The Town with Matthew Belloni
The War Over the Secret Nine-Hour Prince Documentary
Sep 20, 2024
Sasha Weiss, the deputy editor at the New York Times, joins Oscar-winning filmmaker Ezra Edelman to dive into the contentious world of a nine-hour Prince documentary. They discuss the unexpected pushback from Prince's estates over its length, the challenge of authentically portraying the music icon's complex legacy, and the risks involved with artist narratives in today's streaming landscape. The conversation also touches on Netflix's role in this dispute and predictions on viewer engagement in the coming months.
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Quick takeaways
- The Prince documentary's release is hindered by disputes over its length and portrayal of his complex character, reflecting estate control issues.
- This situation exemplifies the tension between authentic storytelling and commercial motives in the evolving landscape of documentary filmmaking.
Deep dives
The Struggle for Artistic Control
The documentary titled 'The Book of Prince' aims to provide an in-depth exploration of the life of the late music icon, Prince. Directed by Ezra Edelman, this nine-hour film delves into Prince's multifaceted persona by utilizing extensive archival footage and interviews with people who knew him best. However, conflicts have arisen due to the Prince estate's disapproval of how the film portrays his life and relationships, particularly aspects that highlight his complex character. The estate's control issues not only impede the film's release but also reflect broader concerns about how artistic works are regulated by those who manage a celebrity's legacy.
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