March 2, 2011, 2:39 pm
Elton John Documentary, Directed By Cameron Crowe, Will Open Tribeca Film Festival
By DAVE ITZKOFF Tribeca Film Festival Elton John and Leon Russell in “The Union.”
If
Cameron Crowe could make a memorable scene with just a couple of verses of
Elton John – as he did
when the “Almost Famous” cast sang “Tiny Dancer” in the back of that tour bus – imagine what he could do with an entire movie about him? Audiences at the
Tribeca Film Festival will be among the first to find out: the festival’s organizers said on Wednesday that their 2011 program will open on the night of April 20 with a free outdoor screening of “The Union,” Mr. Crowe’s documentary about Mr. John, followed by a performance from that best-selling pop performer.
“The Union” chronicles the making of
that 2010 album of the same title, on which Mr. John collaborated with the singer-songwriter Leon Russell, and which also featured contributions from
T-Bone Burnett, Bernie Taupin,
Neil Young and
Brian Wilson, among others. Press representatives for the Tribeca Film Festival said in a news release that the premiere event for the documentary will be held at the North Cove at the World Financial Plaza in Lower Manhattan. The full festival is scheduled to run from April 20 through May 1.
Elton John will be the star of Tribeca Film Festival's opening night with the screening of Cameron Crowe's documentary "The Union" that tracks the collaboration between the singer and Leon Russell. The free, outdoor showing, set for April 20, will be followed by a live performance by John.
The Crowe doc chronicles the entire writing and recording process of John's collaboration with his early-career idol, Russell, with whom he hadn't spoken in 38 years. Also appearing in the documentary are music producer T Bone Burnett, John's lyricist Bernie Taupin, Neil Young, Brian Wilson, R&B organist Booker T. Jones, steel guitarist Robert Randolph and a 10-piece gospel choir.
"As a longtime fan of both artists, it was a pleasure to spend a year filming their collaboration," said Crowe. "We can't wait to show it to one of the greatest audiences in the world, the Tribeca Film Festival."
The 10th annual festival will run April 20 through May 1. The rest of the event's film slate will be announced on March 7 and March 14.
-- Nicole Sperling
Photo: Elton John, left, and partner David Furnish arrive for the opening night of 'Billy Elliot: The Musical' in Toronto on Tuesday. Credit: Associated Press
Elton John Will Attend Royal WeddingElton John says that he will indeed attend the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton. In an interview with CTV, the singer initially claimed that he was not invited to the event, but admitted that he would be going when pressed by the interviewer. According to John, he was trying to be discreet about the matter. [
Reuters]
Elton John to Attend Royal Wedding, Hopes William 'Becomes King at an Early Age'
Musician Elton John and David Furnish attend Time's 100 most influential people in the world gala
Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Time Inc
The
Candle in the Wind singer and his partner David Furnish will rub shoulders with the good and the great in Westminster Abbey on April 29.
Speaking to Canadian chat show host Marilyn Denis, John initially denied that he'd received an invite. "As far as I know, I don't have an invitation." But when pressed further, he spilled the beans. "Yeah, we do have an invitation. I've been trying to be discreet."
(
More on TIME.com: Not invited? Then get your royal wedding fix on the official royal wedding website)
In recent weeks the 63-year old singer—who was one of Princess Diana's closest friends—has doubted that he'd make the cut. "I think because of my relationship with Princess Diana, people automatically think I'm going to be invited," John told
Reuters, adding that he doesn't actually know Prince William very well. "I'm not invited to the wedding. I would not expect to be invited to the wedding."
Now that he has an official invite, though, he's comfortable sharing his thoughts on the young couple. On the show he seemed to disapprove of William's decision to give Kate his mother's
sapphire engagement ring. "It is none of my business," he said when asked, "but I thought it was a little odd." He also believes that William has "one of the hardest jobs in the world"—and that he's ready for an even bigger one. "I hope [William] becomes King at an early age," John said. "I think we need young people like him to lead. I think he will be a tremendous king – not that
Charles won't, but I think William will be…tremendous." (via
People)
Read more:
http://newsfeed.time.com/2011/03/02/elton-john-to-attend-royal-wedding-hopes-william-becomes-king-at-an-early-age/#ixzz1FTQiD3NxElton John in town for Billy Elliot
Elton John in town for Billy Elliot
Published On Tue Mar 1 2011
Elton John arrives for a interview in Toronto at a secret location. John is in Toronto for the Tuesday night premiere of Billy Elliot at the Canon Theatre.
Central Image Agency Inc./CENTRAL IMAGE AGENCY
Lesley Ciarula Taylor Staff Reporter
, in Toronto for the premiere of his musical
Billy Elliot, has confirmed he snagged an invite to the royal wedding and he’s going.
John was close friends with Prince William’s mother, Diana, the Princess of Wales. His song about Marilyn Monroe,
Candle in the Wind, was rewritten and retitled
Candle in the Wind 1997 after Diana’s death. John sang the revised song at Diana’s funeral and it was released as a single.
John disclosed his royal plans for Prince William and Kate Middleton’s April 29 wedding in an interview Tuesday morning on
The Marilyn Show on CTV.
He and his Toronto-born partner, David Furnish, will attend the Canadian premiere Tuesday night of
Billy Elliot, the musical about a working class boy who fights the odds for a career in the arts.
Growing up in the “conservative ’50s” in Britain, John told host Marilyn Denis he faced strong opposition from his father when he wanted to be a rock and roll musician.
“My father didn’t approve at all. He wanted me to get a stable job,” said the multi-millionaire singer and songwriter.
John and Furnish’s visit to Toronto might include a trip to Scarborough to see Furnish’s family.
In an interview with
Maclean’s magazine, Furnish said he persuaded John that they should have a son because of his own good memories of childhood, unlike the singer’s.
Asked if the time were right for a trip home with John, Furnish said, “Yes, I think it’s time. Elton hasn’t been yet and he needs to see where I grew up because I’ve been where he’s grown up.”
