Nashville film festival board prexy Stacy Widelitz
When you're staging a film festival in Music City, it's helpful to have a foot in each world.
Before moving to Nashville, festival board president Stacy Widelitz spent 19 years in Hollywood, penning scores for TV movies and video projects, and contributing to soundtracks, most notably the chart-topping "She's Like the Wind" for "Dirty Dancing." Widelitz was introduced to the fest in 2004 when a film he scored, "One Last Dance," unspooled there.
Widelitz's Nashville fest experience -- winning a best score award and serving as a panelist -- brought him into the fold. Now he's helping bridge the gap between the screen and the music scene.
"So many songwriters and music folks want a stronger connection to Hollywood," Widelitz says. And the NFF is more than willing to help forge those relationships, offering events beneficial to both. This will be the second year, for instance, of a fest "speed dating" event, where publishers and songwriters meet with music supervisors.
"I stress that it's not a pitch session," Widelitz says. "Don't bring CDs. It's a chance to pick the brains of people in the business and learn the specifics of submitting for film -- which is very different than the record business."
There are also panels including, this year, a Q&A with music supervisors, and one titled "Musicians: How to Get Money From Secondary Markets." Showcases, sponsored by publishers and labels, present up-and-coming artists. Last year, Universal sponsored an acoustic showcase for Josh Turner at the landmark Bluebird and, voila, within the week he had work on a project with music supervisor Evyen Klean. This year, Holly Williams, granddaughter of Hank, showcases her work.
NFF loves its music onscreen as well. Music documentaries have been a staple at the fest just about from the beginning. Last year's closing-night doc, "The Wrecking Crew," about a core group of '60s and '70s Nashville session musicians, was followed by a performance by three of the original members, plus such guests as guitar guru Al Kooper and the E-Street Band's Garry Tallent.
New artistic director Brian Owens calls the fest's relationship with the music industry "a definite advantage" not just for securing films, but also for all-important, festival-profile-raising in-person talent. "Country star Brad Paisley and his actress-wife Kimberly Williams-Paisley are supporters," he notes. "Marty Stewart comes a lot. This year, we know Lee Ann Womack will be here because she's in 'Noble Things.'
"Most talent agencies have branch offices here," Owens adds. "That direct connection to the entertainment business helps get people in."
This year's closer, "Easy Rider" (picked because it was the hot pic the year the fest launched), will be tailed by Bill Lloyd and the Long Players offering a concert version of the landmark film's entire soundtrack. Barry and the Remains, the just-missed-fame band that opened for the Beatles at Shea Stadium, will also be on the program.
Widelitz's music also will be part of this year's festival, albeit coincidentally. Opening film "(500) Days of Summer" includes his hit "She's Like the Wind" not once, not twice, but three times -- including a karaoke sequence. "I warned everyone at the fest I'm going to stand up and yell, 'There's my credit,' " Widelitz says.
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