SIDETRACK FILMS

The Filmlot Interview: Michael Azerrad & AJ Schnack

The Filmlot recently spoke with co-producer / music journalist, Michael Azerrad and director / editor, AJ Schnack, about their new non-fiction film "Kurt Cobain About a Son". The film, which debuted at this year’s Toronto Film Festival, had its US premiere at the recent International AFI Film Festival in Los Angeles, and has just won the Best Documentary prize at the Starz Denver Film Festival. Schnack will be off soon to showcase the film in Amsterdam for the 19th IDFA beginning November 23. – read more

From The Filmlot – Posted on November 27 2006

KURT COBAIN ABOUT A SON

“The human voice is the organ of the soul.” – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
In deference to my own interpretation of how Kurt Cobain defined himself, I’d like to point out what this film is not. This film is not a typical rockumentary full of celebrity and friendly talking heads, archival concert footage or anecdotes and pictures from Kurt’s past. What this is, simply, is Kurt Cobain’s voice, carrying on an extended conversation.

In the early 90’s, Kurt Cobain and his band Nirvana re-defined rock music as we know it. Elevated to a God-like status, Kurt’s life in the limelight was one of constant scrutiny, whether it be over his marriage with Courtney Love or his constant battles with drug addiction. Unfortunately for those who loved him, and in a grander sense the music world, Kurt’s time at the top was cut short by his tragic suicide, and it seemed all that we would ever know of Kurt Cobain was what existed in the songs he wrote, the interviews he gave and the concerts he performed in. – read more

From Film Threat – Posted on November 04 2006

KURT COBAIN ABOUT A SON

Kurt Cobain: About a Son: Bottom Line: An indelible autobiographical document

Taking an unconventional approach to biography, documentarian AJ Schnack has created an intimate, lyrical meditation on the making of an artist. "Kurt Cobain: About a Son" is a true gift to fans of this important musician, whose 1994 suicide was international Page One news. No one speaks for the grunge great but Cobain in well-chosen excerpts from previously unreleased audiotape interviews. The docu, which screens Saturday and Sunday in AFI Fest's international docu competition, could carve out a specialty release niche and is sure to have a long life among Nirvana faithful.

It's a rare treat to hear an artist tell his own story, especially for performers of Cobain's stature. In "About a Son," there's not an intermediary talking head in sight, not a childhood photo -- indeed, images of Cobain and Nirvana appear only briefly, an hour into the proceedings and again at film's end. For most of the 97-minute running time, Cobain's disembodied voice-over narration is the only archival material; visuals consist of newly filmed footage of his stamping grounds in Washington state. – read more

From The Hollywood Reporter – Posted on November 03 2006

KURT COBAIN ABOUT A SON

Walking through Cobain's world

TORONTO - A.J. Schnack shrugged off the rockumentary approach, the Behind The Music approach, and the fawning weren't-they-just-awesome? approach. He wanted a music flick you haven't seen, and he made one.

What he had was a box of audiotapes of journalist Michael Azerrad interviewing the late Kurt Cobain. He wanted to make a documentary about the rock legend, but he wouldn't include the standard trappings: talking heads, concert footage, and testimonials from famous fans. He didn't even want to include the music of Nirvana - indeed, the name of Cobain's band would come up precisely once. – read more

From Toledo Blade – Posted on September 20 2006

KURT COBAIN ABOUT A SON

TORONTO '06: From Lennon to Cobain, Music Docs Rock Toronto

This year's Toronto International Film Festival features several standout music documentaries covering vastly different themes - from Barbara Kopple and Cecilia Peck's "Dixie Chicks - Shut Up and Sing" to Jerome Laperrousaz's "Made in Jamaica." Among the most buzzed about music docs were AJ Schnack's "Kurt Cobain About a Son," Paul Rachman's "American Hardcore," and David Leaf and John Scheinfeld's "The U.S. vs. John Lennon" - three very different documentaries that explore music against a backdrop of American angst.

In "Kurt Cobain About a Son," Director AJ Schnack takes a fresh approach to non-fiction storytelling, turning the idea of the traditional music doc on its head. "I guess it's most unconventional by the fact that we don't use any archival video or Nirvana music," Schnack told indieWIRE. "Although there is music from bands that influence him, like Queen and The Melvins, David Bowie and R.E.M. and Iggy Pop, [there are] barely any photos of Kurt." Instead, Schnack relies on his exclusive access to a box of audio interview tapes from author Michael Azerrad, which were originally used for Azerrad's book Come As You Are: The Story of Nirvana. – read more

From indieWIRE – Posted on September 14 2006

KURT COBAIN ABOUT A SON

TIFF 2006.5: About a Festival

The 2006 Toronto International Film Festival will continue to roll through the weekend, but I've returned home. At the airport with Jarod and I Tuesday afternoon, were other Texas-bound folks like Magnolia's Bill Banowsky and Summercamp! director Brad Beesley. Sundance head programmer John Cooper was waiting in the cafe... we were all ready to get back home. But, many people are staying behind, and I suggest seeking out their expert coverage.

