The Town with Matthew Belloni

Turning Music Rights Into a Bob Dylan Biopic

40 snips
Dec 25, 2024
Peter Jaysen, a seasoned independent producer, chats about his journey in creating the Bob Dylan biopic, ‘A Complete Unknown.’ He reveals the intricacies of securing Dylan’s music rights and the importance of authenticity in filmmaking. Jaysen discusses Timothée Chalamet's casting and Dylan's limited involvement. The conversation also touches on the challenges of depicting Dylan's complex lifestyle while managing product placements. Finally, they dive into box office predictions for the film’s holiday release amidst family-oriented competition.
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ANECDOTE

Securing Dylan's Rights

  • Producer Peter Jaysen secured Bob Dylan's music and life rights through a connection with Dylan's manager, Jeff Rosen.
  • Rosen had a pre-existing script from a turned-around HBO project based on the book Dylan Goes Electric.
ANECDOTE

Casting Chalamet

  • Jaysen's team ran into Timothée Chalamet and his agent at the BAFTAs and asked if he’d play Dylan.
  • Chalamet's agent received the script right there and discussions began shortly after.
INSIGHT

Live Singing

  • The producers weren't initially sure how the music would be handled.
  • Director James Mangold decided Chalamet should sing live, like in Walk the Line, and they secured the rights to Dylan's isolated vocal tracks.
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