographs on Orson Welles, Alfred Hitchcock, and John Ford. On the heels of "Runnin' Down A Dream," Bogdanovich will return to feature film directing with a new film entitled "Star-Crossed," based on a true Hollywood love story. He's also planning a return to the theater to do a Broadway production of Tennessee Williams's last play, "In Masks Outrageous and Austere," which is being co-presented by Gore Vidal.
On October 16, a special 4-disc box set of the film will be released for sale only at Best Buy. At the heart of the package is the 2-DVD, 4 hour Bogdanovich film. As a bonus the package also includes a DVD of the celebrated 2006 Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers 30th Anniversary Concert in Heartbreaker hometown, Gainesville, FL. The package also includes a soundtrack CD of rarities and previously unreleased tracks from the film.
This movie (on the DVD) contains hours of never before seen footage and interviews with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers plus music from the storied rock band's entire career. The movie features interviews with George Harrison, Eddie Vedder, Stevie Nicks, Dave Grohl, Jeff Lynne, Rick Rubin, Johnny Depp, Jackson Browne and more. Also 1 DVD of the celebrated 30th Anniversary Concert in Heartbreaker hometown, Gainesville Florida.
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