The American Film Institute (AFI) announced that the world premiere of the documentary film Music By John Williams from Lucasfilm Ltd, Amblin Documentaries and Imagine Documentaries, a comprehensive look at the prolific life and career of legendary composer John Williams, will open the 38th edition of AFI Fesr on Wednesday, October 23.
From his early days as a jazz pianist to his 54 Oscarยฎย nominations and five wins, the documentary celebrates Williamsโ countless contributions to the moving image arts, music for the concert stage as well as his indelible impact on popular culture.
The film features interviews with Steven Spielberg, Kathleen Kennedy, Frank Marshall, Kate Capshaw, Gustavo Dudamel, J.J. Abrams, Chris Martin, Ron Howard, Chris Columbus, George Lucas, Itzhak Perlman, Lawrence Kasdan, Yo-Yo Ma, Ke Huy Quan, James Mangold, Alan Silvestri, David Newman, Thomas Newman, Seth MacFarlane, Anne-Sophie Mutter and Branford Marsalis, whose lives have been touched by Williamsโ timeless music. Directed by award-winning filmmaker Laurent Bouzereau, the documentary is produced by Spielberg, Bouzereau, Howard,ย Kennedy, Marshall, Brian Grazer, Darryl Frank, Justin Falvey, Sara Bernstein, Justin Wilkes, Meredith Kaulfers, with Markus Keith and Michael Rosenberg serving as executive producers.
โJohn Williams is an American icon with a true and timeless global impact,โ said Bob Gazzale, AFI president and CEO. โOne could say we are โover the moonโ to host the World Premiere of the film, but that sentiment would hardly soar without the music of E.T. The Extra Terestrial.โ
“Growing up in France, I discovered the soundtracks I bought on vinyl ahead of most American movies that would come out months after the U.S. release. John Williams was the composer I immediately identified with; his scores made me fall in love with music, and made me realize at a very young age, the power that a score had on cinematic storytelling,” said Bouzereau. “This was an important story to tell, not only because it is about one of the greatest composers of all time, but because of the message it carries about the survival of orchestral music, and musicians.”
In 2016, Williams was honored with the AFI Life Achievement Award and became the first composer to receive this highest honor for a career in film.
Following the world premiere at AFI Fest presented by Canva, Music By John Williams will have a limited theatrical release and will premiere on Disney+ on November 1.
AFI Fest will take place October 23โ27 at the TCL Chinese Theatres in the heart of Hollywood and will feature a curated selection of Red Carpet Premieres, Special Screenings, World Cinema, Documentaries and Short Films. More than 100 films are expected to screen.
California Gov. Newsom Signs Laws To Protect Actors Against Unauthorized Use Of AI
California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed off Tuesday on legislation aiming at protecting Hollywood actors and performers against unauthorized artificial intelligence that could be used to create digital clones of themselves without their consent.
The new laws come as California legislators ramped up efforts this year to regulate the marquee industry that is increasingly affecting the daily lives of Americans but has had little to no oversight in the United States.
The laws also reflect the priorities of the Democratic governor who's walking a tightrope between protecting the public and workers against potential AI risks and nurturing the rapidly evolving homegrown industry.
"We continue to wade through uncharted territory when it comes to how AI and digital media is transforming the entertainment industry, but our North Star has always been to protect workers," Newsom said in a statement. "This legislation ensures the industry can continue thriving while strengthening protections for workers and how their likeness can or cannot be used."
Inspired by the Hollywood actors' strike last year over low wages and concerns that studios would use AI technology to replace workers, a new California law will allow performers to back out of existing contracts if vague language might allow studios to freely use AI to digitally clone their voices and likeness. The law is set to take effect in 2025 and has the support of the California Labor Federation and the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, or SAG-AFTRA.
Another law signed by Newsom, also supported by SAG-AFTRA, prevents dead performers from being digitally cloned for commercial purposes without the permission of their estates. Supporters said the law is... Read More