The Challenge of Gathering the Stars

Anyone who has attempted to gather a group of A-list celebrities, or even a large gathering of friends and family, in one room at the same time can attest to the inevitable chaos and logistical challenges involved. Bringing together 46 of today’s musical superstars for a night of unpaid work seemed like an insurmountable task. The sheer number of managers, publicists, and agents involved in such endeavors can be overwhelming. However, Ken Kragen, the Hollywood manager behind this audacious project, and his organizing committee had an ace up their sleeves.

The Power of Star Power

To ensure the success of their mission, they wisely enlisted megastars Lionel Richie and Michael Jackson as the songwriters, setting the stage with Rule No 1: Attach high-profile individuals to your cause. The legendary singer Harry Belafonte provided the purpose behind the fundraiser: to combat the devastating issue of African famine. Additionally, Bob Geldof, from the British charity Band Aid, lent his expertise in the realm of musical activism.

With barely a month to bring their vision to life, the organizers embarked on a journey that would culminate in an unforgettable night of music. As Bao Nguyen’s documentary unfolds, the audience is treated to glimpses of musical luminaries such as Bruce Springsteen, Cyndi Lauper, Bette Midler, Paul Simon, and Diana Ross. Coaxed by the legendary producer Quincy Jones and fueled by a midnight feast of chicken and waffles, this diverse group of artists came together to create an iconic earworm, concluding their performance as the sun began to rise.

The Timeless Appeal of the Song

The enduring power of We Are the World can be attributed in part to its brilliantly simple construction. The chorus part is made for so many different vocal ranges, notes Nguyen. Lionel and Michael crafted it to be an anthem that anyone can easily sing along with. For many, this song is deeply ingrained in their childhood memories, a timeless classic that continues to resonate.

A Covid-Inspired Project

Interestingly, this captivating documentary came into being as a result of the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic. In early 2020, director Bao Nguyen and producer Julia Nottingham, fresh from their documentary about Bruce Lee titled Be Water, found themselves seeking a new project that would rely on archival footage. Nottingham’s connection with the company responsible for producing the American Music Awards proved pivotal. They reached out to music producer Larry Klein, who revealed a treasure trove of unseen video footage from that historic night. I’ve been waiting 35 years for this phone call, exclaimed Klein.

The Reluctant Director

At first, Nguyen had reservations about whether he was the right person to tell this remarkable story. He didn’t recall the time when the song was originally released, and he had never ventured into the realm of music documentaries. However, as he delved deeper into the materials and the story behind them, his vision crystallized. This feels like a heist film. It’s a story with a sense of intrigue, akin to ‘Ocean’s 11’, he mused. The documentary captures the tension and excitement of orchestrating a covert operation to bring together 40-odd of the world’s most renowned individuals for a night to remember.

Moments of Humanity

One of the documentary’s most compelling aspects is the humanity it portrays. As the stars entered the recording studio, they were met with a single rule posted by Quincy Jones: Check your egos at the door. The footage reveals candid moments, such as when the celebrities started asking each other for autographs, reminding us that even the most extraordinary individuals are, at their core, just like the rest of us.

Challenges and Triumphs

By midnight, fatigue began to set in, and even Bob Dylan needed some extra assistance to hit the right notes. Stevie Wonder proposed that the group sing in Swahili, sparking a playful debate about the language spoken in Ethiopia, a nation particularly affected by famine. This scene resonates with anyone who has found themselves in a somewhat disorganized group gathering, even if it involves music legends.

Notable Absences

For all the star power assembled that night, there were notable absences. Madonna, for instance, wasn’t among the invited guests (with the producers opting for Cyndi Lauper instead of the Material Girl). Prince, on the other hand, requested the privilege of recording a solo in a separate room, a request that was ultimately denied.

A Global Impact

Beyond its incredible musical performance, We Are the World went on to raise more than $60 million for the cause, with its impact extending far beyond the financial realm. It thrust the issue of African famine into the global spotlight, inspiring foreign aid initiatives and paving the way for a new generation of artist-activists.

A Lasting Love for the Song

Perhaps the most miraculous aspect of this documentary is that Bao Nguyen’s passion for the song remains undiminished. That was one of the things I was worried about making the documentary, he confessed. But I still love it at the end of the day. I listened to it this morning when I was getting ready.

In conclusion, The Greatest Night in Pop is a testament to the enduring power of music, star-studded collaborations, and the ability to make a positive impact on the world. It’s a story that resonates with audiences of all ages, celebrating the magic that can happen when legendary talents come together for a greater cause.

The post The Unforgettable Night of Music Legends: We Are the World appeared first on Fra SouFilm.

