Director-writer-editor Brett Morgen’s David Bowie documentary Moonage Daydream is certainly unlike any musician-centered film you’ve seen before. The movie plays out almost as if the viewer is watching through a kaleidoscope, a fever dream of footage and soundscapes from the Bowie archives as well as from films and artworks the artist referenced in his storied career. Nominated for four Emmys this year (directing, writing, editing and sound editing), the director sat down with THR to discuss how he arrived on Bowie as a subject and his artistic process.
What draws you to a documentary subject at the outset?
As I reflect back over the years, I’m definitely drawn toward wildly creative people who live life on their own terms. That seems to be the one consistent link between Robert Evans, Jane Goodall, Kurt Cobain and David Bowie. On a more superficial level, when I’m approaching a subject,...
What draws you to a documentary subject at the outset?
As I reflect back over the years, I’m definitely drawn toward wildly creative people who live life on their own terms. That seems to be the one consistent link between Robert Evans, Jane Goodall, Kurt Cobain and David Bowie. On a more superficial level, when I’m approaching a subject,...
- 8/4/2023
- by Hilton Dresden
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
After premiering at Cannes this year, Neon’s acclaimed David Bowie documentary “Moonage Daydream” will get a one-week limited engagement on Imax when it hits theaters on September 16.
Directed by Brett Morgen, “Moonage Daydream” tells the story of the iconic rock star through his own words and music, combining never-before-seen archival footage of David Bowie’s decades-long career with kaleidoscopic imagery and new mixes of his most famous songs. Bowie’s longtime collaborator Tony Visconti also worked on the film with the sound team of Paul Massey, John Warhurst and Nina Hartstone, who won Oscars for their work on the Queen biopic “Bohemian Rhapsody.”
Beyond the music, the film explores Bowie’s artistic and philosophical journeys, starting with the androgynous icon Ziggy Stardust and expanding into films, paintings, theatre, sculpture, and audio collages. Bowie’s estate granted Morgen unprecedented access into the archives of the star’s work, making this...
Directed by Brett Morgen, “Moonage Daydream” tells the story of the iconic rock star through his own words and music, combining never-before-seen archival footage of David Bowie’s decades-long career with kaleidoscopic imagery and new mixes of his most famous songs. Bowie’s longtime collaborator Tony Visconti also worked on the film with the sound team of Paul Massey, John Warhurst and Nina Hartstone, who won Oscars for their work on the Queen biopic “Bohemian Rhapsody.”
Beyond the music, the film explores Bowie’s artistic and philosophical journeys, starting with the androgynous icon Ziggy Stardust and expanding into films, paintings, theatre, sculpture, and audio collages. Bowie’s estate granted Morgen unprecedented access into the archives of the star’s work, making this...
- 8/23/2022
- by Jeremy Fuster
- The Wrap
Brett Morgen Had a Heart Attack Making ‘Moonage Daydream’ — and Credits David Bowie for His Recovery
Documentarian Brett Morgen has tangled with rock legends before, with “Cobain: Montage of Heck” and Rolling Stones doc “Crossfire Hurricane,” but when he landed the plum assignment of directing the first officially sanctioned David Bowie documentary feature, he had no idea what he was in for. Finishing the movie took five years of absorbing Bowie’s massive archive by himself, tracking down hi-res footage and music stems suitable for IMAX and Dolby Atmos showings, and editing all alone during a pandemic. No wonder Morgen suffered a heart attack and wound up in a coma.
He insists that it was all for the best and turned him from a child-man into an adult — and that Bowie’s philosophical musings on art and life enabled him to complete the movie. To chart Bowie’s creative, musical, and spiritual journey, Morgen dug into a kaleidoscope of never-before-seen 16 and 35mm performance footage and movies,...
He insists that it was all for the best and turned him from a child-man into an adult — and that Bowie’s philosophical musings on art and life enabled him to complete the movie. To chart Bowie’s creative, musical, and spiritual journey, Morgen dug into a kaleidoscope of never-before-seen 16 and 35mm performance footage and movies,...
- 5/30/2022
- by Anne Thompson
- Indiewire
Brett Morgen vividly remembers the first time he met David Bowie. When the Thin White Duke insults your work, it tends to burn deep into your memory. It was 2007, at which point Morgen had been a filmmaker for over a decade and had made documentaries on boxers (On the Ropes), Black music in America (the Say It Loud series), legendary Hollywood producer Robert Evans (The Kid Stays in the Picture) and the Chicago 10 (Chicago 10). He had this idea for a collaboration with Bowie on what he called “a sort-of hybrid experimental film.