Speaking of expert coverage, or a lack thereof, readers of the blog may notice that I've scaled back on entries and also photos this year. It all boils down to necessity. I've found that my time at film festivals has gotten crazier and busier as the years go by, leaving less time to blog. Don't worry, I'll still blog my heart out, but this Toronto trip made me realize that the days of festivals past (with dozens of pics, entries, etc.) is over... for now. Also, I broke my digital camera in the U.K., making it much harder to snap random pics. Coincidence? Maybe, maybe not. I'll still get some pics on here, no matter what. Wait till you see what I've got in store for this weekend. – read more

From Matt Dentler's Blog - IndieWIRE – Posted on September 13 2006

				KURT COBAIN ABOUT A SON The Filmlot Interview: Michael Azerrad & AJ Schnack The Filmlot recently spoke with co-producer / music journalist, Michael Azerrad and director / editor, AJ Schnack, about their new non-fiction film "Kurt Cobain About a Son". The film, which debuted at this year’s Toronto Film Festival, had its US premiere at the recent International AFI Film Festival in Los Angeles, and has just won the Best Documentary prize at the Starz Denver Film Festival. Schnack will be off soon to showcase the film in Amsterdam for the 19th IDFA beginning November 23. – read more From The Filmlot – Posted on November 27 2006

				KURT COBAIN ABOUT A SON KURT COBAIN ABOUT A SON “The human voice is the organ of the soul.” – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow In deference to my own interpretation of how Kurt Cobain defined himself, I’d like to point out what this film is not. This film is not a typical rockumentary full of celebrity and friendly talking heads, archival concert footage or anecdotes and pictures from Kurt’s past. What this is, simply, is Kurt Cobain’s voice, carrying on an extended conversation. In the early 90’s, Kurt Cobain and his band Nirvana re-defined rock music as we know it. Elevated to a God-like status, Kurt’s life in the limelight was one of constant scrutiny, whether it be over his marriage with Courtney Love or his constant battles with drug addiction. Unfortunately for those who loved him, and in a grander sense the music world, Kurt’s time at the top was cut short by his tragic suicide, and it seemed all that we would ever know of Kurt Cobain was what existed in the songs he wrote, the interviews he gave and the concerts he performed in. – read more From Film Threat – Posted on November 04 2006

				KURT COBAIN ABOUT A SON Kurt Cobain: About a Son: Bottom Line: An indelible autobiographical document Taking an unconventional approach to biography, documentarian AJ Schnack has created an intimate, lyrical meditation on the making of an artist. "Kurt Cobain: About a Son" is a true gift to fans of this important musician, whose 1994 suicide was international Page One news. No one speaks for the grunge great but Cobain in well-chosen excerpts from previously unreleased audiotape interviews. The docu, which screens Saturday and Sunday in AFI Fest's international docu competition, could carve out a specialty release niche and is sure to have a long life among Nirvana faithful. It's a rare treat to hear an artist tell his own story, especially for performers of Cobain's stature. In "About a Son," there's not an intermediary talking head in sight, not a childhood photo -- indeed, images of Cobain and Nirvana appear only briefly, an hour into the proceedings and again at film's end. For most of the 97-minute running time, Cobain's disembodied voice-over narration is the only archival material; visuals consist of newly filmed footage of his stamping grounds in Washington state. – read more From The Hollywood Reporter – Posted on November 03 2006

				KURT COBAIN ABOUT A SON Walking through Cobain's world TORONTO - A.J. Schnack shrugged off the rockumentary approach, the Behind The Music approach, and the fawning weren't-they-just-awesome? approach. He wanted a music flick you haven't seen, and he made one. What he had was a box of audiotapes of journalist Michael Azerrad interviewing the late Kurt Cobain. He wanted to make a documentary about the rock legend, but he wouldn't include the standard trappings: talking heads, concert footage, and testimonials from famous fans. He didn't even want to include the music of Nirvana - indeed, the name of Cobain's band would come up precisely once. – read more From Toledo Blade – Posted on September 20 2006

				KURT COBAIN ABOUT A SON TORONTO '06: From Lennon to Cobain, Music Docs Rock Toronto This year's Toronto International Film Festival features several standout music documentaries covering vastly different themes - from Barbara Kopple and Cecilia Peck's "Dixie Chicks - Shut Up and Sing" to Jerome Laperrousaz's "Made in Jamaica." Among the most buzzed about music docs were AJ Schnack's "Kurt Cobain About a Son," Paul Rachman's "American Hardcore," and David Leaf and John Scheinfeld's "The U.S. vs. John Lennon" - three very different documentaries that explore music against a backdrop of American angst. In "Kurt Cobain About a Son," Director AJ Schnack takes a fresh approach to non-fiction storytelling, turning the idea of the traditional music doc on its head. "I guess it's most unconventional by the fact that we don't use any archival video or Nirvana music," Schnack told indieWIRE. "Although there is music from bands that influence him, like Queen and The Melvins, David Bowie and R.E.M. and Iggy Pop, [there are] barely any photos of Kurt." Instead, Schnack relies on his exclusive access to a box of audio interview tapes from author Michael Azerrad, which were originally used for Azerrad's book Come As You Are: The Story of Nirvana. – read more From indieWIRE – Posted on September 14 2006

				KURT COBAIN ABOUT A SON TIFF 2006.5: About a Festival The 2006 Toronto International Film Festival will continue to roll through the weekend, but I've returned home. At the airport with Jarod and I Tuesday afternoon, were other Texas-bound folks like Magnolia's Bill Banowsky and Summercamp! director Brad Beesley. Sundance head programmer John Cooper was waiting in the cafe... we were all ready to get back home. But, many people are staying behind, and I suggest seeking out their expert coverage. Speaking of expert coverage, or a lack thereof, readers of the blog may notice that I've scaled back on entries and also photos this year. It all boils down to necessity. I've found that my time at film festivals has gotten crazier and busier as the years go by, leaving less time to blog. Don't worry, I'll still blog my heart out, but this Toronto trip made me realize that the days of festivals past (with dozens of pics, entries, etc.) is over... for now. Also, I broke my digital camera in the U.K., making it much harder to snap random pics. Coincidence? Maybe, maybe not. I'll still get some pics on here, no matter what. Wait till you see what I've got in store for this weekend. – read more From Matt Dentler's Blog - IndieWIRE – Posted on September 13 2006