The Good Planet Foundation donates all proceeds from the project, in all its formats, to charity, including Refugee and War Victims Funds, cultural and educational activities, and environmental projects.

The idea for the film originated with Jan Arthus-Bertrand in the village of Mali. The filmmaker was forced to spend a day visiting a local villager after his helicopter broke down, who talked about his worries and his struggles to feed his family.

Over the next three years, Jan Arthus-Bertrand and his team conducted 2,020 interviews in 60 countries. All participants were asked 40 questions about family, personal happiness, wealth, aspirations, and life. The viewer does not hear the questions themselves, does not know any details about the interviewees themselves, but only listens to the story told by the person against a dark background. In this way, a collective image of man living on Earth is created.

The film raises many current and global themes, such as: hunger, religion, violence, politics and war.

At the same time as its premiere at the UN General Assembly on September 12, 2015, the film was presented at the Venice Film Festival out of competition.

At the Vancouver International Film Festival, “Man” won the audience vote as the most popular international documentary.

The film won the Beijing International Film Festival’s prize for best documentary film and the Vancouver International Film Festival’s prize for most popular international documentary film.

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No, it’s not the stories and plots we recall from our favorite movies, but, say, the two elusive seconds in which the Milky Way is reflected in the eyes of children while their fathers steer boats out to sea. This is the kind of footage few good filmmakers are willing to stalk for the rest of their lives, and without any guarantee of success.

But anyone can get them, and then film critics have a good excuse for their profession. “Life in a Day” is almost entirely composed of such moments – McDonald and Scott had only to deftly flick scissors: the film, in fact, is not even an ode to the tenth muse, but to the eleventh, responsible for the art of gluing together the beautiful from the trivial.

Watching the film, you get goosebumps, either laughing or wiping away your tears, an indescribably beautiful sight. I would even say that Life in a Day should be prescribed to people as a “must-see.” It is possible to go into global melancholy, or it is possible to drastically reconsider life priorities, depending on one’s desire.

The film was made by people all over the world in 2010: back then every fifth user didn’t have a GoPro in his pocket, every third person didn’t have an SLR to record colorful videos, there weren’t even iPhones with slo-mo function. Of course, if you made a film now, it would have a lot more beautiful shots, but it would look more artistic, which would take away the main thing – the effect of “accessibility”, the atmosphere of touching other people’s lives, sincerity and simplicity.

The beauty of “Life in a Day” is that it is a universal spectacle. You can watch it every year and notice something new every year. It’s not even a movie, it’s more like one of the most honest answers to the question “what is the meaning of life” and everyone will have their own answer.

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This film clearly shows us that any great idea or cultural artifact created by modern man is nothing but a recycled copy of the existing one.

The first part gives examples of borrowings in the music industry. From recording some sort of covers and interpretations of old songs by younger musicians to the heyday of hip-hop, when sampling literally blew up the music industry. Don’t miss some extras after the credits.

The second part is about borrowing from movies. For example, of all the major Hollywood movie hits, the vast majority are versions of existing works, meaning they are either sequels, prequels, or adaptations. After the credits, don’t miss a little extra material.

The third part formulates the basic principle of creativity and creation of new values: we take already ready, existing components, transform them and build some interesting combination. History knows many examples of ingenious inventions, but none of them was from beginning to end the idea of the nominal author. As a rule, they were combinations of ideas already known at the time, or improved versions of them. After the credits, don’t miss the extras.

The final fourth part is about the modern perception of ideas. About a situation where an idea can be considered someone else’s property, while being a thing quite abstract. The historical background tells us that the laws passed in the United States in the late 18th century to protect inventions and works of authorship involved only temporary protection against copying.

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A sharp documentary that touches on the fascinating and curious topic of the formation of the music industry. The project was directed by the talented American director Morgan Neville.
From the very first second of viewing, the viewer is drawn into the mesmerizing atmosphere of favorite songs and damn familiar musicians. The film’s excerpts, packaged in an “American Dream” format, tell the true story of American music show business through the lens of dark-skinned female backing singers.

These heroes with amazing voices have always remained in the shadows, letting others bask in the glow of fame and success. African Americans were well educated in music, trained in church gospel and blues. They did not spare their vocal cords, thereby antagonizing racial segregation. The film contains numerous interviews with unknown singers who participated in recording the choruses of famous songs, and monologues by Sting, Jagger, and Stevie Wonder about the importance of backing in their activities.

The characters on this project sacrificed their individuality, laying it on the altar of a stage atmosphere and an enthusiastic audience. The emphasis is on the fact that audiences at concerts are more likely to sing with the backing singers than with the vocalists. People who spend a lifetime doing what they love don’t flash on magazine covers, but retain their cheerfulness and irresistibility.
The film won an honorary Academy Award for Best Documentary.

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