Definitive Documentary Series on Willie Nelson in Production
If you can’t get enough of Willie Nelson, you’re about to get a lot more in the not too distant future. Production outfit Blackbird Presents that’s been behind many of the recent tribute concerts to country legends has partnered with Sight Unseen Pictures to produce what they hope to be the definitive documentary series on the country legend called Willie Nelson and Family.
The docuseries is currently being filmed and is said to be well into the production process, with exclusive and unparalleled access to archive footage and material from the Willie Nelson estate, while they’re also shooting new footage on site in places such as Austin, Willie’s second home in Maui, along with Nashville, Los Angeles and New York.
The docuseries is being directed by Emmy Award & Grammy Award-winning filmmaker Thom Zimny who’s been a longtime collaborator with Bruce Springsteen, and has also worked on films about Elvis and Johnny Cash. It’s also being directed by Academy Award-nominated & Emmy Award-winning writer, director, and producer Oren Moverman known for movies such as The Messenger and Time Out Of Mind.
The project was developed by longtime Willie Nelson manager Mark Rothbaum and Blackbird Presents Founder & Chief Creative Officer Keith Wortman, who also worked to make television productions out of the numerous Blackbird Presents tribute concerts. Willie’s wife Annie Nelson is also involved as an executive producer.
There’s no word at the moment of when the docuseries might be released since it’s still in production, but this doesn’t sound like it will be just another 30-minute or hour-long PBS-style special, but a more in-depth retrospective on the life and career of the now 88-year-old country legend and the family band that’s been there will him most every step of the way.
More information when it becomes available.
August 4, 2021 @ 9:03 am
There’s a lot to cover or choose from, there.
Willie goes back not quite to Hank Williams, but to his contemporaries or immediate successors like Hank Snow, Ray Price, Faron Young to music and movie stars in multiple genres in the current era.
If there’s one Willie anecdote that comes close to covering it all, it’s Willie smoking pot on the roof of the White House during the Carter Administration. (That was with Chip Carter, the President’s son, btw. The president and first lady did not partake and were unaware of it.)
August 4, 2021 @ 10:51 am
I could see this as three 2-hour programs:
– Songwriting years to Atlantic (‘73-‘74)
– Red Headed Stranger to IRS
– Spirit or Teatro to present
August 4, 2021 @ 3:12 pm
I think that Willie Nelson is the best combination of a musician and entertainer that the world has already have… i have all his books and i dont get tired of hearing his stories…
August 4, 2021 @ 7:39 pm
Willie is, the epitome of the wandering minstrel- the consummate human being- the most under rated guitar player ever, living or dead- the ultimate picture of living the American Dream- and, seems to me, the most approachable celebrity, even though I’ve never been closer than 100 ft at a concert- he’s real- he’s authentic- played the hand he was dealt, lived life his own way- *and won*…. by anybody’s score card.
A musical icon, world wide! From a little town in east Texas- “miracles appear in the strangest of places” – I don’t watch TV, except for the occasional netflix or amazon movie- this, I will watch!
Thanks for the info Trig!
August 4, 2021 @ 9:33 pm
He’s my musical hero in many ways; a Bob Dylan level songwriter and a better singer than he gets credit for. I also admire his loyalty to his family and the fact he paid his IRS bill. However, his crazy left politics drives me nuts. I’m cool with the marijuana issue, but I don’t understand why he thinks it’s an imposition to have an ID to vote. If every American can work that smartphone stuck to the side of their heads, they can figure out how to get an ID to vote. On a side note, I saw him a couple of years ago with his son Lukas. That kid can smoke the hell out of a guitar. He also sings better than Willie, but his songwriting is to damn weird for me. One of his latest songs was something about growing gardens. It’s funny how Shooter, Hank 3 and this kid pushed the boundaries over the edge. Shooter is by far the most normal of these talented siblings; Shooter is also the most talented by far. Long live Willie!
August 4, 2021 @ 9:39 pm
The best documentary or movie like Johnny Cash had Walk the Line would be Waylon Jennings that would be a big seller everybody knows what you know about Waylon and Jessi Waylon Jennings the best there ever was I don’t see when there’s not a movie out already about him
August 5, 2021 @ 3:25 am
Amen!
August 8, 2021 @ 8:41 pm
Willie sings from his heart! His songs teach lessons and he reaches everyone that may have encountered various situations, you can clearly hear the words he is saying! Love you willie
Cindy W 🙂 😀