- 5/23/2022
- by David Fear
- Rollingstone.com
Neon and Universal Pictures Content Group have announced that they will release Moonage Daydream, the first-ever David Bowie doc sanctioned by his estate, following its bow in the Midnight Screenings section of the 75th Cannes Film Festival. Neon will distribute the film in the U.S., with Upcg releasing it internationally. HBO Documentary Films holds North American rights for streaming and cable in spring of 2023.
The film exploring the iconic performer’s creative, musical and spiritual journey hails from acclaimed documentarian Brett Morgen, and is just now near completion after a rigorous, five-year production and assembly process. It illuminates not only the life, but also the genius of Bowie, who worked across several disciplines, most notably music and film, but also explored art forms throughout his life, including dance, painting, sculpture, video and audio collage, screenwriting, acting and live theatre. The motion picture reveals the...
The film exploring the iconic performer’s creative, musical and spiritual journey hails from acclaimed documentarian Brett Morgen, and is just now near completion after a rigorous, five-year production and assembly process. It illuminates not only the life, but also the genius of Bowie, who worked across several disciplines, most notably music and film, but also explored art forms throughout his life, including dance, painting, sculpture, video and audio collage, screenwriting, acting and live theatre. The motion picture reveals the...
- 4/14/2022
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
“Moonage Daydream,” a David Bowie historical film featuring a bounty of previously unreleased footage and helmed by Brett Morgen, the director behind “Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck,” “Jane” and “The Kid Stays in the Picture,” will be distributed in the U.S. by Neon and internationally by Universal Pictures Content Group, with a streaming premiere on HBO and HBO Max in the spring of 2023. Variety broke the news of the project last November.
While no theatrical release date has been announced for the film — the first to be officially sanctioned by Bowie’s estate — sources tell Variety that it is likely to premiere at the Cannes Film Festival next month, the lineup for which is scheduled to be announced Thursday.
While the announcement sheds little light on what the film will actually be, it does note that Morgen was given “unfiltered access to Bowie’s personal archives and … unearthed hundreds...
While no theatrical release date has been announced for the film — the first to be officially sanctioned by Bowie’s estate — sources tell Variety that it is likely to premiere at the Cannes Film Festival next month, the lineup for which is scheduled to be announced Thursday.
While the announcement sheds little light on what the film will actually be, it does note that Morgen was given “unfiltered access to Bowie’s personal archives and … unearthed hundreds...
- 4/13/2022
- by Jem Aswad and Sasha Urban
- Variety Film + TV
Neon has landed the rights to release “Moonage Daydream,” a new feature film, concert documentary and “experiential cinematic odyssey” that follows David Bowie’s life and musical career and is the first sanctioned by Bowie’s estate.
Brett Morgen is directing the film that is near completion and will feature Bowie’s own narration. Neon will release “Moonage Daydream” domestically, while Universal Pictures Content Group will release the film internationally, and HBO Documentary Films has North American rights for streaming and cable in spring 2023.
The film was designed from conception as a unique cinematic experience and will also be released in IMAX in select markets. The film will also be released in partnership with Public Road Productions, BMG, Live Nation Productions, and HBO Documentary Films.
“Moonage Daydream” illuminates the life and genius of David Bowie with a project that shows how Bowie himself worked across several disciplines, not just music and film but also dance,...
Brett Morgen is directing the film that is near completion and will feature Bowie’s own narration. Neon will release “Moonage Daydream” domestically, while Universal Pictures Content Group will release the film internationally, and HBO Documentary Films has North American rights for streaming and cable in spring 2023.
The film was designed from conception as a unique cinematic experience and will also be released in IMAX in select markets. The film will also be released in partnership with Public Road Productions, BMG, Live Nation Productions, and HBO Documentary Films.
“Moonage Daydream” illuminates the life and genius of David Bowie with a project that shows how Bowie himself worked across several disciplines, not just music and film but also dance,...
- 4/13/2022
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
Production took five years since late musician’s estate granted access to archives in 2017.
Neon, Universal Pictures Content Group and Imax will release Brett Morgen’s David Bowie documentary Moonage Daydream, which is nearing completion after five years of production.
Neon will distribute the full-length feature in the US, Universal Pictures Content Group will release the film internationally, and HBO Documentary Films has taken North American rights for streaming and cable in spring 2023. Imax will distribute the film in select market.
BMG and Live Nation Productions co-financed Moonage Daydream, which takes its name from the track on Bowie’s fifth...
Neon, Universal Pictures Content Group and Imax will release Brett Morgen’s David Bowie documentary Moonage Daydream, which is nearing completion after five years of production.
Neon will distribute the full-length feature in the US, Universal Pictures Content Group will release the film internationally, and HBO Documentary Films has taken North American rights for streaming and cable in spring 2023. Imax will distribute the film in select market.
BMG and Live Nation Productions co-financed Moonage Daydream, which takes its name from the track on Bowie’s fifth...
- 4/13/2022
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.